Slim Chickens Hires Veteran Marketer Patrick Noone as CMO to Drive Data‑focused Guest Growth
Slim Chickens has appointed Patrick Noone as chief marketing officer, tasking him with using data‑driven insights to deepen guest loyalty and accelerate profitable traffic at its more than 300 restaurants. The veteran marketer brings experience from Checkers & Rally’s, Domino’s, Krispy Kreme and Noodles & Company to shape a disciplined, fast‑moving brand strategy.
Sampling Grows Retail Sales at Awake Chocolate
Awake Chocolate, a caffeinated chocolate brand founded in 2012, pivoted from food‑service sales to direct‑to‑consumer and retail after the pandemic shut down its original channels. Retail locations—now at least a dozen chains and thousands of stores—have become the fastest‑growing segment,...
Lighthouse Cafe To Open At Montauk Point State Park This June
The historic Montauk Point Lighthouse will host the newly‑renamed Lighthouse Cafe, set to open on June 3. Hotelier Sean MacPherson, known for The Crow’s Nest and Manhattan boutique hotels, is reviving the former Lighthouse Grill with a Basque‑inspired pintxo menu and a full...
Papa Johns & Little Caesars Launch Drone Delivery Service and One Will Get You Pizza in Minutes
Papa John’s and Little Caesars have entered the drone‑delivery arena, with Little Caesars offering pizza deliveries in about four and a half minutes in Wylie, Texas, via Flytrex. Papa John’s partnered with Wing to deliver toasted sandwiches in Charlotte, North Carolina, rather than pizza....
Expect Grocery Prices to Spike by Summer
Grocery prices rose 0.49% in April, driven by sharp increases in fertilizer and fuel costs. Nitrogen fertilizer prices have climbed over 30% and urea 47% since February, while overall fuel and fertilizer expenses are up 20‑40%. The U.S. Senate Agriculture...
I've Tested All AeroPress Coffee Makers – Here’s the Good, Bad and Ugly
The review evaluates every AeroPress model, from the budget‑friendly Original to the premium glass version, highlighting performance, design, and price. The Original remains the best entry point at $34.95, while the Clear adds visual brewing cues for $49.95. Travel‑oriented options...
"Mama Said Lawry's" Campaign Debuts with Wiz Khalifa and His Mom, Peachie
Lawry's has launched the "Mama Said Lawry's" campaign featuring Grammy‑nominated rapper Wiz Khalifa and his mother Peachie, timed for Mother’s Day and the summer cookout season. The partnership spotlights Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Garlic Salt as pantry staples, with the...
What to Expect From the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show
The 2026 National Restaurant Association Show returns to Chicago’s McCormick Place as the largest food‑service convention in the Western Hemisphere, drawing more than 50,000 attendees and over 2,100 exhibitors. SVP Lisa Malikow reveals new product launches, a stronger emphasis on...
3 Costco Kirkland Signature Products That Might Disappear In 2026
Costco’s private label Kirkland Signature may lose three staple items by 2026: its sport drink, a ready‑to‑eat meatloaf‑and‑mashed‑potatoes meal, and a lean frozen beef patty pack. The sport drink is likely being pulled as the FDA phases out artificial dyes...
Political Branding Can't Rescue Mediocre Beer, Shares Crash
Party time is over slick American Rebel holdings tried to cash in on the MAGA resurgence, betting that consumer goods focused on politics would sell The outcome: -99.99% drop in share price. Turns out people don’t want to mix politics...
Twofold Introduces THC Spirits
Twofold has launched a line of six THC spirit analogues—vodka, gin, agave, whiskey, rum and aperitif—packaged in 750 ml bottles for bar service. Each 1.5‑oz pour delivers a precise 2 mg THC dose, offering a non‑alcoholic alternative that mimics the ritual of...
The Sad Demise of the Food Industry
The food industry’s supply‑chain performance has collapsed between 2016 and 2025, with average operating margins slipping to 11% and inventory turns falling to 7.82, marking a 35% decline in inventory efficiency. Legacy 1990s practices—such as rigid demand‑error reduction and outsourced...
