In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the latest Gen Z drinking trend that's poised to impact the alcohol industry.

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the latest in the vertical farming category.

This Episode is Sponsored by: Performance Foodservice How important is it as a food distributor to build a brand for foodservice – especially since consumers may never see or recognize it? Mike Seidel, vice president of procurement at Performance Foodservice Corporate, shares how the company views the development of its existing foodservice brands, including Roma and Contigo, and how they helped in the creation of its most recent Mediterranean concept Zebec.  More about Mike Seidel: Michael Seidel is the corporate Vice President of Procurement for Performance Foodservice, one of the largest broadline foodservice distributors in the country. “Mike” brings to his role 28 years of sales, procurement, and leadership experience within the foodservice industry. In 2025, Mike is celebrating his fourteenth year with Performance Foodservice.   Over the course of 14 years from 1997, Mike held multiple sales and procurement roles at a Sysco operating company including Marketing Associate and Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing.   Mike served as a member of the Executive Board of Directors for the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and was recently reappointed to the Board of Directors for NFI, to a term ending in late 2027. Mike currently serves as a board member of Circana Supply Track. Mike is an elected Manager of NFI’s Better Seafood Board and is on the planning committee for the Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC). Mike, annually, co-hosts or participates in GSMC panelist discussions. Mike is a delegated member of the Procurement Council for the Independent Procurement Alliance Program (IPAP).   During his career, Mike has testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission, on three occasions, regarding certain ripe olives and shrimp. Mike is an active speaker/presenter for various foodservice industry events.  He is married, lives in the Richmond, Virginia area, and has four children and one grandchild.   More About Performance Foodservice: Performance Foodservice is one of the nation’s largest foodservice distributors, delivering quality ingredients, reliable service, and on-time consistency. With 125,000+ products and 67 distribution centers, we serve over 100,000 customers coast to coast. From restaurants and hotels to schools and healthcare, operators trust us for both food and non-food essentials that keep kitchens running. Backed by a best-in-class fleet and passionate associates, Performance Foodservice is more than a distributor—we’re your partner in growth and success.  Learn more: http://performancefoodservice.com/   More About Zebec: Zebec is Performance Foodservice’s exclusive brand of specialty Mediterranean foods and ingredients, inspired by the 16th-century sailing ships that once carried flavors and traditions across the sea. Just like those fast, agile vessels, Zebec delivers authentic spices, bold flavors, and versatile ingredients that make it easy for operators to bring the Mediterranean to their menus. From falafel to grilled chicken skewers, every item is crafted with quality and convenience in mind—helping passionate restaurateurs, whether inspired by global traditions or family roots, add an exciting Mediterranean twist to their offerings. With Zebec, a bold upgrade to the menu is always within reach.  Learn more: https://www.performancefoodservice.com/Products-and-Services/Our-Family-of-Brands/Zebec

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the roots of the deadly Listeria outbreak that has impacted several U.S. states.

Food for Thought Leadership co-host Chris Campbell sits down with Robyn Carter, founder and CEO of Jump Rope Innovation, to explore the concept of the “return to real” in today’s food industry. With so much of life filtered through screens, algorithms, and ad-driven messaging, consumers are now seeking real food, real stories, and real connection. Robyn lays out how this trend is reshaping not only what we eat, but how we shop, dine, and engage with brands. Looking ahead, Robyn highlights the next frontier of the trend: longevity and women’s health, and deeper provenance through farm-to-table narratives. Whether you’re a CPG brand, a retailer, or a food-service operator, this conversation offers timely insights and actionable ideas to align your strategy with a consumer mindset that values what’s real. More About Robyn Carter: Robyn Carter is the founder and CEO of Jump Rope Innovation, a best-in-class trends and innovation consultancy based just outside NYC. Founded in 2005, Jump Rope brings a human-centered approach to innovation through immersive research, trend insights, and co-creation techniques. Beginning her career in advertising, Robyn held roles in Account Management and New Business, working on iconic brands including Capri Sun, Kool-Aid, and Red Stripe. She was a Partner and Account Supervisor at Ogilvy, where she helped develop and implement communications strategy for the global Maxwell House brand. Robyn is a co-founder of IT! Factor, a groundbreaking Influencer research and innovation tool. She is also a host of the Ask an Influencer podcast, sharing insights and advice for brands based on learnings from category influencers. She is a renowned moderator and has been a featured guest on numerous panels and podcasts, including BevNet Community Call. Connect with Robyn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-carter-72b4391/ Listen, Share and Subscribe to Ask An Influencer here or anywhere you listen to podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qfOAuHGyzIEznmwBnAX8D?si=2606fb21856e403d More About Jump Rope Innovation: At Jump Rope Innovation, we’re a team of curious, collaborative problem-solvers. We’re strategists, researchers, and creative thinkers, driven by the thrill of discovery and a commitment to true understanding. We specialize in uncovering insights that spark breakthrough innovation, activation and communication. We help our clients to develop their gut for the consumer and to use this understanding to develop bold, meaningful strategies that resonate today—and tomorrow. Find us online at https://jumpropeinnovation.com/ And follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jumpropeinnovation/ on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@jumpropeinnovation Learn More: LinkedIn:  Jump Rope Innovation: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jump-rope-innovation/ Robyn Carter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-carter-72b4391/ Podcast: Ask An Influencer: https://www.instagram.com/jumpropeinnovation/ Instagram: Jump Rope Innovation: https://www.instagram.com/jumpropeinnovation/ Ask an Influencer: https://www.instagram.com/askaninfluencerpodcast/ TikTok: Jump Rope Innovation: https://www.tiktok.com/@jumpropeinnovation?lang=en

