In this episode, Justin and Ray react to Alinea losing its third star and what this means for the Michelin Guide in 2025. Justin then breaks down how Michelin's "meta" has changed and how restaurant owners should be looking at the Guide.Ray breaks down the claim that "Dining Out Is Dead" and discusses the beef price-fixing accusations by the DOJ against major beef companies. Justin then shares an article he read regarding food critics and how they could change (for better or worse).

Links:

• Grant Achatz Instagram Post

• Michelin Guide Ceremony Announcement

• Death of Dining Out (YouTube)

• Beef Price Fixing – Trump DOJ Case (AP)

• The Man in the Arena Problem (Substack)

  
  

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In this episode, we dive into the Uncrustables lawsuit against Trader Joe’s and what it signals for the future of food product development, intellectual property, and the battle between CPG giants and private labels. As Smucker’s defends its iconic crustless sandwich, we explore how legal strategies are becoming a new line of defense in a fiercely competitive grocery landscape.We also cover the biggest food and beverage headlines shaking the industry this week:📉 Chipotle’s sales decline among low-income and Gen Z consumers🍗 KFC's shift away from bone-in chicken — is the fried chicken era changing?🥫 Heinz consumer sentiment hits decade lows ahead of a major corporate split🧠 Gen Z’s anti-algorithm movement and how it's reshaping digital food discovery🚨 The evolving SNAP shutdown fallout, with DoorDash, Feeding America, and ABC News sharing critical updates🥑 Whole Foods' 2026 food trend predictions — what's next in natural foods?💼 Whether you're in food tech, brand strategy, or retail operations, this episode unpacks the legal and market shifts shaping tomorrow’s menus and grocery aisles.👇 Explore the full stories below:

• Uncrustables Lawsuit (Reuters)

• Uncrustables & Private Label (Food Dive)

• Chipotle Sales Slump

• Heinz Sentiment Drop (Bloomberg)

• KFC Ditches Bones

• Anti-Algorithm Movement

• Whole Foods 2026 Trends

• DoorDash Waives Fees (SNAP Shutdown)

• Feeding America (Shutdown Impact)

• ABC: How to Help Food Banks

  
  

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In this episode, Ray breaks down the recent AWS outage and the devastating impact it had on restaurants. He discusses the Trump administration's proposal on beef imports from Argentina and the fight over Prop 12 in the upcoming farm bill. Ray also covers Nestle's announcement of 16k job cuts, the rally in Beyond Meat's stock, and a new cookbook utilizing recipes from gravestones.

• AWS Outage Disrupts Restaurants (NRN)

• Houston Restaurant Loses 25% of Business (Chron)

• Reddit AWS Outage Response (Toast)

• Argentina Beef Policy (AP)

• Prop 12 Policy Fight (Civileats)

• Joel Salatin Congressional Statement

• Nestlé Cuts 16K Jobs

• Beyond Meat Meme Stock Surge

• Gravestone Recipe Cookbook (Rosie Grant)

  
  

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In this episode, Ray and Justin dive into the recent viral video by More Perfect Union, discussing how Sysco has become the largest food distributor in the country, and how this may affect the similarity of flavors amongst restaurants. Their answers may surprise you, especially when it comes to Sysco's perceived reach. Justin shares about social media users wanting more in-person experience and the decline of online usage from younger generations, Silo closing, EMP's reintroduction of meat, an interesting graphic on consumer goods, and more. Ray discusses the massive drop in Beyond Meat shares and the battle brewing between Logan Paul and Lionel Messi over their hydration beverage brands.

Links:

• Restaurants All Taste the Same (More Perfect Union)

• Greg Isenberg on Internet Direction

• Sam Parr’s AI Advice

• Beyond Meat Plummets After Debt Swap

• 2x2 Product Ranking (Connor Fowler)

• Logan Paul vs. Lionel Messi Lawsuit (Prime Hydration)

• Tom Sietsema on Food Reviews (Washingtonian)

• Menu Photo AI

  
  

  • ⁠7shifts Restaurant Tech Video⁠

  • ⁠7shifts Digital Prep List Report + Quiz

    
    

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In this weekly report: Tyson Foods has settled a record-breaking lawsuit, in which it was accused of conspiring with other pork producers to fix prices. The government shutdown may have effects on the food industry, EJ Lagasse gets 3 stars in the NY Times, and Amazon is creating its own grocery brand for low-cost consumers.Ray breaks down the recent Restaurant Performance Index, and shares some lessons he found from a chef with 30 years of experience in r/KitchenConfidential. 0:00 Intro0:34 Tyson Price Fixing06:54 7Shifts Ad07:34 Government Shutdown12:40 EJ Lagasse NY Times Review19:08 Amazon’s New Grocery Brand21:08 Restaurant Performance Index24:30 Ramblings of an Old Chef

