Many U.S. retailers are partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services to administer free COVID-19 vaccines once it has been authorized and approved. Participating retailers include Albertsons Cos., Costco, H-E-B, Hy-Vee, Meijer, Publix, The Kroger Co., Walmart, and Winn-Dixie.

Through the partnership, 60 percent of pharmacies throughout the U.S. will have access to the vaccine. Currently, there are no COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized or approved by the FDA and recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, to the CDC.  However, this pharmacy partnership is being established in anticipation that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be authorized or approved and recommended for use in the United States before the end of 2020.

“Ensuring access and affordability of the COVID-19 vaccine for all Americans is a top priority for the Trump Administration,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar, in a statement. “We are leveraging the existing private sector infrastructure to get safe and effective vaccines supported by Operation Warp Speed into communities and into arms as quickly as possible with no out-of-pocket costs. The vast majority of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, and our new agreement with pharmacy partners across America is a critical step toward making sure all Americans have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines when they are available.”

Related: Report: Grocery Sales May Suffer If Vaccine Becomes Available; Retailers Prepare Early for Smaller Thanksgiving Feasts.

Amazon is expanding its Key In-Garage delivery service to over 4,000 cities across the U.S. Eligible Prime members are now able to have their packages delivered securely inside their garage with a delivery confirmation for customers using the Key by Amazon app.

“Customers tell us they appreciate the convenience and peace of mind that in-garage delivery offers, and we’re happy to expand the service to thousands of additional cities,” said Pete Gerstberger, head of Key by Amazon, in a statement. “With this latest expansion, Amazon customers in thousands of big cities and small towns across the U.S. can now enjoy another Prime benefit with convenient, contactless deliveries right in their garage, all backed by the Key by Amazon Happiness Guarantee.”

Originally launched in 50 cities, the Key In-Garage Delivery service is expanding to Prime members in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington D.C., Houston, Boston, Atlanta, and Phoenix and thousands of surrounding areas such as Astoria, New York; Valencia, California; Oswego, Illinois; Elverson, Pennsylvania; Farmersville, Texas; Frederick, Maryland; Magnolia, Texas; Salisbury, Massachusetts; Peachtree City, Georgia; and Casa Grande, Arizona among many others.

In addition, Amazon is also launching Key In-Garage Grocery Delivery. Beginning today in five cities, this new service enables eligible Prime members to have their grocery orders from Whole Foods Market or Amazon Fresh delivered securely into their garage. The service will be available in select areas of Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle before expanding to other cities in the U.S.

Related: Second CA Amazon Fresh Store Opens; More Amazon Fresh Locations Coming to Chicago.

Photo credit: Amazon

Eight Conagra facilities across the U.S. and Mexico have been awarded Zero Waste Champion status for diverting more than 95 percent of waste materials from landfills. These facilities have helped Conagra achieve an 84 percent company-wide waste diversion rate in 2020.

This year's honorees include frozen, snacks, international, and grocery manufacturing facilities. The 2020 Zero Waste Champion facilities are located in Brookston, Indiana; Hamburg, Iowa; Irapuato, Mexico; Lakeview, Iowa; Mankato, Maple Grove and Waseca, Minnesota; and Oakdale, California.

“We commend our employees' ingenuity and dedication to finding solutions that reduce landfill waste," said Dave Biegger, executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at Conagra Brands, in a statement. "Our Zero Waste Champion facilities demonstrate Conagra's commitment to finding new ways to be more environmentally responsible and nourish the planet."

Related: Food Recovery App Debuts in NY; Food Suppliers Commit to Reducing Food Waste.

Photo credit: Conagra

Home food consumption is expected to decline in the next 18 months as consumers resume more normalized spending patterns, according to research from Moody’s, reports Food Dive. In 2021, sales and earnings will decline as food companies try to match strong retail sales during the pandemic. However, the firm believes the decline will be short-lived. "The residual benefits from the pandemic, especially for large packaged food companies, will support solid earnings growth for 2022 and beyond," the firm said.

