Square Adds Drive-Thru to the Menu to Help Quick-Service Restaurants Improve Speed and Efficiency
Square introduced Square for Drive‑Thru, an end‑to‑end platform that unifies order capture, kitchen display, and customer handoff for quick‑service restaurants. Developed with The Howard Company and Nanonation, the solution pushes orders from menu boards to a confirmation screen and routes them automatically to the correct kitchen station. Integrated reporting, cash‑flow tools, marketing and open APIs extend the functionality beyond the lane, allowing operators to keep existing third‑party systems. The launch targets the high‑volume drive‑thru channel, where speed and accuracy directly affect revenue.
As Coffee Prices Rise, Prefer Bets on a Hybrid Future
Prefer, a Singapore‑based food‑tech startup founded in 2022, uses fermentation to turn rice and chickpeas into coffee and cocoa extenders that can replace up to 40% of traditional beans without altering flavor. The company aims to keep everyday coffee affordable...
National Restaurant Association Show's 2026 FABI Awards Spotlight Top Trends
The National Restaurant Association Show announced 28 winners of its 2026 Food & Beverage (FABI) Awards, highlighting ten products as FABI Favorites. Winners emphasized protein, global flavors and texture, while plant‑based meat and dairy alternatives played a smaller role than...
Nation's Restaurant News May 2026
The May 2026 issue of Nation’s Restaurant News, timed with the National Restaurant Association Show, spotlights Whataburger CEO Debbie Stroud on the cover. The edition includes a Signature Series interview and a deep dive into current industry dynamics. It offers data on...
Cargill, Voyage Foods Launch Cocoa-Free Chocolate Alternative
Cargill and Voyage Foods have launched NextCoa, a cocoa‑free chocolate‑like confectionery for the North American market. The product uses grape‑seed‑based ingredients and delivers a chocolatey flavor while eliminating major allergens and offering vegan, Kosher and Halal certification. A third‑party life‑cycle...
Innovation in Every Sip: How Tractor Beverage Co. Is Changing the Beverage Landscape
Tractor Beverage Co. unveiled its Organic Craft Haymaker, a modern take on the 17th‑century switchel, and secured the 2026 FABI Favorite award. The low‑sugar, citrus‑ginger drink underscores the brand’s clean‑label, organic positioning. Tractor also highlighted its flexible portfolio—RTD cans, bubbler...
Purely Elizabeth Expands Into Protein Granola Category
Purely Elizabeth, known for ingredient‑forward granolas, announced a new Protein Ancient Grain Granola line. The product delivers 10 g of protein per serving from nuts and seeds, without any protein powders, isolates, or fillers. It provides 6–8 g of fiber, is lightly...
New York Restaurants Live Forever — in Tokyo
New York‑themed eateries are thriving in Tokyo, from Buttermilk Channel’s relocation after its Brooklyn closure to Cafe Gitane’s lone outpost and City Bakery’s multi‑site expansion. The iconic New York Grill, immortalized in *Lost in Translation*, recently reopened after a renovation that deepened its...
The Wonderful Co., Southern Glazer’s Expand Wine Distribution Agreement
The Wonderful Co. has broadened its long‑standing distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, adding new territories for its premium labels. Justin Vineyards & Winery will enter ten additional markets such as Minnesota, Idaho and Utah, while Lewis Cellars...
Nestlé’s Maggi Enters Ready Meal Market
Nestlé’s Maggi brand has launched Maggi Global Kitchen, a ready‑meal line featuring six single‑serve dishes that cook in two minutes. Each 260 g portion is low in saturated fat and high in protein, offering global flavours such as spaghetti bolognese, chicken...
Kool-Aid to Launch Electrolyte Packets with No Artificial Dyes as Part of Kraft Heinz Makeover
Kraft Heinz is reviving its lagging portfolio by launching Kool‑Aid Hydration, an electrolyte packet line free of artificial dyes and sugar. The six‑stick packs, offered in fruit punch, grape and blue raspberry lemonade, will hit U.S. retailers in May at...
