This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter.
Coca-Cola said the beverage giant and its bottlers will invest $10 billion in U.S. infrastructure by 2030 to meet growing demand for its offerings.
The system-wide investments include a mix of new and previously announced projects that will expand production, distribution and office facilities, according to a Tuesday press release.
This includes a bottling distribution facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California; a bottling plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado; a manufacturing plant in Indianapolis; a Coca-Cola United campus in Birmingham, Alabama; a Fairlife plant in Coopersville, Michigan; and a distribution center in Orlando.
Other investments are planned for St. Cloud, Minnesota, and at a Fairlife plant in Webster, New York. Additional investments will be made during the next four years, a Coca-Cola spokesperson said in an email.

#Colorado

Auxier ******* et Management, an investment advisory firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Following a strong rebound from the first-quarter decline, the S&P 500 gained 15.2% as accelerating capital spending toward artificial intelligence infrastructure drove significant gains across technology hardware companies. Semiconductor and data-center-related businesses benefited from supply constraints and strong demand, while enterprise software remained under pressure as investors reassessed AI disruption risks and compressed valuations. In the quarter, Auxier Focus Fund's Investor Class gained 8.82% and 10.70% for the six months ended June 30, 2026. Despite strong earnings growth across the broader market, Auxier highlighted concerns around rising margin debt, increased leverage, and elevated capital flows into high-growth technology areas that could amplify future volatility. The firm continues to focus on identifying enduring businesses with strong competitive advantages, resilient cash flows, and sustainable long-term growth potential. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Auxier ******* et Management highlighted The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR). The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is a leading supermarket chain that operates combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. On September 14, 2026, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) closed at $60.91 per share. Over the past month, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) returned 10.12%, but its shares are down 7.06% over the past year. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) has a market capitalization of $37.32 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $54.15 to $76.58.
Auxier ******* et Management stated the following regarding The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Consumer staples underperformed during the quarter. Elevated inflation, high interest rates and rising gas prices contributed to lower consumer spending, impacting companies like The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) and PepsiCo. Although Kroger's stock has been weak, its new CEO Greg Foran brings exceptional leadership that promises positive change. While he was President of Walmart US from 2014-2019, the company achieved 20 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth and scaled its online grocery pickup. Since joining Kroger he has aggressively reduced prices and boosted the growth in private label and organic offerings. The stock trades at a mere 12 times earnings which is a significant discount to both Costco and Walmart."

#Growth #asset

Chipotle stock dropped 5% Tuesday with no confirmed news behind the move, but remains up 5% for the month, pointing to profit taking not panic.
The CDC confirmed no ongoing consumer risk from the summer salmonella outbreak, and Chipotle stock actually rose while that investigation was open.
Broad benchmarks and QSR peers fell only between 0.5 and 3% on Tuesday, isolating Chipotle's move as stock-specific, with the next real catalyst on October 28.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) stock is down 5% to $35.32 in Tuesday morning trading, a sharp break from a stretch that had the shares grinding higher through the first half of September. The move stands out because it doesn't match a broad tape decline or a food and beverage sector rout of similar magnitude. That forces the question of what specifically is hitting Chipotle today when the peer group is barely giving ground.

#october

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) says its newly launched oral obesity drug Foundayo has captured more than 30% of new U.S. patients starting oral weight-loss medicines, a notable early gain against Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill. Reuters reports that Wegovy initially held roughly 90% of the oral market, making Lilly's rapid share capture an important sign that the oral GLP-1 market is becoming a two-player competition rather than a Novo-dominated segment. The broader U.S. obesity-drug market is expected to exceed $100 billion annually by 2030, with oral treatments potentially accounting for more than one-third of GLP-1 use.
The timing is strategically important for Lilly because Foundayo was only launched in the U.S. in April 2026. The drug starts at $149 per month for self-pay patients and can cost as little as $25 for eligible commercially insured patients, while Medicare beneficiaries can access it through the GLP-1 Bridge program at $50 per month. Lilly's SEC filing says Mounjaro and Zepbound already represented 65% of its revenue in the first six months of 2026, highlighting both the importance of the incretin franchise and the opportunity for Foundayo to broaden Lilly's cardiometabolic revenue base.
The strongest bullish implication is that Foundayo appears to be overcoming the biggest behavioral barrier in obesity treatment: patients' preference for an oral medicine over an injection. Capturing more than 30% of new oral patients only months after launch suggests Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is establishing meaningful competitive positioning before the oral GLP-1 market fully scales. Foundayo's formulation also has a practical advantage because it can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, while Lilly's clinical data showed an average 27.3-pound, or 12.4%, weight reduction at the highest dose among patients who remained on treatment in ATTAIN-1.
The commercial opportunity could become considerably larger if Foundayo gains indications beyond obesity. Lilly reported that in the ACHIEVE-3 trial, Foundayo produced a 57.1% greater relative reduction in A1C and a 73.6% greater relative reduction in body weight compared with oral semaglutide 14 mg. Lilly submitted Foundayo for type 2 diabetes in the U.S., EU, and **** an, potentially expanding the addressable market beyond weight management.
The early oral-market traction also complements Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s existing injectable franchise rather than simply cannibalizing it. A Lilly trial found that patients switching from maximum-tolerated Wegovy to Foundayo maintained all but 0.9 kg of their previous weight loss after one year, while patients switching from maximum-dose Zepbound to Foundayo maintained all but 5.0 kg. That suggests Foundayo could serve as a maintenance or lower-burden treatment within Lilly's broader obesity portfolio, increasing lifetime value per patient rather than limiting the opportunity to new prescriptions.

