Foodservice Industry

Industry Roundup

Cups

Survey from iScanner app shows 60% of Americans try to minimize paper in everyday life, but say hardest area to switch from paper usage is packaging, including avoiding the use of paper cups
PR Newswire (04/19)

Disposable Tableware / Kitchenware

Hong Kong’s ban on single-use plastics begins, but government will not take enforcement action against non-compliant businesses for first six months; ban includes variety of disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products
Hong Kong Free Press (Hong Kong) (04/22)

Reusable / Refillable / Storage Containers

Trivium Packaging partners with several brands on report showcasing the potential of refill and reuse solutions for sustainable packaging
Trivium Packaging (04/22)

DutchX, DeliverZero announce partnership; DutchX will leverage its electric cargo fleet to transport food deliveries with DeliverZero's reusable containers to corporate clients across New York City as well as manage reverse logistics for empty containers
Associated Press (04/22)

Quick Service Restaurants (QSR)

Morgan Stanley names Wendy's, Jack in the Box, Wingstop as fast-food chains to face pressure from rise in GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, as people spend less at restaurants; healthier fast-casual restaurants poised to handle looming shift in consumer spending
Quartz (04/22)

Papa Murphy's announces limited-time return of the Taco Grande Pizza, featuring ground beef or tender grilled chicken, Roma tomatoes, onions, black olives, hand-grated cheddar and whole-milk mozzarella, on a base of savory refried beans and salsa
PRWeb (04/22)

Fast-Casual Restaurants

Executive Perspective: While the influencer landscape has made things a bit more challenging marketing-wise for Chipotle, it also provides more opportunities, says Chief Brand Officer Chris Brandt
Nation's Restaurant News (04/22)

Chipotle 's first location in the Middle East opens in Kuwait, marking the first time Chipotle has entered a new country in over 10 years
PR Newswire (04/22)

Casual Dining Restaurants

Flynn Group Expands Portfolio Through Acquisition of Applebee’s Restaurants; Signs Agreement with Applebee’s to Open 25 New Restaurants
Applebee's Restaurants (04/22)

Applebee’s signs agreement with Flynn Group, the world’s largest restaurant franchise operator, with the goal to open 25 new Applebee’s restaurants in the US over the next seven years
Business Wire (04/22)

Bakery / Baked Goods

Empire, Sobeys surpass 2023 annual goal to divert 31 million pounds of surplus food annually from its operations to support local charities across Canada in partnership with Second Harvest; 42% of diverted food was produce, 15% was dairy, 11% was bread
Canada Newswire (04/22)

Flowers Foods announces 11 new bread and snacking products from its Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Tastykake and Mrs. Freshley’s brands
Flowers Foods Inc. (04/22)

Breakfast Products

Krystal Restaurants announces limited-time offerings of the Krystal Meal Deal for US$4.99 , the 2 for US$4.99 breakfast deal and the new Krystal Kravings Under US$3 menu
24/7 Press Release (04/22)

Denny's announces launch of its spring menu; new items include BBQ Bacon Chicken Sandwich, Brownie Sundae with Oreo Pieces, and Cinnamon Sugar Pancake Puppies
Chew Boom (04/22)

Coffee

Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee and Graphic Packaging launch sustainable, recyclable paperboard canister for retail; Boardio canister is delivered flat, uses a minimum of 50% less plastic than previous bag format and a minimum of 80% FSC certified paperboard
Graphic Packaging Holding Co. (04/22)

Nespresso reportedly launches compostable coffee capsules made from paper pulp and other completely biodegradable components; capsule collection will be available in 60 selected Nespresso Boutiques from May and is compatible with all Original models
Homes & Gardens (04/22)

Pizzas

Nestle's Tombstone Pizza brand announces launch of its new Tombstone Tavern-Style Pizza, available in two varieties: The Primo, featuring featuring pepperoni, sausage, banana peppers, red onion; and Let's Meat Up, featuring pepperoni, pork belly crumble
Chew Boom (04/22)

Fried & Cooked Chicken

Executive Perspective: KFC has made progress past couple of years toward objective of attracting younger and more diverse customers by launching boneless, portable offerings like chicken sandwich, wraps, bowls, says Chief Marketing Officer Nick Chavez
Nation's Restaurant News (04/22)

Outback Steakhouse announces limited-time return of its Steak & Lobster deal, starting at $19.99; Outback also introduces new alcoholic beverage Koala Punch and new Sweet Sriracha Chicken Bites
Chew Boom (04/22)

Cold Sandwiches & Wraps

Subway Canada announces offering of five new sandwiches: Tandoori Twist, Cuban Crunch, Nashville-Style Hot Chicken, Chimichurri Steak & Cheese, and Little Sicily; company also offering its new Shawarma Chicken Rice Bowl
Business Wire (04/22)

