Mother's Day 2026: How Grocers Are Marking the Occasion
Canadian grocers are turning Mother’s Day into an experiential shopping event. Eataly will host a spring‑inspired Festa with hands‑on pasta and tiramisu classes in Yorkville and Sherway Gardens. Farm Boy is offering a pre‑ordered, chef‑prepared brunch kit and ready‑gift floral bouquets. Longo’s is running a sold‑out brunch cooking demonstration featuring a multi‑course menu and mocktail pairing.
DoorDash Reports Record Membership Signups, New High for Monthly Active Users in Q1
DoorDash reported $4 billion in Q1 2026 revenue, a 33% year‑over‑year increase, alongside a 27% jump in orders to 933 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 28% to $754 million, and the company posted record membership signups and its highest monthly active‑user count. Growth was...
Mozza Foods Targets Late 2028 Launch for Soybean-Grown Casein
Mozza Foods, a California molecular‑farming startup, plans to commercialize casein proteins harvested from genetically engineered soybeans by late 2028, pending USDA field‑crop approval and an FDA GRAS filing. The company has raised roughly $24 million and is targeting a technical milestone...
Cancer Warning Labels on Alcohol May Motivate People to Drink Less, Study Says
A Stanford-led study tested eight new alcohol warning labels that explicitly cite cancer, liver disease, dementia and hypertension. Over 1,000 weekly drinkers viewed the labels, and all outperformed the generic 1989 warning in teaching new health risks and boosting motivation...
The PG&E Corporation Foundation Funds Restaurants Care Resilience Grants
The PG&E Corporation Foundation is contributing nearly $1.3 million to the California Restaurant Foundation’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, its largest annual donation to date. The money will fund $5,000 grants for 213 independent restaurants and caterers in PG&E’s service area, pushing the...
Find some of L.A.'s Best New Poke in a Koreatown Parking Lot
Kelsey Sachi Lee, longtime fish supplier to top L.A. chefs, has launched Dover Sole Market, an Instagram‑driven pop‑up that sells premium ahi poke from the back of her car in Koreatown and Sherman Oaks. The venture sources fresh big‑eye ahi...
Proposed Bill Could Put New York Wines on Grocery Store Shelves
New York lawmakers are pushing bill S.1279A/A.1328A to let grocery stores over 4,000 square feet sell wine, with a focus on New York‑produced labels. The proposal limits participation to retailers already licensed for beer and adds a 500‑foot buffer to...
An Age-Old Approach to Promoting Produce on Social Media
Retail merchandisers are turning to social media to drive fresh-produce sales, but generational preferences dictate platform choice. According to FMI’s Power of Produce 2026 report, 48% of Gen Z shoppers use social cues for fruit and vegetable ideas, compared with only 20%...
How Meat Can Win the Protein Battle
The Food Industry Association’s 2026 report shows 92% of shoppers deem protein essential, with 42% increasing their focus compared to five years ago. Meat and poultry marketers are urged to position their products as the most reliable protein source amid...
Vietnamese Eatery Bun Mee Leases First East Coast Location at 115 East 23rd Street
San Francisco‑based fast‑casual Vietnamese chain Bun Mee has signed a 10‑year lease for its first East Coast restaurant at 115 East 23rd Street in Manhattan. The 2,200‑square‑foot ground‑floor and lower‑level space commands $130 per square foot rent. The lease, brokered by Lee & Associates NYC, positions the...
NGA Welcomes USDA’s Final SNAP Stocking Standards
The National Grocers Association (NGA) welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final SNAP stocking standards, which aim to expand the variety of nutritious foods available to program participants. NGA’s government‑affairs head, Stephanie Johnson, highlighted the pivotal role independent grocers play...
Diageo Just Released Its Oldest Single Malt Yet, a 55-Year-Old Whisky From a Ghost Distillery
Diageo has launched the Rare Series, a collection of five ultra‑aged single malts, highlighted by Glenury Royal 1970—a 55‑year‑old whisky from a distillery that closed in 1985. Only 21 bottles are available, each priced at $6,350 and bottled at a...
