Welcome to the Food Week December 15 roundup. Some really awful things to read about this week like self checkout, antibiotics, pesticides, food waste and Malort. But good things too like import prices, The Cheesecake Factory, convenience stores, the stock market, chia seeds and vermouth. And one great thing: Eggnog. Everything you need for noggin right here. Enjoy!
MACRO
- The Fed decides inflation is under control and starts hinting at rate cuts. The market goes wild.
- Import prices are falling, which contributes to the overall decline in inflation rates.
- The Kroger Albertson’ deal to be decided by the Federal Trade Commission in January. More consolidation in this and other industries is not needed.
RETAIL AND CONSUMER
- Relatedly, part of the justification/accommodation for allowing mergers depends upon shedding stores. But this doesn’t always work.
- People hate self checkout and are really done with the additional security measures imposed on them.
- Mass retailers are winning the e-commerce battle against supermarkets.
- Campbell’s builds out a direct store delivery model.
- Convenience stores are constantly upping their game on food. The offerings and quality will surprise you.
- JFK grandson takes a hard political stand against non-animal milk.
RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE
- That voice you hear at the drive-thru may be an AI version of your favorite celebrity, which is somewhere between unnecessary and jarring.
- Use the Wendy’s app, get a coke for a penny.
- The inability to deal with its labor problems is hurting the Starbuck’s brand with its most important consumers.
- The top casual restaurant chain is…Cheesecake Factory
- Icon wars in Chicago: Landmark Nisei Lounge angry that Malort stole it’s holiday concept cocktail without attribution.
FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
- China and South Korea accused of stealing of hybrid grapes developed in Japan.
- Antibiotics and meat production. Not good and no longer getting better.
- One dump truck a week for two months of oranges sent to waste facility in Vancouver. This is greenhouse production so that is a terrible mismanagement of process.
- One in four animals raised for food wasted.
- EPA whistle blower says the agency isn’t protecting the public from pesticides.
FOOD WEEK LAGNIAPPE
- Making big batches of cocktails.
- For the severalth time, food expiration dates are not regulated and are mostly about quality, not safety.
- Chia seeds moderate high blood pressure.
- The cranberry sauce can looks upside because it is upside down, in order to get that gelatinous mess out of the can.
- Vermouths for your best martini