Menz Violet Crumble and Betty Crocker Partner for a New Baking Mix Range
Menz’s iconic Violet Crumble candy has teamed up with Betty Crocker to launch a new line of honeycomb‑flavoured baking mixes, including a cookie mix and a brownie mix. The products, which embed chocolate‑coated honeycomb pieces that melt into a crunchy...
Carlyle, Yum China Among Bidders for Jardines’ Asian KFC, Pizza Hut Business
Jardine Matheson’s restaurant arm, which runs about 1,000 KFC and Pizza Hut outlets in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Myanmar, and Vietnam, is up for sale. Carlyle Group, Yum China, and Taiwan’s Uni‑President have submitted non‑binding bids, with the transaction expected...
How Federated Co-Op Is Rebuilding Its Grocery Business
Federated Co‑operatives Limited (FCL) has overhauled its grocery division, splitting it into three core functions—category management, operations, and shared services—to tighten store‑level execution. The new operations model pairs a commodity team that builds fully documented programs with regional pods that...
Ford's Garage Signs Three&Unit Franchise Agreement for Delaware Expansion
Ford's Garage has signed a three‑unit development agreement with Carson's Garage, LLC to launch its 1920s‑garage‑themed restaurant brand in Delaware for the first time. The first location is slated for Millsboro, Kent County, with a planned opening in early 2027,...
Love & Honey Fried Chicken Signs 20&Unit Franchise Agreement in Florida
Love & Honey Fried Chicken, a Philadelphia‑based fast‑casual brand, has signed a 20‑unit development agreement to launch its first locations in Southeast Florida and south of Orlando. The deal marks the chain’s entry into the Florida market and reflects its...
Swig Signs 10&Unit Franchise Agreement for Colorado Springs
Swig has inked a multi‑unit franchise agreement with Alex and Alan Knox to launch ten locations in Colorado Springs, marking the brand’s first foray into the Colorado market. The first outlet is projected to open by the end of 2026....
23 Natural Grocers Stores In 12 States Marking 10th Anniversary
Natural Grocers is marking the 10‑year anniversary of 23 stores spanning 12 states with a week‑long celebration from May 17‑23. The events feature exclusive {N}power member discounts of up to 22% on items such as coconut milk, turkey sticks and...
ClemenGold and Sinclair: A Partnership Driving Sustainability for South Africa and Beyond
ClemenGold International has teamed with global labeling specialist Sinclair and agent HG Molenaar to launch the Sinclair T55 fruit label, the first label certified for both home and industrial composting. The label meets EN 13432, NFT 51‑800 and AS 5810 standards and carries...
WTCE 2026 Spotlights the Future of Onboard Hospitality
World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) 2026 convened over 160 airlines from 66 countries at Hamburg Messe, drawing 4,000 visitors and 319 exhibitors, including 79 newcomers. The three‑day show highlighted innovations across food, drink, packaging, amenities, and onboard...
Weekly Expansion Signals Report & New Restaurant Alerts From Week Ending May 9 2026
Six restaurant and entertainment brands announced new locations for the week ending May 9, 2026, spanning Texas, Florida, New York, and Oklahoma. Hopdoddy Burger Bar and Ike's Love and Sandwiches are opening in Pflugerville, while Jimmy John's adds two Florida sites, Main...
Brown Cow Undergoes Brand Refresh
Brown Cow, the iconic cream‑top yogurt brand founded in 1973, has launched a comprehensive brand refresh with creative agency Little Big Brands. The redesign revives the original heritage story centered on Lily the Jersey cow, introducing a hand‑drawn mascot, updated typography,...
En Route Launches Butter-Filled Rolls to Transform Economy Class Dining
En Route has introduced an industry‑first butter‑filled ciabatta roll for Economy and Premium Economy cabins, embedding soft, spreadable butter directly into the bread. The innovation addresses long‑standing passenger frustration with cold, hard butter packets and cold bread, delivering a bakery‑style...
Irish Wholesaler Warns Cod Prices Nearing Limit of What Buyers Are Willing to Pay
Irish wholesale firm Nick’s Fish says cod prices have surged to €26‑27 per kilogram (about $30.6‑$31.7), a multi‑year high driven by tighter quotas, rising fuel costs and transport surcharges. CEO Nick Lynch warns the price level may be the elasticity...
