The Volunteer State No other place can claim to be the capital of American music like Tennessee. From the Beale Street Blues of Memphis, to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and Bristol’s historic “Bristol Sessions,” Tennessee’s musical heritage is internationally renowned. From the legendary artistry of Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, B.B. King and Johnny Cash, to modern…
Global food prices rose 10 percent in May 2017 compared to May 2016, and 2.2 percent from April 2017, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, which gauged the international prices of a basket of food commodities. Rising shipping costs and larger import volumes are expected to push the total cost of global food imports…
Columnist James Green discusses the trends that are impacting struggling brick-and-mortar retailers and the strategies brands need to implement to survive. Once upon a time, brick-and-mortar malls were the center of many people’s lives. Families would go to movies, adolescents would socialize with friends, and there were lots of places to buy everything from groceries…
There is no question that the retail industry is under-going a tremendous amount of change. Record numbers of store closings. Legacy brands going out of business–or teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Venture capital funded start-ups wreaking havoc upon traditional distribution models and pricing structures. Discount-oriented retailers stealing share away from once mighty department stores. And,…
The Land of Lincoln Illinois is located in the heart of the US, boasting scenic byways, lush vineyards and weaving networks of lakes and rivers. It is the 24th largest state and it is bordered on three sides by water. Illinois has been home to four US presidents, each celebrated with myriad trails and historical…
The Buckeye State Head to Ohio, known as the Buckeye State and you can discover the lighthouse-dotted coastline or plunge to the depths of Lake Erie in search of shipwrecks. The Lake Erie Islands are also the place to go for a really relaxing break – perfect for fishing, boating, hiking, birding, wine tasting or…
Plastics and packaging are nearly synonymous. Packaging of all types from food and beverage to consumer goods to durables makes use of plastics because of its durability, consumer friendliness, sustainability and recyclability into myriad new products. PET is one of the primary materials used for packaging, and the PET packaging marketing is forecast to reach 21.2 million…
The GMO debate rages on. As part of the budget deal that prevented a government shutdown last week, the FDA will fund a new campaign to combat what they perceive as misinformation about GMOs in our food. The budget deal gave the FDA $3 million dollars to provide “consumer outreach and education regarding agricultural biotechnology,”…
The shake-up in the food and beverage industry continues. A recent Hartman Group report, The New Playbook in Packaged Food, examines the top players, analyzes the factors afflicting the underperformers, and seeks answers to the question “what’s the winning brand portfolio strategy for tomorrow?” The food and beverage industry is under more pressure than ever…
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) will celebrate 65 years at the leading edge of food with LevelUP, a new, immersive experience debuting at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City (June 25-27). LevelUP will showcase global food innovations, premier industry research, and the future of food and commerce. “We can’t think of a…