Hawke’s Bay Baker Says Wholesalers Should Be ‘Stepping up’ as Butter Prices Spike Again
Butter prices in New Zealand have jumped again, with a 500 g Woolworths block climbing from NZ$7.30 (≈$4.4 USD) to NZ$8.39 (≈$5.0 USD). Local baker Courtney Booth reports her weekly butter spend of about NZ$800 (≈$480 USD) and notes wholesalers charge roughly NZ$9 ($5.4 USD) per...
Vicious Biscuit Names Industry Veteran Mike Stevens Chief Development Officer and Promotes Kate Byrd
Vicious Biscuit, the fast‑casual breakfast chain, appointed industry veteran Mike Stevens as chief development officer and director of supply chain, while promoting Kate Byrd to franchise liaison. Stevens, who has more than 30 years scaling restaurant concepts, will steer franchise sales, pipeline...
Grön Brings Chocolate Bars to New Jersey
Grön, the cannabis‑infused chocolate maker, has launched a five‑product line in New Jersey. Each bar is gluten‑free, soy‑free and scored into 20 pieces delivering 5 mg THC per segment for precise dosing. The assortment spans daytime sativa, balanced hybrid, classic indica...
Target to Invest $5B in 130 Store Remodels This Year, and some Will Have Expanded Grocery
Target announced a $5 billion investment to remodel more than 130 stores and open 30 new locations in 2026. The upgrades will feature updated layouts, larger fresh, frozen and dry grocery sections, modernized checkout areas, and energy‑efficient lighting and HVAC systems....
Señorita Debuts 1777 Hemp THC Spirit
Señorita has launched 1777, a non‑alcoholic hemp‑derived THC spirit packaged in a 750 mL bottle and delivering 10 mg of THC per 1.5‑oz serving. The drink, crafted by winemakers Joel Gott and Charles Bieler, blends agave, terpenes, lime, dragon fruit and chili...
Trump to Sign Executive Orders to Boost Beef Imports, Cattle Supply
President Trump will sign two executive orders that temporarily suspend U.S. beef tariff‑rate quotas for about 200 days, aiming to increase imports and ease price pressure. The measures also include expanded loan programs for ranchers, reduced gray‑wolf protections and looser...
West Virginia Leads, Bans Artificial Food Dyes Nationwide?
West Virginia becomes the first state to ban artificial food dyes. Should other states do this or perhaps the federal government? SecKennedy wvgovernor @EvanWorrell4WV @JasonBarrettWV MAHA #FoodBabeArmy
Winter Wheat Quality Hits 30-Year Low, Corn Soy Planting Ahead
🇺🇸U.S. winter wheat conditions unexpectedly dropped to 28% good-to-excellent as of Sunday, the date's lowest reading in 30 years. U.S. corn and soybean planting remained ahead of average pace, with progress slightly topping analyst expectations. https://t.co/srKI4PJvha
Food Lion’s Norman on Building Loyalty — Digitally
Food Lion’s MVP loyalty platform, anchored by the Shop & Earn feature, has become a cornerstone of its digital strategy across ten states. The program lets shoppers earn rewards, load coupons, and donate points to the Food Lion Feeds hunger‑relief...
Rising Costs and Health Trends Cripple Restaurant Drink Programs
Menu prices are up, which is bad enough for restaurants, but factor in even higher alcohol menu prices, health-conscious consumers, pre-gaming at home, THC/cannabis, & better availability of non-alcohol options, and the drinks programs at many restaurants is really struggling....
Cocoa Prices Surge 50% YTD Despite Recent Crash
Cocoa crashed, but it's up 50% from January... not like we ever saw a drop in chocolate prices https://t.co/2TNYkxdpnV
Why IFT FIRST Matters: Where Food Industry Decisions Meet Food Science
Food industry executives face cost pressure, regulatory uncertainty, and rapid innovation cycles, making decision confidence essential. IFT FIRST, organized by the Institute of Food Technologists, positions itself as a decision‑support environment where scientific rigor meets commercial reality. The event features...
