Food + Tech Connect

MAY 1, 2024

Image Credit: Green Queen Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines. Foxtrot Market, once a promising venture, has abruptly ceased operations, filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. The merger with Dom’s, intended to bolster its financial standing, instead proved detrimental.

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Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 1, 2024

Restaurants are complex businesses with many moving parts. Yet all of these parts must work together in harmony for the customer to leave the restaurant feeling satisfied, with their only hunger being to return for another visit. Unfortunately, the restaurant industry is notoriously known for being cliquish, and these cliques may not be as innocent and harmless as they may seem.

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Food Safety Magazine

MAY 1, 2024

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has granted its first positive safety assessment under novel foods regulations to a cannabidiol (CBD) product intended for use as a novel food supplement.

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Food Regulations 116

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 1, 2024

Restaurant brands need to pay attention to evolving media consumptions in order to better engage with potential customers, according to results of a year-long study conducted by Digital Turbine in collaboration with Qrious Insight. While 91 percent of people use social media, the report finds that, among QSR brand consumers, nearly four in ten social users actually spend more time playing mobile games than they do on social media.

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Inventory Restaurant Management Restaurant Manager 180

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Driven by a diverse and exciting ecosystem of passionate, ambitious, and often young entrepreneurs, the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector is a highly competitive environment full of immense challenges and exciting opportunities. Expert Market’s 2024 industry report, sponsored by Toast, is informed by a survey of 522 U.S. food and beverage professionals, from restaurant owners to food service managers, providing insights into the real-time challenges and opportunities within the industry.

Food and Beverage

Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

When the time came to renovate Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s vast third floor, operators at the Milwaukee-based casino knew food and beverage offerings would be just as critical as the new gaming areas. The 125,500-square-foot floor included a former restaurant space, a partially functioning food court for employee dining and a spacious area for bingo.

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Food and Beverage Food and Beverage Kitchen Design 111

Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

The acts of making and breaking bread span many cultures and generations. Croatia-based Boogie Lab put a modern twist on the acts, however, adding artificial intelligence technology to its sourdough fermentation process and, in turn, making artisanal bread more accessible.

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Food Preparation 105

Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

Building upon its legacy of delivering deep, restorative sleep for guests, Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of more than 30 extraordinary brands, is unveiling its next generation Heavenly® Bed. Developed in collaboration with leading sleep experts, Westin associates, and guests, the next generation Heavenly Bed fortifies the brand’s mission and 360-degree wellness approach, empowering discerning travelers to not only maintain but enhance their well-being while traveli

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Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

One of my favorite parts of the year comes when the Kitchen Innovations Award recipients take the stage at the National Restaurant Association Show in May. The showroom marks a convenient place to find the latest equipment for foodservice facilities. For highlights of this year’s program, I visited with Lenny Condenzio, CEO of Ricca Design Studios.

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MSU Agrifood Safety Produce Bites

MAY 1, 2024

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule does not give specifics on establishing no-harvest buffer zones, and it can be difficult for growers to determine the size of a no-harvest buffer zone when they find poop in the field. Laurel Dunn, assistant professor and food safety extension specialist at the University of Georgia, and Shirley Micallef, professor in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture & Center for Food Safety and Security Systems at the University of Maryland, have conduc

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Food Safety 98

Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

When it comes to foodservice equipment, undercounter dishwashers play the classic supporting role. They may never take center stage—like an oven, a broiler or even a blender—but they help an operation’s overall performance shine. Tucked under a counter, these machines are understated equipment, even compared to conveyor or door-type dishwashers.

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Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

If I had a dollar for every time I heard artificial intelligence or “AI” mentioned over the last year, well, you know the rest of that saying. And much like when you repeat a word so many times, it starts to lose its meaning – the discussions surrounding the blistering proliferation of artificial intelligence technology have begun to lose some of their impact.

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Hospitality Hospitality 98

Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

Warmer temperatures and blooming flowers mean spring has arrived and with it, our annual FER Top Dealers Report and preview of the National Restaurant Association Show. You’ll find both features in our May/June issue, and they mark two important topics. Dealers play a crucial role in the FE&S supply chain.

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Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

Here’s the scenario: Imagine you run a lodging business and the news just dropped. Taylor Swift is coming to town! A surge of Swifties are impending. Your competitors are already upping their nightly rates. You’ve got roughly half an hour to decide what average daily rate ought to be for your soon-to-be-sold-out room inventory. Your average revenue management platform can make an algorithmic guess on what you ought to charge, based upon historical data plus whatever information other users on th

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Inventory 97

Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

Whether it’s a slice of tomato on a burger, pico de gallo on tacos or strawberries on a salad, every operator wants to put the best-looking ingredients in front of their customers. To prep fresh produce, there are three common tools: knives, manual food choppers and automatic food choppers. How do you know which is right for you?

