Americans’ Appetite for Fresh Foods Drives Consolidation in Convenience Stores

Consumer demand for fresh food is transforming US convenience stores. Stores with dine-in options account for 58% of spending, driven by larger chains’ expansion and M&A.

In the US, consumer spending at convenience stores (c-stores) that offer fresh foods and beverages is increasing. These enhanced c-stores, often housed in upgraded and larger locations with dine-in options, now account for 58% of all spending at c-stores, up from 48% five years ago. Data indicates that c-stores offering a broader range of fresh food options...

Circana Reveals Value-Based Deals, Not Just Price, Drive 54 Billion Global Foodservice Visits

The foodservice industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in consumer behavior, with value emerging as the primary driver behind purchasing decisions worldwide, accounting for 54 billion visits annually, according to the latest Circana™ research. As inflation continues to challenge household budgets, consumers are looking beyond the lowest price point, prioritizing value, quality, and flexibility.

The emphasis on value is reshaping how foodservice operators approach their deal strategies. Visits driven by deal-based occasions grew faster than non-deal...

Cooking at Home Increases Demand for Refrigerated Transportation

As more consumers pack their grocery carts with fall staples like apples, changing consumer habits around meals and economic pressures are increasing the need for refrigerated shipping. In fact, consumer demand for refrigerated products has continually increased since 2020.

According to the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) and its data platform Unify/IRI, refrigeration sales have increased by 32% over the past five years, and nearly 64% of adults say they save money or control their budget by eating at home...

US Foods 2024 Diner Dispatch Survey Uncovers Surprising Shifts in Diner Preferences

US Foods Holding Corp– one of America’s leading foodservice distributors – today released the results of its 2024 Diner Dispatch survey, which showcases the state of America’s relationship with dining out. Year-over-year data highlights key takeaways that can help operators make informed business decisions to help meet or exceed diner expectations. These include dine-in vs. take-out preferences, spend thresholds, and other key experiential preferences such as favorite restaurant types, wait times and the use of QR code menus...

ANALYSIS: EU Shell Eggs Firming up as Consumption Progresses

The EU is experiencing a firm shell egg market, as it is common to see at this period of the year. However, market players on the supply side report that the overall egg production in the region is not following the strong progression of the demand from consumers and from processors.

According to Eurostats, graded shell eggs in the EU increased value by 6.9% between week 34 at 1,936€/MT (in the middle of August) and week 39 at 2,069€/MT (at the end of September)...

Online Grocery Shopping Surges: VTEX Survey Reveals 69% of Consumers Shop Digitally

VTEX, the composable and complete commerce platform for premier B2C and B2B brands and retailers, released new research on online grocery shopping and consumer preferences. According to the survey findings, of 1,000 U.S. consumers 18 years old and older, 69% of consumers purchase groceries online in some capacity, indicating a strong and growing preference for these services.

As brands and retailers continue to explore the best ways to engage with today's consumers, the survey findings underscore the growing trend and need for grocers to adapt...

Consumer Emphasis on Value and Need-Based Spending Continues in August,Reports Circana

Final wave of back-to-school spending is delayed, but there are opportunities to disrupt evolving consumer behavior and future shopping seasons

Traditional retail milestones, like the back-to-school shopping season, are being reshaped by changing consumer behavior, according to Circana™, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior. During the four weeks ending August 31, 2024, total U.S. retail sales revenue across the combined view of discretionary general merchandise and consumer packaged goods (CPG) declined 1% when compared...

South Korean Restaurant Locations in the U.S. Grow 10% Over the Past Year

Circana™, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, today released new research highlighting South Korea’s rising influence on the U.S. foodservice industry. Korean restaurants, foods, beverages, and flavors are experiencing rapid growth, with the number of Korean restaurant locations increasing by 10% in the past year alone. The surge has been fueled by expansion across both full-service restaurant (FSR) and quick-service restaurant (QSR) segments...

Circana Research Reveals 86% of Eating Occasions Sourced from Home Over Past Year

Despite easing inflation, ongoing economic challenges drive shifts in consumers’ eating patterns both in and away from home

Circana™, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, recently released a new report providing a complete view of food and beverage consumption trends, both at home and away from home. The 39th annual report, “Eating Patterns in America,” highlights a growing trend toward at-home dining over the past year, with 86% of eating occasions sourced from home. While retail volumes show modest growth...

FMI Research: Shoppers Feel in Control of Their Grocery Spending

Consumers are adapting their shopping strategies to include more flexibility as they attempt to control their grocery spending heading into the fall, according to the latest survey conducted by FMI – The Food Industry Association and The Hartman Group. The report, U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2024: Return to Routine, provides a crucial snapshot of how shoppers are finding value and evolving their grocery shopping habits in the current economic environment.