One‑point Mediterranean Diet Boost Cuts Mortality by 4%
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and all-cause mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis within the Italian National Guidelines “La Dieta Mediterranea” "Each 1-point MD score increase reduced mortality risk by about 4%." https://t.co/l1VEnyEb29 https://t.co/RU5hAnNG1n
Trump Admin Unveils Two Plans to Tackle Beef Prices
The Trump administration will announce two new strategies Monday to address record beef prices and support rebuilding the domestic cattle herd, according to a @DroversCTN report. https://t.co/wSml9OdPWz
El Pollo Loco’s Margin, Marketing, Menu Momentum Continues
El Pollo Loco posted a 5.8% same‑store sales gain in Q1 2026 and lifted restaurant‑level margins 320 basis points to 19.2%, hitting the 18‑20% target set by CEO Liz Williams. The improvement stems from tighter cost control, strategic menu pricing and technology upgrades, while new...
The Henry Ford Brings Farm to School Film to New York City
On May 13, 2026, The Henry Ford will screen its new documentary “Farm To School Lunch Across America” at the Tribeca Film Center, followed by a reception. The event features a panel with nutritionist Marion Nestle, chef Michel Nischan, former USDA Midwest...
Filipino Fine Dining Takes Center Stage at ASEAN Summit in Cebu
Chefs Marco and Kate Dychangco-Anzani crafted a Filipino‑inspired multi‑course banquet for ASEAN presidents, prime ministers and dignitaries at the May 8, 2026 summit in Cebu. The menu highlighted indigenous ingredients and contemporary techniques, positioning Philippine cuisine alongside the region’s culinary elite.
Roc Partners Launches Precision Poultry Roll‑up to Challenge KKR’s ProTen
Roc Partners announced the creation of Precision Poultry, a roll‑up platform that will acquire U.S. broiler growers to build a national competitor to KKR’s ProTen. The launch follows Roc’s exit from ProTen a year earlier and signals fresh consolidation activity...
Other Half Brewing, Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery Announce Collab
Brooklyn’s Other Half Brewing and iconic Junior’s Restaurant have teamed up to release four limited‑edition, dessert‑inspired beers. The lineup includes an 8.5% Strawberry Dream Imperial IPA, a 6.5% Key Lime Cheesecake Sour IPA, a 6% Egg Cream Milk Stout, and...
Trump Opens Beef Imports to Curb Soaring Prices
Imports (and tariff cuts) to the rescue, AGAIN: "Trump Clears Way for More Beef Imports, Aiming to Bring Down Record-High Prices" https://t.co/PrVADPxrF7 https://t.co/WqLArEHL6p
Flytrex and Little Caesars Launch Drone Pizza Delivery in Texas
Flytrex has teamed up with Little Caesars to roll out autonomous drone pizza delivery in Wylie, Texas, promising two 16‑inch pizzas at customers' doors in about four and a half minutes. The service uses the new Sky2 octocopter, which can...
National Pork Board Announces New Advisory Committee
The National Pork Board launched a Swine Health Advisory Committee and held its first meeting in Iowa this May. The committee will guide the National Swine Health Strategy, targeting diseases such as PRRSV, PEDV, and emerging foreign threats. Members span...
US‑Iran Conflict Triggers Grocery Price Shock for Consumers
As a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Economist reports that US consumers are set to face a GROCERY-PRICE SHOCK. US CONSUMERS SHOULD SEND A BILL FOR DAMAGES TO TRUMP. https://t.co/wM9gQ9x0Ml
FSIS Probes Deli Meat Amid Illinois Listeria Outbreak
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on May 9 for ready‑to‑eat pork headcheese products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The affected items, produced on Jan. 20, 2026 by Daisy Brand, were sold in retail...
Dole Rides the Health and Wellness Trend Wave to Higher YoY Revenue
Dole reported an 11.6% year‑over‑year revenue increase to $2.3 billion in Q1, but net income fell 17% to $37.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA slipped 4.3% to $4.5 million amid higher fruit sourcing costs and a challenging geopolitical backdrop. The company attributes growth to the...
Big Food Splits: Smart Move or Strategic Misstep?