In addition, Moody’s believes that as grocery retailers replenish store shelves, they will return to more normal product assortments that will include niche brands and store-branded products. "Meanwhile, the big food producers will be resuming launches of their newest, best product ideas this fall in order to hold onto as much of their market share gains as possible," Moody's said. Full Story

Related: Labriculture, Brain Food Among Trends for 2021; FMI Creates Illustrated Pandemic Effects on Grocery Price.

Many U.S. food companies that export products to Europe have been hit with a new round of tariffs this week as part of an ongoing dispute over government subsidies to airplane manufacturers.

As previously reported, the World Trade Organization had approved European Union tariffs on U.S. goods worth nearly $4 billion in annual sales as retaliation for tax breaks given to Chicago-based Boeing. The U.S. had previously imposed tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of EU products in retaliation for government subsidies given to Airbus, the European plane maker.

The latest round includes a 25 percent levy on a range of specific food items from the U.S., including wines and spirits, chocolate, cheese, seafood, ketchup, fruits, nuts, soups, and several agricultural products, along with merchandise and equipment such as tractors. The tariffs increase costs for European retailers and consumers, theoretically giving a boost to suppliers of similar items from Europe or other regions.

"The Specialty Food Association has been encouraging the U.S. Trade Representative to eliminate tariffs on European food products as a result of a dispute between large aircraft suppliers," says Ron Tanner, vice president of education, content & advocacy, for the SFA. "We are concerned that the EU has also chosen food as a tariff weapon. Both sides should look at tariffs on aircraft, aircraft parts, and other heavy industry and not on food makers, farmers, and fishermen."

The tariffs target specific foods, including both Atlantic and Pacific salmon, scallops, sweet potatoes, dates, grapefruit, and certain nuts and cheeses, while avoiding others, including several other types of seafood. Earlier this year, a preliminary list of potential targets for the tariffs covered a much broader range of products, including lobster.

The National Fisheries Institute said the tariffs on salmon and scallops, which together had about $20 million in sales to the EU last year, was “disappointing,” coming at a time when the industry is seeking to regain its footing amid the sharp declines in restaurant sales.

“The seafood communities in the U.S. and EU have long enjoyed a trade relationship that has created tens of thousands of jobs and, most recently, been poised to expand,” said John Connelly, president of NFI. "It makes no sense that a World Trade Organization dispute about planes that fly 40,000 feet above where fish swim should include seafood. Now, given missteps by both sides, American workers and families will suffer.”

In the spirits category, the tariffs target rum, brandy, vodka, and vermouth. The levies also come at a particularly difficult time for the alcoholic beverage industry on both sides of the Atlantic, which had already been suffering from the impact of previous tariffs related to other disputes, in addition to the severe downturn of the industry due to bar and restaurant closures caused by the pandemic.

“The application of excessive and unwarranted tariffs has to end,” said the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., in a statement issued by a coalition of 20 affiliated industry groups from the U.S. The United Kingdom and the EU. “Hospitality businesses and our consumers, as well as producers, wholesalers and importers of distilled spirits, wine, and beer are being slammed from both sides of the Atlantic in an aircraft dispute wholly unrelated to the drinks business. This is on top of the closings of restaurants, bars, and distillery and winery tasting rooms because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The coalition called on trade negotiators to return to the bargaining table and immediately suspend the current tariffs.

Cheddar cheese was also singled out for tariffs, which may relate to an ongoing dispute over the use of the word “cheddar,” according to reports. Europe actually imports very little cheese from the U.S., having a robust cheese industry of its own. But the word “cheddar” is part of the geographic indicator (GI) term “West Country Farmhouse Cheddar,” which refers to the cheddar cheese produced in a specific region of England, and sold to other markets.

The dispute is among several battles over cheese names that at one time indicated specific geographic origins, including feta, gorgonzola, gruyere, asiago, and parmesan.

Meanwhile, the EU said it was ready to discuss a unilateral end to the tariffs spurred by the dispute over Boeing and Airbus.

