Even as packaged food and beverage companies scramble to meet increased consumer demand while also compensating for setbacks during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many are shifting already limited resources to employees, customers in need and the broader community... Listen now

The generosity of the food and beverage industry is on full display as companies – some with limited resources – give what they can to those serving on the frontlines of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and to those in need, including many who unexpectedly lost jobs as measures to flatten the curve also flatten the economy... Display

Now the 'surge' has calmed down, consumers are entering a new stage of shopping behavior – ‘home-confined buying’ – characterized by higher sales of non-essential food items such as cookies, chocolate, and ice cream, with overall spending levels still 23% higher than they were before the pandemic, reports NCSolutions... Read

As economic uncertainty climbs alongside the spread of coronavirus, most Americans are trying – but often failing – to maintain the status quo with regards to grocery purchases, according to new research from Datassential... Read

Simply Good Foods – parent company to Quest Nutrition and Atkins Nutritionals – entered FY2020 feeling confident about its performance of its core brands exceeding sales expectations through the first half of the year... Read

Days after the first reported coronavirus-related deaths of grocery store employees, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass) asked FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for additional guidance on how retail food workers and customers can protect themselves in crowded stores where social distancing is not possible... Read

Onboarding new brands is not top of the priority list right now at most food retailers, many of which are more focused on rationalizing SKUs than adding new ones. Meanwhile, R&D under lockdown isn't easy. So is innovation on pause, or are companies steaming ahead in the knowledge that this crisis will pass, and that innovation is the lifeblood of the industry?.. Watch now

Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider warns that the business must ‘get ready for the storm’ as supply chain challenges are expected to intensify amid the global coronavirus pandemic... Read

A coalition of dietary supplement industry trade associations have come out in support of FDA actions against fraudulent coronavirus treatment claims and have urged retailers to not stock products with such claims on their labels... Read

Dietary supplement retailing giant GNC has announced ‘significant’ layoffs and other measures meant to help the business survive the current economic dislocations caused by the coronavirus crisis... Read

Artificial intelligence platforms could ease pressures on retailers and food manufacturers that desperately need help to meet increased demand for their products, but which are struggling to connect with those who have been laid-off or furloughed due to disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic... Read

After helping to trailblaze the now wildly popular plant-based meat category, the creators of Tofurky are hoping to work their magic again in the dairy-free cheese segment with the launch of new shreds and spreads under its sister-brand Moocho... Watch now

The food industry has moved remarkably quickly to adjust to a sudden and spectacular shift in food consumption towards the home as America goes into lockdown. But there could be significant challenges ahead if more countries block food exports, while movement restrictions could impact the supply of vital labor, say supply chain experts... Watch now

Over the past few weeks, big food manufacturers have leveraged the strength of their operations and logistics capabilities to combat the spread of COVID-19. Many are also supporting their employees with additional compensation, cash bonuses, waived health care fees, and financial support for childcare services. Below is a roundup of some of the top food companies’ responses to the global pandemic... Read

While some shoppers have shared photos of empty meat cases next to fully-stocked shelves of plant-based meat on social media, the latest Nielsen data suggests that retail sales of meat alternatives increased significantly in March alongside their animal-based counterparts. However, brands that have focused on foodservice face significant near-term challenges... Read

The challenges of feeding healthy food to children who are notoriously picky eaters often are compounded when an allergy is added into the mix – which is why when the founder of the gluten-free baked goods brand Mikey’s introduced a line of stuffed pockets he did so with an eye towards both the nutritional and emotional needs of kids... Watch now

Despite surging sales of milk, cheese and butter as consumers pantry-stock and prepare more meals at home amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, dairy producers are struggling as prices at the farm gate have plummeted, major markets have evaporated and processing facilities have not yet adapted to new market demands, according to industry stakeholders and analysts... Read

The FDA is providing temporary flexibility on packaging and labeling requirements for eggs sold at retail so firms can redirect product designed for institutions and restaurants towards retailers during the COVID-19 pandemic... Read

CEO of snacking company That's How We Roll, the parent company to national brands ParmCrisps and Thinsters cookie thins, feels cautiously optimistic about how the CPG industry will fare during and post COVID-19... Read

Americans are drinking more coffee than ever before – and not just because fears of coronavirus are keeping them up at night or because they suddenly need an energy boost as they navigate new demands that strain work-life balance... Listen now

Global ingredients giant Ingredion has struck a deal to acquire a controlling (75%) stake in stevia supplier PureCircle, which has been going through a period of extreme turbulence in recent months, prompting the suspension of its shares and the installation of a new management team... Read

With the release of its new YO-MIX PRIME yogurt cultures, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences says it has entered a new chapter of yogurt formulation offering manufacturers and consumers a more consistent product that maintains a mild taste profile throughout the shelf life... Read

Monk fruit (Luo Han Guo) is best known as a source of high intensity natural sweeteners, but it could also emerge as an intriguing new source of fiber, claims Ingredients by Nature, which has developed a ‘sweet fiber’ from the pomace of monk fruit called MonkFiber... Read

Concerned that not all customers are following the medical community’s repeated recommendations of social distancing, Walmart has put stricter measures in place across its stores... Read

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has ordered health food stores to close in his state, prompting pushback from dietary supplement industry stakeholders... Read