Chick-fil-A is transitioning its licensed locations, such as those on college campuses and in hospitals, to the local ownership franchise model, a process that will take years as existing agreements expire. The move aims to enhance customer experience and community engagement, the company says.

Nonprofits rely on business support throughout the year, not just during the holiday season. While many restaurants ramp up charitable efforts around events like Giving Tuesday, experts encourage ongoing engagement, such as quarterly initiatives and partnerships with organizations that align with a restaurant's values. Nonprofits, such as CORE, Feeding America and No Kid Hungry, have established relationships with prominent restaurant brands that support the causes year-round through donations, volunteer events and creative promotions.

Patina Group showcased its culinary expertise at the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix by offering a menu inspired by the home countries of racing drivers. The menu, developed by culinary director Jacqueline Kelly, featured dishes from 10 countries, including fish and chips from the UK, paella from Spain and tonkotsu ramen from Japan. The team served nearly 5,000 pizzas and other international dishes from a concessions-style prep area, demonstrating efficient logistics and planning.

Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation that would require schools to serve butter instead of margarine in lunches, in an effort to support local dairy farmers. The bill, sponsored by state legislators Rep. Todd Novak and Sen. Howard Marklein, mirrors existing state law prohibiting margarine in state institutions and restaurants unless requested.

A study presented at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting found that obesity may accelerate the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Blood biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's increased nearly twice as fast in people with obesity compared with those without obesity, including tau proteins and neurofilament light chain protein fragments. Researchers noted that blood tests were better than PET scans for showing the impact of obesity on Alzheimer's disease.

The FDA has introduced an agentic AI program to assist employees with complex tasks such as premarket reviews, meeting management, inspections and post-market surveillance. The FDA said the AI tool, which is designed to achieve specific goals through a collaborative model with human oversight, is hosted in a secure GovCloud environment and has not been trained on data submitted to the agency.

Chefs are redefining comfort food by infusing traditional dishes with elevated techniques and thoughtful ingredient pairings, creating dishes that feel both nostalgic and refined. From slow braises to luxurious toppings, restaurants like Kyma and Little Betty Steak Bar demonstrate how familiar flavors can be transformed into memorable dining experiences. Kyma chef Pan Karatassos' signature Braised Lamb with Pasta Pearls features slow-cooked lamb and pasta enriched with herbs and olive oil. At Little Betty, the Cornbread & Caviar dish pairs brown-butter-laced cornbread madeleines with Kaluga caviar and crème fraîche.

Premiumization is becoming a central force in the chocolate market, as consumer demand shifts towards single-origin, bean-to-bar and high-cacao products, according to Grand View Research. This trend is driven by a desire for authenticity, craftsmanship and ethical sourcing, with premium chocolate brands emphasizing sustainability and bold flavor experiences. While traditional chocolate still dominates in volume, premium offerings are capturing the spotlight and reshaping consumer expectations, positioning high-quality, artisanal chocolate as a symbol of identity and values.