“We call on the U.S. to agree that both sides drop existing counter-measures with immediate effect so that we can quickly put this issue behind us,” said Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commission executive vice president, in a statement.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the U.S. was “disappointed” in the EU’s tariff action.

“The alleged subsidy to Boeing was repealed seven months ago,” he said in a statement. “The EU has long proclaimed its commitment to following WTO rules, but today’s announcement shows they do so only when convenient to them.”

Related: EU to Impose Retaliatory Tariffs; EU: USTR Has No Basis to Impose Tariffs.

The FDA released its final proposed rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act in September. The FSMA Food Traceability Proposed Rule identifies and creates increased traceability requirements for certain high-risk foods and products that contain those high-risk foods.

During an SFA regulatory conference call, Monday, Jeni Lamb Rogers, regulatory counsel to the SFA and partner at PSL Law Group, discussed the proposed requirements for makers, distributors, and retailers, as well as the limited exemptions to the rule.

“It’s important to note that this rule is different from other FSMA rules,” Rogers noted. “It has a broader application beyond manufacturers and farmers that will reach restaurants and retailers as well.”

To decide which foods this rule will apply to, the FDA built an algorithm that matched hazards with different processing practices and different foods. The agency then put the foods that are deemed the highest risk on the Food Traceability List. Among the foods on the list are all cheese other than hard cheeses, shell eggs, tree nut or peanut butters, leafy greens, fresh herbs, cucumbers, melons, peppers, sprouts, tomatoes, tropical tree fruits, other fresh cut fruits and vegetables, finfish, crustaceans, mollusks and bivalves, and ready-to-eat deli salads. In addition, any food that contains one of the above foods will also be subject to this rule, unless it goes through a “kill step” process, which eliminates the food-borne illness risk.

The proposed rule identifies five “critical tracking events” that would require records containing “key data elements,” which would vary depending on the event being performed. The critical tracking events include:

Growing. For products such as fruits and vegetables, this is the first step of the supply chain.

Receiving. This is an event in the food’s supply chain in which a food is received by someone other than the end customer. Food makers, co-packers, labelers, and retailers are all categorized under this event. The first receiver is the first person, other than a farm, who purchases and takes physical possession of a listed food.

Transformation. This involves changing a food on the Food Traceability List, its package, and/or its label by combining ingredients or processing a food.

Creation. Creating is the making of a food on the Food Traceability List through manufacturing or processing using only ingredients that are not on the list.

Shipping. This is when a food is arranged for transport from a defined location to another defined location at a different farm, a first receiver, or subsequent receiver.

Key data elements that are required to be established and maintained involve linking the product’s traceability lot code (assigned by first receiver) to other information such as where and when the product was grown or created, quantity and unit of measure, how and when it was transformed, and/or how and when it was shipped.

There are a couple exemptions to this rule. Transporters are not subject to this rule, and, as mentioned, foods that receive a certain type of processing or “kill step” may be partially exempt, though they still have to keep records around the receipt of the product and the kill step. There is also a proposal that small retail food establishments that employ 10 or fewer full-time employees would be either fully or partially exempt from these requirements. The FDA wants to hear from stakeholders regarding these options during the public comment period and public hearings.

Listen to the full recording now.

WGSN, which analyzes consumer trends in food and beverage and other industries, has released its predictions for 2021 that are aimed at informing product innovation in the coming year.

“With a focus on inspiring and informing strategic new product design, we used a consumer-first approach to analyze and forecast the trends food makers and brands need to know now for future success,” said Kara Nielsen, WGSN’s director of food & drink. “Our research points to these trends to meet consumer needs and desires next year and to inspire innovative new products with global potential.”

1. Make Room for Labriculture – Lab-grown beef, seafood, and dairy will join plant-based meat and dairy by year’s end as alternatives to animal products. One example that’s already hit the market is Brave Robot Ice Cream, which uses a “guided-by-nature approach, that uses plant sugars and some old-fashioned fementation to churn out whey protein without the cow,” according to the company. Another company, Shiok Meats from Singapore is creating lab-grown shrimp, Nielsen said.

