Candy news hit the sweet spot in this week’s top 10, with Mars Wrigley, Mondelez and Behave, a new direct-to-consumer brand of better-for-you gummy candy making the list.
In this week’s most popular headline, Mars Wrigley’s announced its 2020 Halloween portfolio will offer two new items: M&M’s Creepy Cocoa Crisp and M&M’s Chocolate Popcorn. Returning products include fun-sized M&M’s in glow-in-the-dark packaging, Zombie Skittles, M&M’s Ghoul’s Mix and multiple variety pack sizes of Mars Wrigley brands to support at-home celebrations and trick-or-treating.
Mondelez’s news of its new partnership with software-as-a-service provider Sopheon to accelerate improvements to portfolio management came in second, and third on the list was speculation that Amazon could soon begin using its cashierless technology at Whole Foods Markets around the country, as part of a final project by Amazon’s worldwide consumer division CEO Jeff Wilke before he retires in early 2021.
Also in food retail news, H.E. Butt Grocery opened a food hall inside one of its Austin, Texas, stores on Tuesday, a concept featuring options from several restaurants including a partnership with renowned chef Tiffany Derry’s Roots Chicken Shak. The concept, called “Main Streat,” features limited capacity dining inside and out, along with take-out and free delivery options.
In foodservice, the issue around schools and the expiration of a coronavirus waiver that has allowed schools to operate with fewer restrictions was a hot topic – schools will be required to transition back to foodservice operations under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs when the new school year begins, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
And in fast food, news that Taco Bell has debuted a new restaurant design that includes a second drive-thru lane just for orders made via the chain’s mobile app, as well as parking spots for curbside pickup was well read. The company sped up the rollout of the smaller “Taco Bell Go Mobile” format in response to rising demand for contactless ordering and pickup in the pandemic, Taco Bell President Mike Grams said.
Check out the rest of this week’s top 10 most-clicked stories in SmartBrief’s food and beverage briefs:
- Mars Wrigley releases 2020 Halloween collection
- How Mondelez plans to fast-track innovation
- Report: Whole Foods could go cashierless in 2021
- USDA: School meal waiver will expire
- H-E-B launches in-store food hall concept
- New low-sugar brand enters gummy category
- Taco Bell unveils new takeout-focused store format
- Flowers Foods, Grupo Bimbo, Hostess emerge as potential Aryzta buyers
- Coffee, frozen food perk up J.M. Smucker’s annual forecast
- How Trader Joe’s is handling the pandemic
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