Why Domino’s Is Adjusting Its Menu and Marketing Calendar
Domino's reported a modest 0.9% rise in domestic same‑store sales for Q1, missing analyst forecasts, yet CEO Russell Weiner outlined a plan to hit a 3% full‑year growth target. The strategy hinges on capturing market share from competitors closing stores and accelerating menu innovation, shifting focus from deep discount promotions to new pizza and non‑pizza offerings. New items such as a Parmesan‑infused signature sauce, Spicy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza, and expanded bread‑bite lines will debut starting in May. CFO Sandeep Reddy added that the marketing calendar will be optimized to align with the current macro environment, including high gas prices and waning consumer confidence.
Ryan Lulow Named Mountain Mike’s CFO
Mountain Mike’s appointed Ryan Lulow as its chief financial officer, elevating him from vice president of finance after a decade with the brand. Lulow will steer franchisee profitability, refine promotional and loyalty programs, and hunt for supply‑chain cost savings while...
Papa Johns Launches an AI Assistant to Help with Group Orders
Papa John’s has launched Lou AI, an artificial‑intelligence‑powered pizza assistant built on Google Cloud’s Food Ordering agent. The tool lets users describe a group’s size and preferences, then automatically curates a menu mix that accommodates picky eaters and varying tastes. Lou AI...
Town & Country Markets Introduces Limited-Edition Artist Mug Collection
Town & Country Markets is launching a limited‑edition insulated mug collection in partnership with Seattle‑based B Corp MiiR and five Pacific Northwest artists. Each of the six designs reflects the history, landmarks, or cultural vibe of a specific store location...
Poke The Bear Promotes Mellow Mushroom's 'Sandwich'
Poke The Bear has rolled out “The Sandwich Reimagined,” a multi‑channel campaign promoting Mellow Mushroom’s new sandwich line, debuting at 10 locations on April 28 with a nationwide rollout slated for later 2026. The integrated effort spans digital, social, print,...
Subway Enters Value Wars with Menu Priced Under $5
Subway rolled out its first Fresh Value Menu on April 28, 2026, featuring 15 items priced under $5, including Deli Faves sandwiches and Protein Pockets wraps. The menu is available at participating locations, with higher prices in California, Washington, Alaska...
$188K in Delivery Fees Forced This Restaurant Owner to Ditch DoorDash and Uber Eats: ‘That’s Losses on Us’
Omaha restaurateur Javier Trujillo disclosed that his five eateries paid roughly $188,000 in delivery‑app commissions last year, prompting him to abandon DoorDash, Uber Eats and similar platforms. He said the fees eroded profit margins and even caused losses when drivers...
Subway Launches $5 Value Menu, Adding Subs and Protein Pockets
Subway is joining the value menu trend. The sandwich chain, which has been trying to strike the right balance on value for roughly ever, will feature 15 items under $5, mostly 6-inch subs and "Protein Pockets." The menu will include...
Unfinished Business: A Q&A With Frank Yiannas on Food Safety, Traceability, and What the Industry Still Gets Wrong
Frank Yiannas, former FDA deputy commissioner and longtime food‑safety strategist, recounts guiding Boar’s Head through a severe Listeria outbreak, evaluates the industry’s uneven progress on the FDA’s food‑traceability rule, and examines how emerging technologies are reshaping safety protocols. He notes...
Turkish Producer Brings Native Cultivars to U.S. Market
Zagoda Olive Oil, founded by Ceren Su Sahin, is exporting single‑varietal Turkish extra‑virgin olive oils to the United States from a family grove of over 16,500 trees. The producer emphasizes early harvest, same‑day milling and a two‑phase continuous extraction system to lock...
SNAP Restrictions Are Reshaping Sugary Food Purchases
Beginning Jan. 1, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia barred SNAP funds from buying sugary drinks and candy as part of a USDA pilot. Ibotta’s data shows purchases of these items by SNAP shoppers fell about twice as fast in...
THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2026 Spotlights Plant-Based and Precision Fermentation
THAIFEX‑Anuga Asia returns to Bangkok from 26‑30 May 2026, expanding to 12 halls and over 140,000 sq m, the largest edition yet. The show spotlights alternative proteins through a new Flavour and Taste Contest and the Future Food Experience+ conference, which covers...