2. Craveable Vegan – Plant-based ingredients will be used to create unapologetically vegan tacos, soul food, and indulgent snacks that appeal to a broader segment than in the past, according to Nielsen.

3. Coffee Convenience – Homebound coffee drinking is yielding more convenient coffee formats like concentrates, steeped, single-serve bags, and edible coffee snacks. Examples include Eat Your Coffee, naturally caffeinated bars and Pocket Latte Coffee Bars that are made from real coffee.

4. Canned Everything – Along with canned wine, cocktails, and hard beverages, 2021 will welcome innovation in sustainable aluminum cans to support our passion for portable potables. One recent entrant to the space is a canned wine called Just Enough, said Nielsen. Each can contains the equivalent of one and a half glasses of wine.

5. Crazy for Cacao – As increased attention is being paid to cacao’s heritage and preservation, which has given way to innovative new products being created from cacao pods. Last year, Hershey’s C7 Ventures invested in Blue Stripes Cacao Shop, founded by Oded Brenner, creator of chocolate restaurant Max Brenner Chocolate Bar. “The result has been 20 new products including a cacao pod flour and cacao pod drink in a cacao shaped bottle,” said Nielsen.

6. Burnt Basque Cheesecake – This buzzy dessert’s oozing, creamy center, alluring charred top, and imperfect crinkly sides will move it from Instagram comfort-food darling to menu and freezer-case treat. Much like the cheese teas that originated in Asia, this cheesecake represents a viral social media sensation and offers a sensual eating experience, according to Nielsen.

7. Brain Food – Brands will leverage the mental clarity benefits of L-Theanine, the amino acid that powers green tea and other nootropics, to help consumers think more clearly. One such product, Neuro Mints, come in varieties such as Energy & Focus and Calm & Clarity.

8. Sleepy Time Eats –Food and drinks featuring natural botanicals like passion flower, fruits such as sour cherries which contain melatonin, and other nutritious ingredients will help promote a good night’s sleep. One example, said Nielsen, is Nightfood Ice Cream, which is meant to be consumed before bedtime. It contains sleep-supporting calcium, magnesium, and zinc, and less sugar, fat, and fewer calories.

Related: At-Home Dining, Global Flavor Trends Continue Into 2021; Whole Foods' Trend Predictions Include Upcycled Foods, Produce-Based Jerky.

Photo: WGSN

Giant Eagle has introduced a new loyalty program, myPerks, to its Canton, Ohio location, which gives consumers more savings, bonus events, and immediate rewards, reports Supermarket News. MyPerks provides a $1 reward for every 50 perks earned at Giant Eagle and Market District supermarkets, as well as GetGo convenience stores.

This is the first multi-tier loyalty program introduced by a major U.S. supermarket, according to the company. “The myPerks program was born of our recognition that more and more families across our communities need additional value to help them through challenges faced by the pandemic,” said Giant Eagle spokesperson Dan Donovan. “By shifting to a ‘dollars off’ reward structure, we make it easier for our guests to redeem their rewards whenever it is most convenient for them.” Full Story

Related: Giant Eagle Enhances Curbside Pickup; Giant Eagle Introduces Cashierless Checkout.

Photo credit: Giant Eagle

Whole Foods Market, in partnership with Progressive Insurance, is offering a Thanksgiving Turkey Protection Plan, that includes a $35 Whole Foods Market gift card for those who commit a turkey cooking fail.

To be eligible for the plan, shoppers must purchase and obtain their Whole Foods Market brand turkey between Nov. 11-22. Coverage will be offered for turkey that turns out overcooked, undercooked, burnt, dry or just doesn’t end up cooking as expected. Claims can be submitted beginning Nov. 26. Only the first 1,000 claims will be honored.