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Food Preparation 105

Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

On the evening of Thursday, 25th April, The Savoy Hotel, London, welcomed a gathering of young talents and leaders in the hotel, event, and travel industry. The first of many events in London hosted by the HSMAI Europe Rising Leader Council team aimed to facilitate professional and social gatherings for the exchange of experiences and networking among young talents and leaders aged 35 and under.

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Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

Whether you specify equipment for an established mega-chain or a regional counter-service concept, you’ll find one constant in new offerings: technology tie-ins including artificial intelligence. New, revised and add-on foodservice equipment pieces make use of high-tech advances that fall under the AI umbrella.

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Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) today reported first quarter 2024 results.

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Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

From robots that sauce pizza to plumbing sensors that detect leaks, the foodservice equipment and supplies industry continues to lean on technology to boost efficiencies in the kitchen. RATIONAL USA now features four products—the iVario Pro, iCombi Pro, iCombi Classic, and iHexagon (coming soon)—that showcase the future of technology.

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Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

Equinox Hotels, renowned for its pioneering approach to high-performance luxury hospitality and sleep-focused innovation, announces the launch of its inaugural Global Sleep Symposium at Equinox Hotel New York on June 19th and 20th. This visionary two-day overnight event is set to redefine the landscape of sleep tourism by uniting global experts in sleep health and performance with Equinox Hotel’s dynamic programming centered on movement, nutrition, regeneration, and community.

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Nutrition Hospitality Hospitality 96

Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

With fine-tuned efficiencies, diverse applications and digital data aplenty, the 2024 Kitchen Innovations Award recipients bring multiple benefits to the table.

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Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

Vermejo, the award-winning, conservation travel destination in the Southern Rocky Mountains of North America, announced the opening of Bernal Lake Cabin, a premium, secluded wilderness experience, for guest stays.

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Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

Robotic food runners are putting in the miles. Smart, swift and strong, these foodservice helpers are deployed across the country in operations big and small. One U.S.-based manufacturer says its bots are in use in 44 states, from casino buffets and airport lounges to chain concepts and senior living facilities. If you’re looking to hop on the bandwagon, here’s what you should know.

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Senior Living 105

Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

During Q1 2024/23 international arrivals of non-residents at the Athens airport increased 20%, while the international arrivals at the airport of Thessaloniki increased 13%. Traffic registered growth across all months of the quarter.

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Hospitality Hospitality 95

Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

1. LAST YEAR, HOOTERS CELEBRATED 40 YEARS. HOW DO YOU HELP KEEP THE BRAND AGILE AND RELEVANT? My biggest business strategy is to work by trial and error. If you don’t try things, you don’t know whether you’ll be successful or not. I would rather try and fail than never try and not know. In that vein, I think it’s important to embrace change.

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Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

voco hotels - part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies - today announces the official opening of voco Sarasota following a recent rebrand and renovation. The 95-room hotel, managed by Aimbridge Hospitality LLC, marks voco’s second property in the sunshine state. The name, voco, originates from Latin, meaning ’to invite’ and ’call together’ - reflecting the brand’s thoughtful, unstuffy and charming nature.

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Hospitality Hospitality 94

Foodservice Equipment Reports

MAY 1, 2024

Participants of the FER 2024 Top Dealers Report gave 2023 mixed reviews. For some, it was challenging as sales revenue dropped after several years of major growth. For others, it was a year like any other. But every dealer FER spoke with agreed on one thing: Inventory levels have stabilized.

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Inventory 98

Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

Earlier this year, I wrote an article about the hard work it takes to make something look easy. I quoted several people from sports, entertainment and business. The gist of the article was that we work hard to make doing business with us easy. Consider the quote I used from Steve Jobs of Apple, who said, It takes a lot of hard work to make something look simple.

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Bon Appetit Management Company

MAY 1, 2024

Tofu is an ingredient worth celebrating. It is endlessly versatile, rich in history and tradition, and is an important ingredient across many Asian cuisines. This Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Bon Appétit Management Company is excited to shine a light on the ancient origins of tofu and its modern evolution as a rising staple across the US and in our cafés.

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Hospitality Net

MAY 1, 2024

The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) in partnership with Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) presented Brittany Brathwaite, Chief People and Development Strategist, Ocean Hotels Group Barbados & Chickmont Foods Ltd, with the prestigious Rising Star Award Caribbean.

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Hospitality Hospitality 94

FoodService Director

MAY 1, 2024

Collegiate foodservice directors are often looking for ways to help busy students achieve more balance in their lives and make healthy food choices. That’s one reason so many campus dining programs now offer mobile ordering. College students love this time-saving convenience because it lets them order in advance and schedule pickup for whenever they have a break in their day.

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Campus Dining 88