News
Wellness Meets Multi-Sensory Flavor at NRA Show
16+ hour, 45+ min ago (491+ words) Virginia Lee | May 24, 2026 CHICAGO " At the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show, foodservice innovation reflected an industry balancing multiple consumer demands at once: wellness and indulgence, affordability and quality, convenience and customization. Exhibitors showcased how operators are adapting to changing consumer behavior…...
Celebration-Driven Restaurants Are Outperforming Industry
2+ day, 8+ hour ago (571+ words) Harshita Bhardwaj | May 22, 2026 For the overall foodservice industry, the warning signs are difficult to ignore. Consumer sentiment has dropped below even pandemic-era readings, while 35% of consumers now say they spend more than they take in every month. Two-thirds of consumers…...
The Uncanny Valley of Voice AI at the Drive-Thru
3+ day, 9+ hour ago (469+ words) Why do AI drive-thrus feel unsettling? QSRs see gains in speed and accuracy, but consumers remain wary of voice AI....
Survey Indicates Retailers are Leaving $100 M on the (Dinner) Table
2+ day, 12+ hour ago (519+ words) Marcy Kreiter | May 22, 2026 Retailers are taking the wrong approach when it comes to targeting at-home occasions, leaving $100 million in annual sales on the table, a Circana survey indicates. Circana surveyed 25, 000 consumers across demographics and found CPG manufacturers need to understand…...
Farm Economy Top of Mind at BMO F2 M 2026
3+ day, 12+ hour ago (1471+ words) Chris Campbell and George Hajjar | May 21, 2026 NEW YORK CITY " At BMO's 2026 Global Farm to Market conference (BMO F2 M), industry stakeholders across the value chain addressed the most pressing topics affecting operations, including finding success in today's difficult market, addressing changing consumer…...
Consumer Backlash Looming as Food Prices Rise, Quality Falls
4+ day, 9+ hour ago (657+ words) Marcy Kreiter | May 20, 2026 Companies need to rethink their strategies and stop taking consumers for fools if they want to navigate the increasingly challenging landscape in grocery aisles, said Bob Vergidis, chief vision officer at Point-of-Sale Cloud. Simply put, most consumers…...
(No) Snacks on a Plane: Delta Nixes Refreshments on Short Flights
5+ day, 9+ hour ago (475+ words) Anna Kinder | May 19, 2026 Samuel L. Jackson had snakes to worry about, but Delta flyers may soon face a different in-flight nightmare: no snacks on a plane " or drinks, for that matter " unless you pay for them. Beginning May 19, the airline is…...
Fast-Food Chains Are Learning That Price Alone Isn't Enough
6+ day, 11+ hour ago (910+ words) Vince Martin | May 18, 2026 When inflation spiked in 2022, companies across the food industry took advantage. Major packaged food companies saw pricing contribute as much as 15 percentage points to revenue growth. In quick-service restaurants, the hikes weren't quite as steep " but they…...
What is the "Capability Era," and How Can Executives Adapt to It?
6+ day, 8+ hour ago (601+ words) Chris Campbell | May 18, 2026 Food and beverage executives have spent decades optimizing for scale, efficiency, and structure. But according to John Linehan, president of Irresistible Foods Group, that approach is no longer enough. Appearing on a recent episode of The Food…...
Protein Shakes Evolve to Aid GLP-1 Driven Lifestyles
1+ week, 2+ day ago (547+ words) Marcy Kreiter | May 15, 2026 "Consumers are increasingly seeking solutions that help them not only live longer but also enjoy healthier lives while maintaining their strength and vitality," Serena Aboutboul, head of Nestl's nutrition business, said in a press release unveiling Nestl…...