Stoner's Pizza Joint Signs 10&Unit Development Agreement in Dallas&Fort Worth
Stoner's Pizza Joint has signed a development agreement to open 10 new units in the Dallas‑Fort Worth metro area with an existing multi‑unit franchisee. The locations will be distributed across key trade areas over the next several years. The chain currently operates 55 restaurants across the Southeast, Texas, and Colorado and has another 10 units in development. The expansion leverages DFW’s strong population growth and rising demand for off‑premises dining.
You Can Get Some of the Best Food in California at These Neo-Retro Diners
California’s dining scene is witnessing a surge of neo‑retro diners that marry classic counter‑service comfort with chef‑level technique and thoughtful design. Establishments like Jumbo’s Win Win in Anderson Valley, Super Mensch in San Francisco’s Marina, and Max & Helen’s on...
Walmart Continues to Lose Grocery Market Share
Walmart’s grocery market share slipped to 19.9% in 2026, down from 20% a year earlier and 20.4% in 2024, according to Numerator data. The decline mirrors a modest drop in its consumer packaged goods (CPG) share, which fell to 20.4%...
Wendy's Opens 100th Restaurant in the Philippines
Wendy's Company opened its 100th restaurant in the Philippines, a new outlet on Friendship Highway in Angeles City operated by franchise partner Wenphil Corp. The brand, present for over four decades, is riding a QSR sector that has expanded roughly...
Mr. Gatti's Pizza Reopens Five Walmart Locations in Texas and Oklahoma
Mr. Gatti's Pizza has finished renovations at five Walmart locations in Texas and Oklahoma, reopening each store with larger buffet sections and new interactive gaming areas. Grand opening events were staged between April 9 and May 8, all starting at 11 a.m. The...
Sobeys Invests $51M in Digital Price Tag Tech
Canadian grocery chain Sobeys is committing $51 million to install electronic shelf‑label (ESL) technology across roughly 300‑350 stores. The rollout, partnered with JRTech Solutions and Pricer AB, will feature multicolor labels and related infrastructure, with an 18‑month deployment slated to start in...
Economics of Crafting a Perfect Pub Menu
Guest announcement Very excited that @tracyalloway and I will be joined by @APWChef, co-founder of The Devonshire, at our LIVE London Odd Lots on May 7. Get your tickets here, and watch us talk about the economics of designing a perfect pub...
Kroger Highlights Benefit of Ecommerce Leading Into Online Deal Days
Kroger announced its Online Deal Days promotion, running from April 22 through May 5, offering discounts tied to pickup and delivery orders. The retailer highlighted that delivery customers save an average of 47 minutes per order, while pickup shoppers save about 29...
Chicken Chains Surge 46% Despite Slowing Sales
Consumers love chicken, but like all parts of the restaurant industry, sales are slowing. The count of chicken restaurant chain stores (as defined as appearing in our @Technomic top 500) has increased 46% over the last decade - meaning 6,200...
Crunchtime Expands AI Capabilities Across Its Restaurant Operations Management Suite
Crunchtime, a leading restaurant‑technology provider, unveiled four AI‑driven features across its operations management suite. The new tools—AI Analyst, Voice‑Based Inventory, Photo Intelligence, and AI Actions—extend the company’s AI Forecasting to real‑time execution, promising faster inventory counts, automated compliance checks, and...
H.wood Group Takes 10K SF for New Art Deco Dining Concept at 351 West 14th Street
The H.wood Group has secured a 15‑year lease on roughly 10,000 square feet at 351 West 14th Street in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. The space will house the brand’s first New York City Lady Delilah supper club, a 1930s Art Deco‑inspired venue that...
Mowi Delivers Record Q1 Salmon Harvest
Mowi reported a record first‑quarter harvest of approximately 136,000 metric tons of gutted weight, a 26% increase over Q1 2025 and 8,000 GWT above its own guidance. Growth was led by Norway, Scotland, Chile and Canada, while output in the Faroes and...
