Latest News From Foodservice

The Germany-based Kronen GmbH says its automated, robot-based solution for cutting, pitting and peeling avocados can be adapted and added onto to meet various needs.

Four school districts in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, and Ohio received awards for innovative efforts to improve the nutritional quality of meals for students.

The International Fresh Produce Association coordinated a series of “speed dating” meetings in late February to connect produce companies with school foodservice officials from several U.S. school districts.

Foodservice business in the area has been making gains over the past couple of years, but it’s not yet back to pre-pandemic levels.

Multistate foodborne illness outbreaks bring swift financial losses to restaurants, increased media attention and an environment that makes subsequent smaller outbreaks more financially damaging, a new study says.

Jeff Burt, president and chief operating officer of Caruso USA, highlighted Caruso Foods' commitment to industry demands, emphasizing quality and innovation in a recent interview with The Packer.

The food packaging manufacturer has unveiled new Pulp Hinged Containers and Pulp Portion Cups, adding to its line of sustainable and compostable products for foodservice operators.

The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Show says designated badge category offers exclusive access to more than 40 operator-led sessions, intimate roundtable discussions and networking refreshment breaks.

Mush Foods says chefs swapping the mushroom root blends into recipes, in place of some meat, can seamlessly enhance flavor and nutritional value, while improving cost and reducing the environmental impact in every dish.

A new School Nutrition Association survey report says economic, procurement and regulatory issues are obstacles facing school meal administrators as pandemic-era assistance comes to an end.

Citing eco-friendly packaging and innovation as topics to watch, the food packaging supplier has issued a trend forecast for the foodservice sector.

Food inflation will slow to about 3% in 2024, about half the pace of 2023, according to a new forecast that also provides outlooks for grocery and restaurant food prices.

The global online food delivery market is expected to grow by 60% and reach $1.65 trillion in value by 2027, according to new research.

Warehousing/storage is the most stressful industry in the U.S., according to a new study by Trē House, a marketer of hemp-derived products and other items.

Chef Kelly Wangard is on a mission to increase fresh produce consumption and promote healthy eating habits, while changing lives in the process.

Vallarta Supermarkets’ newest store location in Carson, Calif., is taking an innovative and customizable approach to value-added fresh fruit with the introduction of La Fruteria, a fresh fruit bowl destination.  

For many of the foodservice buyers on a recent harvest tour hosted by the Idaho Potato Commission, there was one aspect of Idaho russet potatoes that they kept returning to as they explored the dusty fields of potatoes.

In collaboration with Fresh Alliance procurement services, orders placed by Cool School Cafe loyalty program members can earn bonus points that can be redeemed to help enhance child nutrition meal programs.

There’s been a big shift since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Kent Sutton, whose 375-acre family farm is part of the Rexburg-based Bench Mark cooperative of five potato growers.

Growth in U.S. foodservice sales will bump up a notch in the next few years, according to a new economic analysis from Agriculture Canada.

The indoor grower is expanding its snacking tomato portfolio, adding Cherub, Glorys and Constellation brand tomatoes for foodservice and piloting two restaurant programs.

Peak potato harvest time drew more than a dozen foodservice and produce professionals from across the country to southeastern Idaho.

What is the customer craving in fresh? It’s a top consideration for Giant Food, where the deli and prepared foods area is laser focused on delivering what shoppers want most.

The line between foodservice and retail continues to blur with a new salad-kit partnership between P.F. Chang's and Mann Packing Co.

Two chefs from New York City's Le Bernardin and Planta and two representatives from mushroom-meat brands, Fable Foods and MyForest Foods, discuss center-plate mushrooms at the Plant Based World Expo.

This is the role of produce as the return of restaurants heats up the competition for grocery retailers.

The Michigan-based food solutions company is advancing its long-term strategic plan and repositioning its go-to-market strategy in the second half of 2023, encouraged by strong second-quarter earnings.

Perishable food leader Jerry Callahan is bringing his retail expertise to the FiveStar Gourmet Foods board of directors this summer.

Rijk Zwaan was honored with the top spot, winning Best in Show. Sun Orchards, Califresh and Ocean Mist Farms also took home honors from this year’s IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, Calif.

The Mushroom Council and The Culinary Institute of America are taking chefs on a globally inspired culinary tour — featuring mushrooms as the star ingredient — in their recently launched educational video series.

What is specialty produce, actually, and why does it matter for foodservice?

International Fresh Produce Association welcomed produce suppliers, foodservice innovators, chefs, K-12 professionals, menu planners and more to Foodservice Conference on July 27-28.

When it comes to understanding what consumers want from healthful, wholesome and flavorful prepared foods at retail, Barons Market has its finger on the pulse of fresh.

What's on tap for this year's The Foodservice Conference? To find out, The Packer recently connected with Joe Watson, vice president of retail, foodservice and wholesale for International Fresh Produce Association.

When it comes to moving the needle on fresh produce consumption through foodservice, personalization and convenience are key, as is a healthy dose of wow factor.

Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce Inc. plans to educate attendees on the value avocados bring to menus at the International Fresh Produce Association Foodservice Conference.

This spring and summer, California-based restaurant chains Flame Broiler Inc. and Del Taco showcased the use of fresh California avocados in limited-time offers from early May through mid-July.

Foodservice-focused produce company Markon Cooperative is launching a pre-cut, washed and ready-to-use salad mix called Harvest Crisp Blend.

Overall year-over-year consumer inflation fell from 4.9% in April to 4% in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Adjusted for inflation, grocery store food and alcohol sales declined 2.3% in 2022 compared with 2021, according to a new Food Expenditure report from the USDA.

Northeast and mid-Atlantic distributor Baldor Specialty Foods is expanding its leadership team by adding two specialty foods industry veterans in vice president roles.

The sale of Blue Apron’s operational assets for $50 million is expected to streamline the meal company’s business model and expand prepared meal company FreshRealm’s footprint.

The International Fresh Produce Association coordinated a School Foodservice Partner X-Change to connect produce companies with leading school menu planners.

The USDA has conducted a competitive application process and selected 12 finalists to serve as leads of the Regional Food Business Centers.

To celebrate his birthday and Cinco de Mayo, Dwayne Johnson has partnered with Teremana Tequila to encourage consumers to support local restaurants by picking up the check for guacamole. 

Retail opportunities include in-store, digital and social media marketing components. At foodservice, key messages focus on educating and inspiring foodservice decision-makers.

Premier ProduceOne Inc., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a maximum $343.2 million contract to supply fresh fruits and vegetables to military and school customers.

The Mushroom Council’s April promotion for Earth Month features award-winning, seen-on-TV chefs livestreaming on Kittch.com. The 2022 event reached consumers more than 4 million times.

AeroFarms has hired two more produce leaders to support retail and foodservice business. The controlled environment agriculture company, based in Newark, N.J., has farms along the Eastern Seaboard and in Abu Dhabi.

In the past year, the Gambles Group of Companies has transformed from a regional wholesaler to a full-service distributor that services all markets across Canada, says Lisa D'Ambrosio, marketing manager.