Neil Hershman Expands 16 Handles to 46 Stores with $460K Seed Funding
Neil Hershman, who bought the 16 Handles brand in 2022, has scaled the self‑serve frozen‑yogurt concept to roughly 46 locations across six states. Leveraging $160,000 of his own money and a $300,000 SBA loan, he doubled store profitability and plans national and international growth.
Are Atlanta Suburbs Missing Quality Dining Options?
This is a serious, non-judgemental question because I honestly don't know: is there a lack of great restaurants in the Atlanta suburbs? I see so many people driving into the city for dining and I was under the assumption that...
Sysco's European Counterparts: Metro, Makro, Sodexo, Brakes
If you wanna know what all the Americans are talking about when they say Sysco making all the food in restaurants now and then restaurants heat it up We have exactly the same in Europe but it's called Metro and also...
America Faces Another Grocery-Price Shock
U.S. grocery prices are spiking again, led by a near‑25% jump in tomato costs over the past year. Analysts trace the surge to higher energy prices that ripple through every stage of the food‑supply chain, from farm to shelf. The...
Fans Demand Sugar‑free Tropical Red Bull in the US
Hey @redbull why we making this sugar free instead of just taking the best flavor (tropical) and making it sugar free. I’ll commit to 1000 cans a year of sugar free tropical if you bring it to the states. This flavor is...
The Unexpected Topping You'll Find On Costco's Pizza In China
Costco, the U.S. bulk‑goods retailer, has expanded to China with seven warehouses since its 2019 debut. Its Chinese food courts feature localized pizza toppings, notably a $10 whole seafood pizza topped with crayfish and a slice for $2. The menu...
Michelin-Starred Chef Cai Launches Hakka Banquet at Hsinchu’s New ‘滿月樓’
Michelin‑starred chef Cai Rui‑lang opened the upscale Hakka restaurant ‘滿月樓’ in Hsinchu’s Lakeside Hall this May, debuting the $63 per‑person ‘姜家茶金宴’ banquet. The venue marks the first Taiwan‑wide academic‑industry partnership with the National Yang‑Ming Chiao‑Tang University Hakka Culture Institute and...
What Sets French Bakeries Abroad Apart From Ones In The US?
French bakeries are governed by strict regulations that require on‑site bread production, limit ingredients to flour, water, yeast, and salt, and prohibit preservatives, resulting in daily‑fresh loaves. Their pastry offerings emphasize lighter textures, lower sugar, and richer butter, contrasting with...
USDA Pushes Faster Meat‑Processing Lines, Sparking Safety and Labor Backlash
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced proposals to raise poultry line speeds to 175 birds per minute for chicken and 60 per minute for turkey, and to remove caps on swine line speeds. Labor unions and environmental advocates argue the...
DOJ Settles Antitrust Case Against Agri‑Stats, Raising Food‑Price Fears
The Justice Department announced a settlement of its antitrust lawsuit against Agri‑Stats, a meat‑industry analytics company. Critics argue the deal lets the firm continue sharing sensitive pricing data, potentially driving up chicken, turkey and pork prices for consumers.
5 Chain Restaurants Battering Their Onion Rings In-House
Several U.S. chain restaurants still batter onion rings in‑house, prioritizing freshness over frozen shortcuts. The article highlights five brands—Culver’s, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Firebirds Wood‑Fired Grill, BurgerFi and A&W—detailing their preparation methods and pricing. These chains use techniques ranging from overnight...
13 Pizza Chains That Prioritize High Quality Ingredients
A growing number of U.S. pizza chains are emphasizing premium, fresh ingredients to meet consumer demand for quality and transparency. Chains such as Papa Murphy’s, Marco’s Pizza, and Blaze Pizza highlight daily‑made dough, hand‑sliced produce, and nitrate‑free meats, while others...
Costco’s Signature Butter Sourced From New Zealand
"It might surprise consumers to know their favorite schmear is made in a completely different hemisphere. In 2021, Costco began collaborating with Westland Milk Products in Hokitika, New Zealand, to create the signature butter" 🌎🐮 🌏 https://t.co/wDA2uFjdY9
WCKitchen Pioneered COVID Cruise Ship Feeding Protocols
Proud when back in February 2020 @WCKitchen went to @japan to assist in the feeding of the first cruise ship with a Covid cases, creating the Pandemia protocols to keep everyone safe and fed….We are always ready….to adapt to any...
