Onions 52 Achieves Consistency with Vertical Integration
Onions 52 has completed full vertical integration, uniting growers, packers and shippers under one organization to guarantee consistent quality from seed to shelf. The company is rolling out advanced sorting equipment at its Utah facility and has expanded its footprint with larger operations in Dallas and a strengthened Ohio hub. Growth continues in its Smileys Tearless and sweet onion programs, supported by new regional marketing partnerships with sports teams and universities. These moves aim to deliver year‑round reliability for retailers across the United States.
Sysco To Acquire Restaurant Depot In $29.1 Billion Deal
Sysco announced a $29.1 billion cash‑and‑stock acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, creating a food‑service distribution platform with roughly $100 billion in annual revenue. Restaurant Depot adds 166 warehouses across 35 states and a cash‑and‑carry model that complements Sysco’s delivery network. Sysco plans...
Coca-Cola Says ‘I’d Like to Buy America a Coke’ in America250 Campaign
Coca‑Cola has launched a year‑long America250 partnership to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday, anchored by a three‑minute anthem video titled “Drink In America.” The campaign rolls out limited‑edition bottles and the brand’s first collectible mini‑cans, each showcasing state‑specific artwork...
Mall Chick-Fil-A Units Gain Sales as Stand‑Alones Slip
Chick-fil-A's FDD is out. Stand-alone locations average $9.2 million in sales a year, down 1.7%. But mall location average-unit volumes were up 1.4% to $4.6 million. Highest volume CFA now does > $20 million. Company added 178 U.S. locations last year and now...
PFMA Sets 2026 Annual Conference For May 12-13 In Bedford, PA
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) announced its 2026 Annual Conference will take place May 12‑13 at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania. The two‑day gathering will bring together more than 600 members—including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and solution...
Hormel Modernizes Supply Chain with AI Planning Platform
Hormel Foods has rolled out the o9 artificial‑intelligence planning platform across more than 70 of its facilities, linking demand, supply and inventory in a single system. The deployment, completed between March and December 2025, aims to shift the company from...
Starbucks Offers Baristas Bonuses, McDonald’s Raises the Value Bar, and Shake Shack Goes Full Tech
Starbucks introduced a new bonus program that can add up to $1,200 per year to barista earnings, aiming to boost retention amid union pressures. McDonald’s announced a $3 McValue menu featuring at least ten items, sharpening the fast‑food value war....
The Cheesecake Factory, Chick-Fil-A Leads AUVs Among Major Restaurant Chains
The 2025 average unit volume (AUV) rankings show The Cheesecake Factory at the top with $12.8 million, followed by Texas Roadhouse at $7.9 million and Chick‑fil‑A at $7.2 million. Raising Cane’s ($6.3 million) and Olive Garden ($5.8 million) complete the top five, highlighting strong performance...
Op-Ed | Dietary Guidelines for (Some) Americans: The Impact of Ignoring Health Equity in the DGA
The 2025‑2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) rejected 30 of the 56 recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) after labeling the committee’s health‑equity focus as biased. Instead, the administration relied on a newly commissioned “Scientific Foundation” report that...
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Chicago’s Most Exciting New Bar Program
Chicago’s Radicle bar, launched by the team behind Daisies, offers most cocktails at $10, a stark contrast to the $20‑plus prices common nationwide. Beverage director Nicole Yarovinsky kept pour costs between 18% and 22% by using cost‑effective sourcing, pre‑measured kits,...
Kraft Heinz Becomes NFL’s First Condiment Partner In Five-Year Global Deal
Kraft Heinz has secured a five‑year global partnership with the NFL, becoming the league’s first condiment partner. The agreement places flagship brands such as Heinz ketchup, Kraft cheese, Velveeta and Philadelphia cream cheese at the heart of high‑visibility NFL moments,...
Hannaford Unveils Redesigned Private Label Line
Hannaford, a banner of Ahold Delhaize USA, has launched a redesign of its private‑label packaging, swapping the previous graphics for a simpler look featuring bold red block lettering. The overhaul, which took roughly a year of consumer research, is being rolled out...
