Richard “Dick” E. Marriott has been named the National Restaurant Association’s 2026 Legends Award recipient. The trade group announced the honor on April 27, 2026, and said Marriott will be recognized at the IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards on May 16 in Chicago.

Why the association chose Marriott

The National Restaurant Association said the award recognizes Marriott’s lifetime contributions to the restaurant and hospitality industry, along with his long service to the association itself. In the group’s announcement, CEO Michelle Korsmo described him as a leader whose work has helped make restaurants better places to work and has supported a stronger policy environment for operators and employees alike.

According to the association, Marriott has been an advocate for the restaurant industry for more than six decades. It said he started in hospitality as a teenager in his parents’ Hot Shoppes restaurants and officially joined the company as a restaurant manager in 1965. The association also identified him as chairman of the board of Host Hotels & Resorts and chairman of First Media Corporation.

That mix of restaurant roots and broader hospitality leadership helps explain why the award matters beyond a single company. For restaurant owners, suppliers, and culinary professionals, the Legends Award is one of the association’s ways of highlighting people whose work has shaped how the industry operates, organizes, and argues for its priorities in Washington and in state capitals.

The food connection behind a hotel industry name

Even though Marriott is best known to many consumers through the hotel world, the association’s write-up ties the honor directly to foodservice. His early career in Hot Shoppes is central to that case. Hot Shoppes was the family restaurant business that helped launch the Marriott name long before it became most widely associated with lodging.

Restaurant Business also noted Marriott’s recognition when covering the 2026 IFMA awards cycle, reporting that he received the 2026 Legends Award for contributions to the restaurant and hospitality community. That matters because the IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards sit squarely in the food-away-from-home business, where restaurants, on-site dining, convenience stores, and other operators overlap.

For home cooks, this kind of industry award can seem remote, but it connects to the bigger food system that shapes menus, staffing, sourcing, and training. Trade groups like the National Restaurant Association often spotlight advocacy, workforce development, and operating support, all of which influence what diners see at chain restaurants, hotel restaurants, and institutional foodservice programs.

Why advocacy is part of the story

The association’s statement specifically pointed to Marriott’s support of the Restaurant Advocacy Fund. Korsmo said that support helped create conditions where restaurants can thrive and where people can build meaningful careers. The group framed his impact as broader than one title or one era, emphasizing long-term involvement rather than a single transaction or campaign.

That advocacy language is important in food industry coverage because restaurant groups often honor executives not only for business growth, but also for backing education, workforce efforts, and policy work. The National Restaurant Association describes itself as the national voice of the restaurant industry, and its materials regularly present advocacy as a core part of that mission.

Marriott will receive the 2026 Legends Award at the Gold & Silver Plate Awards hosted by IFMA The Food Away from Home Association in Chicago. For readers tracking the business side of food, the takeaway is straightforward: this honor was not simply about brand recognition. It was awarded because the association says Marriott’s restaurant beginnings, industry leadership, and sustained advocacy left a lasting mark on foodservice.

Barcelona’s Paradiso picked up one of the bar industry’s top legacy honors at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026. The Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award was announced at the 2026 ceremony in Milan, adding another major milestone to a bar already known for sustained global acclaim.

For home cocktail fans, this kind of award matters because it usually points to the bars shaping what eventually lands in restaurant menus, cocktail books, and home bar habits. Paradiso’s rise has been tied to imaginative presentation, polished technique, and a long run of international recognition, according to Drinks International.

What the 2026 legend award recognizes

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026 named Paradiso the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award winner. Drinks International reported the result as part of its coverage of the 2026 rankings in Milan, where Hong Kong’s Bar Leone retained the top overall spot. In a separate numbers breakdown, Drinks International said Paradiso was one of the long-running bars still appearing in the ranking and identified it as this year’s Legend of the List honoree.

That award is different from the No. 1 ranking. It recognizes endurance as much as peak performance, highlighting bars that have built a lasting record across multiple editions of the list. Drinks International’s 2026 analysis said nine bars have made 10 lists and five more have made nine appearances, with Paradiso singled out for the award this year.

