Dream Vs. Reality: Restaurant Marketers Still Working Toward Personalization
Restaurant loyalty programs have shifted from being a differentiator to a baseline expectation, prompting marketers to focus on program effectiveness and retention. Executives at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Cheba Hut highlighted the difficulty of translating personalization ambitions into reality amid fragmented tech stacks and rapid AI evolution. While new AI‑driven tools promise omnichannel experiences, brands remain cautious, fearing costly obsolescence and operational complexity. The panel underscored that simplicity for customers remains the ultimate litmus test for loyalty success.
The Umami Additive You Won't Find In Any Of Aldi's Products
Aldi’s clean‑ingredients program has eliminated monosodium glutamate (MSG) from all its private‑label products, a policy in place since 2015. The retailer also removed brominated vegetable oil, partially hydrogenated oils, synthetic trans fats and several artificial colorings, with more additives slated...
Marketplace Briefing: Temu Wants to Sell You a Steak Now
Temu, the bargain‑shopping app famed for cheap Chinese imports, has added U.S.-sourced steaks and other food items, marking a strategic pivot toward domestic warehousing and a broader marketplace. The move follows the loss of the de‑minimis exemption that made cross‑border...
How Surging Gas Prices Are Impacting Grocery
BJ’s Wholesale Club opened its first Texas store and attracted shoppers by pricing gasoline at $2 per gallon, far below the $3.60 state and $4 national averages. The one‑day promotion underscores how rising fuel costs—driven by the Iran‑related oil price...
Bordeaux 2025 en Primeur: ‘Strikingly Brilliant’ Wines From Pauillac
The 2025 en primeur tasting shows Pauillac delivering a strikingly brilliant vintage, with yields around 30 hl/ha—about 25% below the ten‑year average—yet producing some of the highest scores in recent memory. Château Lafite‑Rothschild earned a perfect 100, while Mouton Rothschild, Latour...
How to Pair Sustainability with Satisfaction in Campus Dining
Luther College in Iowa launched a reusable metal container pilot to replace single‑use takeout trays, addressing waste‑sorting confusion and poor food temperature retention. After a year‑and‑a‑half of planning and a partnership with Bon Appétit, the insulated containers with tracking were...
Fresh Del Monte Names Pittsburgh as New Hub for Foods Division
Fresh Del Monte has designated Pittsburgh as the central hub for its newly acquired Del Monte Foods division. The hub will host core functions such as supply chain, finance, commercial operations, and research & development, with senior leadership relocating to...
Papa Johns Suffers Major 6.4% Comp Sales Drop
Papa John’s reported a 6.4% decline in North American comparable sales for Q1 2026, its steepest drop in years, with company‑owned stores down 5.2% and franchised locations down 6.7%. CEO Todd Penegor attributed the slump to weaker customer acquisition, a...
PepsiCo to Deploy Green Hydrogen-Based Fertilizer to Decarbonize European Food Supply Chain
PepsiCo and Spanish chemicals firm Fertiberia have signed a multi‑year deal to supply up to 150,000 tons of green‑hydrogen‑based fertilizer each year for PepsiCo’s European farms. The partnership will initially cover about 400,000 acres in France, Romania, Serbia, Greece, Turkey and...
Grocers Roll Out Mother’s Day Specials, Events, Savings
Mother’s Day has become the top gifting day for Instacart in 2025, with orders placed 18 times more often than the average day, overtaking Valentine’s Day. Shoppers are increasingly buying premium food items—lobster tails, filet mignon and cheesecake all surged...
Hospitality Meets Opportunity As New Platform HeadBox Powers Event-Driven Revenue
HeadBox, a new SaaS marketplace, links restaurants, bars and event venues with corporate planners to monetize underused space. The platform aggregates listings, adds 3‑D immersive tours and funnels "mandated inquiries"—pre‑qualified corporate demand—into a single sales dashboard. By automating lead capture,...
The Next Gen in Produce Moves Beyond Fresh to ‘Alive’
Ra Foods is launching a national digital‑first campaign for its Wild About Sprouts brand, promoting hydroponically‑grown sprouts that continue to live inside a transparent recyclable clamshell. The packaging creates a "mini‑garden" that keeps the sprouts alive, extending shelf life two‑to‑three...
