5 takeaways from Day 1 of the Virtual Marketing & Sales Conference

The event, presented by IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, offered up expert insights for driving growth in a tricky market.

June 19: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Retail Foodservice Roundup: Walmart Depots, RaceTrac-Potbelly and more

Here’s the news you may have missed this week in the world of c-store and grocery foodservice.

FDA gets mixed results in a test of food traceability readiness

Most participants in the real-world trial were able to meet the requirements, but the agency concluded that further prep is needed.

Here’s proof the MAHA movement will be a midterm election issue

The controversial health initiative is figuring into the platforms of both candidates for the governorship of Iowa.

June 15: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Specialty distributor suspects it could be a takeover target

HF Foods says it’s learned an unknown party may be amassing its stock.

Despite the lack of visible action, new packaging regs haven’t stalled

EPR initiatives are under consideration in at least 14 more states, with no pre-emptive activity evident on the federal level.

Want to hitch your sales to the protein boom? Here’s what to know

Consumers are now far more interested in a menu item’s protein content than in its calorie count. Here’s how that shift is affording an opportunity.

Fedele Bauccio to step down as Bon Appetit CEO

The staunch advocate of local, sustainable foods will be succeeded later this year by Compass’ Canadian chief, Saajid Kahn.

Want to look smarter? Give your FAFH vocabulary these updates

The market (and some lawmakers) are altering what’s meant by familiar industry terms.

Purchasing co-ops not on your radar? Learn why they should be

A session of the upcoming Virtual Sales & Marketing conference will look at Denny’s new initiative and why more chains are setting up the purchasing formats for franchisees.

Menu inflation quickens in May, widening the gap with grocery prices

New BLS figures show FAFH prices are now running 3.5% above where they were a year ago.

Retail Foodservice Roundup: Walmart adds restaurant delivery, Whole Foods launches Supper Club

Here’s the news you may have missed this week in the world of c-store and grocery foodservice.

FAFH industry learns how AI is already changing the business

A one-day Tastewise summit focused on how the technology is actually being used to develop products.

June 5: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

FAFH industry catches World Cup fever

The massive soccer event is a chance for brands across many segments to market to a global stage.

Hilton pushes further into C&U hospitality with new hotel line

The lodging giant intends to develop a string of properties that specifically target college-campus visitors, including visiting sports teams.

Beverage LTOs flooded the chain market in 2025

Datassential’s new ranking of the 500 biggest restaurant chains shows that nine new beverage options were added for every food extension.

June 1: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

News roundup: Tyson to get a new chief, World Cup set to disrupt supply chains, Ohio tests drinks

Here’s a quick look at industry stories that may have slipped past.

Retail Foodservice Roundup: Dolly Parton gets into c-store biz, summer drink promos and more

Here’s the news you may have missed this week in the world of c-store and grocery foodservice.

Problems arise in the refund of tariff money

Amid signs of trouble, a federal court is demanding an update from the Trump Administration on how the reimbursement is going.

Burger chains are hearing the footsteps of chicken and beverage concepts

The new Datassential 500 report finds LSR burger specialists still on top, but with the other segments eroding their lead.

Have we reached peak protein? Not yet

Consumers want to see more high-protein options for away-from-home dining, according to the Association’s latest Consumer & Operator Research Group report.

Retail Foodservice Roundup: Kwik Trip’s food earns acclaim,deli prepared foods keep growing and more

Here’s the news you may have missed this week in the world of c-store and grocery foodservice.

Lobster prices soar as diesel costs take a toll

Some places are charging $50 or more for a lobster roll.

May 22: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

News roundup: NYC hotel workers get huge raise while restaurant hourlies have to skip meals

Here’s a quick look at industry stories that may have slipped past.

Leadership lessons from restaurant CEOs Chip Wade and Jerry Morgan

The industry superstars regaled attendees of the Association’s Education Summit with tales of resiliency and determination as they rose through the FAFH industry ranks.