“As we anticipate more smaller Thanksgiving gatherings and first-time cooks tackling turkey preparation this year, the Thanksgiving Turkey Protection Plan allows customers the freedom of culinary exploration, knowing all is not lost should their cooking go astray,” said Theo Weening, vice president of meat and poultry at Whole Foods Market, in a statement. “We want to help customers rise to the occasion and take on that turkey with confidence for less-stressed Thanksgiving meal preparation.”

Related: Harry & David's Sarley on Gift Giving for the Holidays; Retailers Prepare Early for Smaller Thanksgiving Feasts.

Photo: Whole Foods Market

As the U.S. faces another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with the holidays approaching, consumers are rethinking their holiday celebrations. Because it may be difficult to meet in person, shoppers are turning to food gifting to share comfort and joy with their loved ones.

SFA News Daily spoke with Greg Sarley, SVP of merchandising at Harry & David, about the importance of food gifting this year and how the retailer is catering to consumers’ needs during this increasingly difficult time.

What will food gifting look like for the holidays? 
At Harry & David, we believe that food gifting is primed to have a very good season as customers look for ways to connect with others and express caring thoughts, now more than ever. With people traveling less, specialty food retailers are well positioned this holiday season to help customers celebrate—whether together or apart.

We are seeing customers migrate more to specialty gifts packaged in unique containers that include a combination of products from chocolate truffles, fruit, and baked goods. In addition to offering gifts with an assortment of sentiments such as “Happy Holidays,” “Happy Hanukkah,” and “Merry Christmas,” we are offering customization options as customers look to put their own stamp on the gift.

In this environment, business gifting has taken on new importance as well. As the mainstream of the country's workforce continues to work remotely, businesses of all sizes are looking for ways to create a culture of recognition, appreciation, and engagement from afar that deepens relationships with employees, clients, and others. To help with this, we have just introduced a new platform for corporate gifting that enables business customers to seamlessly access the extensive offerings across our entire family of brands.

Is Harry & David doing anything special or different this year to accommodate customers' changing situations due to the pandemic?
We have bought deeper into trending categories, including our Harry & David Gourmet line, as we expect customers to having smaller gatherings due to the current health crisis. Our heat-and-serve meals that are part of this collection are great for any type of small gathering.

We’ve also ramped up our indulgent line of chocolates and desserts as we have seen great impact to these products since the pandemic began, and we anticipate these to be popular choices this season.

At the heart of it, we’re helping our customers create more meaningful and deeper connections through our product offerings.

What do you expect to be popular with customers this season?
Heading into this holiday season, the entire Harry & David Gourmet offering has been exceptionally in demand with customers; particularly comfort foods, easy to prepare meals, and wine, as well as meats, seafood, and charcuterie. However, as people continue to seek ways to stay healthy, our fresh fruit products have also been successful.

Care packages and gift baskets have also been something our customers are gravitating toward.  People are looking for ways to connect to friends and loved ones who they might not be able to celebrate with the same way they have in the past.

Related: Nielsen Identifies Types of Holiday Shoppers; Retailers Prepare Early for Smaller Thanksgiving Feasts.

Schnuck Markets Inc., in partnership with Instacart, will now offer curbside pickup at 10 additional locations in the St. Louis area. As an added bonus, the $1.99 curbside pickup fee has been temporarily waved at all curbside locations for orders of $35 or more.

“With curbside pickup, Schnucks customers can receive their groceries quickly without having to leave their vehicles,” said Schnucks e-commerce manager Karin Goldkamp, in a statement. “This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic when many customers, especially those that are high-risk, are taking additional precautions.”

Related: BJ's Adds Fresh, Frozen Groceries to Pickup Offerings; H-E-B Opens Lubbock Location.

Photo credit: Schnuck Markets Inc.

Kroger Houston is investing $56 million in employee wage increases and taking steps to ensure access to reliable, affordable healthcare benefits, accoring to the retailer. This comes after many months of negotiations between Kroger and UFCW Local 455. However, UFCW Local 455 has not scheduled a vote to allow their members to vote on the offer.

