Weekly Roundup – Week of 9.15.25

September 19, 2025

Read this week’s hottest food and beverage news – all curated by our team of strategists and food enthusiasts:

The Battle For Breakfast Share

Convenience stores with a food-focused approach are increasingly capturing breakfast traffic from traditional fast-food chains. While morning visits to fast-food restaurants “grew just 1% in the past quarter, food-forward convenience stores saw a 9% jump, fueled by the popularity of prepared foods.” As demand for gasoline, tobacco, and lottery tickets declines, these stores are leveraging fresh, ready-to-eat options to drive customer visits and loyalty. For food and beverage brands, this trend offers new opportunities to partner with non-traditional outlets, expand distribution, and rethink how breakfast products reach consumers. Learn More

AI For All

From streamlining operations to improving decision-making through data insights, artificial intelligence has helped transform commercial foodservice. Experts highlight that AI can enhance efficiency, optimize logistics, and support innovation, not just for large chains but also for smaller and mid-sized operators. For food and beverage brands, this means new opportunities to better understand consumer trends, improve product delivery, and create more flexible, responsive operations. Overall, AI is emerging as a tool that can help the entire industry stay competitive, productive, and innovative in an increasingly tech-driven segment. Read Article

Anuga 2025: Set To Drive Culinary Innovation On A Global Scale

Industry leaders—including JP Hartmann, U.S. Consul General Preeti Shah, and World Food Championships’ Nikki Jackson—share insights on how the U.S. presence at the show is shaping new trends, connecting chefs, and inspiring flavor-forward ideas. Food and beverage brands will gain a front-row look at emerging opportunities to showcase products, influence menu development, and spark creativity in foodservice operations. This episode is a must-listen for brands looking to stay ahead in an increasingly motivative, innovation-driven market. Listen Now

New Transparency Rules Test Manufacturers To Take An All-Inclusive Approach

Consumer demand is progressively propelling the transformation of food and personal care products, with a notable shift toward transparency and healthier ingredients. The FDA continues its efforts to ban artificial food dyes and preservatives, reflecting a growing public concern over chronic diseases and ultra-processed diets. Supporters of the movement see it as a much-needed response to decades of industrialized food production and marketing that have often placed profits ahead of public health. For food and beverage brands, this movement emphasizes the necessity to align product offerings with consumer expectations for health, sustainability, and ethical sourcing to maintain trust and competitiveness in the market. Read Story

Voice AI Transforms Donatos Pizza Operations and Customer Experience

Donatos Pizza has successfully deployed Revmo AI’s voice ordering technology across 174 locations, integrating it directly with their POS system. The technology proved fruitful as it handled over 300,000 calls with 99.9% accuracy and freeing thousands of labor hours. Order conversions jumped from 58% to 71%, boosting both efficiency and revenue. This demonstrates how AI-driven voice technology can simplify operations, enhance customer experience, and offer scalable solutions for multi-location restaurants. Expect more chains to follow similar integrations. Read More

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