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Ever miss the thrill of the 2016 Pokémon Go craze? A new anti-swiping dating app has come to fill that void, but instead of cute Pokémon you can catch yourself a hot date. These days, trying to find a partner IRL, whether at a bar or reluctantly joining a singles running club, is no easy task. Dating apps are still one of the most common places for people trying to meet The One, but . . . have you seen the apps? 2024 has been widely dissed as the year the dating apps died. Both Bumble and Match Group saw stock prices steadily decline since reaching all-time highs in 2021. Left Field, the latest dating app launched in New York City this week, has the goal to combat swipe fatigue and bring back spontaneity in dating. The app uses location-based notifications to engineer real-life meet-cutes. Instead of actively swiping through endless profiles, the app sends push notifications of a potential match in the area (when location services are switched on) and two users could happen to cross paths. Samantha Martin and Kate Sieler began building Left Field last year to address their own mounting frustrations with existing dating apps. We interviewed over a hundred Gen Zers and heard the same three complaints again and again, the founders told Fast Company in an email. First, dating apps are a massive time drain; people are spending hours swiping each week. The second issue is the rise of paywallsit feels like apps are prioritizing monetization over connections. And finally, dating feels more forced and inorganic than ever. In 2024, 78% of dating app users reportedly feel emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted from the apps, according to one Forbes Health survey. At its core, dating should feel fun and serendipitous, they added. We believe the future of dating isnt about making swiping slightly better, but about shifting the focus back to real-life connections. The app officially launched on the Apple App Store in February, and to build its community, Left Field is leaning on in-person events and social media. Its collaborating with comedy influencers on Instagram and TikTok while hosting singles events across New Yorkteaming up with bars, running clubs, and comedy venues. Looking ahead, Left Field plans to expand to college campuses in May, rolling out student ambassador programs to help spread the word. We believe the best connections happen when you are not actively searching for them but just out living your life, said Martin and Sieler. Gotta catch ’em all.
Category:
E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. As someone who gets to see the future unfold in research and development labs around the world, Ive grown comfortable with our global food landscape constantly evolving. Part of the fun! Anticipating the trends that shape this evolution isnt just importantits essential. First, there are macro trends that continue each year and cant be ignored. By 2030, our global population will increase to 8.6 billion. This growing population needs more food, and we need to find new ways to meet this need with less impact to our planet. This requires innovation and building resilient food supply chains to connect people and families around the world to the nutrition they need and the food they love. In addition, new dynamics are reshaping consumer behavior and market demands at a rapid pace. Here is a glimpse of the top food trends and the innovations that are poised to redefine the food landscape in 2025. 1. Health and nutrition: Food gets more personal As health consciousness grows, consumers are aligning eating habits with wellness goals. While high protein diets and mindful eating still top the list, calorie reduction is quickly taking center stage. GLP-1 weight management medications can help reduce overall calorie consumption, but theyll also push demand for nutrient-dense, protein-rich and gut health-focused foods. This evolving landscape calls for targeted innovations to meet these tailored consumer needs. Functional foods that cater to individual health objectives are also surging. Consumers want personalized nutrition and ingredients with benefits like immunity promotion, mental clarity, and gut health. And lets not forget the reigning king of macronutrients: protein. From savory snacks to hearty meals, consumers continue to prioritize protein throughout the day. Whether its steak, chicken, seafood, plant-based alternatives, mycoproteins, or dairy, companies are adjusting offerings to meet diverse preferences. 2. Value redefined: The rise of at-home premiumization Inflation and rising food costs have consumers balancing premium experiences and taste with perceived value. Consumers are prioritizing affordable indulgences. Our research shows that 77% are reducing their restaurant spending, while 46% are still eating premium treats at home. From private label options to smaller serving sizes and packaging, brands are looking to maintain quality while catering to budget-conscious shoppers desire for premium experiences at home. That includes partnerships with foodservice operators and retailers to ensure that premium products, recipes, and more are accessible for dine-in or at-home experiences. One example is the Sams Club prime rib sliders, which quickly became a popular shelf staple in the U.S. We also see this expanding to bold, multicultural tastes that resonate with the culinary curious around the world. 3. Indulgence without compromise Consumers are craving treats that satisfy indulgent desires without sacrificing health. While there will always be those moments to fully indulgeusually holidays and celebrationswere seeing a trend toward healthier choices for the every day. Globally, more than 20% of people actively seek foods lower in salt, sugar and fat, with the percentage increasing with age. For example, PepsiCo recently reduced saturated fat in Lays potato chips in China by 50%. Consumers are also reducing sugar intake, with 66% of Americans trying to limit sugars. Innovative sweeteners that offer a choice for reduced and zero calorie food and beverages are becoming more popular, ranging from sports drinks, soda, and coffee to baked goods and ice cream. 4. Food tech: Revolutionize innovation through generative AI Generative AI isnt just a buzzword; its revolutionizing food development and operations. McKinsey estimates GenAI could add $2.6 to $4.4 trillion of global productivity annually, with $40-70 billion to come from agriculture. Thats why were investing and adopting new technologies that can safely support our people and deliver results. At Cargill, were piloting AI-driven research tools to accelerate knowledge sharing and product development. Our teams use AI to aid in everything from optimizing fermentation enzymes to microbiome assessments and ingredient reformulations, to help bring new solutions to market more quickly, using ingredients that meet fast-changing consumer preferences and supply challenges. Shaping tomorrows table The food industrys transformation in 2025 is brimming with potential. New consumer trends are pushing innovators to deliver solutions that meet these health, nutrition, convenience, and indulgence trends with tastes and flavors that consumers love. And while trends may adjust year to year, Im a strong believer that it takes an ecosystem approach to make these solutions possible at a global scale. Partnerships are needed across the food supply chain, starting with farmers, and connecting to food favorites that show up in restaurants and on the grocery shelf. This intersection of new food innovations that can meet our growing populations needs around the world is what excites me most about the future of food. Florian Schattenmann is CTO and vice president of R&D and innovation at Cargill.