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IHOP Embraces Acronym Culture with BLT Trademark
IHOP has filed a trademark for the acronym BLTAF, standing for “Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato … And Fries,” to promote a new addition to its $6 Everyday Value Menu. The move reflects President Lawrence Kim’s “move at the speed of culture”...
Ginseng Adulteration Under the Microscope in New BAPP Bulletin
The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) released its latest bulletin highlighting widespread adulteration in the ginseng market, which generated roughly US $10.7 million in supplement sales in 2024. A scoping review cited in the bulletin estimates that about 25 % of commercial ginseng...
Thorne Targets Perimenopause and Libido Gaps with Latest Science-Led Campaign
Thorne announced two science‑led supplements—Perimenopause Complete and Women’s Libido Boost—to address fragmented women’s health categories. The launches respond to a 28.5% YoY surge in reproductive‑health supplement sales, while menopause products fell 2.5% over the same period. The formulations combine botanicals...
A Growing Problem: Lead Testing Uncovers ‘Deeply Concerning Issue’ in Spirulina Supply Chain
Cyanotech’s testing of 37 top‑selling spirulina and greens products found 18 samples—nearly half—exceed California’s Proposition 65 lead limits. Third‑party verification across multiple production lots confirmed the contamination is systemic, originating from offshore sourcing in the Asia‑Pacific region. The study also showed...
Gregorys Coffee Partners with Craveworthy to Perk Interest in Franchises
Gregorys Coffee has teamed with Craveworthy Brands to launch a franchise drive for its specialty coffee concept. The partnership will host a series of open‑house events from April 7 to April 9 in Washington, D.C., Old Bridge and Paramus, New Jersey,...
Playa Bowls Launches 1st Canadian Location
Playa Bowls, the superfruit bowl chain based in New Jersey, opened its first Canadian restaurant in downtown Toronto on April 6, 2026. The 1,700‑square‑foot store is located in The Well mixed‑use development at 486 Front St. West, under a master...
Q&A and Playlist: Jermaine Stone, the Wolf of Wine
Jermaine Stone, known as the “Wolf of Wine,” turned an accidental entry into the wine world into a decade‑long podcast that fuses wine tasting with hip‑hop culture. His series “Tasting Notes from the Streets” earned James Beard and Emmy nominations and...
How International Restaurant Brands Are Reshaping the US Market
International restaurant brands from East Asia are accelerating their U.S. rollout, targeting fast‑growing beverage and dessert categories. Chains such as Mixue, Luckin Coffee and Gong cha are opening multiple locations at once, using franchise‑friendly models and digital‑first operations. Their focus on...
Smucker’s Updates Fruit Spread Packaging For First Time In 30 Years
The J.M. Smucker Co. has launched its first visual overhaul of Smucker’s fruit‑spread jars in nearly 30 years, introducing bolder colors, larger fruit imagery, and an expanded gingham pattern that now covers the front label. Each flavor receives a distinct...
Checkpoint RFID Innovation Secures Scotch Whisky Traceability
A BBC investigation uncovered widespread fraud in the Scotch whisky cask investment market, prompting calls for tighter regulation and digital oversight. With more than 33 million casks stored in Scotland and limited traceability, Checkpoint Systems and parent CCL Industries introduced SmartCask...
Industry-Funded Study of the Week: Kimchi
A May 2026 study in Bioresource Technology found that lactic‑acid bacteria isolated from kimchi can bind nanoplastic particles in the intestines of germ‑free mice, more than doubling the amount of plastic expelled in feces. The research was financially supported by...
California Certified: America’s Largest State Proposes Non-UPF Label for Food Producers & Supermarkets
California lawmakers are advancing AB 2244, a bill that would create a voluntary “California Certified” seal for foods that meet the state’s definition of non‑ultra‑processed. The label, modeled on the USDA organic mark, would be overseen by the California Department of...
Jack in the Box Launches Slider Meal, $75K Giveaway for Anniversary
Jack in the Box introduced the Smashed Jack Sliders Munchie Meal to celebrate its 75th anniversary, offering three mini‑sliders, tacos, curly fries, a drink and a collectible cup. Each cup contains a pin that enters customers into a $75,000 sweepstakes,...
