We are living through an unprecedented time in which the pandemic has accelerated, altered or accentuated trends in many spheres of food and beverage culture.

Several long-term shifts have been reshaping the American health and wellness landscape over the past two decades.

Consumer priorities in food and beverages have shifted toward finding items that signal increased personalization to health and wellness needs and goals.

The pandemic emerged to disrupt consumers’ food and beverage purchase and consumption routines and significantly alter the current nature of snacking in America.

What does convenience look like when a global pandemic throws normal schedules and routines into disarray?

As COVID-19 radically altered any semblance of a “normal way of life,” America’s food stores stepped up to provide essential services and, in the process, became consumers’ trusted allies in their struggles to cope with the new realities of the pandemic.

As we near the end of this tumultuous year, the novel coronavirus continues to upend lives, given the fluctuations and inconsistencies in case incidences, regulations, and official guidance.

There are many things we pretty much took for granted prior to the pandemic, some of which we thought were worth noting, since we miss them and — hopefully — we aren't always going to have to live like this.

Despite their appreciation for all thing fresh and less processed, Americans have a long and historical relationship with packaged foods, food science and technology.

To boost immunity and overall health and wellness within the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly seeking out functional food and beverage products that they believe might aid in the body’s defenses.