Global cocoa prices are starting to ease from historic highs, falling 34% over the past year to trade at $5,327 per metric ton, according to market data. Despite the relief in the underlying commodity—which surged to nearly $12,000 per metric ton at the end of 2024 from its typical $2,000 to $3,000 historical range—major chocolate … Read more
How Enterprise Leaders Are Scaling AI to Drive Operational Efficiency Sodexo Chief Tech, Data, and Digital Officer Alice Guéhennec oversees a 500 million euro ($571 million USD) annual technology budget, focusing on scaling artificial intelligence to automate menu planning, labor management, and facilities services. By deploying AI tools like “Menu AI” across thousands of global … Read more
K. O’Connell Fishmongers has recalled a batch of smoked salmon following contamination concerns, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). While no illnesses have been confirmed, the FSAI advises that vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and the elderly, should be cautious as Listeria symptoms can take up to 70 days to appear. Why … Read more
The Jewish population in South Florida is expanding, driving a surge in kosher-certified dining options across Broward and Palm Beach counties. According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, an influx of new restaurants, markets, and specialty bakeries—certified by bodies like the Orthodox Rabbinical Board (ORB)—now serves a growing demographic seeking strict adherence to Jewish dietary … Read more
Families In Schools launched its Read LA! Bookmobile on Monday, a new mobile literacy hub designed to provide free books and bilingual Storytimes to children across Los Angeles County. The nonprofit organization debuted the vehicle at a kickoff event at Madison Elementary School in Pasadena, marking the latest expansion of a literacy campaign that began … Read more
The cost of whey protein has surged from $7 to $12 per pound since late 2024, driven by a consumer trend known as “proteinmaxxing” and increased demand for nutrient-dense foods among users of GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Food manufacturers are now facing supply shortages and rising production costs, forcing difficult decisions regarding product reformulation and … Read more
A Texas woman was sentenced Wednesday in Los Angeles to 21 months in federal prison for orchestrating schemes to defraud government agencies of more than $82,000. Joyce Turner, 57, of Rosharon, Texas, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and fraud in connection with major disaster benefits after falsely claiming residency in a Pasadena property damaged by … Read more
Singer-songwriters Jessica Gerhardt and Christina Apostolopoulos will perform at the Wine & Song music series on Wednesday, June 17, at The Hive in South Pasadena. The event, hosted by Brad Colerick, features original music starting at 7 p.m. at 1118 Mission St., with doors opening to the public at 6 p.m. Who are the featured … Read more
The Changing Face of Fast Food: Why Independent Brands Are Feeling the Heat The recent closure of The Saucy Cow at Cork’s Marina Market highlights a sobering reality for the independent food sector. After three years of serving up plant-based favorites, the brand’s departure serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing small-scale hospitality: … Read more
The Shifting Face of Urban Homelessness For decades, the image of homelessness was often associated with long-term rough sleepers in city centers. However, we are witnessing a systemic shift. In cities like Gloucester, the demographic is diversifying, with a worrying increase in younger individuals and women finding themselves on the streets. The “hidden homeless”—those who … Read more