For readers who follow cocktail culture from the kitchen rather than the trade floor, that distinction is useful. It signals a bar whose influence has lasted long enough to shape broader drinking trends, not just one breakout season. In practical terms, these are often the places whose techniques, garnish styles, glassware ideas, and flavor combinations ripple outward into books, classes, and home entertaining.

The career behind Paradiso’s rise

Paradiso is closely tied to founder and bartender Giacomo Giannotti, who has become one of the best-known modern cocktail figures in Barcelona. While the 2026 award coverage focused on the bar rather than a full biography, the honor itself points to the long arc of work required to keep a venue visible on one of the world’s most competitive lists year after year.

That sustained presence matters in a business where trends can move fast and bars often rise and fall on novelty. A Legend of the List designation suggests consistency in service, drinks, and identity. It also suggests a team that has kept evolving without losing the style that first made the bar stand out.

For home bartenders, the lesson is less about chasing spectacle and more about repeatable quality. Bars that last tend to pair visual flair with strong fundamentals, balanced drinks, disciplined prep, and a clear point of view. That is part of why legacy awards often resonate beyond the industry itself, especially for people building a better cocktail setup at home.

Why this matters beyond the awards circuit

The 2026 ceremony also underlined how global the cocktail conversation has become. According to Drinks International, the year’s top 50 included bars from cities across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, with Paradiso again holding a place among an elite international group. Recognition like this helps keep Barcelona in focus as a destination for cocktail travelers and professionals alike.

It also lands at a moment when legacy has become a bigger theme in bar culture. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, which runs the Spirited Awards, describes its Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award as recognition for career-long impact in hospitality. In 2026, that award went to drinks historian David Wondrich, showing how the industry is continuing to celebrate both institutions and individuals with staying power.

For readers mixing drinks at home, the takeaway is simple. Awards like these can be a map to bars worth studying, not just admiring. Paradiso’s newest honor says its influence has lasted, and that usually means the ideas born there, from presentation to technique, will keep showing up in the wider drinking world for some time.

Costco’s seafood aisle rewards shoppers who read past the front label. The best bets tend to be frozen fish with simple cuts, clear sourcing, and packaging that makes bulk buying easier to manage at home.

Why frozen fish stands out at Costco

A fisheries scientist’s advice in a warehouse seafood aisle usually starts with one point that surprises shoppers: frozen fish is often a strong buy, not a backup plan. The Kitchn has reported that frozen seafood is commonly packed at peak season, which can make it both affordable and high quality. Costco also tells shoppers in its frozen fish guidance that it carries a range of frozen fish options, and product pages for species such as coho salmon and sablefish say frozen seafood maintains quality and freshness until it is ready to be used.

That matters at Costco because package sizes are large. A fresh fillet can be a gamble if you are not cooking it right away, while individually portioned frozen seafood is easier to thaw only as needed. Costco’s thawing guidance says seafood thawed in the refrigerator should remain safe and good quality for an additional day or two before cooking.

Tasting Table’s recent reporting on Costco seafood also points to shopper demand for straightforward frozen staples, especially mild, versatile fish. The outlet highlighted species such as Pacific cod and mahi mahi as strong picks when available, largely because they work across several cooking methods and recipes.

What labels and sourcing details are worth checking

Costco’s own sustainability materials give a useful roadmap for what to look for in the case and freezer aisle. The company says it sells both wild seafood and farmed seafood, and that it seeks to source wild seafood from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and farmed seafood from operations certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Costco also says it works with the World Wildlife Fund and is a founding member of the Seafood Task Force.

For shoppers, that means the label can tell you more than the species name. Whether a product is wild or farmed, whether it is previously frozen, and whether it comes in vacuum sealed or portioned packs all affect quality and ease of use at home. Costco’s same day listing for Kirkland Signature Chilean sea bass, for example, specifically notes that the fish is previously frozen.

