Instacart is surpassing Target and Kroger in online grocery delivery

A new report from investment bank Cowen shows that food delivery company Instacart has surpassed Target and Kroger with regard to online grocery orders placed on its platform. This puts Instacart in third place behind retail giants Walmart and Amazon. Whether its pandemic-fueled consumer base will stay for the long term, however, remains to be seen. Head to Quartz for more.

Plant-based meat brands are slashing prices—is price parity finally here?

Plant-based meat and protein companies are making serious strides in terms of bringing down their products' prices to be comparable to conventional meat. For instance, U.S. brand Before the Butcher's new line of plant-based meat patties have a suggested retail price of just $1.40 per patty (many plant-based burgers on the market cost up to $3 a patty). Impossible Foods has also had success dropping its prices due to increasing economies of scale. Dive into more brands pushing for plant-based price parity at Vegconomist ...

What will the post-pandemic store look like?

What's in store (no pun intended) for grocery retailers? Some experts believe dramatic changes are on the horizon. One posits that center store aisle products will be moved to a fulfillment center for delivery, and the center store will be devoted to housing an experience-focused farmers market-like space filled with fresh goods. Winsight Grocery Business has the scoop.

Vegan restaurants already cater to a specific community. Now, they're relying on them more than ever

While some vegan and vegetarian restaurants are struggling to stay afloat, others have seen sales skyrocket throughout the pandemic. The difference is that latter plant-based manufacturers turned their attention to wholesale business early on or made it easy for consumers to order items online. Vegan customers have a history of being dedicated and supportive when it comes to their beloved plant-based establishments, but the current economic downturn is making eating out less of a priority for many of them. Read the full story at Eater ...

USDA allows school meals to be free through the 2020-2021 school year

U.S. schools are officially allowed to offer free meals to students at least until the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The waivers that were extended also allow schools to serve free meals outside of set meal times and give parents and guardians the opportunity to pick them up. The Counter explains how the decision morphed under intense pressure from the School Nutrition Association.