#patients #weight #c

Citi has begun coverage of the newly listed The Magnum Ice Cream Company (EURONEXT:MICC, LSE:MICC, NYSE:MICC) with a lukewarm "neutral" rating, warning that the maker of the eponymous chocolate-coated lollies faces a tougher year ahead after a **** per summer.
The broker set a target price of €17.7 on the shares, arguing that kind weather and solid delivery on cost cuts have already pushed Magnum's valuation up to broadly match its European food peers, leaving little room for further gains.
Citi's central doubt is whether the good times can last. A durable re-rating, it said, takes more than one strong season, and history suggests companies leaning on cost-saving stories rarely hold on to lofty valuations for long.
Several clouds loom over next year. The broker flagged the risk that El Niño weather patterns push up ingredient costs in the second half of 2027, which could expose how sensitive take-home ice cream sales are to price rises.
It also cited the spread of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as a potential drag on demand, alongside the usual uncertainty over weather comparisons.

#micc #year

Broyhill ***** et Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, which is available for download here. The Broyhill Equity Composite gained 8.8% in Q2, trailing the MSCI All Country World Index's 15.1% and the MSCI ACWI Value Index's 10.8%. For the first half, the Composite returned 2.3%, versus 11.5% for the Index. The letter highlights that a significant portion of the shortfall occurred in April due to market dynamics and geopolitical events, with tech, particularly semiconductors, driving recent gains. Broyhill notes its lack of direct semiconductor exposure but acknowledges potential interest in the sector if opportunities arise, maintaining its investment philosophy focused on capital protection in fragile market conditions. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Broyhill ***** et Management highlighted The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD). The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD), a leading player in the foodservice industry, contributed positively to performance during the quarter. On September 14, 2026, The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) closed at $109.72 per share. Over the past month, The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) declined 3.75%, but its shares are up 1.27% over the past year. The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) has a market capitalization of $78.51 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $89.14 to $148.55.
Broyhill ***** et Management stated the following regarding The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) gained 31%. Commercial Foodservice grew organic revenue 8% as chains returned to growth and management raised full-year guidance by roughly 4%. More important was the structural progress: the Food Processing separation was confirmed at the May investor day (which our investment team attended) and completed on July 6th, creating Midera. Following the majority sale of the residential business earlier this year, what remains is a cleaner business with leverage approaching 2.5x."
The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 42 hedge fund portfolios held The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) at the end of the second quarter which was 35 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#middleby #corporation #broyhill #quarter

This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter.
Coca-Cola said the beverage giant and its bottlers will invest $10 billion in U.S. infrastructure by 2030 to meet growing demand for its offerings.
The system-wide investments include a mix of new and previously announced projects that will expand production, distribution and office facilities, according to a Tuesday press release.
This includes a bottling distribution facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California; a bottling plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado; a manufacturing plant in Indianapolis; a Coca-Cola United campus in Birmingham, Alabama; a Fairlife plant in Coopersville, Michigan; and a distribution center in Orlando.
Other investments are planned for St. Cloud, Minnesota, and at a Fairlife plant in Webster, New York. Additional investments will be made during the next four years, a Coca-Cola spokesperson said in an email.

