Things over at Chipotle haven’t been exactly great this past year, what with all that food-borne illness stuff, tanking stocks, and customers fleeing. And things might not be getting any better — or a least for the co-captain of the ship, Steve Ells, as some investors are now calling for the co-founder to step down from his position as chairman of that board. [More]
Food & Personal Care
Get Ready For Cashew Prices To Go Up Amid Spike In Popularity
By 11.1.16
The good news, for cashews, is that they’ve recently become a lot more popular than other tree nuts like pistachios and walnuts (sorry, pistachios and walnuts). But the bad news, for consumers, is that that spike in popularity is putting a strain on the global cashew supply, which could cause an uptick in prices for consumers. [More]
Opioid Poisonings In Toddlers & Teens Tripled Over 15-Year Period
By 10.31.16
We’ve already seen how the opioid epidemic has spread like wildfire in the U.S. since the late ’90s, but a new study shows how children of every age group are increasingly being exposed (and exposing themselves) to dangerous levels of these painkillers. [More]
Sonic Bringing “Pancake On A Stick” Back Next Spring
By 10.31.16
Is it too much for you to handle utensils in the morning? Sonic Drive-In thinks it has the answer in the form of a blast from the past: the chain is bringing back its previously popular “Pancake on a Stick” to restaurant menus this fall. [More]
U.S. Demand For Coffee At A Record High Thanks To Millennials
By 10.31.16
I don’t know what you picture when you heard the word “millennial,” but me, I just imagine a crowd of companies and brands trailing behind someone, begging them to buy whatever it is they’re selling. One product that doesn’t need to chase the younger set is coffee, demand for which is expected to reach a record high in this country. [More]
Shoppers Will Spend More Money On Carving Pumpkins Than On Buying Pumpkin Products
By 10.31.16 — Updated: 11.2.16
Every fall it seems like all anyone can ever talk about is “Oh I can’t believe someone is selling pumpkin spice potato chips” or “Really, do we need pumpkin spice shoelaces?” So it may be refreshing to know that when it comes to pumpkins, we’re spending more money to carve them up than we are on buying into the latest pumpkin-flavored craze. [More]
McDonald’s Will Pay $3.75M To Settle Franchisee’s Alleged Labor Violations
By 10.31.16
Two years after the National Labor Relations Board General Counsel declared that McDonald’s could be held responsible for franchisees’ bad labor practices, the fast food giant has agreed, for the first time, to pay $3.75 million to settle a lawsuit that claimed the company was liable for labor law violations by a California franchisee. [More]
Butterball Help Line Now Lets Customers Text Questions
By 10.31.16
Three years after Butterball revolutionized its Turkey Talk help line by adding male operators for the first time, the company is once again revamping how it helps those cooking a turkey for the big holiday: not talking to them at all. Rather, they’ll be texting. [More]
One Woman Dead In Hawaii Scallops Hepatitis A Outbreak
By 10.28.16
The likely 50-day incubation period is over, and there have been no new cases of hepatitis A linked to contaminated scallops served at sushi restaurants in Hawaii since Oct. 9. The state reports that two people who were infected with the linked strain of hepatitis have died, though only one patient’s death was due to the infection. [More]
Former Chipotle Manager Says He Was Fired For Refusing Wage Theft
By 10.28.16 — Updated: 6.7.17
A former Chipotle manager worked hard and rose through the company’s ranks, and then he says that he had a decision to make after opening of a new restaurant: he could commit wage theft against his employees, or he could risk losing his job and the relocation bonus he had just received. He chose the latter, and is now speaking out about his experience with wage theft at the burrito eatery. [More]
Wrigley Gum Selling For 1908 Price, Ignoring History Of Chicago Cubs & Wrigley Field
By 10.28.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
The Chicago Cubs are looking for their first World Series win since 1908, so the folks at Wrigley Gum are celebrating the Series return to Wrigley Field by selling chewing gum at 1908 prices. What this cash-in promotion glosses over is the fact that the Wrigley name had nothing to do with the Cubs 108 years ago.
[More]
Soylent Stops Sale Of Meal-Replacement Powder After Customers Report Becoming Ill
By 10.28.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Earlier this month, meal replacement startup Soylent announced that it would voluntarily stop selling its new-to-market Soylent nutrition bar after receiving reports from customers who became ill after consuming the snack. Now, the company says it will expand that action to include certain meal-replacement powder after receiving similar issues. [More]
Report: Amazon To Eventually Open As Many As 2,000 Grocery Stores
By 10.27.16
Earlier this month, all-powerful “sources familiar with the matter” claimed that Amazon was on the verge of opening bricks-and-mortar convenience stores and offering curbside pickup. Now, a new report indicates that the e-tailer plans to start small, opening 20 physical grocery stores over the next two years, but ultimately expects to have thousands of stores nationwide. [More]
USDA Proposes Importing Avocados From Colombia Amid Shortage
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Amid a recent avocado shortage linked to a growers’ strike in Mexico and a drought in California affecting crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing an amendment to existing fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the country to import Hass avocados from Colombia. [More]
Uber Adds Surge Pricing To Food Delivery
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
For years, Uber has subscribed to a “surge” pricing model that increased the cost of a ride during peak times, like rush hours. Now, the ride-sharing company is taking that idea and bringing it to its UberEATS food delivery service in certain markets. [More]
Tasty Burger Files Formal Opposition To Chipotle’s Tasty Made Trademark
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Back in August, East Coast burger chain Tasty Burger sent a cease-and-desist letter to Chipotle over its trademark for the company’s new burger venture, Tasty Made. Now that the latter has opened its first location — in Columbus, OH, as of yesterday — Tasty Burger says it’s making its opposition to that trademark formal. [More]
Chipotle Cutting Off All Investments Into Asian-Inspired ShopHouse Brand
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
In the midst of trying to convince customers to come back and eat at Chipotle a year after its national food safety crisis first started, it seems the chain doesn’t have the resources to cultivate other efforts, like its Asian-inspired ShopHouse chain. [More]
Google Maps Now Lets Users Order Food Delivery
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Last month, Google announced that it would provide users with the ability to hail a ride from services like Uber and Lyft when searching for direction inside Maps. Now, the company is taking that idea and expanding it to food delivery: adding the option for users to order food when searching for restaurants on the Maps app. [More]
