Logistics and Little Necks
Chef Joe Frillman’s new Chicago restaurant, The Radicle, required a $1 million renovation despite occupying an existing space, and faced two years of delays due to licensing, inspections, and scheduling hurdles. The Eater series documents the costly and time‑intensive process of opening a modern eatery. The project highlights how hidden construction challenges and regulatory compliance can inflate budgets and extend timelines for restaurateurs.
Enhancing Restaurant Profitability Immediately with Real-Time Insight
Hospitality operators are grappling with soaring labor costs, higher business rates and lingering inflation, prompting many to cut staff or hours. Yet restaurants can instantly improve margins by leveraging real‑time data on inventory, staffing and menu performance. The article argues...
Don’t Waste Your Money on Expensive EVOO or ‘High Polyphenol’ Olive Oil!
A review of clinical and mechanistic data finds extra‑virgin olive oil (EVOO), especially high‑polyphenol varieties, superior to canola oil for cardiovascular health. The PREDIMED trial (≈7,400 high‑risk participants) reported a 31% reduction in major events with about four tablespoons of...
Tigermilk to Launch Flagship Spitalfields Restaurant with 280 Seats and Grand Latin American Design
Tigermilk, the Latin American‑inspired brasserie group, will open its largest restaurant to date in London’s Spitalfields on April 30, 2026. The flagship venue at the London Fruit Exchange offers 280 seats across two floors, including 230 indoor places and a 50‑cover terrace,...
Wide Variety of Products Containing Cheese Recalled in Canada
A broad recall has been issued in Canada for dozens of cheese‑containing ready‑to‑eat items sold under Sobeys’ various banners after Listeria monocytogenes contamination was detected. The affected products, ranging from pasta salads to cauliflower cakes and seafood wraps, were distributed...
Monaco Celebrates Record 14 Michelin Stars as Principality Hosts Historic Awards Ceremony
Monaco hosted the 117th Michelin Guide France & Monaco ceremony, marking the first time in over 120 years the event was held outside France. The principality now boasts 14 Michelin stars across nine restaurants within just over two square kilometres....
Mapped: How Much a Pint of Beer Costs Across All 50 U.S. States in 2026
The median price of a pint of beer at U.S. bars and restaurants rose to $6.52 in 2026, a 1.9% year‑over‑year increase, according to Toast’s POS data. Hawaii leads the nation with an $8.00 median, while Mississippi is the cheapest...
New Products Coming to World of Coffee San Diego
The 2026 World of Coffee trade show will run April 10‑12 at the San Diego Convention Center, featuring over 650 exhibitors and a packed program of cuppings, education, and the World Latte Art Championship. Attendees can expect a wave of...
Stronghold Unveils S2: The Revolutionary Micro-Batch Roaster Shattering The Limits Of Precision & Power
Stronghold Robotics launched the S2, a micro‑batch coffee roaster that packs production‑scale performance into a compact footprint. The device sold over 500 units in its first year across Korea and China, proving commercial viability. It features a Dual Heat System...
WCR Leads Nearly $1 Million Project to Strengthen Ugandan Coffee Sector
World Coffee Research (WCR) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are launching a €850,000 (about $994,000) project to expand disease‑resistant coffee planting in Uganda. Backed by the Lavazza Foundation, J.M. Smucker and JDE Peet’s, the initiative will create robusta...
Budweiser Reveals JRK-Designed FIFA World Cup Anniversary Packs
Budweiser is marking four decades as the official FIFA World Cup sponsor with a limited‑edition line of aluminum cans and bottles designed by JRK. The collectible packaging showcases graphics from every tournament since Mexico ’86 and rolls out ahead of the...
Opinion: Technical Gap Slowing Agroforestry in Key Colombian Lands
Colombia, the world’s third‑largest coffee producer, contributes 22% of GDP and up to 80% of exports, yet only 5% of its smallholder farmers are technically efficient. In the Meta department, coffee is grown under forest canopy in agroforestry systems across...