#coca #cola

Auxier ***** et Management, an investment advisory firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Following a strong rebound from the first-quarter decline, the S&P 500 gained 15.2% as accelerating capital spending toward artificial intelligence infrastructure drove significant gains across technology hardware companies. Semiconductor and data-center-related businesses benefited from supply constraints and strong demand, while enterprise software remained under pressure as investors reassessed AI disruption risks and compressed valuations. In the quarter, Auxier Focus Fund's Investor Class gained 8.82% and 10.70% for the six months ended June 30, 2026. Despite strong earnings growth across the broader market, Auxier highlighted concerns around rising margin debt, increased leverage, and elevated capital flows into high-growth technology areas that could amplify future volatility. The firm continues to focus on identifying enduring businesses with strong competitive advantages, resilient cash flows, and sustainable long-term growth potential. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Auxier ***** et Management highlighted The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR). The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is a leading supermarket chain that operates combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. On September 14, 2026, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) closed at $60.91 per share. Over the past month, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) returned 10.12%, but its shares are down 7.06% over the past year. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) has a market capitalization of $37.32 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $54.15 to $76.58.
Auxier ***** et Management stated the following regarding The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Consumer staples underperformed during the quarter. Elevated inflation, high interest rates and rising gas prices contributed to lower consumer spending, impacting companies like The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) and PepsiCo. Although Kroger's stock has been weak, its new CEO Greg Foran brings exceptional leadership that promises positive change. While he was President of Walmart US from 2014-2019, the company achieved 20 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth and scaled its online grocery pickup. Since joining Kroger he has aggressively reduced prices and boosted the growth in private label and organic offerings. The stock trades at a mere 12 times earnings which is a significant discount to both Costco and Walmart."

#NYSE #quarter #Growth #strong

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) says its newly launched oral obesity drug Foundayo has captured more than 30% of new U.S. patients starting oral weight-loss medicines, a notable early gain against Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill. Reuters reports that Wegovy initially held roughly 90% of the oral market, making Lilly's rapid share capture an important sign that the oral GLP-1 market is becoming a two-player competition rather than a Novo-dominated segment. The broader U.S. obesity-drug market is expected to exceed $100 billion annually by 2030, with oral treatments potentially accounting for more than one-third of GLP-1 use.
The timing is strategically important for Lilly because Foundayo was only launched in the U.S. in April 2026. The drug starts at $149 per month for self-pay patients and can cost as little as $25 for eligible commercially insured patients, while Medicare beneficiaries can access it through the GLP-1 Bridge program at $50 per month. Lilly's SEC filing says Mounjaro and Zepbound already represented 65% of its revenue in the first six months of 2026, highlighting both the importance of the incretin franchise and the opportunity for Foundayo to broaden Lilly's cardiometabolic revenue base.
The strongest bullish implication is that Foundayo appears to be overcoming the biggest behavioral barrier in obesity treatment: patients' preference for an oral medicine over an injection. Capturing more than 30% of new oral patients only months after launch suggests Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is establishing meaningful competitive positioning before the oral GLP-1 market fully scales. Foundayo's formulation also has a practical advantage because it can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, while Lilly's clinical data showed an average 27.3-pound, or 12.4%, weight reduction at the highest dose among patients who remained on treatment in ATTAIN-1.
The commercial opportunity could become considerably larger if Foundayo gains indications beyond obesity. Lilly reported that in the ACHIEVE-3 trial, Foundayo produced a 57.1% greater relative reduction in A1C and a 73.6% greater relative reduction in body weight compared with oral semaglutide 14 mg. Lilly submitted Foundayo for type 2 diabetes in the U.S., EU, and ***** an, potentially expanding the addressable market beyond weight management.
The early oral-market traction also complements Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s existing injectable franchise rather than simply cannibalizing it. A Lilly trial found that patients switching from maximum-tolerated Wegovy to Foundayo maintained all but 0.9 kg of their previous weight loss after one year, while patients switching from maximum-dose Zepbound to Foundayo maintained all but 5.0 kg. That suggests Foundayo could serve as a maintenance or lower-burden treatment within Lilly's broader obesity portfolio, increasing lifetime value per patient rather than limiting the opportunity to new prescriptions.

#weight

Broyhill ***** et Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, which is available for download here. The Broyhill Equity Composite gained 8.8% in Q2, trailing the MSCI All Country World Index's 15.1% and the MSCI ACWI Value Index's 10.8%. For the first half, the Composite returned 2.3%, versus 11.5% for the Index. The letter highlights that a significant portion of the shortfall occurred in April due to market dynamics and geopolitical events, with tech, particularly semiconductors, driving recent gains. Broyhill notes its lack of direct semiconductor exposure but acknowledges potential interest in the sector if opportunities arise, maintaining its investment philosophy focused on capital protection in fragile market conditions. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Broyhill ***** et Management highlighted The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD). The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD), a leading player in the foodservice industry, contributed positively to performance during the quarter. On September 14, 2026, The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) closed at $109.72 per share. Over the past month, The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) declined 3.75%, but its shares are up 1.27% over the past year. The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) has a market capitalization of $78.51 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $89.14 to $148.55.
Broyhill ***** et Management stated the following regarding The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) gained 31%. Commercial Foodservice grew organic revenue 8% as chains returned to growth and management raised full-year guidance by roughly 4%. More important was the structural progress: the Food Processing separation was confirmed at the May investor day (which our investment team attended) and completed on July 6th, creating Midera. Following the majority sale of the residential business earlier this year, what remains is a cleaner business with leverage approaching 2.5x."
The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 42 hedge fund portfolios held The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) at the end of the second quarter which was 35 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#NASDAQ #midd #asset

