A big part of this best-use-of-resources movement is prominently expressed in the plant-based revolution. Plant-based meat and dairy analogs have been hitting shelves as fast as ingredient technology can make them happen, with expert mimicry of their animal-derived counterparts the “brass ring.”

I recently spent three days looking over the horizon with 21 leading food manufacturers and retailers.

Our Prepared Foods team recently shared the same experience when we deconstructed and recast our annual New Products Conference (now in its 36th year). We hired an outside meetings and marketing specialist who challenged us to re-examine every aspect of our conference goals, planning and decision making.

The mountain of money spent to market products and influence consumer behavior may only be 5% effective, according to Dr. A.K. Pradeep, CEO, MachineVantage.

Speaking at the IFT Legalized Cannabis & Hemp Edibles session, Linda Gilbert, managing director of consumer insights for BDS Analytics, branded legalized cannabis a “game changer for the food and beverage industry,” noting that legalized cannabis is one of the fastest growing industries.

I cannot account for the broad belief that the United States imports rice from Asia. It just kind of generally seems to be the case. But it is not.

Our past industry overviews featured menu and operator segment trend reviews to give you more customer insights. This year, we’re actually covering more of your new product activities as highlighted at the annual National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show and the annual International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association show.

This year’s Best in Show award went to Hostess Brands, LLC for Double Chocolate Cake Delights. The premium adult snacks are inspired by fresh, hand-crafted bakery treats.

With each cycle of these shows, we’re privileged to encounter the vanguard of the trends in food, ingredients, and food tech. You could look at those as sort of the breadcrumbs along the path of where we’re heading in “Food World.” But sometimes, everything converges so that you also get a look at the substance of the path itself.

New ideas, inspiration and innovation are essential in the modern marketplace. In recent years, food and beverage companies have placed an emphasis on these aspects of business by creating such roles as “director of innovation,” “chief innovation officer” and “vice president of product innovation.”