Strategies to Decarbonize the Supply Chain
Decarbonizing the food supply chain, especially rice production, is emerging as a top priority because methane from flooded paddies drives a large share of the sector’s greenhouse‑gas footprint. Industry pilots such as alternate wetting‑and‑drying, yield‑boosting agronomy and biochar soil amendments...
Toast Launches Unified Drive-Thru Solution to Modernize Enterprise Quick-Service Restaurant Operations
Toast announced Toast Drive‑Thru, an enterprise‑grade platform that unifies point‑of‑sale, kitchen display, digital menu boards, and AI voice‑ordering for quick‑service restaurants. The solution replaces fragmented hardware and software with a single ecosystem built on Delphi’s trusted drive‑thru hardware. It adds...
Sacramento Bakery Targets School Nutrition Shift with Whole Grain Gluten-Free Smart Snack Cookies
Sun Flour Baking Company, a Sacramento‑based bakery, is rolling out a line of whole‑grain, gluten‑free “Smart Snack” cookies for K‑12 schools. The cookies meet USDA Smart Snacks in School requirements and are vegan, targeting districts that must balance nutrition standards...
House of Rum Launches a Brand New Rum Called Diablo Spiced
House of Rum, known for award‑winning single‑cask rums, has introduced Diablo Spiced, a British‑distilled spiced rum aimed at cocktail‑ready consumers. The 37.5% ABV spirit blends vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, orange and raisin flavors and is priced at £24.99 (about $32) in...
Dash Expands Line-Up with Low-Calorie Pink Lady Flavour
Dash has introduced a low‑calorie Pink Lady Apple sparkling drink, expanding its fruit‑flavoured lineup that already includes Lime, Orange, Raspberry and Grapefruit. The beverage contains no sugar or sweeteners and is marketed as the pure taste of the iconic apple. A...
Kraft Heinz CEO Steve Cahillane Sparks Questions over Future of Frozen
Kraft Heinz CEO Steve Cahillane re‑classified its frozen foods segment from “win big” to “hold,” while upgrading its hydration portfolio to “win big,” signaling a possible exit from the lagging frozen category. He highlighted that 35% of the overall portfolio is gaining...
Conagra Highlights Healthy Product Sales
Conagra Brands ranked ninth worldwide in the 2024 Access to Nutrition Initiative index, with 51% of its sales coming from products earning a Health Star Rating of 3.5 or higher. The company cut sodium in 80% of targeted items during...
White Castle Continues Florida Growth with Kissimmee Restaurant Opening
White Castle opened its third freestanding Central Florida restaurant in Kissimmee, a 3,430‑square‑foot facility with 52 indoor seats, 40 outdoor seats and two drive‑through lanes. The launch created 60 new jobs in Osceola County and featured a $5,000 donation to...
USMEF: Pork Exports Near Record in March
US pork exports surged in March, reaching 285,567 tonnes—a 6% year‑over‑year increase and the third‑largest monthly total on record. Export value climbed 4% to $803.2 million, the second‑highest ever, while per‑head value hit $456.56. Beef exports fell 11% in volume and...
Agronometrics in Charts: Peru's Dominant Blueberry Exports Surge 21.5 Percent
Peru’s fresh blueberry exports surged to roughly 419,000 tons in the 2025/26 campaign, a 21.5% rise from the prior year’s 344,000 tons. Export volumes peaked in October with about 200.2 million pounds, underscoring a concentrated fourth‑quarter surge. La Libertad remained the backbone, delivering nearly...
Prince Jorge Jimenez Neubauer Torres V Announces Pedro Ximénez Wines, Brandy, Rum, and Whiskey Tradition
Prince Jorge Jimenez Neubauer Torres V announced a heritage release that unites the House of Jimenez’s Pedro Ximénez wines with its brandy, rum, and whiskey production. The announcement traces the grape’s legendary introduction from Germany to Spain and highlights the family’s...
World Fresh Readies Three New Canadian Cherry Drops
World Fresh Exports, a British Columbia fruit marketer, is set to launch three new Canadian‑bred sweet cherry varieties, including the AAFC‑approved Sansia and Safirah cultivars and an unnamed third line timed to the Regina harvest. The company is already promoting...