‘Fibermaxxing’ Has Spurred the Launch of Fiber Sodas and Gummies. Is the Craze Going Too Far?
The "fibermaxxing" craze has turned dietary fiber into a viral lifestyle trend, prompting influencers to flood social media with high‑fiber recipes and endorsements. Major food companies such as PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and General Mills are responding by launching fiber‑infused sodas,...
‘Fibermaxxing’ Has Spurred the Launch of Fiber Sodas and Gummies. Is the ...
The surge in “fibermaxxing” has prompted major food manufacturers such as Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo to launch fiber‑infused sodas, popcorn, and candy bars. Influencer hype and social‑media recipes have turned fiber into a functional‑snacking trend. Companies are either reformulating existing...
One Firm Powers Airline and Hotel Dining Programs
One Company Runs Every Airline And Hotel Dining Program — Here’s How It Works https://t.co/CJfzn01HJl
La Terrazza at Rome’s Hotel Eden Earns First Michelin Star
Chef Salvatore Bianco’s La Terrazza at the Dorchester Collection’s Hotel Eden has been awarded its first Michelin star, recognizing the restaurant’s innovative Mediterranean cuisine. The accolade highlights the chef’s “avanguardia del passato” philosophy and underscores Rome’s evolving fine‑dining scene.
NYC Street Vendors Grapple with Soaring Costs as “Halalflation” Strains Supply Chains
New York City street‑food vendors are feeling the pinch of a supply‑chain shock dubbed “halalflation.” Rising food prices, $9 congestion tolls and higher fuel costs have cut profit margins, prompting calls for regulatory relief. The squeeze highlights how urban logistics...
Texas Roadhouse Eyes Nationwide Tablet Rollout to Speed Service
Texas Roadhouse CEO Jerry Morgan announced that handheld tablets used in a pilot program may be deployed chain‑wide, aiming to accelerate order entry and improve accuracy. The move is part of a broader digital upgrade that includes kitchen display systems...
Spring & Mulberry Expands Nationwide Chocolate Bar Recall Over Salmonella Risk
Spring & Mulberry has broadened its recall to include every chocolate bar produced with a suspect date ingredient lot after FDA‑guided testing linked the lot to potential salmonella contamination. The move covers dozens of flavors sold across the United States...
Health Advocates Warn Government’s Claims of Baby Formula Safety Contradict Data
The Biden‑HHS administration announced that a new FDA "Operation Stork Speed" test of 300 baby‑formula samples met a high safety standard, yet independent scientists say most products were tainted with PFAS, phthalates, lead and even chlorpyrifos. The review highlighted data...
Omakase Is Taking Over London’s Mayfair Neighborhood. Here Are the Hottest Seats in Town.
London’s Mayfair is witnessing a rapid rise in high‑end omakase, with three Japanese chefs establishing ultra‑intimate counters. Masayoshi Takayama opened Tobi Masa at The Chancery Rosewood, offering a $350 seven‑seat experience that blends relaxed elegance with Michelin‑star pedigree. Endo Kazutoshi’s $330...
From Fizzy Soda to Healthy Shakes, Brands Are High on a Zero-Sugar Rush
The Indian beverage market is witnessing a rapid surge in zero‑sugar and low‑sugar products, from carbonated drinks to protein shakes. New entrants like Karan Aujla’s Zyro and Beannery Foods’ Zumi are joining established giants such as PepsiCo and Coca‑Cola, which...
Scientists Discover How Coffee Impacts Memory, Mood, and Gut Health
Scientists have identified that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee influence brain function and gut health. Clinical studies show caffeine improves short‑term memory, while decaf enhances mood by modulating the microbiome. Regular consumption of two to three cups daily reshapes gut...