Kraft Heinz is a $25 billion global brand selling two million bottles of ketchup a day and it owns more than 200 other brands including Lunchables and Capri Sun. Reporting for TODAY, NBC's Vicky Nguyen sits down with new CEO, Steve Cahillane, to discuss where the company is headed as consumers move toward less-processed foods and more affordable store brands.

#heinz #reporting #today #vicky

On September 14, Dave & Buster's Entertainment (NASDAQ:PLAY) reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results that read like two different companies at once. Revenue fell, and the company posted a net loss for the period ended August 4, yet comparable sales, which had been sliding for more than a year, kept getting less bad every month from June through the first five weeks of the third quarter. New CEO Darin Harper is betting that improvement compounds into something bigger.
The clearest evidence is the trend line itself. Comparable store sales fell 5.4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, then 2.9% in the second quarter, then just 1.6% in July after a 5% decline in June, and Harper said trends improved further over the first five weeks of the third quarter. Food and beverage sales are moving in the opposite direction entirely, up 7.6% in the quarter and positive for five straight quarters, helped by the Eat & Play Combo, a bundled meal and game credit offer sold through kiosks. Special event sales have now grown for seven consecutive quarters.
Behind that shift sits a rebuilt leadership bench. Dave & Buster's went more than a year without a chief marketing officer, and Harper has since added a CMO, a chief operations officer, a chief technology officer, and a chief legal officer since taking over. The company also leaned on new content, launching 10 games and attractions this year, including tie-ins with Mandalorian and Grogu, John Wick and Stranger Things, after research found more than 70% of guests said new games would bring them back more often. Changes to game pricing pushed play and dwell time up 16% to 20% or more. Six remodeled stores are already outperforming the rest of the chain, and management says the newest remodel template costs less to build than the last one. Net capital spending dropped to $127.6 million through the first half of the year from $155.4 million, and adjusted free cash flow swung to positive $19.5 million from negative $36.5 million, a $56 million improvement.
The headline figures were still rough. Total revenue slipped 2.4% to $544.1 million from $557.4 million a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA dropped to $98.9 million, an 18.2% margin, from $129.8 million and a 23.3% margin. On a GAAP basis, the company posted a net loss of $12.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, versus net income of $11.4 million in the same quarter last year. About $15 million of the EBITDA decline came from items management calls non-normalized, including a $10 million noncash deferral adjustment that did not repeat this year, $3 million in extra preopening costs and $2 million in higher insurance expenses, but even stripped of those, the underlying decline was still roughly $16 million.

#quarter #sales

On the September 11 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer expressed strong optimism for Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) ahead of its upcoming **** yst presentation, as he said:
Thursday, we have two important **** yst meetings. Brinker... We have them all the time on the show. Brinker, you know, is Chili's, and the company never fails to wow me. I think this meeting will be no exception.
Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) continues to demonstrate operational strength across the casual dining sector, driven by sustained customer traffic and menu innovation at Chili's Grill & Bar. In its fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company generated $1.54 billion in total revenue, bringing full-year revenues to $5.81 billion. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter reached $3.07, representing a 23% year-over-year increase.
Chili's reported a 5.6% increase in comparable store sales, marking its 21st consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales growth. The sustained momentum has been supported by the ongoing success of the $10.99 "3 for Me" everyday value platform as well as targeted menu launches, including the Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which helped support traffic as Chili's continued positioning its value proposition against fast-food offerings. According to the company's CEO Kevin Hochman, the Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich "overdelivered" on the management's estimates.
Despite consistent top-line momentum, Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) faces ongoing execution risks **** ociated with sticky cost inflation and broader macroeconomic pressures on consumer spending. Elevated wholesale prices for core commodities, especially beef and produce, continue to weigh on restaurant operating costs, while wage growth across regional markets keeps labor expenses elevated.

