Cafeterias Were Once A Southern Staple For Families And Communities. What Happened To Them?
Southern cafeterias, once a mid‑20th‑century staple offering homestyle meals at low prices, have largely vanished. Competition from fast‑food in the 1960s and fast‑casual in the 1990s eroded their market share. To cut costs many switched to frozen and canned items, hurting quality and accelerating decline. A few chains like Luby’s survive, but the model now serves as a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era.
DoorDash Now Accepts SNAP Benefits at Kroger Stores
DoorDash announced it will accept SNAP benefits for online grocery orders at nearly 2,700 Kroger Co. stores, including Mariano’s, Fred Meyer, Ralphs and Harris Teeter. More than 4.5 million customers have already linked SNAP cards, bringing the platform’s SNAP‑eligible locations to over...
A Mark Cuban–Backed Vegan Cheese Company Trained AI to Scrutinize Cardboard Boxes. It’s Saved $400,000
Rebel Cheese, a Mark Cuban‑backed vegan cheese startup, built an autonomous AI agent to audit shipping invoices and inspect cardboard boxes, uncovering overcharges and saving $400,000. The tool cross‑checks each bill against contract rates and flags box bulges as small...
Starbird Names Stefanie Lee CFO
Starbird, the San Francisco‑based chicken chain, appointed Stefanie Lee as chief financial officer, bringing over 18 years of franchise finance experience. Lee previously served as CFO of TITLE Boxing Club and held senior finance roles at Dine Brands Global, Krispy Kreme, and...
Huey Magoo’s Adds a New Prototype to Support National Growth
Huey Magoo’s is rolling out a new 1,850‑sq‑ft freestanding drive‑thru prototype that slashes ground‑up development costs by roughly 40% and fits on parcels as small as half an acre. The design maintains seating for 55 guests—37 indoors and 18 on...
Aldi's Decision to Ban 44 Food Additives Gets Ahead of Regulatory Uncertainty
Aldi announced it will eliminate 44 artificial ingredients from its private‑label foods by the end of 2027, expanding the 13 synthetic dyes it removed in 2015 to a total of 57 restricted substances. The retailer gave suppliers a 20‑month window...
Aldi Private-Label Products All Have This One Thing In Common
Aldi’s private‑label range, which makes up about 90% of its shelves, is free of artificial dyes, MSG, and partially hydrogenated oils. The retailer first removed these ingredients in 2015 to appeal to health‑conscious shoppers, a move that now touches over...
What's Next From Mexico City's Enrique Olvera? A New Mariscos Restaurant in Venice
Renowned Mexican chef Enrique Olvera is launching San Damián, a modern mariscos restaurant in Venice, California, slated for a June 2026 opening in the former Atla space. The 70‑seat venue will be run by Damián executive chef Chuy Cervantes, extending the Pacific‑coast seafood...
DoorDash Adds SNAP Capability for over 2,700 Kroger Stores
DoorDash announced that its Marketplace now accepts SNAP/EBT payments at nearly 2,700 Kroger Family of Companies stores, including Mariano’s, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, and Harris Teeter. The rollout brings the total of SNAP‑eligible merchants on the platform to more than 57,000 locations...
Dutch Bros Unveils New Myst Energy Refreshers
Dutch Bros introduced a new product line called Myst Energy Refreshers, offering four initial flavors—Passion Water, Cherry Lime, Firestorm, and Tropical—each infused with plant‑based caffeine, electrolytes, and antioxidants. The brand also revived its summer favorites, Dulce de Leche and Strawberry...
Odisha Kicks Off Mango Season with First Domestic Shipment
Odisha’s 2026 mango season kicked off with a 3‑tonne domestic shipment from Dhenkanal to Siliguri, organized by the Madanmohan Farmer Producer Company under the National Cooperative Development Corporation. Farmers saw price realization jump to ₹45 per kg (≈ $0.54) from ₹25...
Mountain Dew Brings Back Popular Game Fuel Flavor but You Might Miss It
Mountain Dew is rolling out a new Blackberry Citrus Mountain Dew, a limited‑time soda exclusive to Casey’s convenience stores. The fruit‑forward blend of blackberry and citrus follows the brand’s recent Game Fuel releases and is expected to hit shelves in...