McDonald’s Made a Strategic Pivot and Introduced a Big New Burger. It’s Paying Off
McDonald’s reported a 9% rise in first‑quarter revenue, crediting a renewed value focus and the debut of the 1,020‑calorie Big Arch burger, which sparked viral social‑media buzz. Comparable sales climbed 3.8% globally as average ticket sizes grew. CEO Chris Kempczinski...
Calavo Growers Benefits From Demand for Healthy Fats
Calavo Growers is riding a surge in avocado demand driven by the fruit’s reputation as a healthy‑fat superfood, consistent year‑round availability, and strong consumer taste preferences. Vice president Peter Shore highlighted that the health halo, reliable supply from Mexico and...
California Avocado Commission Invests in Customized Programs Supporting Retailers
Demand for fresh, nutrient‑dense avocados remains robust, prompting the California Avocado Commission (CAC) to deepen its investment in customized retailer programs for 2026. The commission leverages the FDA’s recent “healthy” designation—granted to only 5% of foods—and the new federal food...
Krispy Kreme Outsources Delivery Logistics as Turnaround Gains Speed
Krispy Kreme posted a modest 0.7% rise in system‑wide sales to $485.3 million in Q1, signaling momentum in its multi‑year turnaround. The company is accelerating a refranchising push, aiming to lift franchise‑generated sales from 25% to 50% of total by 2027....
Houston Airports and SSP America Welcome Chili’s to George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Houston Airports and SSP America announced the opening of Chili’s at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), adding a full‑service, Texas‑born casual‑dining concept to the terminal. The restaurant provides both sit‑down seating and takeaway service, featuring signature dishes like fajitas, Big...
Protein Powder Shortage Threatens America’s Biggest Food Craze
The U.S. protein market is facing a severe whey powder shortage as demand for protein‑fortified foods surges. Prices for standard whey have risen more than 50% since January, with 80% concentrate topping $11 per pound and isolates holding firm in...
McDonald’s Is Betting Big on Chicken. Here’s What to Expect
McDonald’s is expanding its chicken portfolio worldwide, adding new sauces, value‑priced items and resurrecting regional favorites. The chain introduced a $5 McChicken on its McValue menu and rolled out Hot Honey sauce for nuggets to spark demand. CEO Chris Kempczinski...
Maple Leaf Foods Adds Freight Surcharges as Middle East Conflict Increases Costs
Maple Leaf Foods announced a temporary fuel surcharge to offset rising transportation costs tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict, particularly the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the surcharge, the company reported a 6.2% sales increase to $962.9 million,...
Laird Superfood Transforms Its Prebiotic Daily Greens to Be USDA Certified Organic
Laird Superfood has relaunched its Prebiotic Daily Greens as a USDA Certified Organic powder, upgrading the 2023 formula with fully organic fruits, vegetables, and fibers. The 14.8‑oz bag retails for $69 and provides a 30‑day supply, while single‑serve packets cost...
UK Court Deems Waterside’s USD 483 Million Salmon Price-Fixing Class Action Too Costly to Proceed in Current Form
A UK Competition Appeal Tribunal refused to certify Waterside Class Limited’s £382 million (≈ $520 million) collective‑action claim that salmon producers Mowi, Grieg, SalMar, Leroy and Scottish Sea Farms colluded to inflate prices from 2015‑2019. The judges said Waterside’s projected litigation costs were...
Leaked Dunkin' June Menu Reveals New Hash Browns & 20+ Drinks
Dunkin' leaked its June menu, unveiling more than 20 new beverages ranging from chocolate‑covered strawberry cloud lattes to protein‑infused daydream refreshers. The rollout also introduces a loaded hash brown breakfast wrap, new hash brown variations, and novelty doughnuts like rocket‑pop‑filled...
Walmart Inc. (WMT) Opens Third Milk Processing Facility in the United States, Reuters Reports
Retail giant Walmart has opened its third milk‑processing plant in Robinson, Texas, investing over $350 million. The new facility will bottle Great Value and Sam’s Club Member’s Mark milk products for more than 650 stores across the South Central United States...
SNAP Stocking Standards Require More Variety on Store Shelves
The USDA announced a final rule tightening SNAP stocking standards, requiring authorized retailers to carry at least seven distinct varieties in each of four staple categories—protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables—and to stock a minimum of three units per...
