Coronavirus

Where does a floating grocery store land during a pandemic? What about a curated snack service for office workers? As most daily activities move online, businesses whose plans rely on disrupting the everyday grind with exciting new products need to move forward — including snack services and experientially-focused popup retailers.

Although impulse buys are taking a hit during COVID-19, IRI expects on-the-go snacks to regain steam, especially with younger generations and Hispanic shoppers, once normal schedules return. In a recent report, IRI discussed the organization’s findings on snacking trends during 2019 and COVID-19 — and how both might influence the future of snacking.

COVID-19 is changing the landscape for innovation as accelerators find digital ways to help new brands grow and trade shows stall for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, two large manufacturers see COVID-19 cases in plants. Here’s the latest COVID-19 news from around the industry this week.

Whole Foods Market has issued a variety of policy changes for vendors who come in contact with store employees as it works to cut back possible routes of transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Yesterday, John Raiche, EVP of supplier services at UNFI, discussed in detail how the industry is adapting to the changes brought on by the novel coronavirus in a webinar hosted by the Hirshberg Enterprise Institute. Raiche offered advice for how brands can adapt to the new environment while providing an update on how UNFI is responding to the demands of the crisis.

As grocery workers help feed Americans sheltering in place, at least 30 have died from COVID-19, with nearly 3,000 reporting missing work due to symptoms, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).

As consumers stay inside, shopping habits are changing and delivery platforms are adapting to meet the increased demand. Here’s the latest COVID-19 news from around the industry this week.

As consumers meet with the stress and chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disruption of daily life, finding ways to relax and unwind has taken on even higher importance. Many brands from both the THC and CBD sides of the ledger quickly found sales growth as consumers rushed to stockpile goods from nearly all CPG sectors, but cannabis suppliers and entrepreneurs are now wondering what their industry will look like once the crisis passes.

As packaged food demand soars, big food brands continue to present evolving visions — growing production capabilities and adjusting marketing efforts, while prioritizing employee health and safety and funding hunger relief. Here are the latest updates on big CPG companies’ initiatives and outlooks for this unprecedented time.

Operations and inventory management are the backbone that supports your food and beverage company during this time. Today, April 6th, BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman leads a co-packing panel on the stresses and solutions affecting brands and their co-packers during the ongoing COVID-19 Crisis.