Higher Prices Help Hershey Top First-Quarter Estimates
Hershey reported first‑quarter revenue of $3.1 billion, a 10.6% year‑over‑year increase, driven largely by a 10% pricing lift. Sales of Ice Breakers mints and gum jumped 8% as GLP‑1 users sought breath‑freshening functional snacks. Chocolate and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup sales rose...
Music On The Menu? How Dine-To-Dance Nights Became London’s Latest Craze
London’s hospitality scene is blurring the line between restaurants and nightclubs as venues add DJ‑driven dance floors after dinner. Pioneers like Dinner for One Hundred, Hausu’s Upstairs bar, and the Dalston Jazz Bar are offering curated music experiences that extend...
From Restaurants to Packaged Food, a Slew of Sectors See Higher Cost Pressures Post Commercial LPG Price Hike
India’s commercial LPG price rose by ₹ 993 ($12) per 19‑kg cylinder, marking the third consecutive hike and bringing the cumulative increase to ₹ 1,332 ($16). The surge is hitting energy‑intensive sectors – restaurants and hotels face 10‑15% menu price hikes, with...
How Perishable Inventory Visibility Reduces Food Loss and Protects Restaurant Margins
Restaurant operators are grappling with rising labor costs and volatile menus, but hidden margin erosion stems from poor visibility into perishable inventory. Without real‑time data on aging stock, emergency purchases and write‑offs surge, hurting both profitability and guest experience. Implementing...
5 Predictions as US Packaging EPR Progresses
U.S. packaging producers are moving from voluntary sustainability pledges to mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) regimes after Oregon’s law took effect, a shift highlighted at the SPC Impact conference in Nashville. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition warns that regulations will stay...
Kroger Health and Hy-Vee Announce Line up for 2026 Nourishing Change Conference
Kroger Health and Hy‑Vee have confirmed the agenda and speaker lineup for the 2026 Nourishing Change Conference, set for June 2‑4 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The three‑day event will explore the intersection of food, retail, technology...
The Friday Checkout: Amazon Says It’s the Second-Largest U.S. Grocer — Stores (Mostly) Not Required
Amazon announced it has become the second‑largest grocery retailer in the United States, driven by Whole Foods Market and a rapidly expanding online grocery operation. The combined grocery segment generated more than $150 billion in gross sales for 2025, with same‑day...
Food Exec Brief: A $255M Recall Hit, Tariffs in Court, and Agentic AI on the Clock
Nestlé’s Q1 earnings were hit by a one‑off $255 million recall cost from contaminated infant formula, underscoring how food‑safety incidents can instantly erode margins. A fast‑moving tariff lawsuit challenging the administration’s Section 122 authority could reshape import‑cost dynamics for the broader food...
House Passes Farm Bill with Key Implications for C-Stores
The U.S. House approved the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, a bill that directly impacts convenience retailers. It permanently bans Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) processing fees, a long‑sought win for the National Association of Convenience Stores. The...
NutraCast: Pendulum Bets on Prebiotics with Gut Fuel as GLP-1 Buzz Reshapes Market
Pendulum Therapeutics launched Gut Fuel, a next‑generation prebiotic blend designed to close the U.S. fiber gap and offer a low‑FODMAP option for people with IBS and other digestive sensitivities. The product combines novel fibers and polyphenols to support the microbiome, positioning...
Chipotle Plans Back-to-Back Giveaways
Chipotle is intensifying its 2026 marketing calendar with two back‑to‑back giveaways. Starting May 5, digital orders using code CINCO26 will receive free chips paired with Queso Blanco or guacamole for Cinco de Mayo. From May 4‑12, the chain will distribute up to $2 million in free...
Biofuel Use Pushes up Food Prices: Is Demand Here to Stay?
Recent oil price spikes from the Iran war have accelerated biofuel production, putting upward pressure on food commodities used as feedstocks. In the EU, 39‑44% of biodiesel and in the US 70‑80% comes from crops such as vegetable oil, corn...
End of Trump Tariffs on Whisky Sparks Row Between Scottish Parties over Claiming Credit
The United States announced it will lift the 10% tariff on Scotch whisky, a move that removes an estimated $150 million in lost sales for the industry. The decision, announced by President Donald Trump on Truth Social, coincides with King Charles...
