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Industry Influence

Jun 3, 2020

NCFIL Director’s Perspective: May 2020

The global food industry has experienced highs and lows the past few months as many food companies rapidly pivoted their supply chains and product offerings to harvest crops and place them in distribution.  Meat processing was especially hard hit as scores of plant workers and inspectors became sick with the coronavirus.  We offer our sincere condolences to those…

May 28, 2020

Food Business Rejuvenation During COVID-19: Opportunity to Innovate

Food manufacturers are financially reporting record quarters during the pandemic, but this success does not necessarily translate to a continuance as states and other countries reopen for business. Consumers are facing unusual challenges during the current pandemic as food manufacturers scramble to maintain fulfilling supply chain demand.   What does this pandemic mean for manufacturers, consumers, and…

May 22, 2020

Where to Go From Here? Impact of COVID-19 on the Food System

In previous blogs, we’ve considered:  As the U.S. starts to reopen, where does the food system go from here?  Future of Plant-Based Meats By now, all of us have heard about the devastating effects of COVID-19 on meat plant workers and federal inspectors. This situation impacts the consumer’s ability to purchase desired meat supplies, but in…

Apr 27, 2020

NCFIL Director’s Perspective: April 2020

“What a long, strange trip it’s been.” Jerry Garcia could not have known his phrase would apply to the challenges we’ve all faced in the last month or so due to the coronavirus. Our team’s sympathy goes out to those whose health or livelihoods are impacted by this virulent virus. We hope better days are…

Apr 23, 2020

Continued Challenges to Global Food Supply Chains

The U.S. government and food industry groups have reassured the consuming public that our food supply is strong, and empty shelves do not signal a looming food shortage. So, what exactly has caused disruptions in the food supply chain?  Empty shelves have partly been created by people panic buying and hoarding in anticipation of a prolonged…

Apr 14, 2020

How Produce Growers + Packagers Can Stabilize Retail Supply Chain During Coronavirus Pandemic

Chaos in the Supply Chain?  Regulatory officials confirm food products are safe, available and meeting consumers’ needs during this pandemic. However, the press is reporting incidences of producers not harvesting produce because they are challenged with pivoting their inventory from fulfilling food service needs to fulfilling retail outlets. This has created chaos in the supply chain.  …

Apr 8, 2020

Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Impact U.S. Food Supply Chain?

Much has been recently written about our nation’s food supply and consumer hoarding. I will not repeat what has been said, but rather offer additional perspectives during this trying time. This subject could be examined from numerous angles and fill many pages, but I will remain brief in this blog. Our food supply chain is currently,…

Mar 26, 2020

Food Entrepreneur Strategies Following COVID-19

As society navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer behavior is indicating where innovation and technology might move after all this is under control. A recent blog by CB Insights inspired me to give some thought to how this applies to NCFIL clients and their opportunities for future development. Product sales are spiking for mindfulness supplements, aromatherapy, cannabis-infused foods and immunostimulatory supplements.…

Mar 25, 2020

NCFIL Director’s Perspective: March 2020

Welcome to the March NCFIL Director’s Perspective. The global situation of dealing with coronavirus has caused tremendous disruptions in all of our lives, but it will certainly not curtail people’s need to eat. The food industry is responding to the best of its ability despite challenges with our supply chains. Thank goodness chickens continue to lay eggs,…

Jan 29, 2020

NCFIL Director’s Report: 2020 Predictions

Welcome to our first NCFIL Briefing. We will post bimonthly reports offering information about facility activities, plant-based ingredients and foods updates, food industry trends and entrepreneurial tips. A Fruitful Start   2020 is off to a promising start. So is NCFIL. Following NCFIL’s November ribbon cutting ceremony and open house, we received considerable publicity. That translated…