A study has found that more than half of American restaurants added vegan dishes to their menus in 2018. With social media driving greater awareness of the diet, brands are adapting to meet the demand for animal-free fare that's more accessible for a wider percentage of the population.

As tastes become more international and health becomes a top concern, more Americans are looking beyond supermarkets to find new flavours that surprise and delight. Canvas8 spoke to 20 people from across the US to understand what occasions lead them to visit specialty food stores.

Young generations are turning to food to both speak out about political, social and spiritual beliefs, as well as a means to connect different cultures and serve as a healing medium. How can brands tap into this ethos and show that they actually care rather about supporting a cause?

Insta influencers and lifestyle mags may regularly laud the benefits of a ‘natural’ diet in 2018, but it’s taken time for these attitudes to gain mainstream acceptance. Canvas8 spoke to Laura Miller, the author ofBuilding Nature’s Market, to learn how a marginal movement went from niche to norm.