Weekly Roundup – Week of 7.4.2022
July 8, 2022
This week’s roundup highlights our top food-and-beverage-related news stories of the week, curated from our team of strategists and food enthusiasts:
Automated Food Systems Score Big On College Campuses
Sidewalk delivery robots have been bringing food, snacks, and late-night cravings to students on campuses across the U.S. Now, Chartwells Higher Education announced the expansion of its automated Picnic Pizza Station after successful pilot programs at Texas A&M and the University of Chicago. Originally developed to combat labor challenges and increasing food costs, the company discovered that the Picnic Station also caters to curious, digitally savvy Gen Zers open to automated technologies and all-day eating experiences. Read The Full Article.
Startup Creates Gen Z Food Brands, Pairing Influencers With Restaurants
According to a new article from Modern Retail, the startup company Popchew is leveraging the creator community by developing Gen Z-geared food brands to help “mom-and-pop” restaurants generate additional revenue streams. Influencer-led concepts are brainstormed and crafted in Popchew’s New York City test kitchen with recipes and ingredients supplied by the startup. Popchew supports these new influencer brands with marketing materials and launch videos and utilizes Popchew’s network of restaurants to fulfill orders locally. The article states that both the creator and restaurant split weekly revenue stipends with Popchew taking a part of the profits. Learn More.
Food Industry Association Reports on Consumer Shopping Trends
Food Industry Association’s (FMI) newest report, Future Outlook, examines six grocer shopping insights and predictions. One insight highlights fractured grocery shopping spending, from mass retailers to supermarkets to online grocery orders, having shoppers exercising a hybrid approach across multiple channels and methods. Trading up for premium products, such as plant-based alternatives, fresh meats and seafood, and baby food, is another trend the report noted. Even shifting approaches to eating in terms of dieting and health claims made their list. See All Predictions Here.
Coca-Cola Expands Offerings In Frozen Category
To accelerate its frozen platform and attract younger millennials and Gen Z with a goal of becoming a “total beverage company”, Coca-Cola continues to push beyond iconic soda brands and offerings. This summer the company is combining two popular frozen lines—Minute Maid Classic Lemonade and Gold Peak Southern Sweet Tea—to create its version of an Arnold Palmer. Coca-Cola is also experimenting with different textures for frozen drinks and plans to roll out a limited “What the Fanta” promotion offering a variety of mystery flavors in multiple formats. Find The Story Here.
A New Study Indicates ‘Hangry’ Is Real, Impacting Mood & Eating Habits
Researchers discovered a link between feelings of hunger and negative emotions according to a new study. Volunteers were asked to record their hunger levels and emotional states five times per day and report their behaviors “such as emotionally induced eating, food consumption prompted by seeing others eat, and any restrictive eating.” The study found that the hungrier people got, the angrier and more irritable they became. Susan Carnell, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, says she’s not surprised at the findings. “There are increasing studies in psychiatry linking the gut and brain. The gut communicates with the brain through various pathways—hormones, for example, and the vagus nerve,” Carnell relays. Could food companies cater to “hangry” consumers by promoting their all-day wholesome snacks or grab-and-go items to curb hunger and irritable behaviors? Read More.
Stop back each week to read our latest top stories!
