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Frank Talk About Food

Food’s getting expensive—much more expensive.

Average Americans spent 13.5% more on groceries and 8% more on dining out and ordering in 2022 than the year before, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Meanwhile, regulators fear the pending $25 billion mega-merger of Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, and Albertsons, the nation’s second-largest. They warn it could reduce competition and drive grocery prices even higher.

At the same time, food, in general, is becoming more interesting. Innovation reigns from culinary robots to meat alternatives and mocktails.

In the hot dog world, Portillo’s is preparing for national expansion following its 2021 IPO. That matters because Americans spent more than $8.3 billion on hot dogs last year.

Elsewhere, the strange bedfellows of Google and Wendy’s are collaborating to create the right AI voice and attitude to boost sales at the drive-thru.

But the innovation doesn’t end there. So the editorial team plans to stalk the aisles of this year’s National Restaurant Association trade show in search of what’s new in food and food technology.

Look for our findings in the next issue.