Global Foodservice News
The ROI of Unboxing
With off-premises dining capturing a massive share of restaurant revenue, packaging has become a storefront marketing tool that brands must treat as a proxy for hospitality and intentionally design the unboxing experience. “The real opportunity is less about how the box looks and more about how it makes the guest feel,” said Alexis Gillette, VP…
Read MoreUnox Expands North American Sales Team
Unox hired Jermaine Richardson to serve as regional sales manager for its South Central and Rocky Mountain regions. Jermaine Richardson Headshot Jermaine Richardson In this role, Richardson will support customers, dealers, consultants, and distributors across Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Richardson’s foodservice industry experience spans more than 18 years, including “13…
Read MoreThompson to Lead Convotherm in the U.S.
Welbilt, an Ali Group company, appointed Bill Thompson to serve as general manager of Convotherm U.S., effective July 1, 2026. Bill Thompson Thompson joined Welbilt in 2012 and since 2023 he served as vice president of global sales for Merrychef. Prior to that, Thompson held a variety of roles with increasing responsibility across both the…
Read MoreEquipment Trends on Tap at FER’s How To Spec Live
Attendees will gain access to panel discussions and equipment demos focused on how to select certain equipment at the FER event. perators, design consultants and dealers who play a role in specifying equipment will gain the intel they need to get ahead at FER’s first-ever How To Spec Live, presented by California Foodservice Instant Rebates.…
Read MoreMass closures became a lot more common last year
The number of Technomic Top 500 restaurant chains that closed 10% or more of their locations soared last year, but the same thing was happening before the pandemic. We’ve written a lot about mass closures and systemwide shutdowns of late, certainly more than we’d like. We’ve also unpacked, at length, the factors creating a macroeconomic…
Read MoreStarbucks will pilot employee-created content on TikTok
‘Green Apron Creators’ chosen for the program will receive compensation. Starbucks will begin a pilot later this summer allowing select employees to create content for TikTok and share in ad revenue. Starbucks announced it is the first brand to pilot custom Creator Networks in Content Suite, a new integrated offering that connects content creation and…
Read MoreRed Lobster creditors say former owner used Endless Shrimp to enrich itself
A lawsuit claims that seafood supplier Thai Union steered the chain to buy more shrimp, culminating in the all-you-can-eat promotion that preceded its bankruptcy. Red Lobster’s former controlling stakeholder steered the restaurant to buy more of its shrimp in order to line its own pockets, according to a lawsuit from creditors of the restaurant chain.…
Read MoreA Popular Burger Restaurant Faces Uncertainty At 49 Locations After Franchisee Bankruptcy
In April 2026, several subsidiaries of California-based Friendly Franchisees Corporation (FFC) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with a number of brick-and-mortar restaurants likely to feel the effects. FFC owns 65 Carl’s Jr. locations in California — and the owner, Harshad Dharod, intends to sell off the vast majority of them as he undergoes the bankruptcy process. While 10 are…
Read MoreOlive Garden’s smaller siblings take on a bigger role
LongHorn Steakhouse and Yard House are becoming major contributors for Darden Restaurants, which it attributes to the strength of its portfolio strategy. In 2019, Olive Garden was the workhorse in the Darden Restaurant family of brands, accounting for half of the company’s total sales and 55% of its profits. Fast-forward seven years, and it’s become…
Read MoreTaco Bell offering free ’emotional support’ tacos for World Cup fans
Whether fans are celebrating a big World Cup victory or trying to cope with a heartbreaking loss, Taco Bell says it has them covered with free tacos. The fast-food chain has launched L.O.C.O.S., short for Loss Or Celebration Outcome Support, an “emotional support taco” campaign timed to this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. The promotion…
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