Costco also says it limits or discontinues sales of certain species for reasons that can include endangered status, certification changes, or negative impacts on communities, workers, or the environment. That does not turn every package into a perfect choice, but it does give shoppers a clearer baseline when they are comparing options.

The most practical buys for home cooks

For most home kitchens, the strongest Costco seafood choices are the ones that balance quality with flexibility. Frozen cod is a good example because it is mild and can move from fish tacos to sheet pan dinners without much planning. Mahi mahi is another practical choice because its firmer texture holds up well to grilling or roasting. Tasting Table also recently identified tilapia as an accessible option at Costco, especially for shoppers who want an inexpensive, easy cooking fish.

Salmon remains one of the most useful categories in the warehouse because it is widely available in both fresh and frozen formats, but the smartest buy depends on how quickly you will cook it. If dinner is not happening within a day or two, frozen portions are usually the safer warehouse purchase.

The main takeaway is less about one magic product and more about a shopping method. At Costco, seafood is often a better buy when it is frozen, portioned, and clearly labeled. For home cooks, that approach cuts waste, stretches a bulk purchase further, and makes the trip feel less like guesswork.

Three recent hot dog rankings reached slightly different conclusions, but they shared one clear takeaway. The top pick was not always the brand many shoppers grew up seeing first in the grocery case.

Food & Wine published a blind tasting on November 1, 2026, and named Nathan’s Natural Casing Beef Franks the winner. Delish, in a larger 23 brand tasting published July 1, 2026, chose A&H Kosher as best overall, while Consumer Reports’ 2026 grocery store ranking placed Nathan’s Famous Skinless Beef Franks at the top.

What the latest hot dog rankings found

Food & Wine’s tasting focused on 15 store bought all beef hot dogs, grilled the same way and judged on appearance, texture, and flavor. According to the publication, Nathan’s Natural Casing Beef Franks earned the highest total score at 8 out of 10. Kirkland Signature followed at 7.25, and Marketside Angus Beef Franks and Sabrett Skinless Beef Frankfurters tied for third at 7.

The tasters in that Food & Wine panel, food stylist Julian Hensarling and Birmingham hot dog shop owner Lee Pantazis, put extra weight on texture and seasoning balance. Their comments pointed again and again to snap, beef flavor, and a casing that added structure without turning tough. That helps explain why a natural casing dog rose to the top of that ranking.

Delish used a different method and a larger field, boiling 23 hot dogs and tasting them plain to keep smoke and condiments from affecting the results. In that test, A&H Kosher won best overall, Hebrew National was named best grocery store find, Kirkland took best budget hot dog, and Boar’s Head led the nitrate free category. Delish editors highlighted A&H’s snappy casing and seasoning, describing it as closer to a sausage style hot dog than some supermarket standards.

Why the winners beat the brands many shoppers know best

Across the rankings, the same sensory traits kept separating the leaders from the middle of the pack. Food & Wine said the best hot dogs delivered balanced beef flavor, well rounded seasoning, and a firm texture with a satisfying snap. Consumer Reports reached a similar conclusion in its 2026 ranking, praising Nathan’s Famous Skinless Beef Franks for crisp skin, subtle spice, even texture, and juiciness.

That does not mean old standbys disappeared from the conversation. Consumer Reports said Hebrew National came close to matching Nathan’s in overall quality, with a smoky, well spiced profile. It also described Oscar Mayer Uncured Original Wieners as a familiar, kid friendly option, but noted that they lacked the snap found in the top choices.

For shoppers, that distinction matters more than the label many remember from childhood cookouts. A nostalgic brand may still taste good, but recent rankings suggest that texture often tips the scale. The brands that scored highest were the ones judges said felt structured, juicy, and well seasoned from the first bite, even before toppings entered the picture.

What this means for home cooks at the store

If you are buying hot dogs for a cookout, these rankings suggest it helps to shop by style, not memory. Natural casing franks performed especially well in the Food & Wine test, with Nathan’s Natural Casing Beef Franks finishing first and Sabrett Skinless Beef Frankfurters still scoring well on texture and flavor. Delish also leaned toward dogs with noticeable snap and stronger seasoning.

