The Trade Negotiations That Will Impact Foodservice Most This Year
There is a trade negotiation happening right now that may have a major impact on restaurant and foodservice operators. July 1, 2026 is the mandatory six-year review date for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the trade framework that governs the movement of food, beverages, and hundreds of other goods across North America. Under Article 34.7 […]
The FDA Is Phasing Out Food Dyes You Probably Really Need.
Ten years ago, General Mills announced it was removing artificial colors from its cereals. Consumers pushed back so hard that within two years, classic Trix, the neon-bright version with Red 40 and Yellow 6, was back on shelves. General Mills publicly acknowledged that customers had rejected the naturally colored version of its product, finding it […]
Is There Hope for Those of Us Who Still Love Craft Beer?
Many of us don’t want craft beer to fail. We’ve spent too many Saturday afternoons in taprooms sampling a flight of beers, then digging into one for the rest of the evening. Looking at the numbers for the business coming out of 2025, it may be hard to stay optimistic but the picture is worse […]
Big Tech Has Been Trying To Take Over Foodservice…. How’s That Going?
One day, you might order a burger from a voice AI, watch a robotic arm serve fries, and have another robot deliver your meal to your table. Tech companies have promoted this vision for nearly a decade. Industry magazines reported on it, and restaurant chains released statements using terms like transformative and revolutionary. The actual […]
GLP-1 Is a Food Story. It’s Also a Beverage Story. Only One of Those Is Getting Told.
The food industry spent 2025 trying to solve the GLP-1 problem. Strategies included offering smaller portions, emphasizing protein-rich dishes, introducing half-size options, and highlighting GLP-1-friendly choices on packaging. The entire conversation was about food. Which is partly correct. GLP-1 users are eating less food. But they are not consuming less across the board. They are […]
C-Stores Won the Foodservice War. Now They Have to Run a Kitchen.
Summary In Q3 2025, 15% of c-store prepared food visits were converted QSR occasions. In 38% of those cases, the consumer had specifically considered McDonald’s first, according to Technomic’s February 2026 Future of Convenience Stores report. C-store foodservice grew 5.7% in 2025, outpacing QSR’s 4.7% growth. The food quality perception gap has narrowed from 13 […]
Your Insurance Policy Has a Maintenance Clause. Most Operators Don’t Know That Until a Claim Gets Denied.
Operators spent six years absorbing some of the highest commercial property insurance premium increases in two decades. Many responded rationally, deferring maintenance to stay solvent. Now, as premiums have finally begun to ease, they’re sitting on aging, undermaintained equipment, and the same insurers who were cashing their checks during the premium spike are scrutinizing claims […]
Not Just an Oil Story: What the Iran Conflict Means for Foodservice Operators
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”] The instinct when a Middle East conflict erupts is to watch the oil price. That instinct is not wrong, but for foodservice operators, it is incomplete. A pressing but less-discussed impact of the […]
Fast Food Isn’t Disappearing, But “Cheap” Is
Fast food built its modern dominance on a simple promise: when you want a quick, convenient, affordable meal, fast food is the answer. However, this appeal has weakened. As chains raise prices to cover labor and ingredient costs, lower-income diners are visiting less often, and they’re noticing when “value” no longer feels like value.1 This […]
Superbowl 26 Special!
We’re Celebrating this Year’s Super Bowl LX. Save 10% on All Cold Dispensing Machine Maintenance. Whether you root for Seattle or New England, you come out a winner when you call Fastcility. New customers will save 10% on Cold Dispensing Machines, including Beer Taps. But this special ends on February 15th so call TODAY! USE […]