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the growing concern surrounding retail shrink in America. 

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the government shutdown's impact on the U.S. restaurant industry.

As the leading consumer products accelerator, SKU has helped launch and scale some of the most innovative brands in CPG. At the center of that mission is Michelle Breyer, SKU’s Chief Marketing Officer and a serial entrepreneur who knows what it takes to build lasting consumer brands. In this episode, Michelle shares how SKU empowers founders to navigate early-stage challenges, the marketing strategies that separate breakout brands from the rest, and why mentorship remains the foundation of SKU’s success. She also offers a look ahead at the trends and categories poised to define the next decade of CPG innovation. More about Michelle Bryer: Michelle Breyer is a visionary entrepreneur who took a personal frustration over her curly hair and built it into NaturallyCurly — the largest social-media platform for hair. She was named one of the 50 Most Influential People in the Multicultural Market by Women's Wear Daily. Since it was founded in 1998, NaturallyCurly company grew to include an ecommerce site, a consumer insights division and an experiential marketing company. The company has worked with numerous companies, including L’Oreal, Unilever, Walmart and Sephora to help them develop, launch, position and merchandise the products to this valuable consumer. The company developed the popular curl type system that now is the standard for the industry. NaturallyCurly was acquired in 2018 by Essence Ventures. Michelle is an advisor and mentor for several haircare brands. Before launching NaturallyCurly, Michelle was a business reporter with daily newspapers in Texas and California, focusing on retail, real estate and consumer products. A year-long special project on the explosive growth of Whole Foods Markets won several state and national awards. Michelle currently is the Chief Marketing Officer at SKU, the nation’s first CPG accelerator. She joined SKU as a mentor, working with emerging brands to help them scale. More about SKU: We educate and equip market-validated consumer product companies for growth into world class brands. Learn more at: https://sku.is/

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine how tariffs are influencing consumer cutbacks in America.

Is the future of flavor increasingly borderless? Valda Coryat, vice president of marketing for condiments and sauces at McCormick, reveals how curiosity powers McCormick’s flavor foresight, why segmentation by “flavor personality” matters, and how flavors are becoming more culturally driven. More about Valda Coryat: More about McCormick: McCormick & Company, Inc. is a global leader in flavor. With our diverse and balanced flavor portfolio, we are ideally positioned to meet the increasing demand for flavor around the world. Learn more at https://www.mccormickcorporation.com/.

