7-Eleven’s Recent Acquisition Could Reshape Delivery Space

7-Eleven’s recent acquisition of start-up Skipcart offers the convenience store chain many future opportunities, a consultant said.

Tea-Infused Cocktails Take TikTok by Storm

Tea-infused cocktails are the latest drink trend on TikTok, signaling that healthy, affordable beverages resonate with consumers.

Placer.ai Exec Notes Retailers Becoming Media Networks

Retail media networks are emerging as inflation, shifts in consumer behavior, and increasing cost pressures change the future of food retail.

Halloween Havoc: Why Kit Kats Could Be Hard to Find This Fall

Hershey is in store for a Halloween nightmare of sorts, saying it won’t be able to meet consumer demand this October.

Analysis: After McPlant Struggles, What’s Next for Beyond Meat?

Beyond Meat shares made a slight recovery after falling on news McDonald’s may ditch its McPlant burger amid tepid results.

Restaurant Tech Firms Adjust Amid Economic Uncertainty

A slowdown in venture capital funding and growing prospects for a recession has restaurant tech firms tightening their belts.

Is Plant-Based Meat Ripe for Expansion?

While sales of plant-based meats have slowed, the category could be ripe for expansion as pricing moves closer to that of traditional meats.

Concerns About Discretionary Spending Jolt Coffee Chains

Consumer concerns about discretionary spending pushed Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks traffic lower in June, new data show.

Survey: Amid Inflation, Consumers Changing Deep-Seated Habits

Sixty-one percent of shoppers in a Vericast survey said that one of their biggest challenges this year is rising price.

Amid Labor Shortage, Michigan Allows Self-Service Alcohol Taps

After more than a decade of rapid growth, Starbucks is retrenching and closing several U.S. outlets due to security concerns.

Is Starbucks Retrenching Ahead of Recession or Are There Bigger Issues?

After more than a decade of rapid growth, Starbucks is retrenching and closing several U.S. outlets due to security concerns.

New Plant-Based Egg Challengers Enter the Market

While plant-based egg products are hitting the market, it remains to be seen whether consumers will adopt these products en masse.

Restaurants Grow More Concerned About Economy

Despite some positive indicators, an increasing number of restaurant operators are growing more concerned about inflation and the prospects for the economy. Employment in the restaurant industry and overall economy continued to rise at a …

Column: Future for Casual Dining Stocks Could be Grim

The near-term pressures on casual dining operators right now are obvious. Fears of a recession are rising. Consumer confidence is falling. Labor shortages have driven up wages and in some cases forced operators to limit …

Coffee Shops Embracing Plant-based Options

CHICAGO – Oat milk and other plant-based milks were in abundance at Coffee Fest Chicago recently. Today’s coffee shop consumers want plant-based options to address their concerns about health, animal welfare, and the environment. While …

Delivery Robots Hit College Campuses

Universities across the U.S. are tapping delivery robots to address the labor shortage and explore new business opportunities such as ghost kitchens, reported TechCrunch. Ohio State University became one of the first colleges to test …

Amazon Expands Food Operations with Grubhub Deal

Amazon.com is expanding its food-related operations. The online commerce giant agreed to add Grubhub to its suite of Prime services in the U.S., in a deal aimed at expanding the food-ordering company’s reach by tapping …

Millennials Favoring Energy Drinks with Functional Claims

CHICAGO – At Coffee Fest Chicago recently, business owners and various industry reps gathered to take note of new products, as well as learn how to increase sales. As much as anything, the event suggested …

Has Chick-fil-A Unveiled the Drive-Thru of the Future?