“Tomato Prices This Winter Were Among the Highest I’ve Seen in My 25-Year Career”
Tomato prices in winter hit a 25‑year high, with beef tomatoes topping €3 ($3.24) amid supply problems in Spain. Other vegetables show mixed trends: aubergines have fallen to about €0.70 ($0.76), cucumbers are plentiful, and green peppers trade at €2...
New Tyson Foods Products Target Demand for Spicy Flavors
Tyson Foods is rolling out a suite of heat‑forward items across its Ball Park, Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm brands to capture the growing appetite for spicy flavors. The launch includes Ball Park Bun‑Size Jalapeño Beef Franks, Jimmy Dean Premium Hot Bacon, and Hillshire Farm’s Spicy...
The Whisky Exchange Unveils Second Zodiac Quartet
The Whisky Exchange has rolled out the second installment of its Zodiac Series, dubbed the Summer Solstice Release, featuring four single‑cask Scotch malts linked to Cancer, Leo, Virgo and Libra. Each whisky was hand‑selected to mirror the astrological traits of...
Diageo Taps Into Mini Canned Cocktails
Diageo has introduced a 100 ml canned version of its Cocktail Collection in the United States, offering five premium ready‑to‑drink cocktails—including a Ketel One Espresso Martini and a Bulleit Old Fashioned—at $4.99 per can or in multi‑pack bundles. The mini cans...
Grupo Bimbo to Invest $1 Billion in US Operations
Grupo Bimbo announced a $1 billion investment in its U.S. operations over the next two years, focusing on maintenance, product innovation, affordability, nutrition enhancements, and regenerative‑agriculture partnerships. The funding supports a broader North American transformation aimed at sharpening operational efficiency and...
Silver Brothers Distillery Plans June Opening
Silver Brothers Distillery, a regenerative‑farm whiskey operation on a 220‑acre Hudson Valley estate, will open in June 2026. The distillery grows its own rye, barley and heirloom corn, uses custom copper alembic pot stills and dunnage‑style barrel aging, and will...
Discus CEO Testifies for Tariff Exemption on Spirits
The Distilled Spirits Council (Discus) testified before the USTR Section 301 Committee, urging the Biden administration to exempt spirits from any current or future tariffs. CEO Chris Swonger highlighted that the U.S. spirits sector fuels over $250 billion in economic activity, supports...
Alcoholic Beverage Industry Seeks Price Hike Amid Rising Costs From West Asia Crisis
India's alcoholic beverage makers, led by the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies and the Brewers Association of India, are urging state governments to approve a 15‑20% price increase for IMFL, wine and beer. The request follows sharp cost spikes:...
Here’s What Happened After AI Launched And Ran A Café In Stockholm
AI startup Andon Labs handed control of a Stockholm café to an autonomous AI agent called Mona. Within moments Mona produced a detailed operational checklist, secured suppliers, and even filed permits, but struggled with Sweden’s BankID authentication, forcing human staff...
Fast-Food Sales Rise Despite Higher Gas Prices
Fast‑food giants McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell posted sales growth in Q1 2026 despite a 35 percent surge in U.S. gasoline prices linked to the Iran war. McDonald’s global comparable sales rose 3.8 percent and U.S. same‑store sales climbed 3.9 percent year‑over‑year....
Coffee (Even Decaf) Might Be Helping Your Brain More Than You Think
A small Nature Communications study compared 31 regular coffee drinkers with 31 non‑drinkers and found distinct gut‑microbiome profiles linked to mood, stress and cognition. After a two‑week coffee break, participants resumed either caffeinated or decaf coffee for three weeks, and...
Pakistan’s Oldest Brewery Resumes Alcohol Exports
Murree Brewery, Pakistan’s oldest privately‑owned brewer, has finally obtained a government licence to export alcoholic beverages after a multi‑year lobbying effort. In its first shipment, the company sent beer and spirits to the United Kingdom, Japan, Thailand and Portugal, marking...
Bordeaux Unveils Modernisation Drive
Bordeaux's trade body CIVB unveiled a modernization plan emphasizing new wine styles, sustainability, and a stronger UK presence as the region marks 90 years as an AOC. The initiative highlights the launch of red wines in Entre‑deux‑Mers, a revival of...