What Cereulide and Botulism Reveal About Infant Nutrition Safety
In late 2025 a botulism outbreak became the first U.S. case linked to powdered infant formula, while a separate cereulide contamination sparked a worldwide recall that swept up Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis products in nearly 100 countries. Both events exposed...
Fish Oil, Fishmeal Production Down in March Ahead of Lower Peru TAC
Global fishmeal production plunged 38% in March 2026 and was 28% lower in Q1 compared with the same period last year, according to IFFO. Fish oil output fell 12% in Q1 2026, with Denmark, Norway and Spain providing most of...
Why Flavoring Relaxation Beverages Is More Complex than It Looks
The relaxation‑beverage market is booming as stress‑laden consumers seek non‑alcoholic calm alternatives. Formulators face a unique dilemma: aggressive masking is needed for earthy, bitter, and metallic notes from adaptogens like ashwagandha, reishi, magnesium, and valerian, yet the sensory target must...
NoBiggie Delivers New Solution for Kid’s Drink Market
NoBiggie, founded by former Glossier CMO Ali Weiss and ex‑Vita Coco VP Aytunc Atabek, has launched a line of sparkling juice drinks for kids. The collection offers four real‑fruit flavors in 7.5‑ounce aluminum mini cans, with no added sugars or dyes...
UK, EU Retailers Replacing Northeast Atlantic Mackerel with New Product Ranges
UK supermarket Waitrose has removed all Northeast Atlantic mackerel from its shelves after concluding the fishery fails its responsible sourcing standards. To fill the gap, the chain launched a new MSC‑certified range featuring smoked herring, sea bass and sardines. The...
FDA Finalizes Systematic Post-Market Food Chemical Review Process
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finalized a systematic post‑market review process for food chemicals, launching reassessments of the additives butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and azodicarbonamide (ADA). The new framework uses an AI platform called WILEE to monitor signals, triages...
Editorial: Sustainable Food Procurement for Healthy Diets in Public and Private Canteens
The editorial surveys a new research collection on sustainable food procurement across public and private canteens, highlighting how procurement policies, menu design, and behavioral interventions can drive healthier, lower‑impact diets. Case studies range from French school feeding programs and Malawi’s...
Grocery Prices Increase the Most Since Government Shutdown
Grocery prices rose 0.7% in April, the steepest monthly gain since the 2023 government shutdown, after a 0.2% dip in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Five of six major food categories posted increases, led by fruits and...
Snackbox To Go Sharpens Airline BoB Strategy with Benchmarking Tool
Snackbox To Go unveiled its BoB Benchmarking Tool at WTCE 2026, offering airlines a data‑driven way to compare European buy‑on‑board menus. The platform surfaces pricing, assortment depth and untapped "white‑space" opportunities, allowing carriers to fine‑tune product mix and revenue strategy. The...
Tostitos Enters New Market with Refrigerated Guacamole Line
PepsiCo is extending its Tostitos brand into the refrigerated aisle with a new chunky guacamole dip. The product, flavored with a mild hint of lime, uses Hass avocados, onions, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, and spices, and contains no artificial colors, flavors,...
Mama’s Creations Adds to Prepared Meal Offerings
Mama’s Creations, a specialty foods maker known for deli salads, announced an expansion of its prepared‑meal portfolio with 12 new ready‑to‑heat options. The line, priced around $7.99 per serving, targets busy families and health‑conscious shoppers. Distribution will reach roughly 3,500...
Hormel Rolls Out New Herdez Asada Marinades, Seasonings, Sauces
Hormel Foods, through its MegaMex division, has introduced the Herdez Asada line, adding six new Mexican‑style marinades, sauces and taco seasonings. The products—ranging from carne asada and pollo asado marinades to two barbecue sauces—are engineered to caramelize in air fryers,...
Five Guys Store Closures: See a List of Doomed Locations in Several States for 2026 so Far
Five Guys is closing at least 14 restaurants in the first half of 2026, affecting locations in California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Georgia and Nebraska. The closures come despite the chain’s overall footprint expanding, as it added 37 stores in 2024...
