Food Week March 14 means happy spring! What a week for food, with St. Patrick’s Day (Corned Beef), St Joseph’s Day (Zeppole) and the Ides of March (Caesar Salad). While plant -based and home delivery, two trends every one was sure about, have flattened, regenerative ag is the new hot button. Enjoy!
MACRO
Concerns about inflation, but rising interest rates bring concerns about recession.
Concerns as waste water finding increasing COVID in some places
RETAIL AND CONSUMER
The pandemic threw these meal delivery companies a life line. They still have not worked out a profitable model for a large enough audience. Meal-kit delivery companies flourished early in the pandemic, but are struggling now.
Without sustained inflation for decades, we don’t know how consumers will react. This is particularly difficult for producers of perishable foods.
Amazon Fresh is launching a line of plant based alt-proteins. Their timing is questionable (see below).
Between Ukraine and Russia, they normally consume 2 million boxes of bananas per week. For the short term this will cause a huge over supply, hurting prices for producers.
The entire world food system is threatened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For the short term this will cause a huge over supply.
What we found this week: Hendrick’s Neptunia Gin, from its Cabinet of Curiosities line. Featuring “coastal botanicals and a smooth citrus finish.” We’ve seen coastal ingredients in other gins, such as Gray Whale Gin.
Kumquats in your drinks. Relatedly, we have a little Panamanian Orange tree that produces delicious citrus we use the same way.