Mintel, the experts in what consumers want and why, released new research analyzing the current economic environment compared to that of the Great Recession, including insight on the economic indicators that will play a role in predicting consumer spending in the months and years ahead.

The US consumer packaged goods industry increased by 2.2% in 2019, outpacing 2018 growth of 2.0%, according to the eighth annual Boston Consulting Group (BCG)/IRI CPG study released at the end of March. The growth was driven exclusively by pricing adjustments in the face of declining average volumes across measured channels. Despite the volume drop, top growth leaders saw their volumes increase over 2018.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to alter consumer behaviors permanently and cause lasting structural changes to the consumer goods and retail industries, according to findings of an Accenture survey of more than 3,000 consumers in 15 countries across five continents.

The food manufacturing world is watching an unprecedented reality unfold during the COVID-19 pandemic. Major shifts in demand, distribution, sales and supply chain have some companies scrambling to respond to significant disruptions to the status quo.

As an industry we’ve read lots of published research on consumer attitudes and purchase behavior during the COVID-19 crisis. Those who manage existing food and beverage brands have been in the thick of it, dealing with huge swings in demand, closures, new operating procedures, and the like.

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold around the world, food and beverage manufacturers have maintained sound economic footing due to acute consumer demand for a broad range of food and beverage products.

Technomic released the Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report, which ranks each top chain by sales performance for the previous year. This year's report includes insight into what to expect for 2020.

The CPG industry has never been under more pressure as it faces a global pandemic, an impending recession, soaring unemployment, ubiquitous social distancing and unparalleled consumer fear across the US.

At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, grocery shopping behavior changed seemingly overnight. The question for many retailers and manufacturers is how the current crisis will impact future shopping behavior once the country returns to a new normal.

The Specialty Food Association's (SFA) 66th annual Summer Fancy Food Show scheduled for June 28-30 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York will not take place as planned due to events outside SFA's control - notably the national and global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel restrictions, and the Javits Center's critical service in fighting the pandemic that impacts the facility's availability.