Hot Sandwiches, Wraps & Burgers

Executive Perspective: Burger King Chief Marketing Officer Pat O’Toole putting the company's signature Whopper burger at the forefront of several marketing efforts, doing so with its ‘Have it Your Way’ jingle and the modernization of it''
Nation's Restaurant News (04/22)

Ice Cream / Frozen Treats

Shearer’s Foods recalls Great Value Twist & Shout Strawberry Creme Sandwich Cookies because they may contain foreign material, specifically plastic; recalled products distributed in Oklahoma
Food Safety News (04/19)

Savory Snacks

Campbell Soup's Kettle Brand launches its new, limited-edition Gochujang Flavored Chips; new flavor comes amid growing interest among Gen Z and Millennials in sweet and spicy flavor combinations, as well as increasing popularity of Korean cuisine in US
Chew Boom (04/22)

Snyder’s of Hanover announces limited-time launch of new Hot Honey Flavored Pretzel Pieces, which combine sweet honey and spicy chili heat with a salty pretzel base
Chew Boom (04/22)

Confectionery & Sweet Snacks

Leaf Brands plans to sue Mondelez this year for violating antitrust laws; Mondelez accused of intimidating retailers and instructing workers who restock shelves to hide, misplace or move Leaf Brands' Hydrox cookies to less desirable locations
Food Dive (04/22)

Nestlé shareholders reject a resolution at its annual general meeting demanding the company reduce its reliance on unhealthy products
FoodNavigator.com (04/19)

Cafeteria / Buffet / School Meals

LITTLE SPROUTS COOLING OFF IN ALCOA, TENNESSEE
States News Service (04/22)

Dining At Home / Home-Cooking

Packaging Design Wrap-Up: Design firm invents method to warp paper into various packaging shapes; popcorn buckets for Dune film draw NSFW comparisons; squeeze bottle for olive oil offers better dispensing control
Industry Intelligence Inc. (04/19)

Foodservice Channel

Euromonitor: On-premises foodservice consumption hasn't recovered to pre-pandemic levels, but off-premises channels have grown; eat-in still main foodservice channel, but omnichannel approaches integrating takeaway, drive-through and delivery should grow
Euromonitor International Ltd. (04/19)

Foodservice Packaging

In 2023, DoorDash enabled over 180,000 orders with reusable packaging globally across the countries that DoorDash and Wolt operate in; in US, DoorDash is working to grow that number in partnership with DeliverZero
DoorDash Inc. (04/22)

On-Demand Local Delivery

Uber Eats chooses San Francisco-based tech company Forage to process payments made via SNAP EBT, launching in late 2024
Supermarket News (04/19)

Drone delivery company Zipline announces it has made its millionth drone delivery; service will also launch at Panera Bread and Jet's Pizza chains in select markets and has expanded to serve new use cases, such as retail deliveries with Walmart
Supermarket News (04/19)

Single-Use

Sharjah, UAE, announces it has discontinued manufacturing single-use plastic bags; decision follows a ban on single-use plastic bags and materials across the emirate from Jan. 1
Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates) (04/22)

UK Labour party criticizes Tory plan to ban sale of plastic wet wipes, as it does not also ban manufacturing; proposals also set exemptions to ensure plastic wet wipes remain available amid no viable alternative, such as for medical disinfectant purposes
Mirror, The (UK) (04/22)

Food & Beverage Distributors

Sysco Is Driving More Eco-Friendly Products and Innovative Solutions Globally to Reduce Plastic and Packaging Waste
Sysco Corp. (04/22)

SpartanNash 'Ramps Up' Plastic Bag Recycling for Earth Day
SpartanNash Co. (04/22)

New partnership between Carlsberg Group and WWF targets wetlands to safeguard water resources
Carlsberg A/S (04/22)

Restaurants

Executive Perspective: Taco Bell has cracked the co-creator code, forging partnerships with influencers big and small in its quest to identify fellow ‘cultural rebels,’ says Chief Marketing Officer Taylor Montgomery
Nation's Restaurant News (04/22)

Executive Perspective: 'Pizza Hut is a brand that a lot of people have an emotional connection with,' says Chief Marketing Officer Lindsay Morgan, adding: 'Our brand is seen as nostalgic and sometimes that means dated or legacy'
Nation's Restaurant News (04/22)

Executive Perspective: Marketing success at Domino's Pizza hinges on the company’s convenience and value-focused branding, says Chief Brand Officer Kate Trumbull
Nation's Restaurant News (04/22)

 Stock