• 7shifts Restaurant Tech Video

• 7shifts Digital Prep List Report + Quiz

Links:

• Tyson Price Fixing Settlement

• Government Shutdown & Food Industry

• EJ Lagasse Revives Emeril’s (NYT Review)

• Amazon's New Grocery Brand

• Restaurant Performance Index

• Ramblings Of An Old Chef (Reddit)

  
  

  
  

In this episode, Justin breaks down the recent collaboration between Airbnb and Chef's Table and how utilizing Airbnb events could be a major win for chefs. He also discusses the Food & Wine awards, the impact of LLMs on restaurant recommendations, a new book he's interested in, and more. Ray discusses the coming matcha shortage, some consumer data from the National Restaurant Association, and a key restaurant that is opening next month.

• 7shifts Restaurant Tech Video⁠

• ⁠7shifts Digital Prep List Report + Quiz

  
  

  Links:

  • Airbnb Chef’s Table Experiences

  • Matcha Shortage

  • Food & Wine – Best New Chefs List

  • Eater – Most Influential Restaurants

  • High-Earner Diners

  • New Rules of Dining Out (Book)

  • Slob Bowls (YouTube)

  • Flynn McGarry Opens Cove

  
  

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In this episode, Ray breaks down a New York Times Article, sharing how sushi has become a dietary commodity. He discusses Starbucks' massive layoff announcement, the cut to a USDA hunger report, why Americans are not eating breakfast, and offers advice to a Reddit user leaving the restaurant industry.

• 7shifts Restaurant Tech Video

• 7shifts Digital Prep List Report + Quiz

  
  

  Links:

  • Sushi as Commodity (NYT)

  • Starbucks Layoffs

  • USDA Cancels Food Insecurity Report

  • Skipping Breakfast in America

  • Reddit Advice (Kitchen Closure)

    
    

    Intro 00:00

    Sushi 00:28

    7shifts 10:46

    Starbucks Layoffs 11:26

    USDA 15:42

    Breakfast 22:13

    Leaving Restaurants 26:10

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In this episode, Ray breaks down how close to 10% of Americans are using Ozempic, and how this is affecting restaurants. He also breaks down the real reason behind Tesla creating a diner, and how the Pumpkin Spice Latte crushed expectations for Starbucks. He discusses the reporting mistakes made by Beyond Meat, breaks down how restaurants performed in July, examines a major food company breakup, and shares his thoughts on a new beverage trend. (Photo in thumbnail: Ye Fan for The New York Times)

Links:

• Ozempic (NYT)

• Radio Iowa (Ozempic impact)

• Fast Company (Culina AI Chef)

• Tesla Diner (NYT)

• Starbucks (Pumpkin Spice)

• Beyond Meat Bankruptcy Rumor

• Restaurant Performance Index

• Kraft Heinz Split

• Dirty Soda Trend

  
  

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In this episode, Justin breaks down how Chefs are now making $100,000 more than ever before and why this trend is a major positive for the industry. He also shares reporting from the LA Times on a new restaurant transitioning from fine dining to casual, a restaurant closure in Washington, D.C., and a Business Insider piece on a Michelin-starred restaurant managing finances during this challenging time.Ray shares about a restaurant in Mexico City that charges customers only what they can afford, and how this is inspiring others in the industry to follow suit. He also shares about a new Netflix cooking competition that is taking place at The Culinary Institute of America, the trend of brand collabs, and how a variety of cabbage is taking over the London food scene.

Links:

• $100K Chef

• LA Times (Pasjoli)

• Reverie Closing

• Masal y Maiz

• Food Collabs

• CIA Show (Netflix)

• Cabbage (NYT)

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In this episode, Ray discusses an article by Chef Nick Curtin of Alouette. He discusses Chef's view on how foraging has impacted the food system of Denmark, and what we can take away from this impact. Ray then discusses how the Federal Takeover of D.C. has destroyed restaurant reservations. He then looks at how fast casual restaurants are not doing well, how honey is taking over consumer diets, and why AI displacements mean more workers in the food industry.

(Cover photo from Eater article)

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:45 Foraging Ruining Restaurants

14:07 DC Restaurants

20:29 Minimal Catch Up

22:13 Fast Casual Dining

28:36 Honey Consumption

30:38 AI Displacement

_____________________

Links:

• ⁠Foraging Trend⁠

• ⁠DC Restaurants 1⁠

• ⁠DC Restaurants 2⁠

• ⁠Fast Food⁠

• ⁠Honey⁠

• ⁠AI Chipotle⁠

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