#NYSE

Weitz Investment Management, an investment management firm, released its second-quarter Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Multi Cap Equity Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The Multi Cap Equity Fund's Institutional Class returned 7.90% in Q2, underperforming the Bloomberg U.S. 3000 Index's 15.71% gain. Markets rose in the quarter on hopes of de-escalating Middle East tensions and easing oil flow. Investor focus shifted back to artificial intelligence, despite component shortages like processing chips affecting profits and valuations. Valuation-sensitive investors are selective within the AI sector, in contrast to valuation-agnostic indexes that adopt a more relaxed strategy. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Weitz Multi Cap Equity Fund highlighted Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD). Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and internationally. On September 15, 2026, Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) closed at $1,330.40 per share. Over the past month, Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) declined 6.64%, and its shares gained 4.43% over the past 52 weeks. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) has a market capitalization of $26.66 billion.
Weitz Multi Cap Equity Fund stated the following regarding Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Less familiar to shareholders may be our new position in Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD), a global supplier of precision measurement instruments across laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications where accuracy, reliability and regulatory compliance are vital. Its highly specialized sales and service organization is a key competitive advantage, working collaboratively with customers to optimize their workflows and improve productivity, reinforcing long-term customer relationships. We have long admired Mettler's business and purchased a small position during a brief period of price dislocation during the quarter."
Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 48 hedge fund portfolios held Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) at the end of the second quarter, down from 50 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#Equity #fund #weitz

Walmart and SCAN Health Plan announced a partnership on Wednesday to offer co-branded Medicare Advantage plans in two states, targeting a pool of more than two million Medicare enrollees.
The plans, pending regulatory approval, may include pharmacy, vision, food, and over-the-counter benefits, the companies said. Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage begins Oct. 15, according to MarketWatch.
A central feature of the partnership is Walmart's Everyday Health Signals platform, an AI tool designed to provide personalized nutrition and wellness guidance based on members' shopping preferences and self-reported wellness goals. The companies said they plan to make that capability available to participating plan members as part of broader coaching and wellness support.
"By combining Walmart's technology capabilities and consumer retail expertise with SCAN's Medicare product experience, we have an opportunity to develop products that translate those insights into meaningful support that helps members make more informed choices about their health and well-being," said Zack Myers, national general manager of SCAN Health Plan, in a statement.
Walmart Group Director for Consumer Health and Data Solutions Pravene Nath said the collaboration is distinct because of Walmart's role in customers' everyday lives. "Because customers regularly turn to Walmart for groceries and other everyday essentials, we have an opportunity for those who choose to participate, to use insights from their shopping experiences to make nutrition guidance more relevant and actionable," Nath said in a statement.

#plan #Wellness #members #advantage

On August 6, PureCycle Technologies (NASDAQ:PCT) reported second-quarter results for the period ended June 30, and buried in the numbers was something the plastics recycler has chased for years: an actual branded product on store shelves. Select Downy detergent caps made with PureCycle's PureFive resin entered commercial production for Procter & Gamble during the quarter, the first tangible sign the company's purification technology can clear a major consumer brand's supply chain. Revenue came in at $4.5 million, up roughly 173% from a year earlier and the sixth straight quarter of sequential growth.
The Downy win was not an isolated event. PureCycle said select Tide caps are scheduled for retail production in the third quarter, with Vicks ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs child-resistant lids targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. Seven customer conversions took place during the quarter, alongside six new commercial partnerships spanning closures, automotive, film, and food packaging, including Amcor, Motherson, and Innovia Films. Regulation is doing real work here too. New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection approved PureFive as post-consumer recycled content, a decision that arrives as the state's food contact exemption expires in January 2027 and its recycled content requirement climbs to 20%, while California's SB54 is already in effect.
Operationally, the Ironton facility's planned turnaround finished ahead of schedule and under budget, with more than 170 reliability and rate projects completed and inspections showing no corrosion on major equipment. On-site compounding, commissioned in April, is now running 24 hours a day, five days a week, with plans to expand to seven by the fourth quarter. PureCycle also picked up ISO 9001:2015 certification in May and closed the quarter with $236.9 million in total liquidity after a June capital raise.
The other side of the ledger is harder to ignore. PureCycle posted a net loss of $142.2 million for the quarter, and adjusted EBITDA actually widened to a loss of $31.7 million from a loss of $27.8 million a year earlier, a shift the company attributes to smaller non-cash addbacks rather than weaker operations. PureFive production fell to 4.5 million pounds for the quarter, a direct result of the planned turnaround, even though output was still up about 32% from a year ago. Growth is not coming cheap either. Full-year 2026 project spending guidance was raised to a range of $45 million to $50 million, up from the prior $39 million to $45 million.

