The ongoing restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted exhibitors and buyers to recommend a postponement of Kosherfest 2020 which was scheduled for November 11-12, 2020. Diversified Business Communications and Lubicom Business Consulting, co-producers of Kosherfest, are analyzing the results of a survey sent to several thousand exhibitors and buyers… Click here to read […]

Requirements for organic food & beverage products would be tightened up and fraud detection strengthened under regulatory changes now being considered by USDA. The proposed regulations, released Aug. 5, “are intended to protect integrity in the organic supply chain and build consumer and industry trust in the USDA organic label,” according to a USDA news release. They […]

Record-keeping will be key for manufacturers wanting to use a gluten-free label for foods that are fermented or hydrolyzed or that contain fermented or hydrolyzed ingredients. The US Food and Drug Administration on Aug. 12 issued a final rule, which may be found here, that establishes requirements for such gluten-free labeling. The FDA listed examples of […]

Dive Brief: Diageo and Pilot Lite, a venture management company, launched Pulpex Limited, a sustainable packaging technology company. The companies created what they call “the world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle, made entirely from sustainably sourced wood.” The bottle will debut with Johnnie Walker scotch whisky in early 2021. Pulpex Limited created a […]

Food manufacturers, processors and distributors have seen high demand during the Covid-19 crisis, as consumers strove to keep pantries stocked and refrigerators full to comply with stay at home orders. Yet the situation across the sector is uneven and the industry will face significant challenges as lock-downs are lifted. Many companies will need to rethink […]

Coca-Cola, Unilever and Hershey are joining the group of companies that are pausing, reevaluating or even stopping their marketing on Facebook and other social media. Criticism of the role of social media in promulgating hate speech and political division has been mounting in the wake of nationwide protests over racial injustice. As a result, prominent […]

More than four out of five consumers say the coronavirus pandemic has changed their food habits, driving them to cook, eat, shop and think about food differently, according to the annual Food & Health Survey from the International Food Information Council. A total of 85% said they were doing something differently, with about 60% cooking […]

Bayonne NJ….The Bartenura Moscato Wine, a bestseller for the Royal Wine Company, is now available in a can, “a trend we’ve been watching for a while,” says Nathan Herzog of the Royal Wine Company. “We pride ourselves in innovation and this new convenience for wine lovers will enhance their experience whether at home or on […]

Secaucus NJ…Plans for the upcoming Kosherfest, November 11-12 (Meadowlands Exposition Center), went into high gear as the show will unveil many firsts in addition to being a major celebration. Kosherfest will be the first major international food show of 2020 in the aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic. For the kosher food community, there is much […]

Daily online sales for grocery jumped 110% in April, according to Adobe’s Digital Economy Index (DEI). This is, of course, due to the current pandemic, which is driving e-commerce across the board. But will it last? That’s the question. Some big packaged food companies are acting like they think it might, including PepsiCo, which recently launched […]

Food prices jumped last month in American supermarkets but fell worldwide, due in large part to the coronavirus pandemic, according to statistics from the federal government and the United Nations. Food prices rose 1.5% in April over March, and prices for food consumed at home went up 2.6%, according to the Consumer Price Index put out by […]

In a call with Yahoo Finance on Tuesday afternoon, Beyond Meat founder Ethan Brown sounds like a man ready to get his earnings day over quickly so he could start executing on what may be a defining summer in the 11-year history of his plant-based meat outfit. Amid a shortage of traditional meat and poultry as […]

A possible disruption in the food-supply chain isn’t expected to leave the supermarket’s meat aisle completely bare, but it may leave shoppers with their less-preferred cuts — and paying slightly more for them, too. Industry analysts and insiders have been warning of possible meat shortages since earlier this month, after several of the nation’s larger meat-processing plants […]

Numerous trade shows have been canceled this year due to the pandemic, but the desire among retailers and suppliers to connect — and for show organizers to recoup losses — remains strong. As COVID-19 continues to impact the food industry, the willingness to share best practices, learn about new industry developments and to just commiserate […]

The coronavirus pandemic has led to an uptick in purchases as consumers stockpile food and spend more time at home, or are simply reluctant to venture out as often to the grocery store. Nearly every food company has touted the benefits. Nestlé has seen a spike in demand for its coffee, frozen meals and home baking […]

  FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (April 15, 2020) Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing what it believes to be the first authentic Kosher Whiskey, under the guidance of the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc-Kosher). Buffalo Trace began working with cRc in 2010.  The new whiskey is available in three styles, Kosher Rye Recipe Bourbon; Kosher Wheat Recipe Bourbon; […]

According to statistics commissioned from the SPINS market research firm, U.S. retail sales of plant-based foods rose 11.4% last year, for a total market value of $5 billion. Dollar sales jumped 29% during the past two years, the Plant Based Foods Association and The Good Food Institute reported, compared to 4% for total U.S. retail food dollar […]

