Ranking the Highest-Rising Restaurant Menu Prices
Restaurant menu prices are climbing, with burgers, wings, and burritos leading the charge amid rising ingredient costs. New data reveals inflation’s bite is hitting both entrees and profits.
Focus Archive > Page 2
Tex-Mex Takeover: Moe’s, Chipotle Announce Global Expansion Plans
Chipotle and Moe’s are spicing up global growth with bold Tex-Mex debuts across Asia. Partnerships and localized menus will be key.
Artificial Intelligence, Real Insight: AI Fuels Foodservice Efficiency, Innovation
AI is already transforming foodservice, from smarter supply chains to real-time menu innovation. Industry leaders reveal how even small operators can harness data-driven tools to boost efficiency, agility, and competitive edge.
Cracking Open the Connection Between Walnuts and Sleep
A new study suggests that eating a daily handful of walnuts may improve sleep quality by boosting melatonin levels and reducing daytime sleepiness. While more research is needed, walnuts also offer a wide range of other perks – from heart health to brain function – making them a smart choice either way.
The 5 Fastest-Growing F&B Brands of 2025
From prebiotic sodas to clean-label meat sticks, 2025’s fastest-growing F&B brands are rewriting the rules of consumer engagement. Authenticity, health-forward innovation, and bold storytelling are fueling the brands’ momentum.
US, China Reach TikTok Deal ‘Framework,’ Industry Reacts
TikTok’s reported U.S. transfer deal clears a path for continued growth in food-driven commerce and influencer marketing. With $24 billion in economic impact, the app remains a vital ingredient in Gen Z engagement and restaurant discovery.
Pressure Points: Why CEO Tenures are Shrinking
CEO turnover is accelerating as boardroom patience thins, and economic headwinds intensify. In 2025, only the bold, empathetic, and fast-moving F&B leaders survive the pressure cooker of modern corporate leadership.
Starbucks Gets Behind ‘Proffee’ Craze
Starbucks is diving into the booming “proffee” trend with protein-packed lattes and cold foam, now a permanent menu fixture. As rivals race to meet protein-hungry consumers, functional coffee is brewing billion-dollar growth.
Why Tariffs Have Mattered for a Seemingly Insulated Food Industry
The ripple effects of tariffs are biting the food industry. From cost pressures to shifting consumer habits, even insulated players are feeling the squeeze in a market that’s quietly turning recessionary.
Can the Kelce Brothers’ Garage Beer Go the Distance?
Garage Beer, backed by NFL stars and Taylor Swift buzz, is gunning for shelf space in a margin-thin market. But without distributor loyalty and retail muscle, this celebrity-fueled brand may fizzle fast, according to industry insiders.
‘The Great Flattening’ Upon Us: Middle Managers Fired En Masse
AI-driven cuts to middle management may boost short-term efficiency, but experts warn of burnout, disengagement, and workflow chaos. As “The Great Flattening” of organizational charts gains steam, food industry leaders must weigh tech gains against human costs.
3 Secrets to Attract Gen Z Consumers
Gen Zers crave brands that speak their cultural language, not just sell products. From Oreo’s meme creativity to Doritos’ gamer-friendly tech, authenticity and co-creation are the new path to loyalty.
Investors Keep the Faith With Candy Giants Hershey, Mondelez
Inflation, cocoa chaos, and Ozempic-fueled appetite shifts have battered Hershey and Mondelez, but investors still believe in their near-term outlook. A merger may be the lifeline that turns things around.
11 GLP-1 Friendly Products Rich in Gluten-Free Fiber, Plant Protein
As more consumers turn to GLP-1 medications, the demand for products high in fiber and protein is booming, but many traditional formulations contain allergens like gluten and dairy, making it difficult for some to find options. However, that’s changing.
Hispanic Shoppers’ Health Priorities Shake Up Industry
Hispanic consumers are reshaping the food industry with health-driven choices, flavor curiosity, and rising purchasing power. Brands ignoring this shift risk falling behind as authenticity and wellness become the new growth frontier.
Grocers Hit Pause on Self-Checkout Kiosks as Shrinkage Surges
Self-checkout was pitched as a payroll panacea – but retailers are finding it’s no silver bullet. Shrinkage, tech woes, and customer pushback are forcing grocers to rethink the economics of DIY checkout lanes.
Consumers Brace for ‘Foodflation’
Tariffs, labor shortages, and rising input costs are fueling “foodflation,” squeezing margins and reshaping consumer behavior. As grocery prices climb 23% since 2022, brands face pressure to innovate or lose share to private labels.
Why Logan’s Roadhouse Is Winning the Casual-Dining War
Logan’s Roadhouse is red hot as of late, using $11.99 value meals and a top-ranked customer experience to outpace competitors. The steak chain’s comeback proves that consistency and affordability beat flash in the eyes of modern consumers.