Category:
E-Commerce
The U.S. has entered a trade war. Donald Trumps decision to impose 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 20% tariff on Chinese goods, could have wide-reaching and long-lasting impacts on the bottom line of millions of Americans. These follow reciprocal tariffs, where the U.S. matches the tariffs other countries charge for imported U.S. goods, imposed last month by the White House. (Canada and China have already retaliated with tariffs of their own.) The duties hardly come as a surprise. Trump has been clear about his intention to slap tariffs on many countries since the campaign (though he did delay this round a month ago). He also utilized tariffs during his first term in the White House. Trump has claimed that tariffs have economic benefits for the U.S., though there is wide disagreement among economic experts about that theory. The Tax Foundation estimates Trumps tariffs will reduce after-tax incomes by 2.2%. For a household making $100,000, thats $2,200. The Tax Policy Center is a bit less pessimistic, saying the tariffs will reduce after-tax incomes by 1%. A November report from the National Retail Federation stated, A growing body of economic research has attempted to assess the impacts of the proposed tariffs on the U.S. economy. In nearly every case, the conclusion has been the same: a net negative impact on the United States with results ranging up to $7,600 in additional costs annually per household. Some companies are already warning customers that they will be forced to raise prices, while others are insisting they wont. Thats likely to be a continually evolving list. (Trump, for instance, has already threatened to increase the Canada tariffs after that country announced a retaliatory levy Tuesdayand has previously threatened the European Union with a 25% tariff). The bottom line is this: Tariffs will impact your finances, possibly more than you might imagine. Here are a few ways they could force some belt tightening. Groceries and household goods The most immediate impact from the tariffs will likely be felt at the grocery store. Roughly half of the vegetables consumed in the U.S., as well as 40% of the fruits imported are from Mexico. And some 90% of all avocados consumed come from Mexico. Over the past two decades, the volume of fresh vegetables imported by the United States, primarily from Mexico and Canada, rose nearly 200%, according to a 2021 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. and Canada, meanwhile, have the largest two-way trade in live cattle and beef in the world. Price increases could come quickly on both sides of the border. Even French fries are likely to get more expensive. Canada sent some $1.7 billion worth of frozen fries and other prepared potato products to the U.S. in 2023. And tequila and beer drinkers are likely to pay more, also, as Mexico is the heart of the tequila business and Modelo is the top-selling beer brand in the U.S. Exports of wood charcoal (and other wood products) from Canada to the U.S. in 2023 topped $11.5 billion, so summer barbecues will be doubly hit. And electronics, toys, clothing and sporting equipment are all markets that are heavily dependent on China, which has shown the ability to mass produce playthings that meet U.S. safety standards. Retirement accounts Since Trump confirmed he planned to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, the stock markets have been in a tailspin. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 are now negative for the year and the Dow is barely clinging to positive territory (but is lower than where it stood when Trump was elected). Bitcoin is also lower since the start of 2025 (by almost 9%), despite the announcement of a national crypto reserve on Sunday. Stock markets ebb and flow naturally over the course of time, of course. And retirement accounts are long-term savings vehicles. But for people who are drawing on them now or plan to soon, big drops in the market could have a direct impact on the money that they have available for their retirement. Home and car prices Canada is one of the leading suppliers of lumber to the U.S. (and lumber futures hit a 30-month high on news of the tariffs.) Meanwhile, China and Mexico make most of the drywall. And many auto manufacturers assemble vehicles sold in the U.S. in Mexico. Car and truck prices could rise by as much as $12,000 by some estimates. And home builders might have to raise prices as well, which could impact not only the price of new construction, but existing homes on the market as well. “Rising costs due to tariffs on imports will leave builders with few options, said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, in a statement. They can choose to pass higher costs along to consumers, which will mean higher home prices, or try to use less of these materials, which will mean smaller homes. We may see buyer’s willingness to pay rise for existing homes as newly built homes get pricier which would mean rising prices for existing homes, too. “
Category:
E-Commerce
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