Teens can get a free pass this summer at one nationwide gym, Michelle Obama’s new food company
Retail grocer news, food/indigenous food news
Tools to save money, how the retail grocer market is changing and rural communities losing grocers are all forces in
Food and health in the news
Much is happening in food and health news and a report about misinformation and science education has
The Latest Food News
Food continues to be a fast-changing landscape: how we pay for it, consumer and grocer viewpoints and food waste! Of
Read about air fryers to extreme food budgeting
A lot is going on in the ‘heads up nutrition educators’ space from Lunchables coming to school meals (at what
Groceries…they are chock full of news!
by Ellen Schuster, MS
************************************************************************************** A lot is happening at grocery stores (when is it not?). Interesting new observation…shoppersLast look at 2022, looking ahead to 2023
In just a few years everyone now seems to have joined the future casting food and drink trend bandwagon. One
Beginning 2023: Looking back and moving forward.
As we begin 2023 we look back and forward:
- U.S. life expectancy drops largely due to COVID and drug overdoses
Schuster’s Blog: New Year’s resolutions, eating out, grocery aisles and more
The New Year often comes with resolutions to eat better or be more active. Many may find this New Year
Schuster’s Blog: Inflation, grandfamilies, and SNAP
Families with limited resources are being squeezed on all sides.
- Overall inflation has slowed yet food prices increased over the
Schuster’s Blog: WIC Foods, SNAP, Rewards Programs and More
A soft drink vending machine at the checkout of a shoe store? My first thought when I saw this 8
Schuster’s Blog: Grocery retail, competition, food deserts and more.
A new ‘Big 3’ in grocery retail? Higher food prices? Less competition? More food deserts? These are some of the
Schuster’s Blog: A proposed new definition of a ‘healthy’ claim for food and a new look at foods like SlimFast, pizza and more!
FDA’s proposed ‘healthy’ claim: background, reactions, impact…
- FDA webinar about the ‘healthy’ claim proposal (https://www.specialtyfood.com/news/article/fda-presents-stakeholder-webinar-on-healthy-labeling-claim/); view the 10/21/2022 FDA
The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health – now what?
The recent conference, now in the rearview mirror, was historic considering the last one of its kind was in 1969.
Schuster’s Blog: High food prices: private labels, other deals/strategies
How times have changed! Store brands/private/generic labels were considered as inferior to brand names just a few years ago. The
Schuster’s Blog: Universal school meals, ultra-processed food, Lucky Charms update and more.
As some states support school meals, some colleges cut back on dining options, a new cereal on-the-go (no milk needed),
Schuster’s Blog: School Meals and More
As students head back to school, school meal challenges continue (supply chain issues, staffing, need to charge for meals, school
Social media, on shelves, sports gambling in grocery stores & more
Two stories of note:
- This fall UMass Amherst will be the first university to provide ratings of the carbon footprint of
Food and Food Buying News
From the consumer lens…
**INFLATION/ONLINE SHOPPING/COUPONS/BUY NOW PAY LATER (BNPL)/IMPULSE BUYING & SOCIAL MEDIA/SHOPPABLE CONTENT: Inflation prompts interest in food private
Schusterer’s Blog — Health and Wellness
In an overview, six categories of retail health and wellness are identified:
- health
- fitness
- wellness-oriented nutrition
- wellness-oriented appearance (Twinings Glow
Food environment changes…are these the changes we want?
Scanning the changing food environment is interesting but sometimes scary. Note this: Is the future of food the future we
2022 Deep Dives: Food Delivery, Food Recalls, Food as a Lifestyle, and More!
It’s 2022 and time to dive deep into some issues: food e-commerce (buying produce online; how fast food delivery affects
What Will Trend In 2022?
Overview: This year’s 2022 predictions are very consistent, popular trends include: foods/ingredients that support health/brain health, foods to address immunity
The Latest in Food and Tech
Projected online grocery shopping, food delivery more expensive, food pickup, grocery smart carts, social media marches on in the food
Text to shop, buy now, pay later for groceries…oh my!
Food is increasingly easier to access with online shoppable content, Walmart’s testing of text to shop and other developments. In
FDA Summit: Ensuring the Safety of Foods Ordered Online and Delivered Directly to Consumers
The summit has ended but you can view it online (links to each day is below). Agenda. Comments/input to FDA
Inequity, Diversity, The Ethnic Aisle, Food Dignity and More…
A collection of resources, thought-provoking articles (cultural humility and the Thrifty Food Plan, food photography diversity, the ‘ethnic’ aisle, the
2020 – 2025 DGA-related free online recorded webinars and other resources
Updated HHS DGAs toolkit includes consumer fact sheets
Webinars...
3-part webinar series on the 2020 DGAs (American Society for Nutrition) -
School Meal Challenges as the 2021/2022 School Year Begins
It’s the perfect storm...increased food and fuel prices, vendors closing or deciding to no longer work with school districts, drought,
Is Hosting a Podcast in Your Future?
In 2005 ‘podcast’ became the ‘word of the year’ according to New Oxford Dictionary. In 8 short years, 2013, Apple
Having a hard time keeping track of plant-based options?
Plant-based options are virtually everywhere yet there may be some surprises about where you can find them below. This is
Cool plant-based ice creams are hot; DIY frozen treats
Have you seen the crowded the ice cream with its many vegan/plant-based options? Read on to see how they fare
More Views of the Future
Additional perspectives on 2021 trends, pandemic changes and online grocery shopping and older adults. At the close of 2020 I
Two Views of the Food System: Food Everywhere / Vegetarian Food Relief
Food is everywhere...accessible if you can afford it yet many are food insecure. And some of the food insecure are
The State of SNAP and Online E-commerce
SNAP online grocery e-commerce has grown exponentially in a short period of time. What is the retail perspective? The
BIPOC & Women-Centered Food and Agriculture
If you are not currently aware of how to find BIPOC/women-owned/operated farms, food boxes, food brands, dining and more, read
Best Plant-Based Food Retailers; BIPOC and Vegan/Plant-Based Eating
Plant-based continues to have a high profile in foodservice and food retail. The term appeared in the 1970s and
Be Caffeine Aware for Caffeine Awareness Month (March)
Created by the Caffeine Awareness Alliance formed in 2003 to advocate for a caffeine-free industry, this caffeine awareness observance is
Do Supermarkets Help Shoppers Find Healthy Groceries Online? How do Retailers Increase Online Impulse Buys?
The digital grocery shopping environment is evolving. More shoppers are online seeking healthy foods. Concurrently, retailers are already using/developing new