Sweetgreen Hires Amazon, Starbucks Alum as Development Chief
Sweetgreen has named Ryan Slemons, a former Amazon Go and Starbucks development executive, as its new chief development officer effective May 4. The hire comes as the fast‑casual chain grapples with declining same‑store sales and recent divestiture of its Spyce...
Leftovers: Tostitos Enters the Refrigerated Aisle | Modelo Launches First High ABV Beer
PepsiCo is debuting Tostitos Chunky Guacamole, a refrigerated dip that arrives this fall and features Hass avocados with no artificial colors or preservatives. The launch coincides with record avocado imports of 2.5 billion pounds, underscoring strong consumer demand for fresh, health‑focused...
Esquire and Jac’s on Bond Launch Exclusive Espresso Martini
Esquire has teamed up with Jac’s on Bond, a NoHo cocktail bar honored as a 2024 Best New Cocktail Bar, to debut the Esquire Campfire Martini. The drink is an elevated espresso‑martini that mixes Jefferson’s Bourbon, Borghetti coffee liqueur, Tempus...
GLP‑1 Nutrition, Nestlé’s Reset and the Rising Reformulation Crunch
April highlighted a rapid shift in the food sector as GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs, Nestlé’s strategic reset, and Aldi’s expanded ingredient bans converge on product reformulation. Brands are redesigning nutrition to emphasize protein, fiber and lower calories to meet GLP‑1 users...
FreshCo Targets Underserved Markets with Winnipeg Opening
FreshCo, the discount banner of Sobeys Inc., will open a new store on Burrows Avenue in Winnipeg in Fall 2026, reviving a grocery space that has been empty since 2016. The move is part of Empire Company’s broader strategy of converting...
Culver’s to Add Computer Vision to 1K Restaurants
Fast‑casual chain Culver’s announced a partnership with Berry AI to install computer‑vision AI across 1,000 restaurants nationwide, beginning in Q2 2024. The system uses cameras to capture real‑time data on service execution, vehicle flow, and throughput, integrating with POS data...
Just One Extra Fava Bean A Day Could Save Europeans €42M in Healthcare Costs
A Protein Project report outlines a roadmap for a European legume renaissance, focusing on fava beans. Doubling fava bean production could slash healthcare spending by €42 million (about $46 million) a year, cut fertilizer and pesticide use, and lower greenhouse‑gas emissions by...
Photo Report CPMA Toronto
The CPMA Convention + Trade Show 2026 in downtown Toronto highlighted a surge of tomato varieties at a time when overall tomato supply is tightening. Canadian greenhouse growers led the showcase with snack‑ready tomatoes like Red Sun Farms’ Chef’s Collection and sauce‑grade options such...
Global Market Overview Asparagus
Asparagus markets worldwide are in a transition phase, with Europe flooded by a post‑heatwave harvest that is depressing prices, while North America faces tighter supplies that keep spot rates elevated. Italy saw a 17.2% weekly price drop to €4‑€4.5/kg (≈$4.4‑$5.0/kg),...
Ri6 Durian Prices Plunge to Record Low on Surging Thai Supply
Vietnam’s Ri6 durian prices have collapsed to a record low of $0.75‑$1.32 per kilogram as Thailand’s peak harvest floods the regional market. Musang King and Monthong varieties are now selling at roughly half their early‑year prices, while grade‑A fruit fetches...
T&G Global Enters Sale Talks for NZ, Fiji and Pacific Fresh Produce Units
T&G Global is in advanced talks to sell its New Zealand fresh‑produce operations to the Turner family and its Fijian and Pacific businesses to foodservice wholesaler Bidfood. The divestments follow a strategic review aimed at concentrating on the group’s apple platform...
Wendy’s Is Closing Hundreds of Stores: See an Updated List of Locations Where the Chain Is Shuttering the Most
Wendy’s is accelerating its turnaround by shuttering roughly 200 U.S. restaurants since September 2025, bringing the chain’s footprint down to 5,675 locations. The closures, announced in a November 2025 investor call, began in the fourth quarter of that year and...
