Food & Drink Intel

• Record sales projected despite tight margins, labor shortages, and shifting consumers fueling cautious optimism.
• Tech Pavilion spotlights AI...

Chick-fil-A's system sales growth dipped to 5.4% in 2024 and 5.2% in 2023—first single digits since 2013—with AUVs falling slightly despite restaurant...

• Gen Z shift: Alcohol consumption down 25% nationally vs. 2018, driving mocktail sales surge in Des Moines spots like Judges.
• Quality evolution:...

Retailer pushback, led by Walmart, forces PepsiCo to cut Doritos prices up to 15% after hikes hit $7 bags and tanked volumes.

These early price...

Restaurant Chain Strategies

• 🔥 Chipotle Unit Economics: Chipotle maintains stable unit-level economics with new restaurants achieving ~60%...

Chipotle's expansion remains de-risked even with flat 2026 comps guidance and Q4 decline.

• Steady build rate: 334 units in 2025, targeting ~350 in...

QSR chains are fueling momentum through menu upgrades and staffing surges amid fierce competition:

• Burger King refreshed its Whopper with ads,...

Equitable allocation amid high demand: Montgomery County's ABS launches whiskey lotteries for rarities like 7 Weller Millennium, 4 Pappy Van Winkle...

Emerging non-alc innovations like functional teas and zero-proof cocktails are buzzing at major events, signaling retailer traction.

• Layn's...

Social media flips food innovation: TikTok/Instagram trends like Dubai chocolate bar (100M views) spark global demand, jumping from 1 variant in 2024...

Diversity spotlight in craft fermented beverages: A NEW POUR festival celebrates women and non-binary pros via Pink Boots Society vendors pouring...

Restaurant industry diverging sharply amid cost pressures and cutbacks:

• Consumer squeeze: Weekly spend down to $90 from $115, 68% cutting back;...

African diaspora cuisines dominate New Restaurant of the Year: ambitious spots like Ghanaian Elmina, Caribbean Isla, and Marcus Samuelsson’s Marcus...

Premiumization fuels explosive growth in alc beverages: market hits $810.3B by 2033 from $491.6B in 2026 at 7.4% CAGR, driven by craftsmanship, rising...

Beverage brands at Natural Products Expo West leaned into treat-inspired flavors and functionality for health-focused consumers:

• Bloom Nutrition's...

• Major grocery chains are phasing out low-profit everyday foods as of March 2026.
• Retailers prioritizing profit margins, shipping costs, and...

International brands like Mixue and Luckin Coffee are rapidly entering the US with digital-first models and experiential dining, intensifying...

Spirits M&A and Trade Disruptions

• 🔥 Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman Merger Talks: Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman confirmed discussions on a...

KO's financial momentum shines: improving profitability via efficiency and pricing power, steady revenue growth, expanding margins, strong cash flow...

• Production vulnerability: Equipment malfunction allowed trace undeclared milk into non-dairy beverages like Iced Tea Lemon.
• Limited scope: Affects...