Munich Council Pushes Oktoberfest Tents Open to Local Brews
Munich’s new city council coalition wants to finally open the beer tents at Oktoberfest to more local breweries. Giesinger Bräu and Münchner Kindl are already waiting at the tap to challenge the six-brewery oligopoly. https://t.co/SkL97O5DVG
U.S. Unveils 2025‑2030 Dietary Guidelines Emphasizing Whole Foods
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture released the 2025‑2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans in January 2026. The new guidance pivots from calorie‑counting to a quality‑first approach that prioritizes whole, minimally processed foods. Officials...
Kyoto’s Miyamaso Secures Rare Three‑Star Michelin Rating in 2026 Guide
Miyamaso, a Kyoto‑based restaurant famed for its wild‑herb cuisine, was awarded three Michelin stars in the 2026 Kyoto‑Osaka guide, the first three‑star honor in the region in six years. The elevation from two to three stars places Miyamaso among a...
Wendy’s Rolls Out Blue‑Themed ‘Future Fresh’ Restaurants to Boost Global Growth
Wendy’s announced a brand‑refresh that replaces its iconic red with a blue‑themed ‘Future Fresh’ design, first rolled out at 100 Philippine locations. Interim CEO Ken Cook said the new look aims to expand growth overseas while the chain continues its...
KFC Rolls Out $10 ‘Bucket of the Day’ Family Menu to Revive U.S. Sales
KFC unveiled a $10 "Bucket of the Day" menu that offers family‑size meals five nights a week, expanding its long‑running $10 Tuesday deal. The rollout targets a slowdown in U.S. sales and taps a YouGov‑cited 66% of diners who prioritize...
McLane Deploys Aurora’s Driverless Trucks, First Berkshire Long‑Haul Autonomy
McLane Company, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, has upgraded its Dallas‑Houston pilot with Aurora Innovation to fully driverless commercial operations. The rollout will use Aurora’s SAE Level 4 system and a new fleet of 200 Volkswagen‑built trucks, with the first vehicles expected...
Regrettable Substitution: Structural Gaps in Food Additive Regulation
A recent BMJ cohort study links several common food‑preservative additives to higher cancer incidence, highlighting gaps in how regulators assess safety. The authors argue that focusing on individual compounds ignores two systemic flaws: "regrettable substitution," where banned chemicals are replaced...
Is Chick-Fil-A's Tea Actually Brewed In-Store?
Chick‑fil‑A confirms that its sweet tea is brewed in‑store each day using Wilbur Curtis commercial machines programmed for consistent batches. The chain relies on a proprietary Tetley blend developed 30 years ago, which is taste‑tested daily for color and flavor....
The World’s Best Single Malt—According To The 2026 London Spirits Competition
The Donn Single Malt Irish Whiskey earned a 96‑point score to claim the 2026 Best Single Malt award at the London Spirits Competition. Produced by The Craft Irish Whiskey Company, the 46.15% ABV spirit will retail for about $300, a...
Mumbai’s Koli Women Are Rewriting the Seafood Business One WhatsApp Order at a Time
Mumbai’s Koli women have transformed their informal fish‑stall trade into Daryavardi Producer Company Limited (DPCL), a community‑owned seafood enterprise launched in April 2023. The women‑run firm now boasts over 1,000 shareholders, modern packaging, centralized logistics and digital ordering via WhatsApp and...
Chinese Bubble Tea Chain with More Stores than McDonald’s Wants to Conquer the World
Chinese bubble‑tea chain Mixue, founded in 1997, now operates about 60,000 stores—more than McDonald’s—primarily in China but expanding globally. Its ultra‑low‑price model, driven by in‑house farms and a self‑sourced supply chain, lets it sell ice‑cream cones for under $0.30 and...
Hong Kong Pastry Star Mandy Siu: From Robuchon to Michelin to Her Own Finesse
Hong Kong pastry chef Mandy Siu, a former apprentice at Joël Robuchon and veteran of the Ritz‑Carlton, The Peninsula, and London’s Heston Blumenthal kitchens, has opened Finesse Patisserie. The tiny shop on Star Street serves French‑style pastries reimagined with Asian twists, such...
Daisy Brand Headcheese Linked to Listeria Outbreak in Illinois
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for Daisy Brand headcheese after an unopened sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The fully cooked pork headcheese, produced on Jan. 20, 2026, was sold in Illinois and...