New UK Partnership to Tackle Food Waste and Support London Communities
Fischer Farms has teamed up with London food charity City Harvest to redirect surplus vertical‑farm produce to communities in need. The partnership has already diverted 1.3 tonnes of leafy greens, equating to 3,086 meals and preventing 895 kg of greenhouse‑gas emissions. By...
Delivering Vertical Produce to the Heart of London
Harvest London, a vertical farming startup founded in 2017, celebrated the first anniversary of its Corner Corner facility in Surrey Quays. The 190 sq m footprint leverages a vertical design to provide roughly 400 sq m of LED‑lit growing space that operates 24 hours a...
Supply Rebound Pushes Prices Down as Uncertainty Clouds Outlook
European olive oil production rebounded sharply in 2024/25, rising 37% to about 2.1 million tonnes, driven primarily by a 66% surge in Spain and strong gains in Greece. The surge pushed extra‑virgin prices down from a peak of €8.3 ($9.1) per...
CPG Gears up for Cinco De Mayo on Taco Tuesday
Mexican food CPG brands are gearing up for Cinco de Mayo, which lands on Taco Tuesday this year, creating a unique promotional opportunity. General Mills’ Old El Paso teamed with Tabasco to launch a limited‑edition Taco Totality Gear Box, while Somos Foods...
Kayem Turns up the Heat with Launch of "Cannon Fire" Hot Dog
Kayem, New England’s top frank brand, has introduced the Cannon Fire Hot Dog, a smoky, spicy beef‑pork blend, to mark America’s 250th birthday. The limited‑time product is priced at $2.50 per four‑pack and rolls out in early May across major...
California Fast‑food Wage Hike Cuts Staff by 8%
Following California’s fast-food minimum wage increase, new data indicate an average 8% reduction in on-site staffing, suggesting that higher wages have been offset by fewer worker hours or positions. minimumwage
Why the PBR X Grillo's Pickle Beer Collaboration Could Be the Tip of the Spear 🥒
The partnership between Pabst Blue Ribbon and Grillo's Pickles marks a high‑profile entry of pickle‑infused beer into the mainstream. While craft brewers have long experimented with brine flavors, recent CPG successes—such as pickle‑flavored snacks and even lip balm—signal broader consumer...
Pure Leaf Puts Mental Clarity in Focus with New Functional Tea
Pure Leaf, the PepsiCo‑Unilever tea joint venture, launched its first sparkling functional beverage, “Mental Focus,” a brewed iced tea infused with 69 mg of natural caffeine and added L‑theanine. The zero‑sugar, zero‑calorie drink comes in peach and raspberry flavors and targets...
McDonald's Debuts New Refreshers and Dirty Sodas May 6
And here it is, McDonald's new beverage lineup featuring Refreshers and dirty sodas and whatnot, including a dirty soda using Hi-C Orange Lavaburst. It alo comes out on May 6. They include: Strawberry Watermelon Refresher Mango Pineapple Refresher Blackberry Passionfruit Refresher Sprite Berry Blast...
There’s a World of Mexican Agave Spirits Beyond Mezcal. It’s Time You Met Them.
The Washington Post explores Mexico’s expanding portfolio of agave‑based spirits, highlighting lesser‑known varieties such as raïcilla, sotol, bacanora, and the umbrella term destilado de agave. A tasting flight in Washington, D.C. reveals each spirit’s unique aroma and palate, from raïcilla’s...
Family Project Revives Abandoned Groves in Italy’s Sannio Region
Settemisure, a family‑run olive oil brand founded in 2018, rebuilt its grandparents' grove after the catastrophic 2015 Benevento flood and has since expanded to restore abandoned groves across the Sannio region. By focusing on native cultivars such as Ortolana, Racioppella,...
Ferrero Making First Nutella Product in US with $75M Investment
Ferrero is investing $75 million to produce Nutella Peanut at its Franklin Park, Illinois plant, marking the first Nutella product manufactured in the United States and the brand’s first new flavor in 62 years. The peanut‑infused spread aims to move Nutella beyond breakfast,...