Gold & Silver Plate celebration offers a sharp rebuttal to industry bashers

A dead-end industry of last resort? Not to the stellar successes who gathered Saturday night.

Meet the icon receiving this year’s Legends award, Richard ‘Dick’ Marriott

He was born into the industry and a famous family, but the affiliation earned him a spatula instead of a silver spoon.

USHG CEO Chip Wade named 2026 Gold Plate winner

Chip Wade, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, wins the prestigious 2026 Gold Plate Award from IFMA, recognizing outstanding leadership in the foodservice industry.

How Chip Wade is putting his own stamp on Union Square Hospitality

Running a company while its founder is still actively involved can be a challenge. If that founder happens to be Danny Meyer, the Yoda of fine dining, a successor would have to be dumber than a rock to shun the input. And Chip Wade, CEO of Meyer’s U

Silver Plate winner and ‘Mealtime Messiah’ Michael P. Berry dies at 77

He earned his award for bringing innovation to his management of the foodservices of Harvard

Never been to the Gold and Silver Plate awards? Here’s an insider’s guide to what you’ll find

No other event is quite like it. Here are some of the reasons why.

Menu inflation eases in April, but there’s an asterisk

Consumer prices overall spiked for the month, signaling continued top-line challenges for the food-away-from-home business.

Retail Foodservice Roundup: Amazon adds B2B fresh grocery delivery, McLane expands driverless trucks

Here’s the news you may have missed this week in the world of c-store and grocery foodservice.

May 11: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

With tariffs struck down again, is Trump out of options?

The White House is widely expected to appeal Thursday’s court ruling, but its options are narrowing.

Compass Group North America supercharges food waste fight with AI-powered partnership

The foodservice management firm announced a strategic alliance with Mill Industries to deploy high-tech machinery on its campuses that can turn kitchen scraps into animal feed.

Here’s some good government news for a change

Three recent developments have the FAFH business cheering instead of cursing.

Objections to a Sysco’s-Restaurant Depot deal are mounting

Parties ranging from a Georgia official to rank-and-file operators are asking the FTC to scuttle the merger.

Amazon opens its distribution network to all foodservice suppliers

A company will no longer need to sell through Amazon.com to have its products shipped to customers.

Here’s how the dinner plates at the Gold & Silver Plate Awards come to life

Team work between IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, catering partner Entertaining Company, event sponsors and more is essential to pulling off the gala’s feast.

Retail Foodservice Roundup: C-stores lean into Cinco de Mayo, 7-Eleven adds kids’ meals, Casey’s exp

Here’s the news you may have missed this week in the world of c-store and grocery foodservice.

May 4: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Retail Foodservice Roundup: 3 changes coming to 7-Eleven’s prepared foods program

This week’s update focuses on the planned foodservice upgrades coming to the country’s largest convenience retailer.

April 27: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

A lifetime in hospitality earns Richard 'Dick' Marriott the 2026 Legends Award

From the time he was 6, the scion of the famed family has strived to leave his mark on the U.S. hospitality industry through smarts and hard work.

Restaurants launch slew of portable, snackable new items

Chains including Pokeworks, Bojangles, Panera Bread and more are jumping on the latest trends to meet consumer desire for high-protein snacks around the clock.

Steak ‘n Shake appoints a chief MAHA officer

The family dining chain said it intends to make further MAHA-driven changes to its recipes and menu later this year.

April 20: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Retail Foodservice Roundup:C-store foodservice keeps growing, 7-Eleven closures, grocery deli update

Welcome to a new feature recapping the latest FAFH developments at convenience and grocery stores.

How familiar are you with the Gold and Silver Plate awards? Take our trivia quiz to find out

The 72nd edition of the Gold & Silver Plate Awards are coming up soon. Test your knowledge of the FAFH industry's biggest night and see how you stack up.

U.K. veers from the U.S. in its plan to make school meals healthier

The European nation is updating its student nutrition standards for the first time in more than 10 years, with significant departures from the approach planned for U.S. schools.

