Dive Brief:

• Americans have changed how they eat, shop for and think about food, according to Laurie Demeritt, CEO of research firm The Hartman Group.
• Among the changes in attitude: consumers are more passionate about food. That translates into increasing interaction -- posting pictures of meals on social media, discussing health issues with friends, etc. The rise in passion also makes consumers more interested in food today than in the past. They want to know more about their food, and not just for health reasons.
• Consumers are less tied to tradition. They seek new experiences in food and want exposure to global foods.
• Americans today plan meals less often and eat alone more often than in the past.

Dive Insight:

We've heard much of this before, as have most folks in the food industry. But that doesn't mean it's not worth hearing again. Our sense is that consumers are changing at much faster pace than the food industry. That makes for opportunity for companies willing and able to adapt more quickly.