Canada’s Plant-Based Industry to Gather in Ontario for Third Annual PBFC Conference
Plant‑Based Foods of Canada (PBFC) will host its third annual conference on May 5, 2026 in Kleinburg, Ontario. The one‑day event expands attendance beyond members, inviting manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, researchers and investors. Former Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness will open with a keynote...
Nature's Bounty Expands Presence at Target
Nature's Bounty announced that its flagship vitamins and supplements will roll out to more than 370 Target stores and Target.com beginning in April 2026. The curated assortment includes Magnesium Glycinate, CoQ10, Berberine, Biotin, Vitamin D3, Lutein, Zinc and women's wellness...
Today! Men’s Health Market Momentum Webinar
The men’s health market is expanding beyond traditional muscle‑building narratives, with younger consumers seeking holistic wellness solutions such as supplements, functional foods, and GLP‑1‑related products. Testosterone‑boosting supplements remain a core category but are being repositioned to address energy, metabolism, healthy...
Fasting Mimetic May Improve Cardiometabolic Health Markers: RCT
A randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial found that an eight‑week regimen of Mimio, a fasting‑mimetic supplement, significantly improved cholesterol fractions, oxidized LDL, and fasting glucose in older adults with elevated BMI and HbA1c. The formulation delivers nicotinamide, PEA, OEA and spermidine...
One of London’s Best Bakeries Is Opening a Second Location
London’s cult‑favorite Toad Bakery, celebrated for its laminated pastries and recent "Bakery of the Year" award, is expanding with a second location in Deptford. The new bakehouse, slated for a June opening in St Paul’s House, is significantly larger and...
Canadians in 'Survival Mode' As Food Expenses Rise: Report
The spring 2026 Canadian Food Sentiment Index, based on a Feb. 23‑24 survey of 3,000 households, shows food costs are squeezing budgets, with average monthly grocery spend rising to CAD $519.96 (≈US $380), a 4.6% year‑over‑year increase. About 34% of Canadians are...
California Startup Fermeate Closes $2M Seed Round for Light-Based Fermentation Control Technology
California startup Fermeate closed a $2 million seed round led by Newfund Capital, with participation from SOSV and Ajinomoto Group Ventures. The company’s optogenetics platform embeds light‑sensitive proteins in microbes, allowing real‑time gene activation or repression via an external light‑delivery device...
Ahold Delhaize USA Expands Digital Commerce Capabilities with SmartCommerce Click2Cart
Ahold Delhaize USA announced a partnership with SmartCommerce to roll out Click2Cart across its five U.S. grocery brands—Food Lion, The GIANT Company, Giant Food, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. The service lets shoppers add products seen in digital ads, social...
Michelin‑Starred Chef Theodor Falser Leads Three‑Night Pop‑Up at Hong Kong’s Cucina
Michelin‑starred chef Theodor Falser will headline a three‑night residency at the Forbes Travel Guide 4‑star Italian restaurant Cucina in Hong Kong from May 14 to 16. Diners can book a six‑course tasting menu for HK$988 (about $127) or a one‑night...
Sermo Data Challenges ‘Consumer-Driven’ Narrative in Supplement Purchases
A January 2026 Sermo RealTime survey of 374 U.S. physicians found that 92% recommend dietary supplements and 94% have seen patients purchase them after a doctor's suggestion, challenging the view that the market is purely consumer‑driven. Earlier Sermo Barometer research...
Pizza Hut Unveils Next‑Gen Hut Rewards to Stem Declining Sales
Pizza Hut announced a revamped Hut Rewards loyalty program across U.S. locations, adding challenges, bonus points and exclusive merchandise. The move comes as same‑store visits fell 0.4% and sales slipped 1% year‑over‑year, prompting the chain to chase higher engagement in...
The Colorado City That's Perfect For Beer Lovers
Fort Collins, Colorado, boasts more than 20 breweries serving a population of roughly 170,000, creating one of the nation’s most concentrated craft‑beer hubs. The downtown “Brewmuda Triangle,” anchored by New Belgium, Odell and the former Fort Collins Brewing, makes the...
