Miscellaneous

📑 Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since August 2021. She joined Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, previously holding roles like Associate and Assistant Editor. Joanna earned her bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s from CUNY. Her work appears in The New York Times, Forbes, and more. She’s known for covering restaurant industry news and innovations and has moderated events like MUFSO and Restaurants Rise.

🗺️ Ryan Bukstein, known for his work with Ace Hotel and Vacation, is launching a curated travel experience with Dam Dam's founders. This project, influenced by his passion for Japan, highlights collaboration and innovative thinking. Bukstein's firm, SMPL, continues to drive people-focused brand strategies. This initiative underscores the synergy between travel and clean beauty, enhancing both industries and offering unique experiences to participants.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor since 1999 at Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, also wrote for the New York Sun (2005–2008). His expertise includes food trends, French and Asian cuisines. Thorn's column won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Educated at Tufts University and Le Cordon Bleu, he worked for ABC News during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.

📈 The August 2025 jobs report showed a sharp hiring slowdown with only 22,000 jobs added, compared to 491,000 in the first four months of the year. Unemployment hit a 13-month high at 4.3%. Leisure and hospitality added 28,000 roles, while government employment fell by 16,000. Consumer sentiment dropped over 14% from last year, impacting spending. The restaurant industry faces pressures from reduced visits, especially by lower-income consumers, and rising labor costs, now at 36.5% of sales for full-service operators.

🗺️ Advantage Travel Partnership welcomes The Vertical Group to its Advantage Managed Services (AMS). The Group, comprising Instant Holidays, Instant Breaks, Your Holiday Booking, and Holiday Elite, boasts a combined turnover of £110 million. This collaboration aligns with The Vertical Group's growth aspirations and AMS’s expertise in technology, operational support, and commercial strategies. Paul Nunn, COO, and Peter Healey, CEO, highlight the strategic benefits and growth potential of this partnership within the UK travel sector.

🍴 Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 2:00 PM EDT, restaurant leaders are gearing up for the MURTEC Executive Summit in October. Key discussions will revolve around growth models, payment innovations, labor strategies, and corporate culture changes reshaping the restaurant industry. Hosted by Robert Firpo-Cappiello from Hospitality Technology and sponsored by Cox Business, the summit promises insights into 2025's restaurant tech trends. Stay tuned for a preview of these transformative conversations.

💄 BIG BEAUTY, a 10-day celebration, debuts in Covent Garden from September 4-14, 2025. The event features immersive pop-ups like Elemis' Skin Spa, Dolce & Gabbana's lemonade cart, and Ancient and Brave’s collagen coffee bar. Fragrance enthusiasts can explore the ‘Fragrance Garden’ with brands like Jo Malone and Penhaligon’s. The event also offers fitness classes with Peloton, skincare consultations, and masterclasses from beauty giants like Charlotte Tilbury and MAC. Enjoy exclusive offers, interactive sessions, and wellness experiences.

📈 At D-EDGE, 17,000 hotels benefit from an all-in-one platform optimizing distribution. Features include a powerful channel manager for direct and indirect distribution, premium connectivity with partners like Egencia and Booking, and support from an expert team to enhance GDS visibility. Hotels also gain access to preferential travel agency rates and resources, such as the Consortia Guide, for strategic partner selection.

🍗 Wan Kim, CEO of Smoothie King, will expand his restaurant portfolio by opening Flock & Fresh in winter 2025 or early 2026 at Dallas' Old Town Shopping Center. The 2,600 sq. ft. space will seat 42 inside and 42 on an open-air patio. Flock & Fresh will feature wellness dining with cage- and hormone-free chicken, and a variety of house-made sauces. Kim also opened Nuri Steakhouse ($20M) in August 2024 and JOA Grill in 2023.

🍽 Saudi Arabia's foodservice patronage has declined. Consumers prefer purchasing foodservice for regular meals, with Middle Eastern cuisine being the most popular by a significant margin. However, sauces for proteins are generally less appealing in Saudi Arabia compared to other countries.