Big food giants are pursuing demergers amid investor pressure. Unilever’s planned spin‑off of its Foods unit triggered a share‑price drop to 4,221.5 GBX, while Kraft Heinz paused its split after Berkshire Hathaway began selling its stake. Nestlé is divesting parts of...
The Best New York City Neighborhoods for Restaurants
The New York Times critic highlights three NYC neighborhoods where restaurants are redefining the city’s culinary map. In Queens, Elmhurst’s dense corridor of Thai, Indonesian and Taiwanese spots includes three eateries on the paper’s 100‑best list and a $15 banana‑leaf lunch at...
Ninja Slishi Twist Doubles Frozen Fun with Dual Drink Compartments
Ninja doubles the freezing fun with the new Ninja Slishi Twist and its two drinks compartments https://t.co/ChBIHewLHw
Better Balance Returns to Spain’s Festival Circuit for Fifth Year Running
Better Balance, the Spanish plant‑based brand, will appear at five of Spain’s top music festivals in 2026, marking its fifth consecutive year on the circuit. The lineup includes Primavera Sound, O Son Do Camiño, PortAmérica, BBK Live and Río Verbena,...
Supermarket Foods Claiming to Be ‘Natural’ or ‘Sustainable’ Mostly Just Using Marketing Terms, Researchers Find
Australian researchers examined over 27,000 packaged foods across major supermarkets and found that nearly 40% display environmental claims such as “natural” or “sustainable.” Most of these labels are self‑declared, lack independent verification, and often do not correspond to lower carbon...
The Vitamin Shoppe to Add Shakeology by BODi in Retail Locations Nationwide
BODi announced that its flagship nutrition drink Shakeology will roll out in all 640 Vitamin Shoppe stores later this year, adding a seven‑serving bag format priced at $34.99. The launch follows a recent debut in more than 80 Sprouts locations and...
Flashfood Launches Loyalty Integration to Offer Grocers More Shopper Insights
Flashfood introduced a loyalty integration feature that lets shoppers link grocery loyalty accounts to its app, with Meijer as the first retailer to adopt it. Within two weeks, over 20,000 users connected their mPerks accounts, providing Meijer with richer shopper...
Wakefern Names Own Brands Director
Wakefern Food Corp., the cooperative behind the ShopRite banner, has promoted Chris Ruane to director of its own‑brands division. The new team will steer strategy, growth and loyalty for private‑label lines such as Bowl & Basket, Wholesome Pantry and Paperbird. Ruane brings roughly...
EU Parliament Votes to Warn Against Plant-Based Foods in Schools and Strip NGO Funding
The European Parliament voted on May 10 to adopt a resolution urging the European Commission to halt funding for NGOs that lobby for plant‑based alternatives and to commission scientific studies on “food substitutes,” especially in school meals. The measure passed with...
Behind the Scenes Tour: From Ingredients to the Shelf
Women in Nutraceuticals organized a behind‑the‑scenes tour of Adept Life Sciences, Arizona Custom Blends and 21st Century HealthCare, revealing the full supplement supply chain from raw ingredient testing to shelf‑ready bottles. Each company isolates incoming materials, conducts identity and microbiological...
Papa Johns, Wing Launch Drone Delivery Pilot in North Carolina
Papa Johns and Wing, an Alphabet-owned drone service, have launched a pilot delivering toasted sandwiches by drone in Charlotte, North Carolina. The program, operating from Indian Trail, offers three sandwich varieties through the Wing app and will later integrate directly...
US Government Spends Hundreds of Millions on Biotech Pilot Plants as National Security Priority
The U.S. government is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into BioMADE, a public‑private consortium aimed at scaling bio‑manufacturing for food, defense and industrial applications. Since its 2021 launch, BioMADE has secured $87 million from the Department of Defense (DoD), $450 million...
Cerealto CEO Bosco Fonts Talks Contract Manufacturing Tailwinds
Cerealto’s chief executive Bosco Fonts highlighted accelerating demand for contract manufacturing in the food sector, citing stronger retailer partnerships and rising consumer preference for private‑label products. He noted that Cerealto’s flexible production capacity and recent technology upgrades position the company...