What happens at the Gold and Silver Plate gala stays there, at least in picking the winner

Considerable color is added to the event by its adherence to traditions, one of them being a token bet on who’ll win the Gold Plate award. Here’s how to engage in that time-honored custom.

Sales of plant-based meat analogs are wilting, new research finds

Orders of the products from broadline distributors fell in 2024 after years of growth, the report found.

Have the munchies? Here’s how operators are observing 4/20

The annual unofficial celebration of cannabis culture is kicking into high gear, with chains like Jimmy John’s, Wingstop, Insomnia Cookies and more joining with punny marketing and menu items.

Where are they now: Mark Freeman, 2012 Silver Plate winner

The former manager of Microsoft’s foodservice operations wants to air solutions to common problems across the six siloed sectors of “everyday foodservice.”

New university venture aims to avert supply-chain problems

The Supply Chain Resiliency Hub will help U.S. manufacturers find new and alternative suppliers while flagging disruption risks, according to the University of New Haven.

April 13: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Now judges are reviewing the legality of Trump’s 10% tariffs

The surcharges, imposed after the Supreme Court rejected the Administration’s first round of duties, have been challenged by 24 states.

Retail Foodservice Roundup: Amazon grocery growth, Sheetz’ big Indiana debut, Rutter’s taco fiesta

Welcome to a new feature recapping the latest food-away-from-home-related developments at convenience and grocery stores.

Menu prices inched upward in March as grocery prices fell

The dynamics widened the expense gap between cooking at home and frequenting a food-away-from-home establishment.

Sysco’s CEO promises no increase in Restaurant Depot’s prices

Kevin Hourican said the added buying power will provide the purchasing leverage to hold the line. That’s not such good news for suppliers.

7-Eleven parent presses pause on North American IPO plans

In The country’s largest convenience-store owner cited ongoing consumer uncertainty in its decision to stall its go-public effort by a year “at the earliest.”

April 6: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Updated dietary guidelines most likely to sway younger consumers

The latest Consumer & Operator Research Group report offers insight into the demographic groups most likely to change the way they eat based on new nutritional information.

Florida embraces MAHA’s push for more local food purchasing by hospitals

Patterned after a 2-year-old program in Kentucky, the initiative obliges participating facilities to spend 5% of their food budgets on supplies from local farms.

News roundup: Restaurant chain sniping, new 'living wage' quest, restaurants give TSA agents a hand

Here’s a roundup of food-away-from-home news that might have slipped past even avid media watchers.

Panera to lay off 300 more bakery workers

The once-vertically-integrated chain is closing three more of its dough manufacturing facilities and increasing its reliance on outside suppliers.

FAFH industry has some April Fool’s fun

Brands roll out pickle cookies, cheddar Pop-Tarts, name changes and more. Just be sure to double-check the date.

Unilever Foods, McCormick to merge in massive food deal

Once approved, the $45 billion transaction would bring together brands including McCormick spices and flavorings, Knorr, Hellmann’s and Cholula.

Hospital food purchases will have to abide by MAHA guidelines

Procurement policies and practices will need to be brought in line with the nutritional guidelines set out in the new DGAs for hospitals to continue receiving federal funding, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced.

Cinemark’s Sean Gamble is redefining 'dinner and a movie’

The Silver Plate winner has brought new success to his theater chain by having it function more as a restaurant.

New study aims to show how dining options influence student retention

Sodexo and The Princeton Review plan to canvass school administrators about the correlation between foodservices and school loyalty.

Sysco to buy Restaurant Depot for $29.1B

The broadliner said the deal will instantly make it the largest player in the cash-and-carry market.

Younger diners are getting pickier about how their food is fried

A new study says half of consumers aged 18 to 34 are considering what’s in fryers when choosing a restaurant.

March 30: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Danielle Bock doesn’t hesitate to stir the pot for her students and staff

Danielle Bock, director of nutrition services for Greeley-Evans School District and this year's K-12 Silver Plate winner, has spent her career fighting for students and staff — and she's not done yet.

