Pizza Hut is off to a precarious year, closing 250 locations after enduring a 5% tumble in same-store sales. Will their “Hut Forward” strategy be enough to get them back on track?
Grocers are retooling loyalty and cash back programs as value driven shoppers lean harder on coupons, timing purchases around when money hits their accounts. Clear, empathetic messaging and frictionless deal discovery are emerging as the new battleground for winning repeat trips.
Mission Produce’s surprise stock bump suggests investors see real strategic upside in its Calavo acquisition. With scale efficiencies, new prepared foods capabilities, and a tougher competitor emerging, the deal may be a rare M&A win in a volatile produce sector.
Game day occasions like the Super Bowl are prime profit moments, provided that operators plan early, bundle smartly, and deliver real value. With consumers scrutinizing every dollar, LTOs and occasion-based pricing have become essential tools for driving traffic and protecting margins.
Cocoa turmoil related to the Ivory Coast and Ghana is leaving hundreds of thousands of tons unsold, tightening future supply and rattling global markets. With fragile crops and wary buyers, chocolate makers face another year of reformulation and margin pressure.