Philippines Weighs Increase in Fish Imports, Subsidies as Fuel Costs Squeeze Seafood Sector
The Philippine government is weighing a boost to fish imports, potentially up to 350,000 metric tons, as soaring diesel costs threaten the viability of local fisheries. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned that fuel now accounts for 70‑80% of...
European Commission Authorizes Emergency Funding for Fishers in Response to Fuel Crisis
The European Commission has activated emergency provisions of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to help commercial fishers, aquaculture producers and processors hit by the Iran‑related fuel price surge. Member states can now draw from the €6.1 bn (≈$7 bn)...
California Set to Close More of Dungeness Crab Fishery to Traditional Gear, but Harvesters Can Keep Hauling Traps with Pop-Up...
California regulators will close Fishing Zone 3 to traditional Dungeness crab gear on April 30, but will permit pop‑up gear starting May 7 to accommodate an expected surge of whales. The pop‑up system removes standing vertical lines that cause entanglements, allowing fishers to...
SSP Unveils Los Amigos At FAT
SSP America has opened Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant and Mezcal Bar in the new Concourse B of Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT). The outpost brings the Fresno‑based eatery’s full menu—from chilaquiles and breakfast burritos to tacos, enchiladas and mezcal cocktails—to travelers....
Connolly’s Eggs Lands ‘Dream’ Partnership Supplying M&S
Marks & Spencer has partnered with Monaghan‑based Connolly’s Eggs to roll out a free‑range large‑egg range across all 16 of its Irish stores. The family‑run business, which started in the early 1990s with just 300 hens, now operates four state‑of‑the‑art...
Noma Launches $1,500 Pop‑Up in Los Angeles, Bringing Three‑Star Michelin to West Coast
Copenhagen's three‑star Michelin restaurant Noma announced a pop‑up in Los Angeles that runs from March 11 to June 26. The $1,500 per‑person tasting menu will be served to 42 guests four nights a week, while about 130 Noma staff and...
Intelligent Robots Streamline Operations in Modern Bakeries
Romias #Robotics Builds Intelligent #Robot System to Support Modern Bakeries by @lukas_m_ziegler #FoodTech #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/4lqaHVMyH0
Doctor’s Choice Launches Protein Muesli, Signs Arshdeep Singh
Doctor’s Choice has entered the fast‑growing functional‑food market with a new Protein Muesli that delivers 25 g of protein per 100 g and has signed Indian cricketer Arshdeep Singh as its exclusive brand ambassador. The launch is aimed at Gen Z and fitness‑focused...
5 Big Food Trends in Denmark
Denmark’s food market is defying several European trends: meat consumption remains steady despite a 2023 government plan to promote plant‑based diets, while high‑protein dairy products are gaining traction as functional, satiety‑boosting options. Economic pressure is fueling a premium indulgence segment,...
Vičiūnai, Frais Embal Win Big at 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards
Lithuania’s Vičiūnai Group and France’s Frais Embal captured the top honors at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards in Barcelona. Vičiūnai took Best Retail Product for its Smoked Herring Slices – Natural Flavor, while Frais Embal earned Best HORECA Product for its...
Soules Kitchen Launches Refrigerated Protein Entrées, Street Eats
Soules Kitchen, the retail arm of Soules Foods, introduced two refrigerated product lines—protein meat entrées and street‑style eats—available at regional grocery chains and nationwide at Walmart as of April 18. Each entrée features 100 % all‑natural chicken or steak, pre‑marinated, seared, fully...
Bel, Foodberry Work on Developing New Fruit-Coated Cheese Snacks
Bel Group, the maker of Babybel, has signed a partnership with Foodberry to develop fruit‑coated cheese snacks and other bite‑sized offerings. Foodberry’s patented fruit‑purée coating creates mess‑free shells that can encapsulate cheese, nut butter, ice cream and more. The collaboration...
MUG Brotein Turns Classic Root Beer Into Protein Shake Hack
PepsiCo’s MUG Root Beer has launched MUG Brotein, a DIY protein‑shake blend that mixes MUG Zero Sugar with a vanilla protein powder, co‑created with NFL star George Kittle. The limited‑run bundle, featuring gym‑gear accessories, drops on April 22 via Walmart.com and...
