A closer look at Americans’ drinking habits. Another chain takes a run at co-branding. Plus, why foodservice packaging prices may soar. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Why are Americans drinking less alcohol these days? It’s a good question and one that Datassential sought to answer.

While health and wellness remain a natural reason, several other issues are at play here. Take, for example, economic pressures. More than two thirds of drinkers say alcoholic beverages have gotten more expensive, per Datassential, and more than one third will curb their drinking due to those higher prices.

Plus, nearly half of drinkers say alcohol feels less appealing than in the past and 40% partake in alternative substances, such as cannabis, CBD, or THC.

Foodservice News

• While many chains are starting to eschew delivery-only facilities, Roti Modern Mediterranean is going the opposite direction. The chain opened its first ghost kitchen in Smyrna, Ga., designed to support delivery-only customers in the Atlanta market, per a company release. “Non-traditional locations like ghost kitchens play a critical role in how we grow," said Sara Berthen, vice president of global franchise development at Edible Brands, which acquired Roti in February of 2025. “They allow us to expand strategically, test new markets, and meet today’s customers where convenience matters most, through modern, nontraditional formats.”
• Want further proof that experience matters in today’s foodservice world? Look no farther than Starbucks, which changed the title of its assistant managers to coffee house coaches. This role will focus on “on people and the coffeehouse experience,” per a story on the Starbucks website.
• The semi-finalists have been announced for the 2026 James Beard Awards. The finalists and ultimate award winners will be announced later. That said, just getting to this point represents a tremendous achievement for the individuals and operations on the semi-final list. Kudos and best of luck to all!
• Smithfield Foods has acquired Nathan’s Famous for $450 million, per a Food Dive story. Nathan’s operates or franchises more than 200 restaurants around the world and is world renowned for its hot dog eating contest which takes place each year on New York’s Coney Island. It also makes hot dogs that the company sells in stores, theme parks and other foodservice outlets. Smithfield has held an exclusive license to manufacture Nathan’s Famous within the United States, Canada, and Sam’s Clubs in Mexico since 2014.
• Franchisee OneRyan Global purchased a majority stake in Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, per multiple stories, including this one from Pizza Marketplace.com. OneRyan operators two Mr. Gatti’s Pizza units, including a corporate location it purchased late last year. That deal made Mr. Gatti’s a 100% franchised system. OneRyan also owns the Mr. Gatti’s Family Entertainment Center in Big Spring, Texas.
• Add Famous Dave’s to the growing list of restaurants leaning into developing co-branded locations. The 109-unit barbecue chain will co-brand with Papa Murphy’s in Highland Park, Minn., and with Cold Stone Creamery, in Hermitage, Tenn., with the potential for more locations and combinations to come, per a Restaurant Business story. These chains are all owned by MTY.
• Peet’s Coffee plans to close some locations by the end of the month. This includes units in the Northern California market as well as locations in places like Evanston, Ill. The closures will happen in support parent company JDE Peet’s plans to merge with Keurig Dr. Pepper, per a Restaurant Dive story.
• The price of imported foodservice packaging may be about to increase significantly. As soon as January 23, 2026, duties of high as 540% were set to be imposed on clamshells, thermoformed bowls and other molded-type disposable food packaging from China, per a report from IFMA, The Food Away from Home Association. On the same day, duties of as much as 260% are slated to be imposed on comparable products from Vietnam. 
• Ever wonder where the top places to eat in the U.S. are located? Well, the fine folks at Yelp have done the heavy lifting for you. Its list of the Top 100 U.S. Restaurants 2026 features operations spanning 34 states, including fine-dining rooms, cafes and even budget-friendly counters. This list represents the highest-reviewed restaurants on Yelp.

Economic News

• Initial jobless claims totaled 200,000 for the week-ending January 17, 2026, per data from the U.S. Department of Labor. This represents an increase of 1,000 claims from the previous week. Economists had projected 210,000 claims for the week. The 4-week moving average was 201,500, a decrease of 3,750 from the previous week.
• Despite facing a challenging outlook, consumers were remarkably optimistic at the end of 2025. That was a key takeaway from a January 8, 2026, webcast from Datassential. The market research firm reports 75% of consumers said they are just getting ahead or are falling behind. Further, 49% of consumers said their expenses increased in the past six months. Still, that did not stop 59% of consumers from saying they are optimistic heading into 2026. And 46% of consumers told Datassential they feel their overall quality of life will improve in the coming year.
• Uncertainty is the top economic concern among U.S. CEOs heading into 2026, per a report from The Conference Board, with 43% ranking it as the top threat. In addition, 36% cited the risk of a recession/economic downturn as their top issue. When it comes to boosting their profitability, the top five ways North American CEOs will approach this are business model changes, price increases, marketing spending, head count and merger and acquisition activity. The Conference Board also reviewed this report during a January 15, 2026, webcast.