King's Hawaiian Launches Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls
King's Hawaiian is rolling out its first limited‑time flavor nationwide: Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls. The purple‑hued rolls combine the brand’s signature fluffy texture with real ube and coconut milk, and contain no artificial dyes or high‑fructose corn syrup. After a...
A Big Carl's Jr. Franchisee Has Filed for Bankruptcy
A Carl’s Jr. franchisee that runs 65 California locations filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, encompassing several entities owned by Harshad Dharod. The filings list assets and liabilities under $50,000 each, indicating a tightly scoped restructuring. The franchisor emphasized that the bankruptcy is...
Food Delivery Turns the K-Shaped Economy on Its Head
Recent data reveals that lower‑income consumers are driving the bulk of food‑delivery orders, even as they cut back on restaurant visits overall. This counter‑intuitive trend flips the typical K‑shaped recovery narrative, where higher‑income groups usually lead growth. Delivery platforms are...
Chick-Fil-A's Unit Volumes Hit a Ceiling
Chick-fil‑A’s U.S. system sales climbed 5.2% to $23.9 billion in 2025, but the chain’s average unit volume (AUV) for stand‑alone restaurants slipped 1.7% to just under $9.2 million. Mall‑based units posted a modest 1.4% AUV increase to $4.6 million. The company added 178...
Can Burger King Ever Catch McDonald's?
Burger King remains far behind McDonald’s in global scale and sales. McDonald’s operates roughly 40,000 U.S. restaurants and generates higher same‑store sales, while BK trails with about 18,000 locations. Analysts argue that closing the gap would require aggressive digital transformation,...
Spring Menus Pop with Flavor
Across the U.S., quick‑service and casual‑dining chains are rolling out spring menus packed with bright fruit flavors, matcha‑based drinks, and cheese‑heavy items. Starbucks adds mango‑strawberry refreshers and ube‑infused espresso, while Applebee’s, Wingstop and White Castle introduce new sauces, sliders and...
Here Come the Menu Improvements
Restaurant chains are accelerating menu upgrades to revive growth as external pressures mount. Higher gasoline costs are squeezing full‑service operators, while Chick‑fil‑A reports a two‑year slowdown in unit‑volume expansion. A major Carl's Jr. franchisee’s recent bankruptcy underscores the financial strain on...
Natural Grocers Adds 4 Organic Frozen Ravioli Varieties
Natural Grocers has introduced four new organic frozen ravioli varieties—Ricotta & Mushroom, Mozzarella & Cherry Tomato, Eggplant & Provolone, and Butternut Squash—under its private‑label brand, available exclusively in its stores. The ravioli are certified organic, contain no artificial flavors, colors...
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A Timeline of America’s Trendiest Coffee Drinks [Infographic]
VinePair’s infographic charts the evolution of America’s coffee culture from the early‑1970s drip coffee boom to the protein‑infused brews of 2025. It highlights how innovations such as the Mr. Coffee machine, Starbucks’ espresso bar, and viral TikTok trends reshaped consumer preferences....
Norteño Brings Warmth Into the Frozen Section With Inviting Taquitos Packaging
Norteño partnered with design agency Design Happy to revamp its frozen taquitos packaging, aiming to convey warmth and home comfort rather than typical Mexican food clichés. The new visual system uses abstract home-inspired motifs and vibrant color palettes to differentiate...
Turner Duckworth Redesigns Blue Diamond’s Barista Almond Milk
Turner Duckworth has refreshed the packaging of Blue Diamond’s Barista Almond Milk to better resonate with coffee‑shop consumers. The redesign introduces a sleek, coffee‑centric visual language and tactile elements that differentiate the product on café shelves. Blue Diamond aims to...
🎥 Fermelanta Introduces “Unprecedented’ Number of Genes Into Microbes to Make Rare Plant Compounds
Japanese startup Fermelanta has developed a platform that inserts nearly 30 plant genes into a single E. coli strain, allowing microbial fermentation of complex, rare plant secondary metabolites in one step. The technology bypasses traditional CRISPR tools and promises cheaper,...