Quest Protein Bar Owner Cuts 15% of Workforce in Restructuring
Simply Good Foods, the owner of Quest protein bars, announced a 15% workforce reduction and leadership reshuffle to curb a projected 10% sales decline. The cuts, aimed at saving $17 million annually, include the exits of the chief HR and chief...
Firestone Walker and Duvel USA to Acquire Stone Brewing From Sapporo
Firestone Walker and Duvel Moortgat USA have agreed to acquire the Stone Brewing brand from Sapporo USA, with the deal expected to close in Q2. Firestone Walker will manage Stone’s western U.S. markets and four California taprooms, while Duvel will...
Real-Life Cluckin’ Bell Quietly Changes Name After Viral Debut
The London‑area takeaway that went viral for mimicking Grand Theft Auto’s Cluckin’ Bell has officially changed its legal name to The Cluckin’ Bite Ltd. Companies House records show the name change was filed on April 7, 2026 via a special resolution, confirming the...
Amazonian Cocoa’s Untapped Health Benefits Revealed
Researchers at UNESP in Brazil discovered that post‑harvest processing of Amazonian cocoa dramatically alters its nutritional profile. Fermentation lowers phenolic antioxidants but raises amino acids, potassium and magnesium, while unfermented beans preserve phosphorus and calcium. The team proposes blending fermented...
Stepherson Inc., Superlo Foods Expands Loyalty, Digital Engagement With RSA America
Stepherson Inc. has rolled out RSA America’s loyalty and digital engagement platform across all 11 Superlo Foods stores in Memphis and Mississippi. The multi‑year agreement adds a unified rewards program, digital coupons and a branded mobile app designed to lift...
Prego Pasta Sauce Wants to Listen in on What’s Being Said Around the Dinner Table
Prego has teamed with nonprofit StoryCorps to launch the Connection Keeper, a $20 dinner‑table voice recorder bundled with pasta sauce and conversation cards. The device stores up to 16 GB of CD‑quality audio locally, runs eight hours on a charge, and...
Fallon Savors Bertolli Alfredo Pasta Sauce
Fallon agency launched the "Take the Alfredo" campaign to promote Bertolli Alfredo as the default pasta sauce, challenging the entrenched preference for red sauce. The campaign features two digital spots, "Flock" and "Rose," distributed across streaming audio, social, video and...
More than a Store: Electronic Shelf Labels Pose Pricing Conundrum
Electronic shelf labels (ESLs) are rapidly expanding across U.S. grocery chains, but state and federal lawmakers are scrutinizing them as potential tools for covert price changes. Retailers are experimenting with display styles: Whole Foods uses small, multi‑line tags that show...
Why Restaurants Are Anxious About OpenTable’s New Terms
OpenTable has revised its client agreements, mandating that partner restaurants designate its platform as the primary table‑management system and shift from month‑to‑month to annual contracts. The company says the changes protect guest data and prevent unauthorized third‑party scraping, positioning OpenTable...
Webinar: What’s Driving Growth for the Men’s Health Supplement Sector?
The men’s health supplement market, valued at just under $2 billion in 2024, remains roughly 36% smaller than the women’s segment. While traditional categories like prostate health and testosterone boosters still dominate, sports‑performance and longevity products are accelerating growth. NutraIngredients is...
Walmart Refreshing Private Label Branding
Walmart announced the first refresh in more than a decade of its Great Value private‑label brand, which launched in 1993 and now tops the retailer’s own‑brand portfolio. The new visual identity modernizes packaging, standardizes nutrition information and benefit claims, and...
Jersey Mike’s, Red Lobster, and the Top 500 Restaurant Chains
Jersey Mike’s has confidentially filed for an IPO, eyeing a roughly $12 billion valuation after Blackstone’s $8 billion buyout two years ago. The sandwich chain posted $4.2 billion in U.S. sales last year and expanded by 300 units to about 3,300 locations domestically,...
