Once the province of c-stores and grocers, the pandemic ushered in a new era of grab-and-go competitors in the form of restaurants, corporate dining and just about anywhere else that serves food.

With greater reliance on pickup and delivery, brought about by changes in customer behavior during the height of COVID-19, grab-and-go has developed into a natural extension for operators looking to diversify their offerings and capture a bigger slice of the proverbial pie.

Contributor Amanda Baltazar offers an insightful look at the growth of grab-and-go and the potential impact on the industry going forward starting on page 24.

For more insight into the latest operator trends, join editorial director Joe Carbonara as he moderates the FE&S Operators Roundtable Webcast at 1 p.m. (CST) on Feb. 28. A trio of foodservice operators representing three unique segments will exchange their ideas about how the industry has changed for the better in recent years; creative ways operators must approach macroeconomic challenges like labor issues and inflation; and gaze into their crystal balls to offer insights as to where the industry will go in 2023 and beyond. The conversation is sure to be engaging and informative. Register at FESmag.com/operator.

It has been a year now since I first told you about Zoomba Group’s support of Jason Wange and the Foodservice Powerplant Network. Zoomba Group is proud to continue as a supporting partner in Jason’s efforts in this endeavor as he continues to build a community of like-minded people in foodservice based on positive energy,
collaborative work, and a healthy outlook on life. More information is available at fspowerplant.com.

Thank you for your continued readership and we hope to see you at an event very soon.

All the best,

Maureen