Iván Marambio Calls Strong Attention to Quality: Chile Must Improve Growing Standards
At an IFPA seminar in Santiago, Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile, called for a sweeping upgrade of the country’s fruit‑quality standards. He warned that Chile’s fruit sector has been trapped in a “middle‑income” plateau since 2012 and that quality...
NGA, FMI Welcome House Passage Of Farm Bill
The U.S. House approved the 2026 Farm Bill, delivering a permanent ban on EBT processing fees, making the SNAP online purchasing pilot nationwide, and expanding the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to include frozen fruits and vegetables. The National Grocers...
Ecuador and the United States Strengthen Agricultural Cooperation
Ecuador's Ministry of Agriculture held a working meeting with a U.S. delegation to deepen bilateral cooperation in agricultural trade and food security. The U.S. team, led by Lawrence Petroni and featuring USDA‑FAS officials, discussed regulatory pathways to expand market access for...
4 Reasons Your Restaurant’s AI Initiative Will Probably Fail
Luke Fryer argues that most restaurant AI projects fail because they focus on retroactive dashboards and cost‑cutting rather than serving as a real‑time operational co‑pilot. He identifies four failure modes: treating AI as a cost‑slider, reactive compliance tools, siloed systems,...
Burger King to Launch Limited-Time Menu Inspired by Upcoming Star Wars Movie
Burger King is rolling out a limited‑time Star Wars menu on May 4 to coincide with the theatrical debut of *Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu* on May 22. The lineup includes a BBQ Bounty Whopper, Grogu’s Blue Cookie Shake, garlic chicken fries...
Hedonism Wins First UK Listing of Coutanseaux Cognac
Hedonism Wines has become the first UK retailer to list the revived luxury brand Coutanseaux Cognac, offering both XO and the ultra‑premium XXO expressions. The XO, aged a minimum of 15 years, retails at £200 (≈US$272) per 700 ml bottle, while...
Lost Explorer Pioneers Multi-Cask Ageing for Reposado Tequila
Maestro Enrique de Colsa, former master distiller at Don Julio, teamed with The Lost Explorer to launch a reposado tequila aged in a pioneering blend of Sauternes wine, Pedro Ximénez sherry, and bourbon barrels—the first such multi‑cask approach in the category....
ABF Ingredients to Pump Close to £50M Into New Wisconsin Facility
Associated British Foods' Ingredients division is investing roughly £47.8 million (about $61 million) to build a new Ohly specialty‑yeast facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The plant will initially create around 30 jobs and sit alongside the existing Boyceville site, with space for future...
Southern Hemisphere Citrus Forecast: Production Down 6 Percent, Exports Expected to Rise 4 Percent
The World Citrus Organization’s preliminary forecast shows Southern Hemisphere citrus production slipping 6% year‑over‑year to about 26.4 million tonnes, while exports are slated to grow 4% to roughly 4.74 million tonnes. Orange output is projected to drop over 8% to 17.5 million tonnes,...
How Mario Carbone Turned a Restaurant Into a Global Phenomenon
Mario Carbone, co‑founder of Major Food Group, has transformed his flagship restaurant Carbone into a global brand by leveraging immersive, pop‑up experiences. The latest iteration, Carbone Beach, is a three‑night, sand‑side production staged during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, blending multi‑course...
One in Three Young Brits Can’t Afford a Night Out
New research by the Night Time Industries Association and Obsurvant shows 68% of young Britons say the economy has reduced how often they go out. Among those earning under £30,000 (≈US$40,000), just under a third find tickets and venue purchases...
Cuervo Q1 Sales Slip 36% in US and Canada
Becle, the owner of Jose Cuervo, reported a 25.7% drop in Q1 2026 sales, with North American organic sales falling 36.6% due to volume loss and heightened competition. Total revenue slipped 23.1% to MXN 7.4 billion (≈US$423 million) and gross profit fell 16% to...
12 Observations About Champagne Style and Quality Today
Patrick Schmitt MW, longtime chair of the Champagne Masters blind tasting, outlines twelve trends shaping today’s Champagne. Low‑dosage wines are now more balanced, while riper fruit profiles, longer lees aging, and increased reserve blending add richness and depth. Winemakers are...