"Kroger's commitment to increase wages and ensure our associates have access to world-class affordable, secure and reliable health care benefits is a core priority for the company," said Joe Kelley, president of Kroger's Houston Division, in a statement.

"Our plan removes any uncertainty frontline associates experience with their current health and welfare trust fund plan," continued Kelley. "We believe this is the right path forward for our associates."

Related: Kroger Introduces Framework to Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; Kroger Expands Plant-Based Line.

Photo credit: The Kroger Co.

Online delivery platform goPuff has entered into an agreement to acquire alcoholic specialty retailer BevMo! Powered by its distribution network of over 200 micro-fulfillment centers, goPuff serves customers in more than 500 U.S. cities. The acquisition accelerates goPuff’s entry into California, and will provide millions of new customers in BevMo!’s network of neighborhood stores with access to immediate delivery of everyday items, including baby and pet products, cleaning supplies, food and alcohol, along with local favorites.

“We’re proud to bring goPuff’s operations to California and look forward to investing in talent and real estate across the state,” said goPuff co-founder and co-CEO Rafael Ilishayev, in a statement. “Partnering with BevMo! quickly advances our strategic objectives of providing more customers in new geographies with a seamless solution for their instant needs. Through this acquisition, goPuff will operate coast-to-coast, solidifying our presence as a leading, national consumer business.”

Related: Peddler Gives Makers an Alternative to Third-Party Services; 99 Ranch Market Offers Same-Day Delivery.

The EU will begin applying tariffs on $4 billion worth of U.S. goods on Tuesday, according to EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis, reports Reuters. This follows last month's decision from the World Trade Organization that gave the EU the right to implement retaliatory tariffs in the long-running dispute over subsidies provided to aircraft makers.

According to a preliminary list that the European Commission released last year, the products it may seek to tariff include frozen seafood like tuna, salmon, lobsters, and scallops, cheddar cheese, sweet potatoes, chocolate, fresh fruit, wines, and ketchup.

Dombrovskis said that the European Commission would publish an annoucement on its plans in the EU official journal later today, with tariffs going into effect tomorrow. Full Story

Related: USTR: EU Has No Basis To Impose Tariffs; Removal of Tariffs Saved Jobs at Walkers Shortbread.

Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund have partnered to create the Restaurant Winterization Grant program, which will provide $10,000 grants to eligible independent restaurants to help them survive this winter. These funds can help the restaurants prepare by investing in additional infrastructure and equipment to extend outdoor dining, increased personal protective equipment to protect their employees, and other necessities to get them through the cold-weather months.

The program will be supported with a $2 million grant recommended from Grubhub Community Relief Fund, a donor-advised fund created in March by Grubhub to support charitable organizations helping restaurants, drivers and others impacted by COVID-19. Restaurant Strong Fund will also be accepting donations for the Restaurant Winterization Grant program, helping extend the program beyond the initial launch.

"This winter will be different than any one before, with the restaurants we know and love needing more support to get through the season," said Seth Priebatsch, chief revenue officer at Grubhub. "Our partnership with the Restaurant Strong Fund – already instrumental in providing grants for restaurant employee relief earlier in the pandemic – is now responding to the needs of restaurants and providing valuable support to help them survive the challenging months ahead."

Starting today through November 21, the Restaurant Strong Fund will accept grant applications from all restaurants located in Chicago, New York City, Boston, or Philadelphia with five or fewer locations.

Related: Restaurants Sue Grubhub; DoorDash Launches Ghost Kitchen Initiative.

The cooking robots market is expected to be worth $322 million by 2028, according to Research Nester, reports Restaurant Dive. In 2019, the market was worth $86.2 million.

While COVID-19 accelerated demand for this technology, it was already growing pre-pandemic. Picnic, a tech company specializing in food production technology and robotics-as-a-service, has seen a large increase in customer demand for its automated pizza assembly system. In a statement, the company announced that it was improving its system with a new design and more user-friendly updates.