Chick-fil-A is testing an express drive-thru lane to speed up mobile order pick-up. The company calls its Express Drive-Thru model a “game changer” that will streamline the experience for its nearly 50 million mobile app …

Cold Beverages Red Hot at Coffee Fest 2022

CHICAGO – While coffee shops had previously been viewed as a “third place” to hang out and meet friends over a cup of hot java, shops are evolving to offer more cold beverages along with …

Consumer Survey: Delivery Apps Often Fail to Deliver

Nine out of 10 customers have had a food delivery order go wrong, according to a recent survey by Circuit, a route-planning app for delivery drivers. In fact, the survey of 1,066 American consumers who …

Restaurateur Stephen Schrutt on What Makes Gen-Z Tick

Every generation brings change, but Generation Z has an important distinction: It’s the first generation to have grown up in the digital era and members have high standards for how to spend their time online. …

Summer Fancy Food Show Highlights What’s Next in Plant-Based

Plant-based was a unifying theme at the Specialty Food Association’s 2022 Summer Fancy Food show last week, with companies showcasing unique innovations across multiple food and beverage categories. With that, the plant-based specialty retail market …

Menu Innovation Spurring Breakfast’s Revival at Restaurants

As professionals return to offices and on-site work post-pandemic-peak, restaurants are revitalizing breakfast service in a trend back toward innovative items with international influences. Chains are driving morning traffic back with discounts and deals, TODAY …

New Food Trend Alert: Caviar ‘Bumps’ Hit NYC Bars and Restaurants

Eating caviar is the latest status symbol for millennials and Gen Z. Caviar has become more affordable and accessible in recent years, with a small serving costing $20 at some New York City bars, reported The New …

Drive-Thru or Dining Rooms? QSRs, Casual Dining Going Different Routes

Hot dog stands and early hamburger joints had one thing in common besides the fries and colas: They were walk up counters where customers would place their orders and stroll off with food to be …

3 Key Takeaways from Summer Fancy Food Show

NEW YORK CITY – The lingering pandemic has done little to dampen consumer demand for specialty food. This was certainly apparent Monday at Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show. The Javits Center was abuzz …

Digital Ordering Key Factor in Restaurant Gains

A growing number of consumers prefer digital ordering over in-store experiences, according to a recent report from Paytronix. The 2022 Paytronix Order & Delivery Report found that, while digital orders at restaurants and c-stores have …

Can Subway Reset as Competition Gains Steam?

Just months after revamping its menu and tapping new pitchmen, Subway is making more bold moves, as competing sandwich chains like Firehouse Subs, Jimmy John’s, and Jersey Mike’s gain market share. The world’s largest sandwich …

Restaurant Show Puts Plant-Based in Spotlight

CHICAGO – Plant-based protein options were plentiful at the recent National Restaurant Association show, with old timers Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, and Kellogg’s Morningstar Farms joined by newer companies – such as Daring, Next Gen …

Automation, Marketing to Gen Z Key Themes at Restaurant Show

CHICAGO – Members of the restaurant industry gathered in Chicago for the National Restaurant Association Show between in late May to taste the latest in culinary trends. Major themes at the show included automation, marketing …

Dangerous ‘Forever Chemicals’ Seeping into Food Supply

For years, farmers looking for less expensive fertilizer turned to treated sewage sludge. Now, however, there’s evidence the sludge may have contaminated as many as 20 million acres with so-called forever chemicals – per- and …

Third-Party Delivery Apps Facing Uncertain Future

Third-party delivery firms are making headlines again. A growing number of investors, customers, and workers are fed up as the companies hemorrhage money and relentlessly chase growth— burning cash, customers, and vendors along the way …

Analysis: How Severely Will Inflation Impact Small Restaurants?

Half of all small business owners and nearly three-quarters of restaurateurs fear inflation will drive them out of business this year, the Alignable Small Business Inflation Poll indicates. “It’s the mom-and-pop diners and the small, …

Food Retailers Rank High in Annual Reputable Companies Survey

Food companies turned out to be some of the most reputable companies in the eyes of Americans in this years’ Axios Harris Poll 100 survey which gauges the reputation of the most visible brands in …

Predicted Increase in Travel Could Benefit QSRs

U.S. gas prices breached $4 per gallon in every state in March, according to AAA, while JP Morgan predicts they could surpass $6 by the end of the summer. Regardless, after two years of COVID …