Price was not the only factor. Delish listed Kirkland’s three pack of 36 hot dogs at roughly $22.69, depending on location, and named it the best budget option. Its editors also priced Hebrew National at $5.99 for six and A&H Kosher at $12.99 for seven, noting that regional variation can apply. Consumer Reports, as summarized by Quartz, listed Nathan’s Famous Skinless Beef Franks at $6.49 for eight.

The practical takeaway is simple. If your usual brand is chosen mostly out of habit, it may be worth trying a pack known for firmer texture or a natural casing. These recent rankings did not crown one universal champion, but they did show that the hot dog many people assume is the automatic classic is no longer the only standard home cooks should consider.

Butterball has a new Thanksgiving helper for 2026, and this one is aimed at the people standing around the kitchen, not the turkey. On November 2, Butterball introduced the Butterball Buddy, a limited-time device that gives guests simple tasks throughout the day while the company’s long-running Turkey Talk-Line also returned for the holiday season.

What Butterball launched for Thanksgiving 2026

Butterball announced the Butterball Buddy on November 2, 2026, describing it as a turkey-shaped retro notification device meant to help guests pitch in during Thanksgiving gatherings. According to the company, the Buddy gives out timed tasks before, during, and after the meal, including jobs such as setting the table and handling dishes.

The device is being offered free while supplies last through ButterballBuddy.com, with release windows that began at 1 p.m. Eastern on November 2 and continue with additional quantities on November 9 and November 16. Butterball said the giveaway is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., age 18 or older, with three separate entry periods scheduled from November 2 to November 5, November 9 to November 12, and November 16 to November 19, or until prizes are claimed for each period.

Butterball says the Buddy works by being passed from guest to guest. When it chimes and vibrates, the person holding it gets an assigned task that fits the flow of the day. After finishing the job, that guest passes the Buddy along to someone else. The company also says the device can be used as a kitchen timer after Thanksgiving.

In Butterball’s announcement, seasonal senior brand manager Valerie Saint Sing said the new gadget is meant to help hosts spend less time managing the day and more time with family and friends. That ties the product directly to the company’s holiday hosting message rather than to turkey cooking alone.

Why Butterball says hosts may want the extra help

Butterball said the idea grew out of its 2026 Togetherness Report, a survey the company commissioned with Circana. In that report, Butterball said 85% of holiday hosts would prefer guests to offer help rather than wait to be asked, but only 38% actually ask guests to pitch in.

That gap helps explain why Butterball is positioning the Buddy as a social helper as much as a kitchen tool. It is not a thermometer, timer, or roasting guide first. Instead, it is meant to prompt small acts of help at the moments when hosts are busiest.

For home cooks, the practical value may be less about technology and more about easing common Thanksgiving friction. A host juggling turkey timing, side dishes, and cleanup often does need an easy way to delegate. Butterball’s pitch is that a playful device can do the asking for them.

The company also connected the launch to its longer holiday support history. Butterball said it has helped holiday hosts for more than 70 years as a turkey brand, and that the Turkey Talk-Line has answered consumer questions since 1981. This year marks the Talk-Line’s 45th year, according to the company.

How to get turkey help from Butterball this season

Butterball’s traditional turkey support is back alongside the new gadget. In its November 2 announcement, the company said the Turkey Talk-Line opened the same day and will run through December 24 with more than 50 experts available to answer holiday cooking questions.

Butterball says callers can reach the Talk-Line at 1-800-BUTTERBALL, or 1-800-288-8372. The company’s contact page also lists text help at 844-877-3456, along with chat and email options through Butterball.com. According to the company, the service covers questions about cooking, thawing, doneness, leftovers, and general holiday meal prep.

The posted 2026 schedule shows weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central from November 2 through November 20, expanded holiday-week hours from November 23 through November 25, and Thanksgiving Day hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central. Butterball’s contact page says the Talk-Line remains open through December 24, with reduced hours later in the season.