#year #loss

On September 10, 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. (NASDAQ:FLWS) reported fiscal 2026 results that read like a company still finding its footing after a hard year. Full year revenue fell 10.8% to $1.5 billion, and the fourth quarter alone dropped 12.9% to $293.1 million, as consumers stayed selective with discretionary spending on gifts and gourmet food. Buried under those declines, though, is a different story: inventory shrank, free cash flow improved by $55 million, and the company hit a two-year cost savings target a full year early. The question now is whether that discipline can outrun the sales slide.
1-800-Flowers spent fiscal 2026 tearing down the walls between its brands. Instead of separate teams running each brand in silos, the company shifted to functional teams built around marketing, merchandising, and the digital shopping experience, with one team now acting as store manager for every website. That shift already shows up in products: the floral business combined its florist-fulfilled and direct-ship merchandising teams, so the same popular arrangements are available either way, instead of competing against itself on one landing page. Harry & David rolled out a redesigned, mobile-first website with AI-powered search that is currently in A/B testing, and several low-traffic standalone sites were folded into harryanddavid.com to concentrate traffic rather than split it.
The financial discipline behind that reorganization is real. The company reached its $50 million cost savings run rate a full year ahead of schedule and has already lined up another $15 million to $20 million in savings for fiscal 2027, with the full benefit landing in fiscal 2028. That, combined with tighter working capital management, pushed free cash flow up $55 million year over year and cut inventory to $153 million from $177 million. Average order value rose 5.5%, third-party marketplace sales through Amazon, Walmart, and DoorDash are growing at double-to-triple-digit rates and are already contribution margin positive, and BloomNet grew 1.9% on the back of local delivery partnerships with apps like DoorDash and Instacart.
The rest of the story is bleaker. Total transactions fell 17.6% for the year, and the fourth quarter's decline was broad-based: consumer floral and gifts dropped 13.4% to $182.8 million as the company pulled back on promotional discounting, and gourmet foods and gift baskets fell 15.4% to $85.8 million, a decline made worse by the timing of Easter. Adjusted EBITDA for the year collapsed to $2.9 million from $29.2 million, and adjusted gross margin slipped 110 basis points to 38%. Even the fourth quarter's 34.7% gross margin leaned on a one-time $7 million tariff refund.

#fiscal

KYIV, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russia if its partners ensure ‌that Moscow will refrain from hitting Ukrainian ‌energy facilities, infrastructure and food supply routes, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday.
Zelenskiy's comments, posted on Telegram, appeared to amount to a denial that Ukraine had formally endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that Ukraine and Russia ‌had agreed not ⁠to hit each other's energy targets.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine was not convinced that Russia ⁠was willing to abide by any agreement.
"Ukraine is not certain that Russia is willing to stick to any agreement," he wrote.
"The war must be brought to an ‌end. And a de-escalatory step regarding critical infrastructure could be the first step toward peace. We expect specifics from our partners."

#president

A woman who found hairs in her Aldi dip has said she was disappointed the company included an AI prompt in its reply when she complained.
Jo Reeves from Cotteridge in Birmingham said she found the "vile" hairs when she popped out for a snack, while her partner was in hospital.
The AI prompt included the phrase: "Make it short and concise but do not overdo it" and Reeves said: "Everyone uses AI but the language is disappointing as a customer.
An Aldi spokesperson said: "This response fell well below our normal standards of customer service. We have contacted Ms Reeves directly to apologise and fully resolve the issue she had with our product."
Reeves said: "My partner was having an op in Worcester hospital so popped to the local Aldi to get 'recovery food'."

#hairs

Adam Carolla cut right to the chase when he offered his take on President Donald Trump's plan to give out $5,000 to every American adult, as long as Republicans win the 2026 midterms.
"So now we're just bribing people," Carolla said on the Sunday episode of his podcast.
He said again it sounded like Trump was "bribin' 'em" to get votes — but Carolla didn't seem too upset about it.
The veteran comic and podcaster argued the Democratic Party has been doing its own version of freebie payments for decades, thanks to government programs like food stamps and states paying for the healthcare of low-income residents. Carolla said it "evidently works" when it comes to winning over voters, so Republicans should give it a shot.
"It definitely works on all the poor people," Carolla continued. "We'll just get you free cheese, and free school, and free Medicare, and we'll get you free sh*t. Why don't rich people start bribing people? Why not?"

