Food & Beverage Retail

Bethesda – November 10, 2026 -- Illinois will remove low-dose, hemp-derived THC beverages from licensed retailers on Nov. 12, a month before federal restrictions take effect on Dec. 11, putting more than $50 million in annual retail sales at risk, according to Total Wine & More.

Illinois caps THC at 0.4 mg per container, tighter than federal rules

The state plans to reclassify the beverages as cannabis and limit THC to 0.4 milligrams per container. Total Wine & More says this is harsher than the federal approach and will push demand to illicit sellers.

Shoppers are stocking up ahead of the deadline and emptying shelves across the state, the retailer said.

Chicago and Los Angeles – November 10, 2026 -- Mars has been named Official Salty Snacks Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA, with five brands covered: Cheez-It, Pringles, Club, Town House and Combos.

Cheez-It and Pringles lead the five-brand lineup

Cheez-It and Pringles will front the partnership, which Mars says will place the brands across the Games ecosystem. That ecosystem includes fans, athletes, volunteers and the Olympic family. Mars Snacking plans consumer touchpoints in the run-up to the Games, but the release gave no details on them.

Anton Vincent, President of Mars Snacking North America, said the deal reflects Mars' aim of building shared moments of connection through its brands. John Slusher, CEO of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties, said the five brands give fans across the country an authentic way to experience American staples.

Berlin – November 09, 2026 -- Germany's planned sugar beverage tax threatens the domestic beverage industry with new annual bureaucracy costs in the millions and noticeably higher consumer prices, according to the Wirtschaftsvereinigung Alkoholfreie Getränke (wafg).

wafg urges Bundestag to commission impact assessment before the finance committee hearing

The association issued its appeal ahead of the Bundestag Finance Committee's hearing on excise taxes. It asks lawmakers to do two things: commission the impact assessment on the federal government's plans that is still missing, and use it to simplify the proposed tax collection procedures and set a workable start date.

San Antonio – November 07, 2026 -- Steak n Shake's same-store sales rose 18.2% in the third quarter of 2026 at domestic company-operated and franchise-partner-operated restaurants, Biglari Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BH.A; BH) reported with results for the quarter and first nine months of the year.

Biglari Holdings isolates operating earnings from investment gains

The holding company said investments affect reported quarterly earnings through their carrying value. Management does not regard quarterly or annual fluctuations in those investments as meaningful and said its operating businesses are best analyzed before the impact of investment gains. The earnings summary therefore separates operating earnings from investment gains.

The company also uses a non-GAAP measure, pre-tax operating earnings, defined as earnings outside of investment gains and losses.

Omaha – November 06, 2026 -- Omaha Steaks expects to surpass 5 million corporate gifts sent since 2000 by the end of 2026, as it expands its business gifting program with no minimum order and redesigned gift certificates that recipients redeem online.

Omaha Steaks has delivered more than 1.1 million corporate gifts since 2020

Recipients chose nearly half of those gifts (46%) using an Omaha Steaks gift certificate. They have redeemed more than 530,000 certificates over that period. More than 5,000 businesses have used the company for corporate gifting.

Updated certificates let recipients enter delivery addresses at redemption

Businesses can order printed or digital certificates from gift collections at different price points. Employers can email or hand out certificates without collecting home addresses, because recipients enter their delivery details when they redeem online.

Calgary – September 18, 2026 -- High Tide Inc. (Nasdaq: HITI; TSXV: HITI) reported record revenue of $198.8 million for its third fiscal quarter ended September 18, 2026, up 33% year-over-year and pushing the cannabis retailer toward an annualized run rate of approximately $800 million.

Revenue Growth Accelerates to Fastest Pace in 13 Quarters

Revenue climbed 11% sequentially, the strongest sequential gain in 15 quarters, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of all-time highs. Gross profit reached a record $52.7 million, up 32% year-over-year, while gross margin held steady at 27%.

Adjusted EBITDA Hits 12-Quarter High of $16.2 Million

Adjusted EBITDA rose 53% year-over-year and 17% sequentially to $16.2 million, lifting margin to 8.2%, the highest level in 12 quarters. Revenue grew 2.5 times faster than the Company's average basic share count year-over-year, while Adjusted EBITDA grew 3.9 times faster, according to the Company.

Las Vegas – September 17, 2026 -- LV Petroleum LLC has appointed Jamie Hubbard as Senior Vice President of Construction and Maintenance, bringing more than 30 years of construction, maintenance, procurement and supply chain leadership to the travel center operator's executive team.

Hubbard joins from TravelCenters of America after leading construction and procurement functions

Hubbard previously served as SVP of Construction, Facilities, Environmental and Procurement at TravelCenters of America (TA). Earlier in his career, he spent eight years with Ascena Retail Group's Procurement Center of Excellence overseeing construction, maintenance and energy, and more than a decade at Burlington Coat Factory, including a stint as vice president of procurement.

Cincinnati – September 17, 2026 -- Government inspectors found overcharging at more than one in three Kroger stores examined across nine Ohio jurisdictions, according to a report released this week by the Center for Responsible Food Business (CRFB). Pricing errors favored Kroger nearly three times as often as they favored shoppers.

Inspection records show 58 of 389 store checks failed between 2022 and mid-2026

The public-records data, covering nine Ohio jurisdictions, documented 644 incorrect prices during 389 inspections. Overcharges averaged more than 20 percent above posted shelf prices, and 36 of 101 stores examined were caught overcharging at least once.

Plymouth, Wis. – September 17, 2026 -- Carbliss, the ready-to-drink cocktail maker that has sold more than 300 million cans since 2019, has signed a partnership with Dale Carnegie of Eastern Wisconsin to deliver twice-yearly leadership and communication training to its entire national team starting next year.

Carbliss formalizes a longstanding coaching relationship into a company-wide program

The initiative, led by Corrina Molinaro, Director of Human Resources at Carbliss, builds on a personal relationship between Dale Carnegie of Eastern Wisconsin owners Steve Bobowski and Renee Martin and Carbliss co-founders Adam and Amanda Kroener. That coaching has already influenced parts of the Carbliss organization before the partnership was made official.

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 16, 2026 -- The global molded pulp packaging market is projected to grow from $8.02 billion in 2026 to $10.82 billion by 2031, a 6.2% compound annual growth rate, according to MarketsandMarkets.

E-commerce and plastic-reduction rules drive fiber packaging demand

Rising e-commerce volumes are fueling demand for protective molded pulp inserts and cushioning for fragile goods, while corporate sustainability mandates push brands toward fiber-based alternatives to plastic and foam. Improved recycling of paper and agricultural fibers is expanding the raw-material base for manufacturers.