food and drink

The new cocktail experience

The bartender uses art and science to create sensory cocktail experiences for adventurous drinkers. According to a Mintel report from April 2018, 55% of Americans prefer to drink at home. Although the overall amount of alcohol consumed outside of the house is declining, spending…

summer-fancy-food-show-key-trends

This month, the Innovation Group visited New York for Summer’s Fancy Food Show. The Summer Fancy Food Show, which featured more than 2,500 exhibitors from 55 countries, is a leading indicator of food and beverage trends. New startups are innovating on…

Activist dining experiences

US chefs are experimenting with themed dining platforms and conceptual food experiences to explore political issues and support refugee communities. They also want to bring the American immigrant experience to life. “Coming To America” Story course, a New York-based dinner…

Digital coffee

Many baristas believe that the preparation of quality coffee is a meticulous and sacred process. From the sound of the grinder to the aroma that comes out, it’s a careful, holy process. In China, however, a new generation of cafes is…

Edible utensils

A wave of innovative designers and retailers are offering edible alternatives to plastic packaging, straws, and servingware in response to the growing consumer sentiment against plastic (and waste). As governments take a more proactive approach, they are regulating the brands,…

2050 China Food Tech Summit: Key Trends

China’s food problems in the past have been centered on feeding a large number of people. In the future, it will be about providing people well. The PwC Innovation Centre in Shanghai hosted a unique gathering of participants last week, including…

Vegetable galleries

There are now new stores that look like galleries, showcasing vegetables in the same manner as fine wines, meats, artisan cheeses, or even handbags, fragrances, and other products. New campaigns and partnerships also seek to elevate unique strains and varieties for…

Trend check: Best of our 2018 predictions

This year’s The Future 100 Report dives deep into the trends and innovations that will shape the coming year. How did predictions from last year fare? We look at the most accurate predictions we made in terms of culture, technology, and travel. Streaming Wars (#6) streaming…

New wave coffee

The coffee connoisseurship trend is growing. According to the National Coffee Association, 59% of the coffee consumed in the US is classified as specialty. The National Coffee Association reports that the number of people who drink gourmet coffee daily has quadrupled in…

Pax 3 Vaporizer Review: Still the Best Weed Vape You Can Buy

Since its inception, the Pax 3 has been our favorite weed vape. It was released in 2016 not long after the Pax 2. It’s still highly regarded six years later, despite being released in 2016. Although I have never smoked…