Panera Bread’s “Salad Stuffers” Spark Backlash Over Waste and Value
Panera Bread introduced its Salad Stuffers on April 8, marketing them as a fresh spin on the chain’s signature bread bowl. Within days, employees on Reddit reported that the product creates excess bread and salad waste, while customers question its...
Domino’s Expects Papa Johns, Pizza Hut to Close More Stores
Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner said the chain expects to capture market share as publicly traded rivals close stores in 2026. Yum Brands plans to shutter about 250 Pizza Hut locations in the first half of the year, while Papa Johns targets 300 closures...
Domino's Q1 2026 Revenue Rises 3.5% as Same‑Store Sales Edge Higher
Domino's Pizza posted a 3.5% revenue increase to $38.5 million and a 9.6% jump in income from operations for Q1 2026, while same‑store sales grew 0.9% in the U.S. and fell 0.4% internationally. The company added 180 net stores worldwide and approved...
Strong Start for Coca-Cola
Coca‑Cola delivered a robust start to 2024, posting first‑quarter net revenue of $12.5 billion, a 12% year‑over‑year increase, and profit of $3.9 billion, up 18%. The earnings beat expectations largely thanks to a surge in Coca‑Cola Zero sales. On a comparable‑company basis,...
Appetronix Acquires Salad Assembly Robotics Co Cibotica
Toronto‑based Appetronix has acquired Canadian robotics startup Cibotica, adding its ingredient‑dispensing platform to the company’s automated pizza kitchens. The deal, terms undisclosed, enables Appetronix to roll out new cuisine formats—Asian noodles, Mexican burrito bowls and coffee—by the end of the...
Majestic Takes Top Spot in Brand Performance and Visibility
Majestic Wine has reclaimed the top spot in the UK Online Alcohol 2025 Salience Index, posting an estimated organic traffic score of 509,538. The index, which measures visibility, search volume and brand awareness using Ahrefs data, placed Fortnum & Mason...
Florida Man Charged in $600,000 Produce Fraud Case
Federal prosecutors have charged a 39‑year‑old Florida man with a $600,000 produce fraud scheme involving onions and potatoes. The suspect posed as a legitimate business, using a real company's name and forged documents to place orders that were later redirected...
Domino’s, Jack in the Box and Fast-Casual Chain Sales
Domino’s reported a modest 0.9% rise in same‑store sales for Q1, but the miss on expectations knocked its share price down nearly 10%. The chain blamed weather, weaker consumer sentiment and a crowded promotional landscape, while CEO Russell Weiner argued that...
Lawsuit Says Trader Joe’s “Low Acid” Coffee Was Too Low on Caffeine
A federal class action filed on April 23, 2026 in the Central District of California alleges that Trader Joe’s “French Roast Low Acid” coffee contains roughly half the caffeine of its regular blends, contrary to the product’s fully caffeinated marketing. The...
This Brewery Pulls Ambient CO2 to Carbonate Your Pint
Almanac Beer Company in Alameda has become the first brewery to carbonate its beer using carbon dioxide captured directly from ambient air. The brewery installed two Aircapture machines in its parking lot that capture, liquefy and purify CO₂, now supplying...
“Renegotiating with Supermarkets Will Become Inevitable” Warns the Belgian Food Industry
Belgian food manufacturers reported a 2.5% revenue increase to roughly $93 bn last year, driven by higher volumes despite falling prices. However, domestic demand is flat and cross‑border shopping, now worth about $772 m, is shifting toward Germany and Luxembourg as shoppers...
Restaurants and Bars Stuck in Ongoing Affordability Crisis
Restaurants (and bars) have an affordability crisis. While the energy crisis is the most recent challenge, prices have been going up for a myriad of reasons for several years now.
What Costco Does With Its Leftover Rotisserie Chickens
Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chickens sell millions each year, but unsold birds aren’t discarded. After a strict two‑hour hot‑display window, leftovers are redirected to the deli for items like chicken Alfredo, pot pies, and enchiladas. Bones and gristle are harvested for...
McDonald's Refresh Era Launches, Industry Impact Awaits
The McDonalds refresher era is soft launching today. Will be interesting to see the impact it has on the industry.