Summer Food Frenzy: Best of Business Wars Daily

The restaurant and food industry faces significant operational challenges in 2021, driven by a post-pandemic labor shortage and rising inflation. To attract staff, Papa John’s has implemented bonus programs rather than raising base wages, while Chipotle has opted for both wage increases and referral incentives to fill thousands of vacancies. Simultaneously, consumer goods companies are navigating supply chain costs and inflation; Tillamook has adopted "shrinkflation"—reducing package sizes to maintain price points—while others like Ben & Jerry’s have absorbed costs at the expense of profit margins. Beyond traditional sectors, the food market is diversifying with the rapid growth of canned cocktails and an experimental interest in entomophagy, exemplified by the surge in demand for chocolate-covered cicadas during the Brood X emergence, highlighting a broader shift toward sustainable, protein-rich, and convenient food alternatives.