Mastiha: What Is It and Why Is It Gaining in Popularity?
Mastiha, a resin‑flavoured Greek spirit made exclusively from trees on Chios, is experiencing a renaissance beyond its Mediterranean roots. The traditional liqueur, historically sweet and low‑proof, is being reimagined by brands like Axia, which offers a 40% ABV, extra‑dry version...
This 1950s Italian Sandwich Chain Is Still Going Strong In The Northeast
Moe's Italian Sandwiches, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire‑based chain founded in 1959, has grown to 16 locations across New England, most of them franchise‑owned. The brand sticks to a focused menu centered on a signature Italian sub, complemented by a few...
Hendrick’s Opens Immersive Selfridges Experience
Hendrick’s Gin is debuting its first permanent line extension in almost ten years with Another Hendrick’s, an expression infused with orange blossom, cacao beans, rose and cucumber. To launch the 41.4% ABV spirit, the brand has created an immersive "Anotherland"...
Pei Wei, Gyro Hut Tap NCR Voyix to Modernize POS Operations
Fast‑casual chains Pei Wei Asian Kitchen and Gyro Hut have signed expanded technology agreements with NCR Voyix to deploy the Aloha Next point‑of‑sale platform. The unified commerce solution promises higher uptime, faster service and enterprise‑grade data tools as the brands scale. Pei Wei is reinforcing...
Norway’s Seafood Export Value Drops in April Largely Due to Stronger Krone
Norway's seafood export value fell 5% in April 2026 to $1.44 billion, primarily because a stronger krone reduced foreign‑currency earnings and the Middle East war raised transport costs. Salmon shipments to key markets such as Japan, Israel and the Philippines dropped...
Chicken of the Sea Commits to Complete MSC Certification Across Its Tuna Product Portfolio
Seafood brand Chicken of the Sea announced it will source tuna from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries by the end of 2024, becoming the first mainstream U.S. tuna label to carry the MSC blue eco‑label across its entire retail portfolio....
Mangrove to Distribute Fratelli Branca in the UK
Mangrove Global has secured the UK distribution rights for Fratelli Branca’s full portfolio, including its iconic Fernet‑Branca bitters, Carpano vermouths and Caffè Borghetti coffee liqueur. The historic Italian house, founded in 1845, brings a range built on secret blends of...
Campari Maintains Growth Outlook Despite Weaker-than-Expected Sales
Campari posted 2.9% organic revenue growth in Q1, reaching €643 million (about $701 million), slightly below analyst forecasts. Strong performance from its flagship Aperol and solid gains in 18 countries helped the group reaffirm its 2026 guidance of 3% underlying growth. While...
South Carolina Legislature Approves Two Versions of Shrimp Labeling Law
South Carolina’s House of Representatives unanimously passed HB 4248, mandating country‑of‑origin labels on all shrimp sold in the state. The measure responds to DNA testing that found the majority of Charleston restaurants were serving imported shrimp while claiming they were local....
Prices for Salmon From Norway Climb Heading Into Week 19
Atlantic salmon exported from Norway rose sharply in Week 18, with the Sitagri Salmon Index showing continued gains into early Week 19. As of 3 May, the average global export price reached NOK 91.87 per kilogram (approximately $8.54 or €7.90), up nearly NOK 10 ($0.93) from the...
Faster Slaughterhouse Line Speeds Are Increasingly a Climate Problem
The USDA has proposed raising line speeds in U.S. slaughterhouses, increasing poultry throughput from 140 to 175 birds per minute and removing speed caps for hog facilities. Critics argue the faster lines will exacerbate worker injuries—already averaging 27 serious cases...
The First Ever High-Tech Pizza Express Is Opening in London
Pizza Express opened its first high‑tech location in Brixton on May 2, 2024, featuring self‑ordering kiosks that let customers choose pies, request takeaways or delivery via screens. The restaurant offers classic menu items such as American Hot and Sloppy Giuseppe, with...
One Planet Pizza Crosses £1m Sales Mark and Secures Third Asda Listing
One Planet Pizza, the UK plant‑based pizza brand, has surpassed $1.27 million in annualised retail sales and joined NielsenIQ’s Million Club. The company secured a third nationwide listing with Asda, rolling out the product at a $3.80 price point on May 11....