Winter Wheat Health Plummets in Five Key States
🌾Five of the top U.S. winter wheat states (63% of the 2026 planted area) carry concerning health ratings. The shares of wheat rated poor or very poor in these five states are well above recent averages. But more notably, conditions have...
Beverage Development Services in the U.S.
The U.S. beverage market’s growth is driving brands to seek specialized development partners that can turn ideas into shelf‑ready products. Leading firms such as BevSource, Flavorman, Virginia Dare, Big Brands, and Newport Bottling & Canning offer integrated services ranging from...
The Viral Dirty Soda Trend Taking Over The U.S. Right Now
The dirty soda craze, a TikTok‑fuelled blend of soda, syrups and cream, has surged among Gen Z across the United States. Social‑media chatter about the drinks rose more than 270% year‑over‑year, while menu adoption jumped roughly 42%, outpacing traditional soda lines....
Feed Market Analysis: Alltech Releases 2026 Agri-Food Outlook, Highlighting Production Trends
Alltech’s 15th annual Agri‑Food Outlook reports a 2.9% rise in global feed production in 2025, reaching 1.44 billion metric tons. The study, based on data from 38,837 feed mills in 142 countries, confirms that China, the U.S., and Brazil remain the top...
How Fibre Went From Forgotten Nutrient to Consumer Obsession
Fibre has vaulted from a niche nutrient to a cultural obsession, spurred by TikTok’s #fibremaxxing hashtag that has amassed 150 million views. Google searches for gut‑health and high‑fibre foods have surged 5,000 % over the past five years, and 47.5 % of UK...
The Rise of “Bring Your Own Booze” Culture Adding Pressure on UK Pubs
The UK pub sector is feeling the strain of a growing “bring your own booze” (BYOB) culture, as consumers seek cheaper drinks amid inflation. Pubs risk losing a key revenue stream, with pint prices now around $11.5 in London and...
Brands Briefing: Brands Like Hint Water Are Redoing Packaging to Reach New Audiences and Gain Market Share
Hint Water, now led by CEO Michael Pengue since 2024, posted roughly $250 million in annual retail sales but saw flat household penetration, especially among younger shoppers. To spark growth, the brand launched a new "Water For People With Tastebuds" platform...
NWPB Releases Marketing Guide To Sustain Watermelon Growth Following Record 2025
The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) released a new marketing guide to sustain the record‑breaking 2025 watermelon sales, which topped 3.5 billion pounds at retail. The guide outlines three growth levers—extending whole‑watermelon promotions into spring and summer, shifting to cut watermelon...
Nation's Restaurant News April 2026
Nation's Restaurant News' April 2026 issue reintroduces its annual Power List, this year spotlighting 34 innovative restaurant founders. The cover features a portrait of a female entrepreneur with the headline “The Power,” underscoring the publication’s focus on creative leadership in...
Croatian Strawberry Production Declines as Prices Climb
Croatian strawberry production is slumping, pushing market prices to near‑luxury levels. Domestic growers report a 40% drop in output in the Vrgorac region and labor shortages hampering harvests. Prices have risen to about $7.60 per kilogram on average, with peaks...
Edible Garden Secures $2.66 Million in Funding to Aid Facility Development
Edible Garden is converting a former National Shrimp plant in Webster City, Iowa into a 400,000‑square‑foot, technology‑driven ready‑to‑drink (RTD) beverage hub. The project is backed by a $2.66 million incentive package from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Once operational, the facility...
Rethinking Peak Performance in the Digital Restaurant Era
The white paper released on April 21, 2026 highlights how the surge in digital ordering, delivery aggregation, and personalized menu modifiers has turned traditional peak‑hour operations into a multi‑dimensional challenge for restaurants. Front‑line teams now juggle speed, accuracy, personalization, and...
A Chef’s Perspective: How Kitchen Structure Drives Restaurant Technology Success in High-Volume Operations
Restaurant technology is proliferating, but high‑volume kitchens often see tools underperform because the underlying workflow is not built to support them. Chef Ankish Shetty explains that waste‑tracking systems capture only about 30% of data, with most loss occurring during service...