Girl Food and Boy Food
Between 2016 and 2019 the share of U.S. consumers who identified as vegan surged roughly 600%, a spike driven by heightened climate awareness, social‑justice movements, and the rise of millennial activism. Social media amplified veganism as a visual status symbol,...
Nju:design Revives 1950s Italian Illustration for Attianese Conserve
Italian agency nju:design has unveiled a new packaging suite for Attianese Conserve’s canned tomato line, drawing directly from 1950s Campania canning illustrations. The designs feature hand‑drawn artwork by Claudia Bartoli, rendered in a delicate, pre‑photography style. A bright pastel palette injects...
HHS Issues New Guidelines for Food Served in Hospitals
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a memo directing hospitals to align their food service policies with the 2025‑2030 Dietary Guidelines. The rules require eliminating ultra‑processed foods, sugary drinks, refined grains, and processed meats, while mandating...
Manomasa Unveils Vibrant New Packaging Inspired by Latin American Culture
Snack brand Manomasa has launched a new packaging design for its Popped corn chips that draws on Latin American papel picado motifs and bold pink‑green colourways. The redesign, created by the design duo Derek & Eric, showcases flavors such as...
Bold, Athletic Type Brings Waterbird’s RTD Cocktails to Life
Tavern Agency has crafted a bold, typographic identity for Waterbird’s ready‑to‑drink (RTD) cocktail line, drawing on mid‑century Americana and vibrant color palettes. Oversized lettering places the product name front‑and‑center, while each flavor is distinguished by high‑impact hues. The design strikes...
Famously Non-Smoky, Here’s the One Time The Macallan Resorted to Peated Malt
The Macallan, famed for its non‑smoky, fruit‑forward profile, briefly turned to peated malt between 1940 and 1958 when World War II coal rationing left the distillery without its traditional fuel. During that period, peat became the only reliable energy source, resulting...
Having Trouble Dialing In? There’s An Equation For That
A recent Royal Society Open Science study quantifies how grind size and tamp pressure influence espresso puck permeability, delivering a predictive equation derived from X‑ray micro‑CT scans of two Square Mile coffees. Researchers mapped 22 samples, applied percolation theory, and...
A Million a Minute: Adaptability and Innovation Define Brand Winners
In 2025 U.S. consumers spent roughly $1 million per minute at restaurants, with the top three chains—McDonald’s, Starbucks and Chick‑fil‑A—accounting for 32% of total spend and generating over $107 billion. The Circana report shows the top 50 brands represent 61% of spending...
Is Efficiency Replacing Empathy?
The 2026 Intouch Insight On‑Premises Study shows fast‑food operators have cut service times by 60 seconds and pushed order accuracy to a record 92.7%, but human hospitality is eroding. Metrics such as the use of “please” (29.9%), genuine smiles (64.3%)...
OM in the News: Weight-Loss Drugs Crush Food Demand as Farmers Face Dumping Mountains of Potatoes
Weight‑loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound are suppressing appetite, with users eating up to half as much as before. The resulting dip in food demand is already creating surpluses, exemplified by a UK farmer with 1.3 million pounds of...
EWG Reveals Its Dirty Dozen; AFF Challenges Validity of List
The Environmental Working Group released its 2026 shoppers guide, naming a Dirty Dozen of fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues and a Clean Fifteen of lower‑risk options. While the list is based on USDA’s Pesticide Data Program, EWG...
Two with E. Coli in San Diego Linked to Raw Farms Cheddar Cheese
County public health officials have issued a voluntary recall of RAW FARM raw cheddar cheese after it was linked to a Shiga-toxin producing E.coli outbreak. Nine people across California, Florida and Texas have fallen ill, including two San Diego residents...
Chocolate Recalled because It Contains Erectile Dysfunction Drug
Nalpac is voluntarily recalling its DTF Sexual Chocolate after testing revealed the presence of sildenafil and tadalafil, the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis. The undeclared erectile‑dysfunction drugs were found in 20‑unit cases sold through adult‑focused retailers and two online...
