The U.S. food and beverage industry has been impacted heavily by COVID-19. In 2020, more consumers than ever before were deciding to order food and beverage items online to avoid grocery shopping in crowded stores, where they might be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. According to Packaged Facts‘ new report, “The Future of Grocery: Online…

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions in the spring of 2020, such as stay-at-home orders, led to a drastic drop in U.S. road travel and a sharp increase in the number of people who chose to stay home all day. While the dramatic change in traffic patterns was widely noted last year, new research from…

Retail sales saw solid growth during June, increasing in most categories on a monthly basis and across the board on a yearly basis as the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic continued, according to a recent statement from the National Retail Federation. “Continued growth in June retail sales shows enduring strength in the American consumer,” NRF…

New consumer research by Culinary Visions, a food-focused insights and trends forecasting practice that studies a wide range of culinary topics important to consumers and food industry professionals, points to the importance of sharing food experiences with friends and family as a new normal emerges for U.S. consumers. The surge in demand for food experiences…

New consumer research by Culinary Visions, a food-focused insights and trends forecasting practice that studies a wide range of culinary topics important to consumers and food industry professionals, points to the importance of sharing food experiences with friends and family as a new normal emerges for U.S. consumers. The surge in demand for food experiences…

In just 365 days, the world as we knew it transformed. 2020 started with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to stockpiling, the closing of businesses, information and misinformation overload, pain and panic. More than a year later, consumers are still in the process of re-balancing and re-establishing new behaviors and routines, and…

Three in five Americans (60%) say automated paper towel dispensers in public restrooms would improve their perception of a facility’s cleanliness, according to a survey commissioned by Sofidel, a provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use. The survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll from April 14-16, 2021 among 2,050 U.S. adults ages 18…

Soluble cannabinoid ingredients manufacturer and supplier Caliper Ingredients and Colorado State University (CSU) have completed what they’re calling the CBD industry’s first human clinical study of commercially available CBD-infused food and supplement product pharmacokinetics. According to the study, published in a special edition of “Pharmaceuticals – Cannabidiol: Advances in Therapeutic Applications and Future Perspectives,” Caliper’s…

Total industry inside sales increased 1.5% to a record $255.6 billion in 2020, according to newly-released NACS State of the Industry (SOI) data. While total transactions declined 13.9% for the year, basket sizes increased 18.4% compared with 2019. The average basket size was $7.34 in 2020 vs. $6.20 in 2019. The in-store increase also came…

Throughout the decade, fuel and convenience retailers will be tasked with answering a simple question: “why will the customer of 2030 visit my store?” Roadside retailing faces a variety of disruptive headwinds that threaten long-successful business models. The report’s five authors call for an immediate repositioning around the needs of people rather than vehicles. “The…