Food trucks are an attractive business prospect. For amateur foodies with limited resources, they represent an affordable means of diving headfirst into the culinary industry. For restaurant chefs, food trucks can offer a fresh lease of life, a way to gain creative control in the kitchen with minimal overheads. 

The term ‘plant-based revolution’ is no overstatement. 2022 has seen a continuation of the global trend to eat less meat, driven primarily by the urgent need to save the planet. Health and ethical reasons often factor into plant-based diets too, making it a popular lifestyle. With 2023 just around the corner, we’re reflecting on some of the year’s top-performing blogs published on BCC Research. Unsurprisingly, the ‘10 leading companies in plant-based meat’ remains one of our most popular pieces of content to date.

The case for vegan foods is strong. There are numerous well-reported health benefits of scaling down meat intake and instead deriving protein and fats from plant-based sources. Cost-wise, it makes sense: vegan foods will gain price parity with slaughtered meat by 2023, says the Good Food Institute.

Fermenting is an ancient method of food preservation. It involves the conversion of certain food properties into another compound through the addition of a microbe like yeast. Sourdough bread, sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt – these universally beloved foods are all derived from fermentation.

Carotenoids are nature’s food coloring. As the name suggests, they’re the pigments that give carrots their distinct orange hue, and are also found in squash, paprika, tomatoes, mangoes, and a host of other fruit and vegetables. As well as being natural colorants, carotenoids are also powerful antioxidants. The body converts carotenoids into vitamin A, promoting growth, immune system function, and eye health.

Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about their health and how they can recognize the link between proper nutrition and a healthy body from the inside out. Collagen is the buzzword of the beauty industry, associated with being an anti-aging elixir as well as a generally healthy ingredient. The growing popularity of nutraceutical collagen supplements is driven in part by the perception of consumers that it is an all-around healthy ingredient with positive outcomes, but what benefits do collagen supplements actually possess?

The food testing industry is of huge global importance, and with Pack Expo just around the corner, industry heads have the unique opportunity to gather and share ground-breaking innovations. Greg Johnson and Melanie Footer of BCC Research, Associate Director and Senior Sales Executive respectively, will be attending this year’s event. Together they’ll be on the lookout for the latest industry updates, solutions, and developments across the packaging and processing landscape.

Countries around the world are adopting a more tolerant approach to cannabis use. In 2018, Canada legalized the non-medical market, resulting in the contribution of billions to the country’s national GDP. Criminal convictions for cannabis-related crimes dropped, while a multimillion dollar industry emerged. Although they aren’t yet as progressive as their neighbor, marijuana for recreational purposes is legal across 19 US states.

The logistics pavilion makes its debut at this year’s Pack Expo international. Taking place from October 23-26 , the world’s largest showcase of technology, packaging, and processing solutions for every industry makes its way to Chicago. The logistics pavilion will display targeted solutions related to the supply chain, including warehousing, fulfillment, distribution logistics services, and transportation providers. With the buzz of the new addition to the already exciting event, we here at BCC are reflecting on the core of this theme across our latest and most popular reports.

To reach our plates, food must undergo vigorous testing. Food bodies must inspect and scrutinize freshness and pathogen levels before sealing our products with the stamp of approval. Contaminants and chemicals can sully our food at every stage of the chain. From harvesting to manufacturing to consumption, food is at considerable risk of contamination. While there’s no fail-safe way to guarantee safety, quality control helps. That’s why it’s such a critical aspect of the food industry.