For anyone planning the meal, Butterball’s site also includes calculators for turkey portions, thaw time, and cook time. That may be the more useful backup if the real holiday emergency is not lazy guests, but a bird that is still half frozen on Thanksgiving morning.

Michigan bars, restaurants, and liquor stores that get spirits through NWS Michigan ADA 321 are being warned to expect a delivery pause from November 9 through November 15, 2026. For buyers, the immediate task is simple: place needed orders before the usual schedule is interrupted.

Which Michigan deliveries are affected

The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association posted the advisory on October 21, 2026, saying spirits products delivered by RNDC/NWS Michigan, listed as ADA 321, are not expected to be delivered during the November 9 to November 15 transition window. The group said November 6, 2026 is the last delivery date before the anticipated handoff, and licensees should order products needed for that week on or before their scheduled order day for delivery during the week of November 1.

That guidance is aimed at licensed businesses that rely on regular spirits shipments to keep shelves and back bars stocked. According to the association, order cutoff times and delivery days are not expected to change once service resumes. The advisory also says deliveries are expected to continue afterward under the NWS Michigan name, with ADA 321 still appearing in the ordering system.

Not every spirits order in Michigan is part of this pause. The advisory says the change only affects products delivered through ADA 321. Products supplied through ADA 141 and ADA 221 are not affected, which matters for stores and bars trying to sort out which labels may need extra planning before the November gap begins.

Why the pause is happening

The delivery interruption is tied to a proposed ownership transition involving RNDC interests in Michigan. The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association said a potential sale of RNDC/NWS Michigan to Great Lakes Wine and Spirits was pending bankruptcy court approval when it issued its notice, and it said the Michigan Liquor Control Commission would work with RNDC/NWS Michigan and Great Lakes Wine and Spirits during the transition.

Michigan’s own liquor control materials help explain the structure behind that notice. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission lists NWS Michigan, LLC as ADA 321 in its current spirits price book materials, while Imperial Beverage Company is listed as ADA 141 and General Wine & Liquor Company as ADA 221. State guidance also explains that an authorized distribution agent must maintain a Michigan warehouse and deliver approved spirits products to retailer licensees across the state.

For retailers and on-premise operators, the key point is that this is a distribution change, not a notice that bars or liquor stores are shutting down. The source advisory described the transition as anticipated and subject to court approval, which means businesses have been told to prepare for the weeklong gap but also to watch for any updates if timing changes before November 9.

What businesses should do now

For restaurant beverage managers, package stores, and bar owners, the practical move is to review sales on any spirits that come through ADA 321 and place replenishment orders before the final pre-transition delivery date. A weeklong pause can hit well-known call brands, rail bottles, and seasonal products differently, so operators may need to adjust menus or back-room counts based on what they usually sell in mid-November.

The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association said the Michigan Liquor Control Commission is committed to keeping spirits products available in Michigan and said regular ordering details should remain the same after the change. The state’s online ordering information also notes that delivery dates for ADAs are displayed in the system used by licensed retailers, which gives businesses another place to confirm scheduling.

For home shoppers, this is mostly a trade supply story, but it could still show up at the shelf if a local store runs low on certain ADA 321 products before deliveries restart. The advisory does not say that every spirit in Michigan will be affected, and it does not suggest a statewide shortage across all suppliers. It points instead to a temporary handoff in one part of the state’s spirits distribution network, with the biggest impact falling on businesses that wait too long to order.

Crosstown Brewing Company in Memphis served its last customers on October 17, 2026, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on October 21, 2026. The closure affects a well-known local brewery and taproom at Concourse Avenue, and the court paperwork gives a clearer picture of the financial strain behind the shutdown.

What closed, and when it happened

Action News 5 reported that Crosstown Brewing Company closed after nine years in business, with a farewell gathering at the brewery on October 17. The station said owners marked the final day by thanking customers and the community that formed around the brewery. The taproom had operated near Crosstown Concourse in Memphis, and local drinkers knew it for beers including Traffic IPA.