#we 'll #like #adam

Next year's Social Security cost-of-living increase looks like it will be 3.6%. The AARP made this forecast. The real figure will be released on October 14. It is based, according to The New York Times, on "the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W. It averages the figures for July, August, and September. That may be fine for people who have a lot of money. For those who don't, it's a problem.
Most of the conversation about Social Security is that it will "run out of money".That happens in late 2032. It really doesn't run out. The payout drops to about 79% of the current total.
People choose one of three options. Social Security defines them as "early eligibility," which can start at 62. "Retirement" age is 65. People can get the largest payout possible if they wait until age 70.
Analysts have proposed several ways to "save" Social Security. Among those is to add two years to three retirement options. Another is to raise the wage level cap when people pay in. Today, for most people, that is $184,500 a year. The most controversial idea is that people who make a great deal of money after they retire should pay little, or nothing.
Is 3.6% enough? Almost certainly not. Over the next year, the CPI could surge. Energy prices will be a factor. So will food. And food prices are affected by energy prices. Seventy percent of all Us freight is moved by truck. Diesel is at its highest price ever. Some of that will be passed on to consumers next year.

#people #money

Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) is expanding its restaurant-delivery business through a partnership with Papa John's, allowing customers in select U.S. markets to order pizzas, sides, and desserts through Walmart's app and website. The service is expected to launch this fall before expanding to thousands of participating Papa John's locations nationwide. Customers will be able to order restaurant food either separately or alongside Walmart groceries and household products, with Walmart's delivery network handling fulfillment.
The move builds on Walmart's broader push into fast delivery. The company recently reported that U.S. e-commerce sales increased 24% in its latest quarter, while fast-delivery services for groceries and general merchandise grew 48%. Walmart also said 30-minute-or-less delivery was available in 38 U.S. markets, highlighting the infrastructure it can potentially leverage for restaurant orders.
The Papa John's partnership could strengthen Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)'s position as a broader consumer-delivery platform rather than simply a retailer. Adding restaurant meals gives shoppers another reason to open Walmart's app, while the ability to combine a pizza order with groceries and household products creates an opportunity to increase basket sizes and order frequency. This is particularly attractive because Walmart already has a large store network that increasingly functions as a last-mile fulfillment system; roughly 80% of its e-commerce orders are fulfilled from stores.
The deal could also improve the economics of Walmart's existing delivery infrastructure. Instead of building a completely separate restaurant-delivery network, Walmart can utilize its established fulfillment capabilities and Spark driver network to serve incremental demand. The Papa John's relationship also expands Walmart's restaurant offering beyond earlier partnerships, helping the company build a more comprehensive alternative to dedicated delivery platforms such as DoorDash and Uber Eats.
More importantly, restaurant delivery could become another engagement tool for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)'s increasingly digital customer base. With e-commerce approaching a quarter of Walmart's overall sales and growing substantially faster than traditional store sales, initiatives that increase digital traffic could support Walmart's broader ecosystem of e-commerce, memberships and advertising.

#walmart #network #fulfillment

If you turn to Gordon Ramsay for cooking advice, the legendary chef is probably going to have some useful info, but if it's frozen food you're curious about, the man has sent some mixed signals over the years. As a famous TV yeller/chef, Ramsay is known for speaking his mind on foods he won't touch, and one thing he's been keen to attack in the past is frozen food meals. While many of us might turn to a frozen pizza or burrito for a cheap, quick meal when we don't have the energy to cook, Ramsay once told Bon Appétit it's the one type of food he refuses to eat.
As for why we won't touch frozen food, Ramsay's reasons are understandable, but they're also a little tone-deaf. "It's so easy to prepare a quick meal using fresh produce, such as a simple stir-fry, but people still resort to ready meals that all taste exactly the same," he told the outlet. It's certainly true that there are plenty of quick and easy recipes if you're in a rush and that plenty of frozen foods are of less-than-ideal quality.
But in the life of most non-celebrity chefs, there are times when you simply don't have the ingredients, time, or energy to cook. Additionally, it appears that Ramsay doesn't think every frozen meal tastes the same, or else he wouldn't have launched his own line of frozen meals called "By Chef Ramsay" in 2023. Maybe his frozen chicken pot pie really is that much better?
Read more: 18 Frozen Dinner Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best
Julia Duda/Tasting Table

#chef #foods

When we moved to our former house in the Tradition neighborhood of Port St. Lucie, Fla., we had two Starbucks, two Dunkin's, and two local coffeehouses within a few miles of our house. A few years later, when we moved away, we still had two Starbucks, but the local, independent chains had both closed.
In their place, we added 7 Brew, Cali Coffee, Carmela (a regional chain), Vicky Bakery (a popular Cuban cafe chain), another Dunkin', and a new independent coffee place.
It's a staggering amount of competition in a fast-growing section of the city that's only a few square miles. All of those added competitors come at a time when the overall market has been growing, but seems to have hit a wall.
"The Coffee and Snack Shops industry has experienced a wave of growth, emerging as a standout performer in the food service sector. It boasts an annualized growth rate of 2.5%, shooting revenues up to $75.5 billion over the five years to 2026," according to IBISWorld's Coffee & Snack Shops in the US Industry Data and ***** ysis.
Nationally, Americans also have more places to get their daily cup.