Check out these books from the industry’s elite

15 books by Silver Plate award winners, the food-away-from-home industry's elite. Learn their secrets to success, from building iconic brands like Wendy's and Popeyes to pioneering hospitality, offering invaluable insights for aspiring leaders.

C-stores find success stealing from the fast-food value playbook

Convenience stores are getting more strategic with bundle deals to compete with QSRs.

Don’t tell Leisa Bryant her job is only about serving hospital food

Leisa Bryant, executive director of Food and Nutrition Services at MD Anderson Cancer Center and this year's Healthcare Silver Plate winner, is redefining hospital food — one act of compassionate leadership at a time.

Authenticity is on Jeff Palmer’s mind at UC San Diego

Jeff Palmer, exec director of dining at UC San Diego and this year's College & University Silver Plate winner, is using data, sustainability, and a passion for culinary authenticity to redefine what campus dining can be.

Jerry Morgan is more than a caretaker of what he inherited at Texas Roadhouse

Jerry Morgan, CEO of Texas Roadhouse and this year’s Silver Plate winner in the Chain Full Service category, is widely known as Kent Taylor’s successor. But that doesn’t reflect all he’s doing for the company and brand.

Grocer Stop & Shop gives its hot bars a makeover

Regional grocer Stop & Shop this week announced a major upgrade of its in-store hot bars. The refreshed self-serve dinners and sides feature comfort food options and globally inspired proteins, which will be served from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Before Bourdain or Child, there was the food writer Clementine Paddleford

A name like Clementine Paddleford isn’t easy to forget. Nor is a long professional life of piloting her own Piper Cub from one backwater location to another, looking for local dishes that were as enticing as anything the swells of New York City.

Starbucks shakes up its licensed business

Starbucks on Tuesday announced a major reorganization of its licensed business.

March 23: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Executive Summary COEX 2026

It’s clear that the way customers make their dining choices is changing. How they decide whether a brand has earned their next visit, or their next dollar, can be complicated. As an industry, we need to understand, and anticipate, our consumers like

Catching up with past winners of Silver and Gold Plates

Longtime attendees of the annual Gold and Silver Plate Awards ceremony will see some familiar faces accompanying the 2026 winners at this year’s gala. It’s now a tradition for the current honorees to be escorted to the dais by a mentor of their choos

Leah Chase did far more than change New Orleans’ dining scene

Leah Chase, longtime chef-proprietor of New Orleans’ Dooky Chase

March 17: The latest on MAHA and related developments

A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

Here’s how the government plans to issue tariff refunds

Moving with court-ordered haste, the Trump Administration has drafted a detailed plan for dispersing more than $165 billion it collected under the protective tariffs that were struck down last month by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Casey’s Brad Haga proves c-stores can go toe to toe with QSRs

Anyone in chef’s whites might feel at home inside the buzzing kitchens that landed a Silver Plate this year for Brad Haga, SVP of Prepared Foods and Dispensed Beverages for the Casey’s General Store convenience-store chain.

America may run on Dunkin’, but it’s Scott Murphy who sets the pace

If Scott Murphy’s business card listed all the roles he fills for Dunkin’ and its multi-brand parent, it’d have to be some sort of fold-out model to fit everything.

Brace yourself for some MAHA bombshells

The Trump Administration plans to release its first stab next month at a definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The release would mark a major step toward codifying tenets of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement into a new ...

Sally Minier baked up a different sort of career in B&I

Jane Street, a young investment firm, had to wait a year before Sally Minier agreed to be interviewed for the facilities management position it was struggling to fill. Even then, Minier recalls, she said yes largely to see if a newcomer to the starch

Not in the picture, but a big part of Marriott’s soul: Allie Marriott

Without the daily involvement of Alice “Allie” Marriott, Willard’s wife and Bill’s mom, there might never have been the hospitality behemoth every traveler knows today.