America’s Eating Patterns Adjusted to a Pandemic and Are Now Adapting to Higher Food Costs

Six macro trends currently shaping food and beverage consumption behaviors

Historically, there has been a rhythm to eating patterns in America; somewhat predictable habits formed by daily routines and needs. The early stages of the pandemic disrupted this rhythm, and just as eating patterns were returning to pre-pandemic normalcy, food inflation set them on end again, reports The NPD Group* in its recently released 2022 edition of Eating Patterns in America.

“The rate of change in U.S. consumers’ eating behaviors continues at a dizzying..."

Holiday Plans: Desire for Food Gifting, Bigger Gatherings & Robust Food Spending Despite Inflation

New Results from Omaha Steaks' Annual Harris Poll of 2,000 Americans Reveals Insights on Holiday Attitudes and Behaviors

Americans are craving experiences and togetherness this holiday season, while also planning to spend more on holiday feasts and gather in larger groups than recent years. These are a few of the findings from the third annual Harris Poll, commissioned by Omaha Steaks gauging Americans on a wide variety of holiday-related food, entertaining and gifting plans. While 7 in 10 Americans (71%) are looking forward to time around...

National Pizza Month: Marco's Pizza® Aims to Help Curb Food Inflation

While inflation continues to skyrocket and grocery prices reach new highs, Marco's provides pizza lovers savings relief without compromising on taste or quality. With grocery bills at a 40-plus year high and items such as eggs increasing nearly 40%, it could be cheaper for a family to order food in than preparing meals at home.

Marco's Pizza, the nation's fastest-growing pizza brand*, encourages consumers to take advantage of its deals during National Pizza Month. While pizza has always been the hero of value, Marco's marries good...

Natural Grocers® Maintains Commitment to Affordable Prices During Record Inflation

"Inflation" is a word at the forefront of many conversations right now—for good reason. From gas stations to department stores, consumers are feeling the pressure of rising prices. Customers at Natural Grocers®, the nation's largest family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer, can shop with confidence knowing they can still get high-quality organic and natural products at Always AffordableSM prices.

ALWAYS AFFORDABLE PRICES: A FOUNDING PRINCIPLE

"Our parents founded Natural Grocers in 1955 with the belief that everyone should have access to affordable healthy..." 

Sales of Food Preservation and Storage Products Grow by Double-Digits As Consumer Demand Increases

With 86% of meals sourced from home, food inflation at a 40-year high, the average U.S. household wasting $1,866 of food each year*, U.S. consumers are storing food and leftovers to stretch their food dollars and meals while reducing food waste. The return to worksites and schools and more extracurricular and outside activities has increased the need to pack food for away-from-home meals and snacks. These needs drive the demand for food storage products, reports The NPD Group. Consumers spent...

What Gas Prices Mean for Restaurants

Starting last spring, prices across the board began to rise as sharp increases in demand for goods and labor intertwined with supply chain disruptions. No particular industry, product or service has been spared by rising costs which have been passed along to consumers. The rate of consumer inflation continued to rise to a 7.9% annual increase in February, the largest jump since 1982, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Foodservice menu prices have also been skyrocketing in this environment, driven by higher raw material and labor costs. Despite this, consumers have continued to...

Denny's Seeks to Help Americans Impacted by Rising Inflation with $6.99 Endless Breakfast Promotion

As inflation reaches historic levels and Americans face rising prices at gas pumps and sticker shock at supermarket checkouts, America's Diner is offering Americans what they are so desperately seeking right now – value for their money – with the launch of a new Endless Breakfast promotion. Now through June 21, Denny's is helping individuals and families stretch their dollars by offering endless fluffy buttermilk pancakes, cheesy scrambled eggs and crispy hash browns starting at $6.99*.

"As Americans are being impacted by a unique mix of..."

SpotOn Unveils Tools to Help Restaurants Boost Profit Margins in the Face of Inflation

Points of Profit” demonstrates how flexible, integrated technology can help restaurants break out of the 5-7% profit margin plateau.

- According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition, 42% of Independent Restaurants that did not receive RRF grants are on the verge of bankruptcy
- SpotOn challenges the restaurant industry’s single-digit profit margin standards, offering guidance and complementary tools for owners and operators to boost profit
- Calculator, whitepaper, and educational sessions offer real-world examples to help restaurants translate insights into action...

First Round of Talks Between Russia and Ukraine Yields No Cease-Fire Agreement

The first round of talks between Russia and Ukraine delegations on Monday did not yield a cease-fire agreement. Both parties returned to their capital cities for consultations and have agreed to meet again in the coming days.

Russian forces continue to make advances into major Ukrainian cities. On Sunday, Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city located between Kharvik and the capital Kyiv. The following day, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, was targeted by Russian rocket attacks that killed at least 11 people, said Oleg Synegubov, the Kharkiv region head. Preliminary figures report that at least 136 Ukrainian civilians had been killed by Russia’s assault, according to the U.N. human rights office. 

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, an estimated 370,000 Ukrainians have fled Ukraine since the country was invaded by Russia last week. The U.N. estimates that the evacuation could swell to as many as 5 million individuals. Volatility continues to grip the global marketplace as Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine entered its sixth day today. 

US stocks and commodity markets are reacting severely to the war amid widespread uncertainty surrounding the future of Ukraine. Ukraine is one of the world’s top corn and wheat producers and exporters. Along with crude oil, Russia is a major producer of metals including aluminum. In recent sessions, grain futures on the CME are posting drastic price fluctuations. In early action Tuesday, ..

Chicken Council Responds to Politicized Criticisms of Food Inflation

The most recent drumbeat from the White House National Economic Council (NEC) blaming the meat and poultry industry for their failed policies and rising meat prices came yesterday in a blog post. Let’s look at the facts according to the federal government’s own data.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.9 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.8 percent...