#coffee #starbucks #snack #House

Long-running speculation over the future of Hain Celestial's business in Europe has finally come to a head with the disposal to a private-equity investor.
Nasdaq-listed Hain Celestial said in a statement today (14 September) it has agreed the sale of its "international" operations to Aurelius for $323m in cash.
The divestment follows a review of Hain Celestial's portfolio instigated by president and CEO Alison Lewis last year, which already resulted in the sale of its North American snacks business in 2026 to Canada's Snackruptors for $115m in cash.
That disposal included the brands Garden Veggie Snacks, Terra chips and Garden of Eatin'.
Ella's Kitchen baby and kids foods, the Joya and Natumi plant-based beverage lines and Hartley's jelly are joining Aurelius.

#hain #garden #sale #long

Kodak Black is seen trying to quickly finish up a meal before being turned over to authorities in footage making the rounds on social media this week, though it's worth pointing out that the footage itself does not depict a recent incident.
Instead, the body camera footage in question, which has been widely shared in recent days, stems from May 14 of this year. Annoyingly, much of the posts zeroing in on the food-focused moment from the Pompano Beach, Florida-set video have been shared without context, which may have led some to falsely believe that the Kodak The Blessing artist had been arrested in recent days. This is not true.
Posts have also circulated positing that Kodak "made" officials wait for him to finish his meal "before they arrested him," which is also misleading.
Kodak Black had one last thing to handle before going into custody — finishing his spaghetti. 😭🍝 pic.twitter.com/wbAoIQsSNp
— NineT6ix 🦅 (Salih9t6) September 7, 2026

#kodak #black #shared

Umios, the ******* anese seafood giant previously trading as Maruha Nichiro, has made another investment in Southeast Asia with a stake in Pataya Food Industries.
Tokyo-listed Umios is taking a 25.1% stake in Thailand's Pataya Food Industries (PFI), which was set up in 1979 and manufactures branded seafood and pet-food products, as well as acting as a B2B supplier in Asia.
Based in the capital Bangkok, PFI has a capitalisation of Bt280m ($8.4m), according to Umios, which did not disclose the target purchase price for the minority interest.
The transaction is being conducted through the Umios group firm Kingfisher Holdings.
Umios said in a statement the deal and "alliance" with PFI will "expand the group's portfolio of processed foods and other products, as well as its sales channels in Asia, advancing the local strategy set out in its long-term vision".

#pataya #industries #seafood #well

Exelixis (EXEL) stock dropped out of a buy zone Friday after the Food and Drug Administration delayed the potential approval of its new colon cancer treatment by three months. The combination includes Exelixis' zanzalintinib and Roche's (RHHBY) Tecentriq. William Blair ***** yst Andy Hsieh says it's unlikely the agency will outright reject the combo, which showed an overall survival benefit for…

#rhhby #tecentriq #william

A fresh reading on inflation showed monthly prices rose more than expected in August, increasing the likelihood the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week.
A rebound to oil at $100 per barrel also complicates the picture.
Stripping out volatile food and energy prices — the way the Fed likes to scrutinize underlying inflation — the Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% month over month, compared with expectations for 0.2%. The year-over-year rate was in line with expectations for 2.4% and down a tenth of a percentage point from July. On a headline basis, CPI rose 3.4% in August, in line with expectations, and 0.4% month over month.
"The upside surprise to core CPI in August means the Fed looks set to hike next week," said Stephen Brown, North America chief economist for Capital Economics.
Markets are now betting on a 90% chance of a rate hike at Wednesday's Fed policy meeting, according to CME FedWatch.

#august #expectations #inflation

US stocks rose on Friday as investors digested the Consumer Price Index data, which showed inflation remained sticky and cemented bets that the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates next week.
The Dow Industrial Average (^DJI) and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.9% while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.8%. The major indexes posted weekly declines, however, after a four-day losing streak.
Investors turned their attention to the Consumer Price Index, the last piece of inflation data before Federal Reserve policymakers convene next week. Overall prices rose 0.4% on a monthly basis and 3.4% on an annual basis, which were in line with economists' expectations and slightly hotter than July's reading.
But after stripping out volatile food and energy prices, the Fed's preferred reading, CPI rose 0.3%, compared to estimates for 0.2%.
Friday's CPI report prompted traders to ramp up their bets that the Fed will raise interest rates this month. Markets are now pricing in a roughly 87% chance the Fed raises interest rates by 25 basis points at the FOMC meeting next week, according to the CME's Fedwatch tool. That's up from 72% a day ago and 50% a week ago.

#week #next