As premium grocers expand across California, Berkeley Bowl continues to stand out in the Bay Area with two Berkeley locations, a produce-heavy identity and a loyal local customer base. Its staying power comes from a mix of scale, specialization and a shopping experience that larger chains have not fully replicated. Continue Reading
The fastest way to ruin a great bag of cherries is to wash them the minute you get home. Keeping cherries cold, dry, and unwashed until you are ready to eat them preserves their texture, flavor, and shelf life. Continue Reading
Major food manufacturers are cutting jobs, closing plants and restructuring in 2026, with Nestlé planning 16,000 global job reductions and Del Monte ending operations at a key California cannery. The latest moves point to a broader labor crisis stretching from corporate offices to factory floors. Continue Reading
Jack in the Box said on April 23, 2025, that it plans to close 150 to 200 underperforming restaurants as it works to improve cash flow and reduce debt. The company’s own results and outside pricing data show why some customers have been pulling back. Continue Reading
Pennsylvania lost two national restaurant chains in 2026 as Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones closed their last in-state locations. The exits reflect broader retrenchment across casual dining as operators cut weaker stores and rethink long-term footprints. Continue Reading
Mixue, the China-based chain that has surpassed McDonald’s and Starbucks by store count, has opened its first Bay Area location in Sunnyvale. The grand opening includes a free soft serve cone with any drink purchase through July 12. Continue Reading
For one- and two-person households, the cheapest grocery option is not always the one with the biggest package. Aldi often wins on simplicity and low everyday prices, but warehouse clubs can outperform it in a few high-volume categories. Continue Reading
Swapping mismatched plastic tubs for airtight glass storage containers can make food easier to see, safer to store, and far more likely to get eaten. It is a small kitchen upgrade with an outsized impact on waste, money, and daily habits. Continue Reading
A federal judge on June 22 vacated USDA approvals that let five states restrict what SNAP recipients could buy, stopping Tennessee’s planned July 31 food ban. The ruling leaves current federal SNAP purchasing rules in place for recipients nationwide unless new approvals are issued. Continue Reading
Coffee prices are rising, but the bean itself is only part of the story. Cups, dairy, labor, freight, and packaging are all adding pressure to what you pay at the register. Continue Reading