GLP-1 drugs are changing how Americans eat. Food companies are racing to catch up

[ad_1] A mini burger, mini fries and mini beer, Clinton Hall’s “Teeny Weeny Mini Meal”, is pictured next to a regular-sized combo on Dec. 8, 2025 in New York City. Approximately one in eight American adults are currently taking drugs from the class of GLP-1 agonists that are now popular for weight loss, according to … Read more

‘E-shaped’ economy is replacing a K-shaped one in 2026, economist says: The middle class is ‘spending in a nervous way’ now

[ad_1] It’s difficult to describe the U.S. economy in black and white terms like “good” or “bad.” On several fronts, the data says the economy is healthy. But surveys show American consumers don’t feel that way. “There’s no doubt right now that different data can show slightly different narratives,” says Heather Long, chief economist at … Read more

Restaurants’ hottest menu item in 2025 was ‘value.’ That won’t change next year

[ad_1] McDonald’s restaurant in San Diego, California, U.S., Oct. 31, 2025. Mike Blake | Reuters “Value” was the buzzword du jour for restaurant executives that lasted all year — and it will likely stick around in 2026, too. Over the last year and a half, diners, particularly those who make less than $40,000 a year, … Read more

Fewer burritos, more bargains: Consumers flash holiday warning signs

[ad_1] Shoppers walk through Manhattan on Nov. 7, 2025, in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images High-income consumers are trading down, Gen Z is spending less, and low-income shoppers are still struggling, according to many consumer companies that shared their latest quarterly results in recent weeks. Those trends may not bode well for … Read more

From PepsiCo to Taco Bell, dirty soda is taking over

[ad_1] Utah-based drink chain Swig coined “dirty soda” back in 2010. Fifteen years later, the trend is fueling innovation everywhere from PepsiCo to McDonald’s, infusing the sluggish beverage category with new life. “Dirty soda” drinks use pop as a base, followed by flavored syrups, cream or other ingredients. While Swig claims credit — and the … Read more

Sachem Head is pushing for a Performance Food merger. Here’s why a deal makes sense

[ad_1] Company: Performance Food Group (PFGC) Business: Performance Food Group is a food and foodservice distribution company that operates through three segments: foodservice, specialty (formerly “Vistar”), and convenience. Its foodservice segment distributes a line of national brands, customer brands, and its proprietary-branded food and food-related products to independent and multi-unit chain restaurants and other institutions. … Read more

Convenience stores are eating fast-food chains’ breakfast

[ad_1] A Wawa store is seen on May 29, 2024 in Washington, DC. Kent Nishimura | Getty Images Fast-food restaurants are losing breakfast customers to convenience stores. Morning meal traffic to fast-food chains rose 1% in the three months ended in July, while visits to food-forward convenience stores climbed 9% in the same period, according … Read more

Jim Cramer: Trump may be exciting, but can listening to him make you money?

[ad_1] The conundrum of President Donald Trump is one I try to stay away from. Not because I don’t want to go there, but because it hasn’t been all that lucrative to do so. Because of the president’s sheer, endless presence in the media, and his love of CEOS — to hang with or to … Read more

These are America’s 10 weakest state economies most at risk in a recession

[ad_1] The odds of a recession may be falling, but states appear to be betting that corporate leaders are still nervous. An analysis of all 50 states’ economic development marketing efforts — part of CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business study — finds that a strong economy is the most frequently mentioned selling point … Read more

How Raising Cane’s overtook KFC to become the No. 3 chicken chain in the U.S.

[ad_1] With a simple menu and company-owned restaurants, Raising Cane’s has quietly surpassed KFC in annual U.S. sales, becoming the third-largest chicken chain in the country. The accomplishment follows a recent winning streak for the 28-year-old company, which has spent the last decade expanding outside its home bases in Louisiana and Texas. Its restaurant footprint … Read more