UPFs Under Fire: Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Infertility
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may be sabotaging consumers’ health. Case in point: a new study links endocrine disruption and fertility risks to the very products dominating global food systems.
Gen Alpha’s ‘Pester Power’ is Fueled by YouTube
YouTube’s stealth food marketing is supercharging Gen Alpha’s “pester power,” blurring the line between entertainment and influence. As parasocial bonds deepen, brands gain unprecedented access to young appetites – often without parental awareness.
The Top 5 Flavors Taking Over Fall
Fall flavor innovation is heating up as brands blend nostalgia with novelty – think cranberry punch, chai spice, and pumpkin chipotle. With 66% of consumers shifting food habits, the time appears right to capture seasonal cravings.
Move Over, Uncrustables – Pro Athletes Are Reaching for Rice Krispies Treats
Recent research has revealed that endurance athletes can improve their performance by consuming significantly more carbohydrates than previously advised, prompting a surge in energy gel sales. However, many athletes are reaching for a cheaper – and tastier – alternative found in kids’ lunch boxes.
Energy Drinks Put ‘Value’ Back in ‘Value Proposition’
Energy drinks are thriving as price-conscious consumers pivot from costly coffee to functional, flavorful alternatives. With wellness claims and nostalgic flavors, the category is stealing share from traditional caffeine formats.
New and Next by Nestlé: TOMA Brand Gathering Momentum
TOMA, a fast-growing Latin American food brand founded by Manolo Gonzalez Vergara and his mother, actress Sofia Vergara, is revolutionizing the handheld food space with premium empanadas and other authentic offerings. The brand is reshaping consumer expectations of Latin cuisine by making it accessible and convenient.
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Plant-Based Dairy Defies Category Trends
Plant-based dairy is driving the next generation of plant-based growth through innovations in milk, yogurt, and cheese, eclipsing plant-based meat’s claim on the market. Despite yogurt and cheese’s modest menu penetration, they represent the fastest growers in the category.
Investors Worry Kraft Heinz Split Simply Doubles Its Problems
Kraft Heinz’s split into Global Taste Elevation and North American Grocery left investors cold, triggering a 7% stock drop. Instead of unlocking value, the move may simply double down on existing challenges.
The Rise of Dirty Soda: A Trend Taking the Beverage Industry by Storm
The “dirty soda” trend continues to be a phenomenon in the beverage industry, driven by social media and the desire for customization and unique experiences, particularly among Gen Z consumers. This trend has seen a 270% increase in social conversations over the past year.
Holiday Havoc Predicted: Supply Chain Uncertainty to Trigger Inflation
Tariff turmoil and fractured trade flows are changing the rules of supply chains, with inflation poised to spike. Smart food industry leaders aren’t waiting – they’re redesigning for volatility now, experts note.
Forces Shaping Foodservice: Biggest Trends
Brands Are Dying to Work with Liquid Death
Despite its ghoulish aesthetics, Liquid Death’s community is surprisingly wide: “people drink things and they like to laugh,” adroitly summarized Liquid Death creative VP Andy Pearson in an interview with The Food Institute. This has …
Creatine Has Become the Billion-Dollar Darling of the Wellness Aisle
Creatine’s comeback isn’t just for athletes – the supplement is now a $1.1 billion wellness juggernaut. With aging consumers and GLP-1 users fueling demand, food brands are giving the supplement a long look.
Taco Bell Digs Deeper With Nostalgia-Fueled Menu Revival
Taco Bell is revamping last year’s Decades Menu with a Y2K spin, featuring iconic menu items from 2001-2010. The overt play for nostalgia has been effective for the QSR chain in the past, and this year it’s doing more to support the initiative.
Cracker Barrel Resurrects Old-Timer, Old-Timey Logo After Backlash
Cracker Barrel’s recent logo revamp sparked a $100M backlash, forcing a swift return to its nostalgic “Old Timer.” The fiasco highlights the high stakes of brand identity in an era of cultural sensitivity.
Dubai Chocolate Trend Gains Momentum Despite Ongoing Cocoa Crisis
Dubai chocolate’s viral rise is influencing menus worldwide with its craveable crunch and flair. However, climate-driven cocoa and pistachio shortages hint at deeper disruptions for the confectionery industry.
5 Things to Know About the New World Screwworm
The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, is threatening livestock across the Americas, with a human case confirmed in Maryland. USDA is racing to contain the pest before it bites into U.S. food security and cattle profits.
Toast Survey Highlights Optimism Among Food Retail Operators
Despite economic headwinds, food retail is booming, as 94% of operators rate their business health as strong. Tech adoption and foodservice add-ons are fueling expansion, even as inflation and data challenges persist.