After a Big Win in the Burger Showdown, Burger King Eyes Taking on McDonald's Egg McMuffin
Burger King posted a 5.8% same‑store sales increase in Q1, outpacing the broader quick‑service restaurant sector and McDonald’s 3.9% growth. The chain sits fifth in the U.S. breakfast category, behind McDonald’s, Starbucks, Wendy’s and Dunkin’. With the U.S. breakfast market...
Burger King, Popeyes, BJ’s
Burger King’s president launched a listening tour that generated 64,000 customer calls and texts, contributing to a 5.8% same‑store sales rise in Q1. In contrast, Popeyes recorded a -6.5% same‑store sales decline, its worst quarter in two decades, prompting a...
Mariculture Systems Approved to Begin the Construction of Offshore Aquaculture Facility in Portugal
Mariculture Systems, an Israeli mariculture firm, secured Portugal’s Aquaculture Activity Title, clearing the final licensing hurdle for its offshore farm. The company will deploy its CORALIS semi‑submersible platform off the Algarve coast, a 50 × 50 meter structure powered by solar and wind....
T&R Theakston Celebrates Surge of New Retail Listings
Independent Yorkshire brewery T&R Theakston has secured national and regional supermarket listings for its flagship Old Peculier, the alcohol‑free Nowt Peculier, and the newly launched Salted Caramel Porter. Cans of Old Peculier will appear in Tesco, while Nowt Peculier lands...
Renshaw Baking Secures Major Tesco Listing in Biggest Retail Move Since Bakels Acquisition
Renshaw Baking, now part of British Bakels, has secured a major Tesco listing that will see ten new products hit selected stores from 5 May. The launch introduces two exclusive ranges – At Home Dessert Kits with 50% real‑fruit fillings and...
Tom Parker Creamery Partners with First Milk to Champion Regenerative British Dairy
Tom Parker Creamery has teamed up with First Milk, a B‑Corp‑certified British farmer‑owned co‑operative, to build a regenerative milk supply chain within a 90‑mile radius of its London‑area creamery. The partnership emphasizes grazing‑based dairy, detailed field‑level data collection, and nature‑positive...
Restaurant Industry Insiders Suggest a Focus on Problem-Solving Tech
Restaurant leaders at the 2026 Food on Demand Conference stressed that technology must solve real operational problems, not just showcase novelty. DoorDash Labs highlighted its Smart Scale, which cut missing items by more than 30% after scaling to 10,000 stores....
Chili's Rival Has Closed over 500 Restaurants Since Bankruptcy
Chili's is bucking the casual‑dining downturn, expanding its market share from roughly 6% to 8% in 2025 thanks to aggressive value promotions, operational tweaks, and a hefty advertising push. In contrast, more than 500 rival restaurants—including Applebee’s, Red Lobster and...
Only the Wild Ones Opens in Austin, the Hi-Fi Wine Bar’s Third Location, After L.A. and New York
Only the Wild Ones opened its third venue on Austin’s South Congress on May 1, debuting the brand’s first exclusively outdoor, hi‑fi wine bar and listening lounge. Founded by Heather Tierney and Sarah Meyer Simon—also behind The Butcher’s Daughter—the Austin outpost offers...
Zahav Foods Expands to GIANT Stores Across Pennsylvania with Zahav Hummus Snack Cups
Zahav Foods, the chef‑driven CPG brand behind the award‑winning Zahav restaurant, announced that its signature hummus is now stocked in the refrigerated aisles of 32 Giant supermarkets across Pennsylvania. The retailer will carry both the original 10‑oz tub at $7.99...
Q&A: How Global Trade Tensions Are Reshaping Ag Markets
Geopolitical flashpoints—from the Iran‑linked Strait of Hormuz closure to lingering U.S.-China tariff disputes—are reshaping agricultural markets. Fertilizer prices have spiked as the Hormuz bottleneck persists, while U.S. soybean shipments to China plunged 75% year‑over‑year. Export dynamics are shifting, with corn...
New Approaches to Texture Innovation
Food and beverage makers can no longer treat texture as an afterthought, according to Ingredion research showing 79% of U.S. consumers tie overall satisfaction to mouthfeel. Texture now rivals flavor as a primary purchase driver, with 53% refusing to eat...
