Are you making waves in the food industry?

If so, watch out. The capital investment hawks are circling.

Most investors understand that the quickest way to flourish in this industry is to buy rather than build—and buying they are. There were 410 food-industry (all retail channels, food processors and restaurants) deals in 2015, according to The Food Institute, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Regardless of what else may be in their baskets, your customers buy chocolate.

There are some other habits you’re likely to see. Patrons often buy a newspaper when they pick up lottery tickets. They purchase bottled water and carbonated soft drinks together. And when they buy beer, it’s usually between 3 and 11 p.m., so put a six-pack on the counter to remind them.

Does your brand have strong equity?

According to Emily Mescher, vice president of consumer insights for Nielsen, brands with strong equity do the following to build share:

Every day when my son gets on the school bus, I make him turn around and give me a hug.

“Kindness ­first,” I whisper into his broomstick hair.

If I’m lucky, I get a one-cheek smile. Usually it’s a little nod. This ritual will totally embarrass him soon if it doesn’t already. But though actions do indeed speak louder than words, it is this phrase I hope he remembers when he makes a decision about how to talk to his friends, treat a new student or respond to a teacher.

On the heels of the Campbell Soup Co.’s announcement mid-January, General Mills and Mars have also announced they will label genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on their products.

The major manufacturers made the move to comply with a Vermont law that goes into effect July 1. And although the law only applies to Vermont, the two companies said they will label GMOs on product packaging nationwide.

Many of the positive merits that satisfy consumer demands for fresh, local and seasonal food and beverage also “carry risks of their own,” according to The Hartman Group.

Two recent Hartman reports, “Diners’ Changing Behaviors 2015” and “Transparency 2015,” uncover those risks and help to determine the most important attributes for consumers to consider as they decide which food and beverage products to purchase. 

Do you know the new-product success rate? According to a Booz, Allen and Hamilton study, for every seven new product ideas, about four enter development, 1.5 are launched and only one succeeds. The convenience retailing industry acts as an incubator for many of these success stories. In that spirit, for the 13^th consecutive year, CSP magazine is calling for submissions for the 2016 edition of its Retailer Choice Best New Product Contest.

No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you; that Giant Pixy Stix isn’t nearly as giant.

Nestlé reformulated the product—and many others—to meet the company’s sugar guidelines, which align with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) that consumption of added sugars be limited to no more than 10% of daily calorie intake.

They might not look like it to you and I, but Whiffer Sniffers scented backpack clips are all the rage.

It doesn’t help that I don’t carry a backpack anymore, or that my kids aren’t yet at that age where accessorizing their school bag is as important as the books inside. But these scented clips are indeed popular, to the point that they’ve garnered thousands of followers on Instagram, millions of views on YouTube and even won the Most Wanted Collectible Toy of the 2015 Holiday Season by TTPM, a review site for toys, tots, pets and more.

I’m pretty grumpy before I get my first cup of coffee in the morning. And now the perpetually grumpy cat is here to help.

Los Angeles-based Grumpy Beverage has expanded its product line to include Grumpy Cat Roasted Coffee.