As communities around the world struggle to cope with the real-life implications of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, The Kraft Heinz Company is providing an update on its response to the pandemic, the rescheduling of its upcoming Investor Day and business impacts to date, ahead of its first quarter 2020 earnings call later this month.

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) represents as many as 4,000 independent specialty food companies. Its two annual conventions—the Winter Fancy Food Show in January and Summer Fancy Food Show in June—prove to be key scouting opportunities for those manufacturers, retailers and foodservice operators interested to preview food and beverage trends.

During this peculiar time when so many aspects of life are uncertain, assessing the present moment is difficult.

As coronavirus spreads nationwide, a recent survey by First Insight found that news of the virus is impacting the shopping behavior of 75% of respondents, up from 45% (a 70% increase) when comparing to a survey fielded in late February. The survey by First Insight, Inc., a leading technology company transforming how retailers make product investment and pricing decisions, also pointed to significant swings in behavior by women and Baby Boomers over the last three weeks. 

In a letter to its community, the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) announced the cancellation of its annual trade show. The show was scheduled to take place May 31 to June 2 in Indianapolis. 

The organizers of Hi & Fi Asia-China indicate that the 2020 expo will go ahead as planned from June 22-24 at the National Exhibition & Convention Center, Shanghai.

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) announced that it will transition the IFT20 Annual Event and Food Expo, slated for July 12-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago, to a virtual event experience. The move comes in an effort to prioritize the health and safety of participants and the broader community throughout current and anticipated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Political and economic unease, here and abroad, has been growing well before the onset of COVID-19.  What the spread of COVID-19 has caused, is an amplification and acceleration of the Tide that was already rolling in.  It's no less significant for its abruptness and shock value, but pandemics can have the effect of shaping and altering the trajectory of already identified trends. 

Mintel’s Global COVID-19 Tracker trends changes in global consumer behavior directly related to COVID-19.

Hormel Foods, a global branded food company, announced a special cash bonus to its plant production team members who continue to work to produce food during the COVID-19 outbreak. PepsiCo, Inc. announced it will provide enhanced benefits to all US-based employees and additional compensation to US frontline employees amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.