What does it take to lead innovation for some of the world’s most beloved snack brands? And how do you balance creativity, technology, and sustainability to shape the future of food? In this episode of Food for Thought Leadership, The Food Institute’s Rebecca Fryer sits down with Dr. Deepali Palta, vice president of Global R&D, Innovation, and Sustainability at Kellanova, for a deep dive into the science, strategy, and spirit driving the next generation of food innovation. Dr. Palta shares how her leadership philosophy—rooted in curiosity, courage, and connection—guides her team to reimagine iconic brands like Cheez-It and Pringles for a global audience. She discusses Kellanova’s mission to unite innovation and sustainability, its “CBT” framework (Consumer, Business, and Technology), and how responsible use of digital tools and AI is transforming how food companies innovate. Additionally, the pair explores what it means to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing industry—balancing data with human insight, honoring brand legacies while embracing disruption, and building a more connected, sustainable future for food worldwide. More about Dr. Deepali Palta: Dr. Deepali Palta is Vice President of Global R&D Innovation & Sustainability for Kellanova, previously Kellogg Company.  In this role, Dr. Palta drives a science and technology-led agenda with her team to deliver consumer-centric top and bottom-line innovation pipeline while advancing Kellanova’s packaging sustainability agenda forward. She joined Kellanova/Kellogg in November 2021. Since then, she has led the Wellness agenda and Global Value Transformation agenda delivering both in-year savings and robust pipeline for the future. Prior to joining Kellogg, Dr. Palta worked with PepsiCo for 14 years. During her tenure, she worked across multiple geographies (North America, Europe and Africa) and multiple brands to support and lead R&D strategy, product development, and packaging sustainability. Her last role took her to UK where she led the West Europe Regional Snacks R&D and was accountable to deliver $2.7 Bn Snacks portfolio across 16 countries. She is an executive advisor for Women of Kellanova business employee resource group committed to co company’s vision of gender parity. She is a STEMinist and serves on the board of Illinois Science and Technology Coalition to cultivate innovation and technology-based economic development in Illinois. She holds M.S. in Engineering from IIT Delhi and a Ph.D. in Polymer and Material Science from Georgia Tech. More about Kellanova: Kellanova is a leading company in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, plant-based foods and North American frozen breakfast, with iconic, world-class brands. Kellanova's strategy pushes us to pursue differentiation in everything we do. It drives us to continuous improvement and more impactful ways of winning. And it focuses us on delivering our commitments to our investors, our suppliers, our customers, our communities and our employees. Learn more here: https://www.kellanova.com/

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine a new trend that illustrates the financial struggles of many Americans: adults eating kids' meals.

This Episode is Sponsored by: City National Bank Consumer demand for chicken is rising at home and away from home, but how can a company leverage this demand? City National Bank's Eric Viergutz steps in as guest host and interviews Wayne-Sanderson Farms CFO T.J. Wolfe on how feed prices, pathogenic diseases, and even air fryers are impacting the U.S. poultry industry. More About T.J. Wolfe: T.J. Wolfe serves as Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ Chief Financial Officer, overseeing the company’s consolidated financial planning activities and information technology functions. His focus is on the efficient allocation of capital across the production infrastructure, risk mitigation strategies for the company’s commodity portfolio, and the advancement of digital technology platforms and capabilities. T.J. and his team partner with each of the company’s business units to provide financial insights and enhance the value offered to customers. Joining the company as CFO in 2023, T.J. brings nearly 25 years of strategic, operational, and compliance experience in both the U.S. and Europe, having worked with large companies such as Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola. Prior to joining Wayne-Sanderson Farms, he served as CFO of Kimball International, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and earned his Master of Business Administration from Emory University. Additionally, T.J. holds several professional accreditations, including Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst. More About Eric Viergutz: Eric Viergutz is a managing director with City National Bank’s Food & Beverage Group. Based in Atlanta, GA he supports food and beverage executives with a variety of financing solutions and industry intelligence. Working with City National’s team of experts, he provides the bank’s full range of financial solutions to food and beverage businesses nationwide. Mr. Viergutz has more than 10 years of financial services and business advisory experience and has also served in various corporate finance and strategy roles over his career. Prior to City National, he served as senior vice president for Truist Securities’ Food and Beverage Investment Banking team. Mr. Viergutz earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Florida and his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Active in the community, he spends time coaching youth basketball and volunteering with Youth About Business and United Way of Atlanta. More About City National Bank: City National Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada since 2015. RBC’s Market Cap of $181 Billion is one of the Top 15 largest global banks with $1.7 trillion in assets and Moody’s/S&P Ratings of Aa1/AA-. As a subsidiary of one of the largest and strongest financial institutions in the world, City National Bank offers a unique combination of highly personalized services with a full range of tailored financing solutions. CNB’s Food & Beverage Group is a national vertical that supports owners and c-suite executives and is a proud sponsor of the Food Institute. Learn more at http://cnb.com/foodandbeverage.

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the nearly $700 billion global snacks industry, which is leaning heavily into savory flavors in 2025.

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the latest strategies brands are utilizing to put artificial intelligence to use for R&D.