Experts agree that Amazon Go Grocery is impressive — a technological marvel able to efficiently crunch massive quantities of data as shoppers pick out fresh fruit, snag doughnuts and fresh meals, pour their own coffee and bag everything up before simply walking out of the store. But sources interviewed by Grocery Dive say they’re not […]

Products that win awards at the annual Kosherfest New Product Competition can increase sales by as much as 30%, a Kosher Today survey showed. Many of the interviewed winners felt that their winning products get noticed more by consumers and are more likely to get on shelves with the award. Natalie Glazier of Au Bon […]

Washington DC…The recently concluded trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada (USMCA) will have little impact on kosher, a survey by Kosher Today concluded. Some kosher food industry experts are still analyzing the details and especially the impact on dairy. Canada and Mexico are the first and third largest exports markets for United States […]

About 90% of online food orders placed during the Super Bowl this year are expected to be first-time users of online food delivery services, according to findings from Polly, a tool from artificial intelligence-driven market research company Advanced Symbolics. Among Super Bowl fans, Polly found 52% of people are aware of Instacart, while 12% of […]

An “absolute insatiable (consumer) appetite for more CBD” products will spur companies in dairy to consider rolling out products even if the FDA hasn’t established a clear framework allowing their use in food and beverage products, the head of a group representing the nation’s dairy manufacturers, marketers and suppliers said on Monday. “Industry is moving and […]

Kashrus officials from all over the world gathered at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in Woodbridge, New Jersey, for the annual conference of Association of Kashrus Organizations (AKO) on December 31, 2019 – January 2, 2020. It included a bus trip to Met Life Stadium for the 13th Siyum Hashas, completion of the Talmud. More […]

Improving digital payment capabilities is important for food retailers as it creates a more seamless checkout process and can boost loyalty. According to Blackhawk, mobile wallet adoption is on the rise and can create about $1.9 billion in transactional value in the U.S. by 2021. Juniper Research estimates 2.1 billion customers around the world use mobile wallets […]

Brooklyn, NY….It was a Chanukah to remember for many kosher food retailers as some noted double-digit increases over 2018 by as much as 13% – 15%. Many stores consider Chanukah their third busiest holiday after Passover and Rosh Hashanah (High Holy Days). In most cases the sales growth was more likely to have been experienced […]

The USDA regulation mandating identification of food ingredients with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) went into effect on New Year’s Day but is still plagued by uncertainty. The regulation, called the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, requires food processors to inform consumers, in various ways, if a product contains GMOs. Although it technically went into effect on Jan. […]

2019 was a very eventful year for the kosher food industry, documented regularly in Kosher Today. Our big story of the year was the news that after several decades of revolving corporate ownership, the Manischewitz Company is back in a family portfolio, this time the distinguished Herzog family. Here briefly are the kosher stories that […]

Ongoing transparency and education about technology-driven foods will be needed in order to encourage more consumers to give them a shot. Even though more than half the population is receptive to lab-grown products, more than 40% in this poll said lab-produced or synthetic foods and beverages are “scary” and they have no plans to add […]

Aldi and Whole Foods are looking to simplify holiday entertaining for shoppers, and they’re turning to a crowd pleaser: cheese. With each retailer’s special promotions, the typically pricey, artisanal offering becomes more budget-friendly and will draw shoppers into the store for their holiday grocery needs. Aldi’s holiday cheese offering is complementary to its other products, including its […]

For much of the last two years, Nestlé ​has been overhauling its portfolio to capture growth in the food space and shed underperforming or slow-growing businesses. Last year, Nestlé ​​sold its U.S. chocolate business, a deal that included more than 20 American candy brands like Butterfinger and Baby Ruth, to Ferrero for $2.8 billion. Similar to its exit from candy where it competed […]

For years, Molson Coors has faced declining demand for its iconic brews such as Coors Light and Miller Lite as more consumers gravitate toward craft options, Mexican imports, wine and spirits. People also are embracing new drink categories such as hard seltzers, coffees and ciders.   Cold brew is a wildly popular coffee option even if the […]

The average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 increased just one cent this year to $48.91, or less than $5 per person, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)…. The organization conducted an informal survey that looked at the price of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin […]

Once again, the largest growth number at Walmart was its e-commerce sales, with grocery serving as the major sales driver. The retail giant now offers pickup from roughly 3,100 locations and same-day grocery delivery from more than 1,400 stores. Services like in-home delivery and an “unlimited” delivery subscription have rolled out in recent months, with the aim of deepening […]

Although the choice to snack instead of sitting down for a full meal has increased across the board, younger generations, who are concerned with their overall health and easy access to food, overwhelmingly prefer it. But health and convenience aren’t the only factors driving this increased interest in snacking, which could mean it is a long-lasting […]