Grocery Shoppers Are Trading Down to Lower-Priced Retailers, Report Finds
A new Alvarez & Marsal survey shows 42% of U.S. grocery shoppers plan to switch to lower‑priced retailers this spring, up from 31% last fall. Over half of those switching intend to keep the same brands, while the rest will also...
Cautious Consumers and Rivals' Promotions Hit Papa Johns' Sales
Papa John’s reported a 6.4% decline in North American same‑store sales for Q1 2026, while international locations posted a 3.6% increase, leaving total system sales down 4% and net income at $7 million. CEO Todd Penegor said the results match expectations amid a...
The Real Problem with the Pizza Industry
The pizza segment has slipped to the sixth‑most‑popular restaurant category as inflation and third‑party delivery platforms compress margins and erode customer data. Operators are seeing smaller orders, higher ingredient costs, and rising labor expenses, while only 4.9% have adopted AI...
Sprouts Farmers Market Seeks Innovation to Drive Sales Growth
Sprouts Farmers Market is leaning heavily on product innovation to fuel growth, unveiling 1,500 new items in 2026, including Proda protein soda and PuraSoda. CEO Jack Sinclair highlighted recent launches such as regenerative‑organic coffee, seed‑oil‑free hummus and beef‑tallow kettle chips...
Vegan Groups Representing 130,000 People Pressure Woolworths to Reverse Plant-Based Retreat
Three Australasian vegan advocacy groups, representing over 130,000 people, have written to Woolworths Group demanding the retailer stop reducing plant‑based product lines. The joint letter cites shrinking shelf space, discontinued items, and a 17% rise in Scope 3 emissions since 2022,...
Bitchin’ Sauce Launches New Bean, Almond Dips at Kroger Stores
Bitchin’ Sauce introduced two new refrigerated dips—Bitchin’ Bean Dip, a smoky chipotle pinto‑bean spread, and Totally Nuts, an almond‑first sauce line in three flavors—across Kroger’s 850+ stores. The 15‑oz bean dip supplies three grams of protein and fiber per serving,...
Brand Leaders Embracing Change, but Still Put Food First
Bonchon CEO Suzie Tsai admitted the brand’s tech stack is weak and is opting for a measured, value‑driven rollout, such as installing self‑serve kiosks in roughly a third of its 400 global locations. The Korean fried‑chicken chain now generates 55%...
Boar's Head Introduces The Fryer's Deep Fried Turkey Breast for Deli
Boar's Head Brand launched The Fryer's Deep Fried Turkey Breast, a deep‑fried‑style deli meat now available at select counters nationwide. The product is made from extra‑lean turkey breast that is cold‑brined, oven‑roasted, then fried, delivering a crispy, savory flavor. It...
Giant Eagle Taps Ibotta As Exclusive Digital Promotions Partner
Giant Eagle has appointed Ibotta as its exclusive digital promotions partner across more than 200 stores. The deal integrates Ibotta’s Performance Network, expanding the retailer’s digital offer gallery and delivering performance‑based promotions for CPG brands. The partnership aligns with Giant...
4 Miscellaneous Food Stocks Worth Watching Amid Industry Challenges
The Zacks Food‑Miscellaneous industry is grappling with persistent inflation, higher living costs and a shift toward value‑oriented and private‑label products, which have squeezed sales volumes and pricing power. Despite a 23.5% decline versus a 34.2% rise in the S&P 500, companies...
French Fry Startup Raises $10 Million Series A
Washington‑based Jesse & Ben’s announced a $10 million Series A round led by Greycroft, with participation from Rich Product Ventures and other investors. The funding will accelerate retail expansion, supply‑chain scaling, and senior‑team hiring as the brand rolls out new fry varieties. The...
How Dutch Bros Doubled Its Brand Awareness in 18 Months
Dutch Bros posted a 31% revenue jump in Q1 2026, powered by an 8.3% same‑store sales increase and a 5.1% rise in transactions. Company‑operated stores, which make up 72% of its 1,177‑store network, delivered a 10.6% sales gain, helped by a 6.9%...
Fast-Growing Breakfast Chain Sees Sales Jump After Menu Revamp
First Watch rolled out its first core menu overhaul in over a decade, launching a five‑item seasonal lineup in January 2026 that includes the fan‑favorite B.E.C and premium dishes like Chimichurri Steak & Eggs Hash. Early Q1 results show total...