Brussels Airlines Partners With Ralph & Roxy’s to Bring Belgian Ice Cream to the Skies
Brussels Airlines has teamed up with Belgian artisanal ice‑cream maker Ralph & Roxy’s to serve the brand’s small‑batch product on its long‑haul flights. The partnership will deliver roughly 420,000 servings each year, initially launched in Business Class and now rolled out...
Weekly FIH Livestream | Inside the CPG Machine - A 30-Year Veteran on Why the Outcomes Layer Doesn't Exist Yet
WiseCode is building the world’s most comprehensive, real‑time food attribute database, linking product scans to DNA, blood work and long‑term eating patterns. Its Scout app lets consumers add new items in seconds, creating a continuously expanding data set. The company’s...
Coca-Cola to Replace Pepsi Across Marriott Hotels Worldwide, Ending 34-Year Partnership
Coca‑Cola has secured a global agreement to replace Pepsi as the exclusive beverage supplier for Marriott International, ending a 34‑year partnership. The contract spans Marriott’s more than 9,700 properties across 143 countries and covers lobby bars, mini‑markets, mini‑fridges, soda fountains,...
Portuguese Olive Oils Find New Path to U.S. Market
Portuguese olive oil producer collective Wildly Virgin has curated a portfolio of single‑origin, small‑batch oils that recently secured three gold medals at the New York International Olive Oil Competition. The brand works with family‑run farms across Alentejo, Ribatejo and Trás‑os‑Montes,...
Coca-Cola Revives ‘Hilltop’ Commercial and Releases Limited-Edition America250 Cans
Coca‑Cola has revived its iconic 1971 “Hilltop” ad with a gospel‑inspired remake called “Drink in America,” produced by WPP Open X and Ogilvy. The brand teamed with the America250 Commission for a nationwide 2026 campaign and introduced 52 limited‑edition mini‑cans, each...
Q1 2026 CRAFT BEER DATA SHOT 💉
The first 13 weeks of 2026 confirm that the craft‑beer category remains under pressure, with overall volume continuing to slip while price hikes sustain revenue. Growth is confined to specific niches rather than broad‑based recovery, echoing the 2025 data that...
Sivetz Expands Into Electric Heat with Peachey Roasters
Oregon‑based Sivetz Roasting Machines and Kansas‑based Peachey Roasters have merged under the Sivetz brand, re‑introducing electric‑heat fluid‑bed coffee roasters. The unified lineup adds 4‑kg and 9‑kg electric models alongside the flagship SRM15 gas‑fired roaster, all sharing common PLC control and...
How Dogfish Head Finally Found Growth Again — With the Grateful Dead
Dogfish Head partnered with the Grateful Dead to launch the Juicy Pale Ale and later the Citrus Daydream Lager, sparking its fastest‑growing beer ever and reversing a multi‑year sales decline. The collaboration taps the Dead’s cult following, using vibrant branding...
GRIT Dials Up A Refresh For Goose Island’s 312 Beer
Goose Island has refreshed its flagship 312 lager to mark Chicago’s “312 Day,” a city‑wide celebration held each March 12. The new look features bright yellow cans emblazoned with the tagline “It’s a Chicago Thing.” The holiday, started by Goose Island employees...
The VinePair Podcast: We’re Looking for Wine Marketers in the Wrong Places
The VinePair Podcast examines why wine marketing remains stagnant, highlighting research from The Quench Report that senior wine marketers spend an average of 73 percent of their careers in the wine category. This concentration is markedly higher than in spirits...
New Report: NYC Is the First Major City to Cross $9 Threshold for a Pint of Beer
According to Toast’s latest POS data, Manhattan’s median pint price reached $9.16, making New York City the first major U.S. city to break the $9 barrier. The national median rose 1.9% year‑over‑year to $6.52, with Boston close behind at $8.69....
Songchuan Mountain Tea Is Steeped in Precise Die Cutting Techniques
Songchuan Mountain tea has partnered with Linshaobin Design to reinvent its tea bag using precise die‑cutting, turning it into a sculptural form inspired by a traditional Chinese tea bowl. The packaging employs soft, mineral‑toned translucent paper with heat‑pressed areas that...
