BMO's 21st Farm Conference Flags 29% Foodservice Share as Private Label and Protein Trends Gain
Updated
Updated · Food Institute Blog · May 19
BMO's 21st Farm Conference Flags 29% Foodservice Share as Private Label and Protein Trends Gain
1 articles · Updated · Food Institute Blog · May 19
New York's May 13-14 BMO Global Farm to Market conference framed food and agriculture as entering a more volatile phase, with tariffs, wars, inflation and weaker consumers forcing companies to prioritize risk management and operational discipline.
BMO speakers said performance is diverging sharply: crop producers face oversupply and margin pressure, while dairy and protein businesses benefit from stronger demand; regulation, labor, water and sustainability costs are also accelerating consolidation.
Private label emerged as a key growth lever as retailers chase value-seeking shoppers, with Kroger, Loblaws and Sprouts describing stronger demand for premium-value, cleaner-label and discount offerings.
Convenience-store panels highlighted prepared food as a profit engine, accounting for about 29% of in-store sales and nearly 40% of gross profit, with top operators generating almost five times more food profit than weaker peers.
The conference also pointed to a structural reset in wine and broader opportunity in health-focused products, from flavored wines that grew 12% in 2025 to functional beverages and GLP-1-driven demand for protein-rich foods.
With GLP-1 drugs shrinking appetites, which food sectors face extinction and which are poised for explosive growth?
As consumers drink less wine, can the industry innovate beyond price cuts to win back younger generations?
As private labels become premium and affordable, are iconic national food brands facing an inevitable decline?