NewsBreak’s cited reporting and local coverage identify the operating company as Crosstown Brewing Company, LLC, not Crosstown Concourse itself or other nearby businesses. That distinction matters because the bankruptcy case applies to the brewery business entity. Public court tracking also shows the filing was made in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

The bankruptcy case was filed as Chapter 7, case number 26-25793, on October 21, 2026, according to court tracking cited by local reports and bankruptcy docket services. Chapter 7 is a liquidation chapter, not a reorganization case designed to keep the business operating. As of the latest available reports, the taproom is closed and no completed sale of the brewery’s brands or equipment had been established.

What the bankruptcy paperwork says

Memphis Business Journal reported that the filing listed about $2.5 million in claims. That total included about $1.33 million in secured debt and about $1.17 million in unsecured debt, according to the petition figures cited in local coverage. The same reporting said the brewery estimated its assets at less than $50,000.

Among the secured claims, NewsBreak’s referenced summary, citing Memphis Business Journal, listed roughly $796,500 tied to Renasant Bank and about $327,200 connected to a Small Business Administration disaster loan. The filing also identified a lease-related claim of about $100,600 involving Crosstown Master Tenant LLC. Those figures come from bankruptcy disclosures and do not determine what creditors will ultimately recover.

Public docket reporting shows a Chapter 7 trustee has been identified and that a creditors’ meeting was set for November 23, 2026. That means the case is still at an early stage. For customers and local beer fans, the practical point is simpler: the brewery has stopped operating, and the legal process now shifts to sorting assets, debts, and creditor claims through liquidation.

Why the brewery said it could not keep going

Local reporting tied the closure to rising costs and weaker sales. NewsBreak’s source material, citing WREG and Memphis Business Journal, said co-founder Will Goodwin described inflation pressure and declining sales as major obstacles. He also said most of the brewery’s roughly 20 employees had already moved to other jobs by the time the closure became public.

The reporting also notes a major loss inside the company. Co-founder Clark Ortkiese died in July 2025, and Memphis Business Journal reported that Goodwin said he ultimately had to choose between taking on more debt or ending the operation. The brewery continued for more than a year after Ortkiese’s death before the final closure and bankruptcy filing.

For Memphis diners and drinkers, the food angle is the disappearance of a brewery taproom that had expanded its offerings with a kitchen in 2024, serving pizza, wings, and other pub food, according to the source material. The larger lesson for home cooks and local consumers is how quickly food and beverage businesses can change when borrowing costs, ingredient expenses, and customer habits move in the wrong direction at the same time.

Raising Cane’s says November will be one of its busiest opening months of the year. The chicken finger chain plans to open 12 restaurants during the month, with new market debuts in New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Dakota.

That schedule would nearly double the company’s October opening pace, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. Trade outlet QSR Magazine also reported that the November plan spans 10 states, giving the chain another burst of growth heading into the holiday season.

Where Raising Cane’s says it is opening in November

Nation’s Restaurant News reported on October 30 that Raising Cane’s expects 12 openings across the country in November. The company identified three debut markets by city: Brick, New Jersey; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It also said additional openings are planned in Utah, Florida, Michigan, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Florida, and Alabama.

QSR Magazine matched the 12 restaurant total and added that the openings are spread across 10 states. Its report also listed two November 2 openings, one at 1036 Cedar Bridge Ave. in Brick, New Jersey, and another at 990 N. Main St. in Tooele, Utah. The company has not released a full city by city list in the Nation’s Restaurant News report.

For diners, that means some details are confirmed and some are still limited. The clearest takeaway is where Raising Cane’s is entering a market for the first time. Brick, Fayetteville, and Sioux Falls are the three cities the company highlighted by name, while the broader state list shows where more openings are expected during the month.

Why this month stands out for the chain

A Raising Cane’s spokesperson told Nation’s Restaurant News that opening 12 restaurants in November is “another exciting milestone” in the chain’s expansion. The spokesperson said the company is growing its footprint in more communities while trying to establish Cane’s as a go to destination for chicken fingers across the country.

