Just as comfort food is used to bring joy, curb anxiety and feed the soul, could extravagance do the same? Here are some ways people are useing premium food as a reward in times of restraint.
Segment: Retail
Posts Archive
Food’s Role in Healing (or Celebrating) After Divorce
Here’s a collection of what we’re seeing around the growing trend of separation-sustenance and how food or beverage brands can help feed the healing—or the relief.
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Get Inspired by the World of Culinary Tourism
There’s big opportunity in the pursuit of unique, immersive eating and drinking experiences: i.e., culinary tourism. Here are some of our top picks from the U.S. and around the world, giving you a look at where to draw inspiration for your own business.
The Overseas Brands & Products Succeeding in the U.S.
While the U.S. once held a monopoly on innovative ideas, overseas chains are moving on missed opportunity in restaurants, grocery aisles, liquor stores, and even retail. Here, we highlight some noteworthy brands and suggest ways to position yourself for success.
Read More »: The Overseas Brands & Products Succeeding in the U.S.
Nourishing the Mental Health of Your Consumers
From burnout to loneliness, nearly half of consumers cite mental health as a top issue. In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, we’re sharing ideas for both our industry and our personal lives—like sensorial experiences, functional ingredients and finding joy in cooking something weird!
The Foods and Trends Behind the Year of the Horse (opens in a new tab)
February marks the start of the Year of the Fire Horse, defining 2026 as a year of action, energy and movement, where the overall spirit is about blazing a trail and taking bold risks. Let’s look at how food-oriented brands are participating in the festivities.
Read Article »: The Foods and Trends Behind the Year of the Horse (opens in a new tab)
Getting Inspired by Mainland Hawaiian Fare
This month, we’re offering an island escape, sharing buzz on the restaurant concepts, chefs, cookbooks and flavors of Hawaii, especially those found on the mainland. Learn about proteins, cocktails, snacks, sauces and spice blends that could inspire your product pipeline—or home kitchen.
A Look into Responsible Food Packaging
This month, we revisit responsible packaging, and the demand created by new legislation, as well as controversy surrounding recycling. Take inspiration from recent innovations in the U.S. and overseas and consider our four recommendations to focus efforts.
The Powerful Growth of Asian Grocery in America
We discuss the rise, significance and wide appeal of Asian grocery, as well as key players and formats. And inspired by social media, we shop nearby locations and “share our haul.”
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Expressions of Culture Via Food & Beverage
Attending restaurant pop-ups, posting pictures of what we create or consume, taking on taste challenges, binge watching “Taste the Nation”…all are common ways current culture is expressing itself through food and beverage. This month, we searched far and wide for more disruptive examples.
14 Examples of Retail Theater
The term “retail theater” has become synonymous with “in-store experience”. We subscribe to a more pure, undiluted definition – one that holds the term to a higher standard and should be reserved for engagements that meet more of the criteria for live theater. In our opinion, retail theater is rare, but we’ve located 14 examples across the globe that truly deliver.
2 Areas Where Tradition Is Being Upheld
What if resurrecting the past had less to do with novelty and more to do with preserving culture? What if the motivations were purer…say, saving something from extinction? That is precisely what we are seeing. The attempt to preserve “old world traditions” lest they be forgotten.
10 Pop-Up Experiences From 2023
Creating exclusive experiences is no easy task. Let’s explore a range of recent pop-up experiences, to see how they leverage everything from pop culture, to takeovers, and unconventional retail spaces to drive brand engagement and test new product ideas.
Catch the Girl Power Wave
After nearly a century of efforts designed to help young girls reimagine what it means to be one, girls – of all ages – are taking charge.
10 Antidotes to TikTok Food
One of the many common denominators to TikTok food trends is simplicity. Let us propose something a countertrend: things that are hard to make.
Natural Products Expo West 2023 (opens in a new tab)
We’ve been heading to Expo West for 5+ years and always walk away with new industry learnings and connections. This year proved no different, and while many of the trends aren’t new to the natural products space, there are key areas gaining momentum.