ASEAN Leaders Commit to Boost Intra‑Bloc Trade and Food Security Amid Global Shipping Disruptions
At the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, leaders led by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged to intensify intra‑bloc trade and reinforce regional food‑security mechanisms. The agreement fast‑tracks ratification of an upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) to cut...
Japanese Cuisine Restaurant in Kyoto Awarded 3 Michelin Stars
Miyamaso, a Kyoto restaurant famed for its wild‑herb cuisine, has been awarded three Michelin stars in the 2026 Kyoto‑Osaka guide, marking the first three‑star rating in the region in six years. The promotion from two to three stars places Miyamaso...
Paulo Airaudo Launches Two‑Michelin‑Star Amelia at San Sebastián’s Hotel María Cristina
Chef Paulo Airaudo has opened Amelia, a two‑Michelin‑starred restaurant, inside the historic Hotel María Cristina in San Sebastián. The venue blends Airaudo’s Italian‑omakase concept with the hotel’s century‑old elegance, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a global gastronomy hub.
Sweetgreen Reports 12.8% Sales Drop, Triggers Pricing and Menu Overhaul
Sweetgreen announced that Q1 comparable sales fell 12.8% on an 11.2% traffic decline, driving a 7.9‑point margin compression. The fast‑casual chain is rolling out a national Wraps platform, new pricing tiers and menu innovations to stem the slide and rebuild...
Omnichannel Grocery Boosts Choice but Fragments Retailer Loyalty
A FoodNavigator analysis, referencing a recent Spins webinar, finds that omnichannel grocery shopping gives consumers more options but weakens loyalty to any single retailer. Experts warn that without data‑driven stocking and careful personalization, grocers risk losing repeat business.
Gourmet Mushroom Startup Finds Fertile Ground in Bangkok
American brothers Alex and Sam Turner have launched Earthling Mushroom Farm, an urban gourmet mushroom operation in Bangkok’s On Nut district. The warehouse‑style facility claims to be one of the world’s first city‑based farms dedicated to premium fungi, supplying top...
Brazil Sets Record Soy Exports to China Amid Chinese Shortfall
🇨🇳China's soybean imports fell short of expectations again last month, but an armada of Brazilian soybeans is charging across the Atlantic. 🇧🇷Brazil exported more soybeans in April than in any month on record, with most of them destined for China. https://t.co/rLkRDdvjst
Gwen Reopens as £295 Tasting‑Menu‑Only Experience Under Chef Peter Sanchez‑Iglesias
Peter Sanchez‑Iglesias will helm Gwen’s new ultra‑intimate format, offering a 20‑course tasting menu at £295 ($375) for just eight guests per service. The shift follows the restaurant’s closure last month and signals a bold pivot toward high‑price, limited‑seat fine dining...
McDonald's Targets 50,000 Outlets by 2027 as Q1 Sales Surge but U.S. Margins Falter
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski reaffirmed the goal of 50,000 restaurants by the end of 2027, citing first‑quarter systemwide sales that rose 11% to over $34 billion. At the same earnings call, CFO Ian Borden warned that U.S. company‑operated margins were “not...
Costco Adds New Exclusive Dessert Tied to Viral Trend
Costco has introduced an exclusive line of Häagen‑Dazs Dubai‑style chocolate ice‑cream bars, sold in 20‑mini‑bar packs for roughly $15.50. The dessert draws on the viral Dubai chocolate trend, featuring pistachio ice cream, milk chocolate, and toasted kataifi crunch. Availability is...
Domino's CEO Blames DPE Franchise for International Sales Decline, Cuts Guidance
Domino's CEO Russell Weiner warned that Domino's Pizza Enterprises (DPE), the company's largest international franchisee, caused a 0.4% drop in Q1 international same‑store sales, leading the firm to lower its full‑year international growth outlook to low single‑digit. The warning underscores...
PepsiCo Foods Launches Good Warrior Snack Brand
PepsiCo Foods is debuting Good Warrior, a new protein‑snack masterbrand, with its first offering—Good Warrior Beef Sticks—rolling out in March 2026 at select U.S. retailers. The sticks are made from grass‑fed, finished beef, delivering 10 grams of protein, zero sugar and...