Bunge Opens Soy Protein Plant with Capabilities for Meat Products
Bunge Ltd. inaugurated a $550 million soy protein concentrate and textured soy protein facility in Morristown, Indiana, capable of processing 4.5 million bushels of soybeans each year. The plant adds 70 jobs and joins an existing crushing operation that handles up to...
CPGs Need a New Playbook
Food and beverage CPGs are confronting a prolonged slump, with volume growth stuck under 1% annually and total shareholder return for the sector down about 7% versus a 9% rise in the S&P 500. McKinsey’s April report attributes the decline to...
Mini Melts Teams with The Magnum Ice Cream Co. For Distribution Deal
Mini Melts USA has entered a strategic partnership with The Magnum Ice Cream Co. to operate Magnum‑branded vending machines across the United States, with a rollout beginning in summer 2026. The collaboration will place Magnum’s portfolio—including Good Humor novelty bars and...
Kraft Heinz’s Biggest Portfolio Campaign to Date Celebrates America250
Kraft Heinz is launching its biggest portfolio campaign, "The United Tastes of America," to coincide with the United States' 250th anniversary and the Memorial Day cookout season. The multi‑channel effort features limited‑time star‑shaped products and patriotic packaging across its core...
Brightseed Expands Bioactive Dataset to 21M Compounds
Brightseed announced that its bioactive compound dataset has surged to roughly 21 million entries, almost twice the size of its 2023 collection. The expansion is driven by new microbial and fungal coverage and advances in profiling and AI analysis. The larger...
Food Price Increase Contributes to Overall 3.8% Jump in Consumer Prices
The U.S. Consumer Price Index climbed 3.8% in April, with grocery prices rising 0.7% after a flat March. Beef led the food surge, up 2.7% and now 14.8% higher than a year ago, while fruits and vegetables jumped 1.8%. Energy...
Drive-Thru Concepts Welcome Tech Advancements, But Not Without Human Touch
PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, part of Ballard Brands, is championing a hybrid dine‑in and drive‑thru model that delivers 30‑40% higher revenue than café‑only locations. Roughly 80% of its units now feature a drive‑thru, with the brand emphasizing order accuracy...
Value Is Now the Default: How Retailers Should Rethink Assortment, Pricing and the Shelf
Zappi’s 2026 CPG Mega‑Trends report shows brand‑only buying halved to 10% as price becomes the primary driver for shoppers. Private‑label products now enjoy parity or superiority in the eyes of over 80% of U.S. consumers, yet they capture only 19%...
European Food Trust Rebounds, but Confidence in Sustainability Lags
Consumer confidence in Europe’s food system is rebounding, with the EIT Food report showing farmers now trusted by 68% of respondents in 2025. Retailers and restaurants also improved, reaching 54% and 53% trust respectively, while manufacturers and public authorities remain...
Masymas Supermercados: 4.3% Increase in Revenue in 2025
Masymas Supermercados posted €440.3 million (≈$480 million) in 2025 revenue, a 4.3% rise driven by a 3% volume increase across 115 stores in Spain’s Valencian Community and Murcia. In Europe, SPAR opened its fifth EUROSPAR in Finland’s North Karelia, while Aldi Belgium...
Low and No Cider a Leading Option for Non-Drinkers in the UK
A National Association of Cider Makers survey reveals low‑ and no‑alcohol cider is now the top choice for UK non‑drinkers, surpassing beer, wine and cocktails. Over half (58%) of respondents said they have reduced their alcohol intake in the past...
Hoteliers Using Winnow’s AI Saving $100 Million in Food Waste Annually
Hospitality giants including Hilton, Accor, Marriott, Mandarin Oriental and IKEA are collectively saving more than $100 million a year by cutting kitchen food waste with Winnow’s AI‑driven tracking system. The technology records discarded food in real time, analyses patterns and provides...
Hain Celestial Bets on Functional-Food Innovation to Power Next Phase of Turnaround
Hain Celestial is steering its turnaround toward innovation‑led growth after shedding its North American snack brands. The company reported a 13% year‑over‑year revenue decline to $338 million in Q3, yet its shares jumped 12% on better‑than‑expected earnings. New launches, such as...