"We are seeing an increase in enthusiasm for our system and early indications are that the improvements we've made resonate with our customers. With our success and these improvements, an increasing number of kitchen operators are contacting us with interest in our system," Picnic CEO Clayton Wood said in the statement. Full Story

Related: Ocado Makes Robotics Acquisitions; Zuul Launches Virtual Food Hall Delivery Experience.

Each year, the Specialty Food Association invites a panel of experts from across the specialty food industry to help identify new and growing trends in the market. The Trendspotter panel includes foodservice professionals, retailers, chefs, researchers, and more, who help predict trends for the future, as well as at SFA events.

Two members of the SFA Trendspotter panel, Clara Park, corporate chef of culinary innovation at Chelten House Products and Wendy Robinson, buyer at Market Hall Foods, joined Denise Purcell, director of content at the SFA to speak during an Ask the Experts webinar about the trends coming ahead in 2021. Some of next year's trends include:

Cooking and eating at home. “This trend is a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Purcell. With many consumers following stay-at-home mandates, at-home dining has become more popular than ever. With this comes many sub-trends, as well as the need to avoid menu fatigue. Park sees this as opportunity for the specialty food industry; “It’s our job to increase the culinary knowledge of the customer and help them try new things,” she said.

Restaurant-quality food in the home kitchen. Similarly, consumers are looking to upgrade their home cooking with specialty ingredients and flavors to mimic what they might order at a restaurant. “People are drinking a lot more right now,” Robinson added. “People are wanting to use specialty ingredients to make cocktails like they would have at a bar.”

Twists on classics. “Everyone wants to be innovative, but if something is too far out of a customer’s comfort zone, they won’t want it,” Park noted. “Twists on classics provide customers with a familiar product or flavor with an exciting new element.” This trend also helps to combat boredom with the same old routine without adding too much work or stress to a consumer’s plate.

Eatertainment. As entertainment venues stay closed through the pandemic, consumers are looking for other ways to enjoy themselves. Products that make it fun to play with your food or add whimsical element to a meal are increasingly popular. “Anything that makes dinner more fun is great,” said Park.

Values-based buying. Consumers are increasingly putting their dollars towards brands that align with their values. Gen Z consumers especially are interested in supporting brands that are sustainable, have ethical labor practices, and/or are women-, Black-, or People of Color-owned. “Being a small company, we work closely with small producers who may not be able to get on the shelves of larger retailers. Our customers are actively asking for these types of products,” said Robinson.

Global travels without leaving home. As an alternative to traveling, many consumers are seeking out the flavors of less familiar countries and regions like West Africa, Scandinavia, Cambodia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. "When I was growing up, when someone said ‘Asian food’ it meant it was either Chinese or Japanese,” Park said. “But now, these terms are growing to include a wider range of cuisines. It gives me hope that people are looking for more authentic flavors.”

Functional ingredients. Amid the pandemic, consumers are looking to food and beverage as a wellness solution more than ever. “We’re all thinking about health and wellness right now,” said Robinson. “Even though my store doesn’t focus on specifically wellness-related products, I’ve noticed a lot of food products that tout wellness claims have been out of stock, like garlic oil or manuka honey.” Park also noted that people are asking for healthier ingredient substitutions that can be seamlessly added to a recipe.

Plant-based continuing revolution. New formats and categories have led the plant-based category to grow exponentially, especially during the pandemic. “It’s not a trend anymore,” said Robinson. But, as Park noted, it is essential that plant-based foods taste good and give a good eating experience, or else consumers will not be interested.

Less sugar and natural sugar. Similar to the functional foods trend, many consumers are looking to decrease their sugar intake to be healthier. Alternative sweeteners provide a better-for-you option. Monkfruit, in particular, has been a popular option for customers, according to Robinson.

View the full recording now.

Related: SFA Trendspotter Panel Reveals Top Trends for 2021; Whole Foods' Trend Predictions Include Upcycled Foods, Produce-Based Jerky.

