Over the past six months, Michigan’s food and beverage industry has seen several major layoffs and plant closures, affecting hundreds of workers from production floors to dining rooms. Economic pressures, supply chain restructuring, and operational shifts have driven these impacts across manufacturing and hospitality categories. Historic Muskegon plant closure — Cole’s Quality Foods September-November 2025: Cole’s [...]
Trump signs landmark bill: Whole milk returns to America’s school lunches after nearly 40 years
In a move celebrated by dairy farmers, kids, and parents alike, President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act on January 14, 2026, officially allowing whole and reduced-fat milk to return to school meals nationwide. This marks the first time in nearly four decades that students can enjoy milk with its natural fat content in cafeterias — a nostalgic return to the beverage many adults remember from their own [...]
Lab-grown meat, dairy, and seafood are coming — are you ready for them?
The future of food is no longer science fiction. From lab-grown meat to artificial dairy, a growing number of foods on your plate are now entirely manufactured in laboratories. What was once seen as niche or experimental may soon become mainstream—and it’s sparking both excitement and debate. Lab-grown meat: The steak of tomorrow Cultured meat, sometimes called lab-grown or cell-based meat, is created by cultivating [...]
Chick‑fil‑A expansion hits Michigan: 25–30 new restaurants expected by 2028
Chick‑fil‑A is dramatically increasing its presence across Michigan, planning to nearly double the number of restaurants in the state by the end of 2028. The Atlanta‑based chicken sandwich chain already operates around 28 locations in the Great Lakes State. It now has ambitious goals to bring roughly 25–30 new locally owned and operated restaurants across communities large and small throughout Michigan. New restaurants and [...]
Sticker shock at the grocery store? Tariffs are making these foods cost more
It’s not news that groceries have gotten noticeably (and painfully) more expensive. In recent years, government tariffs (taxes on imported goods) have made certain foods markedly more expensive for consumers. Millions of Americans watch their typical monthly grocery budget dwindle before the month is even over, and the impacts are felt in the restaurant industry as fewer people dine out because of the cost. Meat [...]
Store brands vs. name brands: which ones are worth your money at the grocery store
Grocery costs are up, and the strain of stretched food budgets is being felt nationwide. Many shoppers are rethinking their shopping strategies and adjusting shopping patterns and weekly menus as a result. If you’ve ever stared at a shelf wondering whether to grab a $2 store-brand cereal or its $4 name-brand counterpart, you’re not alone. When is it worth it to splurge on the name brand, and when will the store brand do [...]