Weirdo Snacks Illustrates Flavor With Cartoon Hijinx
Weirdo Snacks, a brand from MABA, has launched a bold visual identity that turns each flavor into a cartoon character. The packaging features expressive, chunky typography and vibrant color palettes designed to resonate with Gen Z humor. By treating snack packs...
Sfizi Sets the Table For Everyday Meals
Sfizi’s new snack packaging, created by SDCO Partners, merges nostalgic Italian tablecloth motifs with contemporary design language. The visual identity uses a checkerboard pattern, pastel hues, rich greens and reds, and playful details like a die‑cut window and Vespa iconography....
Gnarly Suds: Opprobriations Uses Skate Nostalgia to Brand Wax’s THC ‘Brewskis’
Wax has introduced a THC‑infused non‑alcoholic beer line, with branding and packaging created by Opprobriations. The design draws on vintage skate and surf culture, aiming to differentiate the product in a market dominated by seltzer‑style cannabis drinks. Future Market Insights...
Crust Bros and Daffodil Mulligan Unveil Limited-Edition Guinness Rarebit Pizza for April
Neapolitan pizza chain Crust Bros has teamed with Richard Corrigan’s Daffodil Mulligan to launch a limited‑edition Guinness rarebit and sugar‑pit‑cured bacon pizza, priced at approximately $23, available at all Crust Bros venues throughout April. Each pizza sold contributes £1 (about $1.30) to the...
Amended Salmonella Lawsuits Filed Against Live It Up-Brand Super Greens and Suppliers
The FDA and CDC have linked a multistate Salmonella outbreak to dietary supplements containing moringa leaf powder, specifically Live it Up-brand Super Greens powder and Why Not Natural moringa capsules. As of March 17, 2026, 97 people in 32 states...
FDA Withholds Company Names in Report on Mango Outbreak
The FDA released an Executive Incident Summary Abstract documenting a Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to mangoes that resulted in 56 confirmed cases. The report redacted the names of the importer, the country of origin, the states involved, and all firms...
Irish Survey Reveals Gaps in Listeria Knowledge
A recent Northern Ireland survey of ready‑to‑eat (RTE) food manufacturers examined awareness of EU food safety regulation 2073/2005, which mandates environmental controls and systematic sampling for Listeria monocytogenes. The 26‑question questionnaire uncovered notable gaps in understanding specific regulatory requirements, even...
USDA Retracts Public Warning About Walmart Chicken Nuggets
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has withdrawn the public health alert issued on April 1 for Walmart Great Value Fully Cooked Dino‑Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets after confirming the product poses no public health risk. The alert was initially triggered...
Karns Foods Recalls Chocolate Raspberry Cups because of Undeclared Peanuts
Karns Foods announced a recall of its 8‑ounce Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups after discovering undeclared peanuts in the product. The affected packages, dated September 18, 2025, were distributed to Pennsylvania locations and were removed from shelves on January 30, 2026. No illnesses have...
Wawa Recalls Beverages because of Undeclared Milk
Wawa is recalling its 16‑ounce bottled iced tea, diet lemonade and fruit punch beverages after discovering an undeclared milk allergen. The recall affects a limited set of stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia, covering four flavors produced by...
Buffalo Trace Releases Two New Whiskeys — Single Oak Rye Bourbon and Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon
Buffalo Trace announced two limited‑edition releases: Single Oak Rye Bourbon, now a permanent addition to its Single Oak Project, and Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon, the latest entry in its Experimental Collection. The rye bourbon is bottled at 90 proof...
Optimizing for Oblivion
The author reflects on five years of accurate trend forecasting, noting that predictions such as fitness‑focused sodas, protein‑infused drinks, beef tallow, and a real‑dairy resurgence have all materialized at the latest Expo. By leveraging long‑term data rather than surface‑level hype,...
Study Suggests Moderate Coffee and Tea May Be Tied to Lower Lung Cancer Risk
A UK Biobank analysis of 276,209 adults found that drinking one to three cups of coffee or tea daily was linked to a 20‑33% lower risk of lung cancer, while consuming four or more cups showed no clear benefit. The...