Detroit-based Peddler, a delivery service formerly known as Wing It, has expanded to give small businesses an alternative to third-party delivery apps like Grubhub and UberEats, reports Eater. Back in March, Ferndale Project and Eastern Market Brewing Co. started Peddler as a way to get its food and beer to customers without employing third-party apps.

The new, expanded delivery platform launched on the company’s website on November 4 and will continue to offer beer, as well as a larger selection of products from Mongers Provisions, Bon Bon Bon, Ashe Supply Co, Slow Jams, Beau Bien Fine Foods, Tov Bagel, Nakee Butter, Eastern Market Brewing Company, and Ferndale Project. Peddler plans to introduce one or two new purveyors to the site each week.

“After talking to many of the local business owners, we quickly discovered many of them were struggling with the logistics and infrastructure to deliver their products on a scale that made financial sense,” said Shamus Cook, president and co-founder of Peddler. “By partnering with Peddler, small businesses can reach a large audience while getting products delivered right to consumers’ doorsteps. Our goal is to be able to provide the marketplace and delivery infrastructure to help our partners weather the pandemic and beyond.”

All deliveries will be $1 with a minimum purchase order of $20. Deliveries will extend 15 miles from Peddler’s headquarters, housed in the Ferndale Project location, with evening delivery drops once a week in Kent, Washtenaw, Jackson, Oakland, Genesee, Macomb, Saint Claire, Wayne, Monroe, Kalamazoo, Ingham, Eaton, and Livingston counties. Full Story

Related: Forager, Roche Bros. Team Up to Procure Local Food; Food Makers Think Inside the Box.

Photo credit: Peddler

Nielsen has identified five groups of shoppers that will emerge during the 2020 holidays, reports Progressive Grocer. The five groups are:

• Constrained and restricted. These are consumers who have suffered financial losses due to COVID-19 or have restrictions on the ability to physically shop or celebrate with others.
• Constrained but free. These are shoppers who have less money to spend, but have no physical restrictions to shopping or celebrating.
• Cautious middle. Consumers in this group haven’t been impacted financially or physically, but have fears for what may be in store for the near future. These shoppers will be cautious spenders and may prioritize occasions and gift giving with only those closest to them.
• Insulated but restricted. These people aren’t financially impacted by COVID-19 but their festivities will be restricted by local physical restrictions. Small gatherings may curtail normal spending and encourage self-indulgent celebrations.
• Insulated and free. These are also consumers who aren’t financially impacted by the pandemic but typical celebrations may be affected by those unable to attend. These shoppers may be inclined to help those less fortunate this year, especially those close to them.

Nielsen suggested that retailers tailor their seasonal offerings to redefine what’s giftable, cater to consumers who are looking to splurge on at-home dining experience, offering solution-based products, and create spontaneity, even in an online environment. Full Story

Related: Retailers Prepare Early for Smaller Thanksgiving Feasts; Target Adds More Drive Up Spots, Reservations for Holidays.

Trader Joe’s has provided an update on its COVID-19 safety practices and positive cases. “While we do not know the specific details of other grocers, we believe it is important to our crew members and customers to share and understand what has happened in our stores from the beginning of the pandemic through October 31, 2020,” the grocer said in a statement.

Trader Joe’s has had a total of 1,250 positive cases reported over the past eight months, equaling 2.4 percent of the total employee base. Twenty-four percent of the grocer’s 514 stores have had zero positive cases reported and 83 percent have had zero to four cases.

Ninety-five percent of employees that tested positive and completed a quarantine period have recovered and chosen to return to work. However, there have been two employee deaths in which COVID-19 was suspected to be a contributing factor.

"The health and safety practices and procedures that have been put in place, and that continually evolve, have been effective because of the great work done by our crew members in every store, every day. We appreciate our crew members’ diligence and our customers' patience as we work each day to make our stores safe for everyone," said Jon Basalone, president of stores, in a statement.

Related: Impossible Burger Comes to Trader Joe's; Trader Joe's Removes Labels Due to Ethnic Stereotypes.

Photo credit: Trader Joe's