The November target is notable because it follows a series of already active opening months. Nation’s Restaurant News reported that Raising Cane’s opened seven restaurants in October, seven more in August, and five in July. In June, the company opened its first airport restaurant at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, in Terminal B at Gate B19.

Local reporting has added timing for at least one of the new markets. Dakota News Now reported that Sioux Falls is scheduled to get South Dakota’s first Raising Cane’s in November, and SiouxFalls.Business reported the opening date there as November 17. That gives one concrete example of how the broader national opening plan is starting to take shape at the city level.

What the growth says about Raising Cane’s right now

The November opening push comes after another strong year for the brand by industry measures. Nation’s Restaurant News cited Technomic data showing Raising Cane’s sales rose 10.6% in 2025, while unit count increased 10.3%, finishing the year at $5.48 billion in sales and 913 locations. The same report said the company is now the 16th largest restaurant chain by sales.

Nation’s Restaurant News also said the company posted a 32% sales increase in 2024. The report noted that Raising Cane’s jumped two spots in chain sales rankings from 2024 to 2025, and 30 spots from 2018, when it had $1.18 billion in sales and 400 locations. Founder Todd Graves has publicly said he wants the brand to become a top 10 restaurant chain in the United States.

For customers, the near term impact is simple. More cities are getting easier access to Raising Cane’s, and November appears set to bring one of the chain’s fastest monthly growth spurts this year. The company has confirmed the overall opening count and several key markets, but it has not publicly detailed every November location in the source material reviewed.

Honeycrisp still has plenty of pull in the produce aisle, but it did not sweep the board in a recent round of grower picks. In a November 2026 report from The Kitchn, orchard operators in New York and Washington named other apples they reach for when flavor, texture, and kitchen use matter most.

The growers’ picks start with older regional favorites

The Kitchn interviewed family-run orchard operators about which apples they actually favor, and the answers landed on four familiar names: McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, and Empire. Jenna Mulbury of Northern Orchard in Peru, New York, told the outlet that McIntosh is her favorite apple to eat fresh off the tree, describing that just-picked sweet tart flavor as distinctly autumnal.

That recommendation matters because McIntosh often has a softer reputation in grocery stores than it does at the orchard. Mulbury said the fruit is firmer when fresh, which helps explain why growers and direct-market shoppers can have a different view of the variety than supermarket buyers do. For home cooks, that is a reminder that timing and source can change the eating experience as much as the variety name.

The same story highlighted Macoun as another favorite, especially for people who want a balanced sweet tart bite. Cortland also made the list for kitchen use, with its reputation for holding color after slicing making it a practical choice for salads, snack boards, and pies. Empire rounded out the group as another grower-backed pick, giving shoppers a range of options that goes well beyond the usual Honeycrisp default.

Honeycrisp is still a major apple, even if it is not every grower’s top choice

None of those grower preferences mean Honeycrisp is fading from the market. USApple’s 2025 to 2026 crop outlook said Gala was forecast to account for 16% of U.S. production, Red Delicious 13%, and Honeycrisp 12%, keeping Honeycrisp among the country’s largest varieties. In a later industry outlook released in August 2026, USApple also said Honeycrisp was among the varieties that had increased production over the past five years.

That is an important distinction for shoppers. A farmer saying another apple tastes better does not mean Honeycrisp has lost its place in stores or orchards. It means popularity and grower preference are not always the same thing, especially when growers weigh flavor, texture, harvest timing, and how a fruit performs in the field.

Other reporting helps explain the split. KGOU, an NPR member station, reported in November 2025 that Washington farmer Kait Thornton pointed listeners toward Cosmic Crisp, SugarBee, and EverCrisp as standout varieties with different sweetness and tartness profiles. Taken together, that reporting suggests many growers admire Honeycrisp while still keeping other favorites for fresh eating, baking, or variety-specific flavor.

Why this matters when you are buying apples for the kitchen

For home cooks, the practical lesson is to buy with a use in mind instead of assuming one apple does everything best. McIntosh and Macoun can be appealing when you want a more aromatic, sweet tart apple for eating out of hand. Cortland is a smart pick when appearance matters after slicing. Empire can suit shoppers looking for a dependable all-around apple with balanced flavor.