While shoppers report continued concerns regarding inflationary pressures on food and other consumer categories...

Circana Reports on the Future of Dinner: Quick Meals and Invested Occasions Define Consumer Habits

Circana™, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, today released insights from its Future of Dinner report, revealing that U.S. consumers source 81% of their dinners at home and most often enjoy dinner with others. While Gen X prefers dinners that require minimal preparation and few ingredients, Gen Z consumers increasingly invest in special occasion dinners as they hone their kitchen skills, while also seeking no-prep dinner solutions. In fact, half of all dinners are ready in 15 minutes or less...

July Retail Sales Reveal a Summer Vacation From Discretionary Spending, Reports Circana

Total U.S. retail sales across the combined view of discretionary general merchandise and consumer packaged goods (CPG) continued on the path toward a state of equilibrium in July. During the four weeks ending August 3, 2024, overall sales revenue remained level with the same four weeks last year, and unit demand declined 1%. While both food and beverage and non-edible CPG sales revenue increased 1%, with generally flat year-over-year unit performance, discretionary sales remained challenged, with a 3% decline in dollars and a 2%...

Economy Still Growing, But Could be Slowing Enough for Fed to Lower Interest Rates This Year

Key elements of the economy are still growing but appear to have slowed enough to be on track for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates later this year, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said today.

“The consumer environment has kept the expansion on a positive path toward a ‘soft landing’ despite high interest rates,” Kleinhenz said. “Meanwhile, inflation has not yet been fully tamed, but we are seeing progress.”

Kleinhenz’s comments came in the August issue of NRF’s Monthly...

The Retail Rundown: Grocers Vie with Foodservice During Peak Travel Season

Summer is usually the peak demand period for foodservice, as warmer weather encourages vacation plans and out-and-about activities. As more consumers embark on trips, spending is typically increased at restaurants and bars.

Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday showed that restaurant business rose 0.3 percent last month, likely supported by the summer travel season. Overall retail sales in June remained unchanged from May, outpacing expectations for a decline. Stock futures climbed following the stronger-than-expected data, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to... 

January AI and Mars Leverage AI to Generate Product and Consumer Insights

January AI has developed an AI platform, based on digital twin technology, that enables the prediction of consumer reactions to foods without the need for consumption. Working together with Mars, known for snacking, food, and pet care brands, through its research arm, the Mars Advanced Research Institute (MARI), January AI will leverage their artificial intelligence tools to generate new insights that could be used to shape future research and development efforts.

The collaboration combines January AI's advanced digital twin technology with Mars’ significant R&D...

Gen Z Discovers Costco , Sam's Club and the Joy of Buying Groceries in Bulk

With food prices still high, shoppers look for ways to team up with roommates, neighbors and family

Young adults are battling sticker shock at the grocery store by supersizing their groceries. They are turning to bulk purchases, splitting their food costs with friends, roommates, family and neighbors.

Shoppers in their 20s and 30s are trying to fight higher prices by joining warehouse-store giants such as Costco and Sam's Club.

Generation Z shoppers represent the fastest-growing member group at Walmart-owned Sam's Club...

Rubix Foods Launches Influencer Network to Inspire QSR Concept Development

Rubix Foods, a premier culinary and food science-focused provider of flavor and functional ingredients to restaurants, announced today its new insights generator: the NEXT Flavor Network. This exclusive group of taste-making social influencers will collaborate with the Rubix team by channeling the ideas, wants and cravings of their Gen Z audiences, supplying this insight directly to the company's roster of quick-serve restaurant (QSR) customers. This newly established Network will serve as an extension to Rubix's already robust market research and consumer insights department...

Americans Are Planning on Dining out More: Doggy Bags, Happy Hours and Value Meals Surge

With dining costs on the rise, Americans are getting creative to save a few bucks when eating out, according to the latest research from Lightspeed Commerce Inc., the one-stop commerce platform empowering merchants to provide the best omnichannel experiences.

Lightspeed surveyed more than 7,500 dining consumers globally, with 1,500 respondents in the U.S. to better understand how dining trends have evolved in the past year. Some good news for restaurants on the horizon: 51% of respondents said they will either...

Reaching the Consumer: New Research Helps Identify the Future Pork Consumer

Research shows pork consumption is declining across every generation and is at risk of becoming a protein of the past. Baby Boomers have been the primary consumers of fresh pork and they are aging out. Gen Z and Millennials don’t buy fresh pork at the same rate as older generations. The good news is the decline in pork sales is reversible. The pork industry needs to unite around a common goal of making pork relevant to younger consumers.

Following one of the worst years of profitability for pork producers...

Consumers Remain ‘Willing to Spend’ Even as Growth Slows

Shoppers are still willing to buy even as smaller job and wage gains and high interest rates are slowing the growth of consumer spending, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said today.

