Jelly Belly Candy Company has announced a new round of layoffs at its California headquarters in Fairfield, impacting dozens of employees and adding to broader workforce reductions across the food manufacturing industry. The layoffs are planned to begin in June 2026 through early 2027. Dozens of jobs eliminated in Fairfield According to state WARN filings, Jelly Belly will lay off 69 corporate and administrative [...]
If Waffle House is closed, you know it’s bad — and South Carolina just proved it
When Waffle House closes, people tend to take notice—and in South Carolina earlier this year, that’s exactly what happened. Humorously, an informal metric used to determine how bad weather is, known as the “Waffle House Index”, has been featured on national news stations, following dozens of states slammed by winter storms. Rare closures during severe weather Several Waffle House locations across the state temporarily [...]
PepsiCo to eliminate 20% of products, shutters plants amid slowing snack demand
PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies behind iconic brands like Lay’s, Doritos and Pepsi-Cola, is undertaking a major restructuring of its U.S. business as consumer demand softens and cost pressures mount. The moves, announced as part of the company’s 2026 strategic plan, include significant product cuts and multiple facility closures. Streamlining the product lineup In December 2025, [...]
Papa John’s closures could hit Florida hardest as pizza chain cuts hundreds of stores
Papa Johns is preparing to close hundreds of underperforming restaurants nationwide — and Florida could be among the most affected states. The pizza chain has announced plans to shut about 300 locations across North America by the end of 2027, with roughly 200 closures expected in 2026, as it works to improve profitability. Florida is home to more Papa John’s restaurants than any other U.S. state, with more than 300 [...]
5 foods that still contain red dye 3 — but won’t for long
A major change is coming to grocery store shelves: the FDA has ordered a ban on Red Dye No. 3, a synthetic coloring linked to cancer in lab animals. Food manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove it from foods—but for now, it’s still found in a surprising number of everyday products. Here are five common foods and drinks that may still contain the soon-to-be-banned additive: 1. Candy Corn and Conversation [...]
CA city adopts grocery self-checkout law with $1K-per-day fines
In a move aimed at tackling retail theft (a main reason Wal-Mart did away with self-checkout lanes) and reshaping grocery operations, the Costa Mesa City Council has approved a first-of-its-kind local ordinance regulating self-checkout lanes at supermarkets and drug stores. The measure, which takes effect on April 18, 2026, introduces staffing requirements, item limits, and daily fines for non-compliance. What the ordinance [...]
