Red Lobster is preparing for additional restaurant closures as it continues restructuring following its bankruptcy filing and a significant wave of shutdowns over the past year, according to recent comments from the company’s chief executive. A smaller footprint after bankruptcy The casual-dining seafood chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2024, citing mounting debt, rising food and labor costs, and [...]
Inside the record wave of D.C. restaurant closures in 2025
Washington, D.C.’s dining scene endured one of its most difficult years in recent memory in 2025, as restaurant closures surged well beyond the prior year. Data from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington shows 92 bars and restaurants closed in 2025, compared with 73 closures in 2024 — an increase of roughly 26% year over year. Tail Up Goat Tail Up Goat, the Michelin-starred Adams Morgan restaurant, closed [...]
Don’t be fooled: Why fewer ingredients doesn’t mean healthier food
Shoppers scanning grocery aisles are increasingly drawn to foods with short, simple ingredient lists. “Five ingredients or less” has become a powerful marketing hook — but nutrition experts say fewer ingredients don’t automatically make a product healthier. Short ingredient lists can still hide problems A short ingredient list can still include large amounts of sugar, saturated fat, or sodium. For example, a snack made [...]
Bankruptcy wave hits food and beverage industry, threatening thousands of jobs nationwide
A growing number of food and beverage companies have filed for bankruptcy over the past year, underscoring the financial strain caused by rising costs, shifting consumer behavior, and heavy debt loads. From legacy packaged-food brands to restaurant franchisors and coffee chains, recent filings reveal how widespread the pressure has become across the sector. Del Monte Foods Del Monte Foods, one of the most recognizable [...]
PepsiCo to fully shut down California facility, eliminating nearly 250 jobs
Another day, another PepsiCo factory closure. After closing several factories last year, a distribution and warehousing facility in Rancho Cucamonga is slated to close this spring, with hundreds of layoffs to follow. Facility shutdown planned for spring PepsiCo has announced the planned permanent closure of a Frito-Lay distribution and warehousing facility in Rancho Cucamonga, as part of broader supply-chain adjustments. [...]
Sugar consumption is down; how much is due to Ozempic?
Sugar consumption is declining in the U.S. and parts of Europe as GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy become more widely used. Is it a coincidence, or is the increase in GLP-1 drugs making an impact on the sugar industry? GLP-1 use linked to lower sugar intake Since GLP-1 drugs entered the mainstream around 2022–2023, multiple data points suggest a measurable reduction in sugar consumption. According to a [...]