“U.S. economic growth for the remainder of this year will depend on several factors but particularly the pace of job growth, inflation and what actions will be taken by the Federal Reserve,” Kleinhenz said. “The good news is that the economy is growing, inflation is moderating, and overall fundamentals look fine as increased consumer spending supports underlying momentum.”...

Specialty Food Association Releases New Research, Understanding the Real Value of Specialty Foods 

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has released a second edition of its groundbreaking research report, Understanding the Real Value of Specialty Foods. Built on interviews with 1,000 shoppers, 100 retailers, and other data points, the new report outlines the positive impact of specialty products on retailer profitability and shopper loyalty, impact that has only increased in importance since the first edition came out in 2014.

Describing the current moment as "an era of specialty food prominence," the report notes that sales of specialty products have...

2024 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends Series: How Consumers Are Finding Value at the Grocery Store, FMI

Shoppers enjoy food shopping as much as ever, according to the latest annual survey by FMI – The Food Industry Association, conducted by The Hartman Group. The analysis kicking off this 2024 series, U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends: Finding Value, provides a crucial snapshot of consumer behavior and sentiment in the most frequently purchased consumer category amid ongoing concerns about the impact of inflation on the cost of groceries.

While consumer concerns about food inflation persist, FMI’s newly launched U.S. Grocery Shopper Sentiment Index, which accounts...

Packaged Facts Illuminates the State of the U.S. Food Market

Propriety survey shows that 53% of consumers are still very concerned about rising food prices.

In a dynamic landscape where food and beverage trends evolve faster than ever, Packaged Facts’ latest report, U.S. Food Market Outlook 2024: Opportunities & Challenges With Pricing, Convenience, Sustainability & More, provides a compass for industry players navigating uncharted waters.

The food industry faces unprecedented tests—from supply challenges and rising labor costs to changing consumer preferences and increasing need to address sustainability issues. Packaged Facts’ new report equips retailers, service providers, wholesalers, food processor...

CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Shows Retail Sales Grew in March Amid Wage Gains and Easing Inflation 

Retail sales grew at a steady pace in March, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, released today by the National Retail Federation.

“As inflation for goods levels off, March’s data demonstrates steady spending by value-focused consumers who continue to benefit from a strong labor market and real wage gains,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “In this highly competitive market, retailers are having to keep prices as low as possible to meet the demand of...

Mintec's 2024 US Easter Index

Mintec’s US Easter Index measures price fluctuations across key food commodities that are typically consumed in the US during the Easter period. The US Easter Index compares the commodities’ prices in March 2024 against March 2023 to determine whether consumers will be hypothetically better or worse off this Easter. The Index is comprised of three sub-indices: the US Easter Protein Index represents a selection of meats, fish and eggs that will typically be eaten as part of a main Easter dinner; the US Easter Chocolate Index compares the main...

Circana Announces Top 50 U.S. Restaurants

Circana™, the leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, today released its 2024 Definitive U.S. Restaurant Ranking Report, offering insights into evolving consumer habits, performance trends, and the top players in the industry.

While restaurant traffic saw a modest growth of 1% in 2023 compared to the previous year, a 5% increase in consumer spending was recorded, surpassing the 4% growth observed in 2022. Notably, the industry now stands as a half-a-trillion-dollar juggernaut, with dollars exceeding 2019 levels by 12%, despite traffic remaining 8% below prepandemic levels...

ANALYSIS: A Look at Steak Cuts That Are Soaring and Sinking in 2024

Through nearly the first quarter of the year, the steak cuts within the boxed beef market have traveled down strikingly different paths. While there are several factors impacting the market, there are a handful of key standouts that have impacted some popular cuts as we near the end of the first quarter of 2024.

Let’s start with ribs and tenderloins. These items saw the bulk of seasonal discounting early in the year. Winter storms swept across the nation in January and those helped provide a floor and...

19th Annual Power of Meat Reports Strong Meat Consumption, Evolving Consumer Trends

The number of Americans who describe themselves as meat eaters (80%) and the number of households that purchase meat (98%) remain steady from 2023, while the number seeking to decrease meat consumption has fallen by 20% since 2020, according to the 19th annual Power of Meat report released today by the Meat Institute and FMI—The Food Industry Association.

According to data cited from Circana, overall household penetration averages above 97% for all incomes, ethnicities, household sizes and ages...

Texas Foodservice Industry Surpasses $100 Billion in Sales for the First Time

According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Texas foodservice industry has achieved two major milestones, crossing the $100 billion sales threshold for the first time and graduating to the largest private sector employer in the state, surpassing the healthcare industry. These milestones and new data collected from a diverse group of restaurants across Texas reflect the resiliency of the industry that continues to grapple with the economic shock waves caused by the COVID-19 pandemic...