Honeycrisp still earns its shelf space, but growers have long noted that it can be difficult to produce. The Boston Globe reported in September 2024 that growers cited issues including pre-harvest fruit drop, biennial production, and bitter pit, all of which make the variety more demanding in the orchard. That does not change its popularity, but it helps explain why farmers often talk about other apples with a little extra affection.

If you are shopping at a farm stand or orchard this season, it may be worth asking what was picked most recently and what the grower likes for sauce, pie, or lunchbox snacking. The freshest answer may lead you to McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, or Empire before you reach automatically for Honeycrisp.

M&M’s is back in the holiday candy aisle with a new seasonal twist for 2026. This time, the brand is pairing its Holiday Blend with limited-edition packaging inspired by Elf, A Christmas Story and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

What M&M’s announced for the holiday season

According to Parade, citing a Nov. 2 Mars announcement, the 2026 M&M’s Holiday Blend Collection uses six limited-edition package designs built around characters and moments from those three holiday films. The packaging is the new piece here, while the candy inside remains the familiar red and green Holiday Blend.

The collection includes milk chocolate and peanut M&M’s varieties, according to Parade. Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery also reported on Nov. 4 that the lineup features two varieties and six designs, and that the collection is available now at retailers nationwide while supplies last.

That makes this more of a seasonal refresh than an entirely new flavor launch. For shoppers, the main change is what lands in the candy bowl, gift basket, or stocking display. If you use M&M’s for holiday baking, the classic red and green colors still fit cookies, bark, popcorn mix, and dessert boards just as they always do.

Mars’ own M&M’s holiday page also shows the brand’s broader seasonal lineup, including Holiday Mint chocolate candy in a 9.2 oz bag and standard milk chocolate M&M’s in a 10.0 oz bag. Those items sit alongside holiday baking ideas, which helps explain why the company keeps this line closely tied to home entertaining and cookie season.

The movie tie-in and the digital reward offer

The collection also comes with a holiday movie promotion. Parade reported that from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, shoppers who buy three participating M&M’s Holiday Blend packs in a single transaction can receive a promotional code to purchase a digital copy of one of the three featured movies through Fandango Stream.

According to that report, customers must upload a photo of their receipt for approval before receiving the code. Once approved, they can choose Elf, A Christmas Story or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Parade also noted that a free Fandango account is required, but no subscription is necessary.

For households already picking up seasonal candy for baking or entertaining, that offer may be the part that gets the most attention. It turns a grocery purchase into a movie-night bundle, even though the candy itself is still the standard Holiday Blend rather than a brand-new flavor or texture.

Mars has leaned into that movie-night angle before. In a 2025 holiday release, the company described M&M’s as a natural fit for seasonal film watching and holiday baking, a positioning that carries into this year’s collection as the brand uses familiar candy in new packaging and a themed redemption offer.

What it means for shoppers and home bakers

The biggest practical takeaway is availability. The collection is on shelves now, according to the published reports, and it is being sold while supplies last. If you want a specific movie design, it may make sense to shop earlier rather than waiting until late December, especially with seasonal packaging runs that can sell unevenly.

For home bakers, there is no learning curve. Because the product is still Holiday Blend candy in classic seasonal colors, it works the same way in cookies, snack mixes, and dessert toppers. The change is presentation, which matters if you are building gift tins, party favors, or a movie-night spread.

It is also worth separating this release from other recent M&M’s holiday products. Mars’ holiday page highlights Holiday Mint as a limited-edition seasonal item, while this film-themed collection centers on Holiday Blend packaging for milk chocolate and peanut varieties. In other words, shoppers are looking at a branded holiday pack update, not one single brand-new candy formula.

That distinction matters because the headline excitement is really about the crossover between candy and holiday movie nostalgia. For shoppers filling stockings or planning a December baking weekend, the new packaging and digital movie offer are the clearest reasons this M&M’s release is drawing attention early.