Tokyo’s dining scene in 2025 reflected the city itself — restless, resilient, and constantly reinventing. From quietly refined sushi counters to experimental kitchens pushing the boundaries of technique, the year delivered both excitement and uncertainty for chefs and diners alike. Rising costs, global trade pressures, and a surge in inbound tourism created real challenges, yet… Continue reading Tokyo Dining in 2025: Where Tradition, Innovation, and Value Collided
Category: Food & Beverages
Chipotle Targets Protein-Hungry Consumers With New Snack-Size Menu
Chipotle Mexican Grill is expanding beyond its traditional burrito-and-bowl format as it rolls out a new “High Protein Menu,” including grab-and-go cups filled with chicken or steak. The new offerings, launching this week in the U.S. and Canada, are designed to tap into the growing demand for protein-focused snacks rather than full meals. The move… Continue reading Chipotle Targets Protein-Hungry Consumers With New Snack-Size Menu
The Rise of the ‘Appetizer Economy’ as Diners Cut Back
Food inflation is reshaping how Americans dine out, with many consumers opting for smaller, lower-cost menu items instead of full meals. New restaurant supply-chain data shows appetizer orders are rising sharply, even as sales of entrees and desserts stagnate or decline — a trend industry watchers are calling the “appetizer economy.” According to Buyers Edge,… Continue reading The Rise of the ‘Appetizer Economy’ as Diners Cut Back
Tokyo Extends Its Reign as a Global Dining Capital in the Michelin Guide 2026
Tokyo has once again reinforced its reputation as one of the world’s most influential food cities, retaining its top position in the latest Michelin Guide. The newly released 2026 edition highlights the extraordinary depth and diversity of the Japanese capital’s dining scene, awarding Michelin stars to a total of 160 restaurants across the city. In… Continue reading Tokyo Extends Its Reign as a Global Dining Capital in the Michelin Guide 2026
Business leaders agree AI is the future. They just wish it worked right now.
Last spring, CellarTracker, a wine-collection app, built an artificial intelligence-powered sommelier to make unvarnished wine recommendations based on a person’s palate. The problem was the chatbot was too nice. “It’s just very polite, instead of just saying, ‘It’s really unlikely you’ll like the wine,’” CellarTracker CEO Eric LeVine said. It took six weeks of trial… Continue reading Business leaders agree AI is the future. They just wish it worked right now.
FTC Allegations Spotlight Walmart’s Pricing Power in the Grocery Market
Recent disclosures from U.S. regulators have reignited debate over pricing practices in the grocery industry, placing Walmart and PepsiCo at the center of renewed scrutiny. A previously sealed government complaint, made public following the dismissal of a federal lawsuit earlier this year, sheds light on how the Federal Trade Commission viewed the relationship between the… Continue reading FTC Allegations Spotlight Walmart’s Pricing Power in the Grocery Market