Read More »: Natural Products Expo West 2023 (opens in a new tab)
Nostalgia: 2 Ways In
The desire to reconnect with things from the past that once brought us joy is not a byproduct of the pandemic, it’s a desire that’s been here all along. What tends to change are the particular items (and decades) consumers yearn for.
A HANGOVER PSA
Inspired by the holiday season, we’ve looked at the many ways to “profit” from hangover remedies. Whether arming us in our personal lives or aiding us in business, these examples provide value.
12 Times Food Became Art
In honor of International Artist Day on October 25th, we’re showcasing art inspired by or made from food. From magic milk to AI generated art to paintings and sculptures, we’ve curated a gallery of food art just for you.
How to Set a Hard-Working Table
Breakthrough designs in cups, plates, and utensils to help elevate meals and improve the eating experience.
The Industry Circuit
We’re feeling the excitement in the air at the first few in-person food industry events of 2022.
How to Win With Grocery Retail Giants
Align your organization with key retailer priorities.
8 Ways to Command Attention
Consumers want attention for their personal brand. Here’s how you can help.
Natural Products Expo West
f you’re in the food and beverage world, there’s a good chance you’ve seen an article (or 500!) about Natural Products Expo West 2022. There are a lot of great reasons for the coverage, and we can’t wait to share our experience at the show this year!
Unlocking An Unmet Need In Breakfast
Consumers want more excitement out of their first meal of the day. Global breakfasts can provide it.
An Emerging Idea in Sustainability: Powdered
Virtually any food can be reduced to powder. Learn more about how that benefits bottom lines, people and planet.
6 Ways to Be Relevant to Consumers Who Fast
Abstinence from food does not mean a food or beverage brand has to lose out. We’ll show you how to play.
The Right Way to Do Branded Apparel
Consumers have been wearing brand passions on their sleeves for years, but it’s now reached a fever pitch. Learn more about how to get in on the trend.
Are You Catering to the Asian Food & Beverage Demand?
Interest in culturally-diverse cuisines is higher than ever, specifically for Asian offerings. Learn what’s behind their popularity and how it’s showing up on menus, in stores and on social across America.
Read More »: Are You Catering to the Asian Food & Beverage Demand?
New Ideas for Retail Sampling
In the last year and a half, we’ve seen retailers adapt to create safer shopping experiences for consumers, and that includes sampling. From ghost kitchens to interactive direct mail, brands are getting creative with sample distribution to overcome obstacles brought on by the pandemic.
Natural Products Expo East
Anna Braun, VP of New Business and Operational Excellence, recaps her experiences and learnings from Expo East. Innovative plant-based products and refreshing non-alcoholic beverages stole the show, along with the excitement of a live, in-person event!
No big research budget? No big deal.
Knowing your consumer helps set your brand up for success. But what happens when there’s no time or budget for some much-needed research? Learn how you can get a good pulse on audience perceptions and pain points with very little investment.
Engaging Buyers Using Augmented Reality
Businesses in the food and beverage industry are employing augmented reality (AR) to bring elements of their brand to life for consumers. From retail to restaurants, creative uses of this tool continue to emerge.
How AI is Advancing Food & Beverage
CPG, retail, and restaurant companies alike are utilizing AI to gain a competitive edge. It’s quickly becoming a valuable tool for businesses in the food and beverage industry to boost customer relationship management, drive product development, forecast performance, and more.
How to Brand With Audio
When it comes to storytelling, the one thing audio can do that visual mediums can’t is: give the eyes a rest. With screen-time at a fever pitch, digital audio can be a welcome, engaging, and memorable solution. Podcasts, social audio, and sonic logos are just a few intriguing elements of this digital listening space.
Hard Kombucha: Another Bubbly Alternative
It is no surprise that we are seeing brands in the alcohol space answer the better-for-you demand when it comes to nutrition profile items like added sugars and calorie count, ingredients, and alcohol by volume levels.