Consumers are craving both comfort and innovation — but how can food and beverage leaders strike the right balance? And what does that mean for brand collaborations? Menu Matters vice president Mike Kostyo joins Food Institute vice president Chris Campbell to discuss the push and pull between nostalgic favorites and bold new product launches in this inaugural episode of Food for Thought Leadership, The Food Institute's podcast featuring insights from the executives shaping the future of food. From menu innovation to shifting consumer values, the discussion explores how brands can stay relevant without losing their heritage and strategic insights designed to help executives navigate today’s fast-changing marketplace. More about Mike Kostyo: Mike Kostyo is the Vice President of Menu Matters, a food industry consulting firm based in Chicago. Kostyo was a recurring guest on Fusion TV’s “The AV Club Show”; has been featured on NBC Nightly News, WGN Radio, CBS Radio and Gimlet Media’s “Why We Eat What We Eat” podcast; is regularly featured in newspapers and magazines; speaks at numerous conferences across the country annually; and was a judge on Food Network’s “Eating America.” He has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University, plus certificates in the culinary arts, baking arts, wine and artisan cheese production. He is also a freelance writer, serves on the board of the International Foodservice Editorial Council, and is on the advisory committee for the Arkansas Food Innovation Center at the Market Center of the Ozarks. Follow Mike on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrkostyo/ More about Menu Matters: As avid cooks, restaurant-goers—and, yes, perpetual networkers!—our work is driven by a genuine interest in the creators and consumers who shape the world of food. So rather than deliver sterile data or impersonal insights, we strive to understand the deeper social, economic and cultural trends that drive noteworthy shifts in our industry. Whether speaking at conferences, traveling to the hottest culinary markets or investing in long-term relationships with business leaders and tastemakers, the real value of our services is rooted in our insatiable curiosity for all things F+B. We meet clients with the same people-first perspective, seeking to understand the operational concerns and stakeholder structures that influence their unique decision-making processes. Serving as an organic extension of their in-house teams, we partner closely with individuals across various fields of expertise to generate impactful solutions and identify new opportunities. By looking at business challenges from these diverse perspectives—and within a broader socio-cultural context—we can more effectively empower clients to implement innovative strategies that challenge the status quo. Learn more about Menu Matters here: https://www.menumatters.com/

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine KFC's wild foray into the candy world, with its collaboration with Frankford Candy.

How can a food industry trade show spark global culinary creativity? Anuga’s JP Hartmann, U.S. Consul General Preeti Shah, and World Food Championships’ Nikki Jackson share their perspectives on how the U.S. presence at Anuga 2025 is helping to bridge culinary experiences together. More About Jan Phillip Hartmann: Jan Philipp Hartmann has been the Director of Anuga, the world’s leading trade fair for food and beverages, since April 1, 2023. With his extensive experience in the international trade fair industry and strong sales expertise, he has successfully driven the development of ISM Middle East. Now, he is bringing his innovative mindset to further strengthen and expand Anuga’s position as a global leader. His goal: to distinguish Anuga even more from the competition, enhance its leadership in content, and take the B2B experience to the next level. More About Consul General Preeti Shah: Preeti V. Shah assumed duty as the Consul General for the U.S. Consulate General in Düsseldorf, covering the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in August of 2024. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ms. Shah grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, and she is the daughter of Indian immigrants to the United States. She attended Claremont McKenna College in Southern California where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Relations. Ms. Shah joined the Foreign Service in 2004 and has previously served in Nicaragua, Turkey, Afghanistan, Mexico and Indonesia. In addition, throughout her over twenty years as a Foreign Service Officer, she worked in several offices in Washington, DC, including most recently as the Deputy Director of Public Diplomacy training at the Foreign Service Institute. She also served as a foreign policy advisor for Senator Richard Durbin and worked in the Western Hemisphere Affairs bureau on migration issues as well as Haiti’s recovery after the 2010 earthquake. More About Nikki Jackson: Nikki Jackson is a seasoned agriculture and food systems strategist with a career spanning research, policy, and global market development. From leading international water and ag initiatives at the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research, supporting Texas businesses to break into global markets as the International Marketing Director for the Texas Department of Agriculture, to most recently driving global partnerships for the World Food Championships, she has helped secure millions in funding and created programs that connect U.S. agriculture to markets worldwide. Her current collaboration with the USDA focuses on expanding global opportunities for American food and agriculture brands through innovative platforms like Food Sport. More About Anuga: Anuga is the central meeting place for the global food and beverage industry and brings together leading players from the retail, catering and industry sectors in one place. This is where the trends of tomorrow are set, new impetus is given to the industry and valuable networks are created that have an impact far beyond the trade fair. Anuga is more than just a trade fair – it is a global network that inspires with ideas, promotes dialogue and actively shapes the future of the food and beverage industry. Learn More: Anuga Website: https://www.anuga.com/ Anuga Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anugacologne/ Anuga LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anugashowcase/ Anuga Newsletter: https://www.anuga.com/newsletter/

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine a labor movement some are calling "The Great Flattening," as a growing number of middle managers are seeing their jobs eliminated.

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine customers' interesting interactions with Taco Bell's voice-AI drive-thrus.