As summer temperatures steadily rise, staying properly hydrated amidst the humidity is something of an art form. With an increasing number of consumers already rejecting carbonated soft drinks for health reasons—combined with the dehydrating effects sugary beverages can potentially have on the body—its seems the temperature's just right for the bottled water market to thrive.

American snackers love their nutritional bars, finds market research publisher Packaged Facts in the report Nutritional and Cereal Bars in the U.S., 4th Edition. Nutritional bars are a handy way for consumers to stop eating three meals a day at set times and to start consuming smaller portions of food throughout the day, whether they are on the go or at home.

The majority of U.S. consumers take note of the nutritional content and/or ingredients in the groceries they buy, according to market research publisher Packaged Facts in the report Gluten-Free Foods in the U.S., 5th Edition. Reflecting a trend that has consumers increasingly rejecting artificial additives, long ingredients lists, and unpronounceable food ingredients, 55% of the respondents to Packaged Facts' Online Consumer Survey favor packaged groceries with fewer and simpler ingredients.

Shifting household dynamics are changing the way Americans shop for groceries. Most notably is the diversification of the primary store shopper with moms no longer always assuming this role exclusively, according to market research publisher Packaged Facts in the recently released report, Retail Food Marketing Trends in the U.S.: Technology, Mobile, and Social Media.

Few foods are as essential to the American diet as the versatile and ubiquitous sandwich. Research indicates the sandwich is a staple food across the full spectrum of U.S. adults regardless of gender, age, household income, race, or geographic location. Roughly 79% of all adults have eaten a sandwich in the past seven days, according to data published in the all-new Packaged Facts report, Sandwiches: Market Trends and Opportunities.

America's Foodies have a well-known love for the type of culinary adventure and food tourism that takes the taste buds on a journey through the new, the novel, and the unique.

Campbell Soup's announced the acquisition of Garden Fresh Gourmet—a Ferndale, Michigan-based marketer of refrigerated salsa, hummus, and dips—reflects an industry-wide shift among food manufacturing giants to the fresher, livelier supermarket perimeter and to natural/organic products.

The ongoing competition between dairy and dairy alternatives is only beginning to reach its apex and will continue to intensify over the next several years as consumers grow more comfortable with milk alternatives and scrutiny of dairy products escalates, finds market research publisher Packaged Facts in the report Dairy and Dairy Alternative Beverage Trends in the U.S.

Packaged Facts estimates that U.S. retail sales for dairy and dairy alternative beverages reached $24 billion in 2014, representing a 4% increase from 2013.