US Department of Commerce Launches More Antidumping and Countervailing Investigations Into Foreign Shrimp
The U.S. Department of Commerce has opened a new round of antidumping and countervailing investigations covering shrimp exporters from India, Vietnam, Thailand and China. The review will examine over 1,000 companies—394 from India, 299 from Vietnam, and 199 each from...
Australian Prawn Giant A Raptis and Sons Closing Doors After More than Six Decades
A. Raptis and Sons, one of Australia’s largest privately owned, vertically integrated prawn producers, announced it will shut down after nearly 70 years of operation. The company entered voluntary administration in March, citing a weak banana prawn return, oversupply and rising production...
Novonesis & DTU to Convert Carbon Into Protein As Part of Bill Gates-Backed Project
Novonesis has teamed up with the Technical University of Denmark’s Bright hub to engineer microbes that convert waste carbon dioxide into protein using acetate as feedstock. The collaboration is part of the Gates‑ and Novo Nordisk‑backed Acetate Consortium, which has...
Return of Programme to Support Food and Drink Producers
Taste 4 Success Skillnet is relaunching BrandBite, a brand acceleration programme for Irish food and drink producers, slated for 2026. The six‑module online course, enhanced with new tools and expert speakers, aims to help start‑ups and scaling businesses strengthen brand...
The Science of Spherification: 3 Key Takeaways From the ‘Year of the Sphere’
A recent Kikkoman webinar titled “Year of the Sphere” highlighted how molecular gastronomy, especially spherification, is moving from novelty to a core kitchen tool. Chefs Evan Gonzalez and Andrew Hunter demonstrated that controlling texture allows precise, tiered flavor releases that...
The New Flavor Pipeline: How Social Media Is Rewriting the Rules of Food and Beverage Innovation
Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have collapsed the traditional multi‑year flavor development cycle into a matter of weeks, turning a single viral video into a market‑wide demand surge. The Dubai Chocolate Bar’s rapid ascent from regional novelty...
How a Renowned Restaurant Uses Square to Balance Creativity and Consistency
Miss Lily’s, a celebrated Jamaican restaurant in NYC’s East Village, switched to Square’s POS platform in 2025 to embed operational structure as it scales. The new tools provide real‑time sales data, guest counts, and recipe tracking, allowing Chef Brittany “Stikxz”...
Testing Confirms Microbiological, Chemical Safety of Canadian Infant Formula, Children’s Foods
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency released its latest testing results, confirming that the vast majority of infant formula, children’s foods, and other consumer products meet safety standards. The 2024‑25 National Microbiological Monitoring Program performed 12,641 tests on 5,305 products, achieving...
Keurig Dr Pepper Expands Partnership With Suntory Beverage & Food Europe
Keurig Dr Pepper and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe have broadened their long‑term alliance to push Dr Pepper, Canada Dry and other brands into 15 European markets, including France, Poland, Switzerland and Iberia. The deal emphasizes joint marketing, product innovation and logistics...
🎥 As Cocoa Prices Swing, Kawa Project Offers an Upcycled Alternative From Spent Coffee Grounds
Kawa Project has developed an upcycled powder made from spent coffee grounds that mimics industrial cocoa in taste and functionality. The product offers a more stable supply chain and price consistency compared with volatile cocoa markets. Economically, the alternative becomes...
What Factors Could Challenge This Profitable Beef Market?
U.S. beef prices stay well above year‑ago levels as tight supply and strong demand push boxed‑beef, feeder and fed‑cattle values higher into 2026. Producers enjoy a profitable market but face heightened volatility from short‑term shocks. Six headwinds – drought, geopolitical...
Consumer Megadeals Make A Rare Comeback In The First Quarter
Two blockbuster consumer mergers—Sysco’s $29 billion purchase of Jetro Restaurant Depot and McCormick’s near‑$45 billion acquisition of Unilever’s food business—were announced within 24 hours, propelling both into the global top‑10 deal rankings for Q1 2026. The deals mark the first time since 2015...
What Makes a Good Protein?
Protein quality is gaining prominence as GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs, aging populations, and plant‑based trends raise concerns about muscle loss and overall health. The article explains that a "good" protein must contain all nine essential amino acids and be highly digestible,...