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 [...]
Buc-ee’s announces first Nebraska travel center
The Texas-based travel center chain Buc-ee's Holdings, Inc. is planning its first location in Nebraska, a major milestone in the company’s nationwide expansion. The proposed facility will be built in the Good Life District near Interstate 80 and Highway 31, officials announced this week. A major roadside destination comes to Nebraska Buc-ee’s, known for its large retail spaces, dozens of fuel pumps, extensive food [...]
The South Carolina restaurant closures that hit hardest this past year
South Carolina’s restaurant industry faced a tough year in 2025, with multiple well-known and beloved eateries closing across the state. From decades-old institutions to newer fan favorites, these shutdowns reshaped local dining scenes and left communities mourning more than just lost menus. Eva’s on Main, Summerville (closed August 2025) After more than 80 years in business, Eva’s on Main closed its doors in August [...]
Long-running California Japanese restaurant closes after 34 years
For decades, it was the kind of neighborhood spot people didn’t worry about disappearing — quietly consistent, deeply familiar, and always there when a reservation was needed. Now, one of Rockridge’s most enduring dining rooms has gone dark, marking the end of a long chapter in Oakland’s food scene. A Rockridge institution since the early 1990s Uzen, a long-running Japanese restaurant known for its traditional approach [...]
