April 2026
Register Now to Reserve Your Badge!
It’s Almost Here! Don’t Miss DMA’s Party at the Post Office
One of the most anticipated events of National Restaurant Show weekend is coming up soon. DMA’s Party at the Post Office returns Friday, May 15, bringing the industry together for an evening of connection, conversation, and celebration.
Each year, the Party at the Post Office is DMA’s favorite way to kick off show weekend. The relaxed environment with iconic views, makes it easy to step away from the busy conference schedule, reconnect with familiar faces, and build new relationships across the chain community. Operators, distributors, supplier partners, and DMA leadership will all be in attendance, making it a great opportunity to start the weekend on a high note.
Whether you join us for a quick stop or stay for the entire evening, enjoy light appetizers, drinks, and great conversation with industry peers.
Event Details
Friday, May 15 | 5:00–8:00 PM
Old Post Office Rooftop – Chicago
If you haven’t already, register today to reserve your badge and plan to join us for an evening you won’t want to miss!
April in Motion
As April wraps up, momentum across foodservice continues to build. Not through broad expansion, but through smarter, more intentional moves. Operators are prioritizing execution and portfolio discipline, distributors are optimizing networks amid ongoing cost volatility, and suppliers are adjusting strategies to support targeted growth.
Here’s a look at the stories shaping foodservice right now — and what they could mean for all of us.
Industry News
Technomic’s Market of the Month - Provo, UT
Provo, UT Market Spotlight: High Growth with a Young, Affluent Consumer Base
Provo is emerging as a high‑growth foodservice market, driven by a uniquely young population and accelerating sales momentum. According to Technomic’s Ignite Company market‑level insights, the market includes approximately 1,580 foodservice locations and is projected to reach nearly $1.9B in 2025 retail‑equivalent sales, with continued strength fueled by 8.7% growth in 2025 and a robust 10.3% forecast for 2026.
While it ranks as the 92nd‑largest U.S. market by foodservice sales, Provo offers a compelling mix of momentum and opportunity — making it an attractive option for brands looking to expand in less saturated, high‑growth regions.
Youth & Income Shaping Demand
Provo’s demographics point to strong frequency potential and rising spending power, particularly among younger households and higher‑income families.
Key demographic insights:
Population: ~733K (0.3% of the U.S.)
Over‑indexing children and young adults (ages 0–17 and 18–24)
Over‑indexing households earning $100K–$149K
More than 25% of households earning $150K+
Over‑indexing White population
These dynamics create opportunities for brands that emphasize value, convenience, and speed, particularly across limited‑service, pizza, sandwich, Mexican, and beverage‑led concepts. For operators and distributors alike, Provo represents a market where growth is being driven by sustained demographic momentum rather than density alone.
Learn more about [Technomic Ignite Company Industry Market Size Data]
Industry News (Continued)
Sauces Emerge as a Low-Cost Driver of Menu Innovation
April industry insights highlight sauces as a simple, high-impact way for operators to differentiate menus without adding significant cost or operational complexity. Rather than developing new core menu items, brands are using sauces to quickly introduce bold flavors, test LTOs, and refresh existing platforms.
Key advantages include:
Low-cost way to create perceived menu innovation
Flexibility to layer flavor across multiple existing items
Ability to test concepts with minimal operational disruption
Consumer demand is also shifting toward more complex and globally inspired flavor profiles, making sauces an increasingly important tool for staying relevant while protecting margins.
For distributors and suppliers, this reinforces opportunity in scalable flavor systems — particularly sauces, seasonings, and value-added ingredients that help operators innovate without increasing complexity.
Consumer Behavior Shifts Extend Beyond Pricing Into Consumption Patterns
New April analysis highlights a structural shift in how consumers are eating — not just what they’re paying. According to recent industry reporting and data shared in April, the growing adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss medications is beginning to materially impact food consumption behavior across both grocery and foodservice.
With a meaningful share of U.S. adults now using appetite-suppressing medications, consumers are:
Eating fewer calories overall
Reducing frequency of both grocery and restaurant purchases
Prioritizing protein-dense and portion-controlled options
In response, major restaurant brands are already adjusting menus toward higher-protein offerings, simplified portions, and functional nutrition positioning.
For distributors and suppliers, this shift signals a longer-term evolution in demand — where product mix, portion sizing, and nutritional positioning may become as important as price in driving operator decisions.
Store News
Chili’s becomes the second‑largest U.S. casual‑dining chain
Chili’s passed Olive Garden to claim the No. 2 spot in casual dining, driven by more than 20% year‑over‑year sales growth despite closing locations rather than expanding footprint. Full Story
Church’s Texas Chicken signs major franchise deal for China entry
Church’s announced its largest international development agreement to date, targeting more than 600 restaurants across China, beginning with a Shanghai opening this summer. Full Story
Denny’s names Chris Bode CEO and unveils turnaround strategy
Denny’s promoted longtime COO Chris Bode to CEO and launched “Project Grand Slam,” focused on menu innovation, remodels, catering, retail, and digital transformation. Full Story
Domino’s expects competitors to close more pizza locations
Domino’s leadership said Papa Johns and Pizza Hut are likely to close additional restaurants in 2026 as discounting pressures strain profitability, positioning Domino’s to gain further market share. Full Story
Jersey Mike’s files confidential IPO documents
Jersey Mike’s submitted confidential IPO paperwork, setting up what could be one of the restaurant industry’s most closely watched public offerings in years. Full Story
Store News (Continued)
Marco’s Pizza signs 12‑unit Southern California development deal
Marco’s expanded its West Coast momentum with a new 12‑unit agreement in Southern California. Full Story
P.F. Chang’s reports early progress on turnaround initiatives
Leadership shared early gains tied to menu simplification, value offers, and guest experience improvements during April industry discussions. Full Story
Red Lobster brings back Endless Shrimp for the first time since bankruptcy
Red Lobster reintroduced Endless Shrimp on a limited basis, positioning the promotion as a more disciplined traffic driver following restructuring. Full Story
Starbucks says its turnaround momentum is building
Starbucks reported stronger transaction growth and positive same‑store sales trends during its Q2 earnings call, citing store remodels, service standards, and beverage innovation as key drivers of its turnaround strategy. Full Story
Executives on the Move
Leadership changes across major brands continue to reflect where the industry is investing for the future:
Bagel & Co. promoted Kevin Armantrout to Chief Executive Officer, elevating the former COO to lead the fast‑growing bagel concept as it accelerates regional expansion and strengthens its leadership team. Full Story
Chicken Salad Chick appointed Brian Lindley Chief Development Officer, bringing former Popeyes leadership experience to drive franchised growth through smaller footprints and non‑traditional locations. Full Story
Chipotle Mexican Grill named Fernando Machado Chief Brand Officer, adding the former Burger King and Activision Blizzard marketing leader to sharpen global brand strategy and storytelling. Full Story
Denny’s promoted Christopher Bode to President and Chief Executive Officer, tasking the longtime operations executive with leading the brand’s multi‑year “Project Grand Slam” turnaround strategy. Full Story
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers strengthened its development leadership team, appointing Rafik Farouk Vice President of Business Development and Jackie Lobdell Vice President of Franchise Sales to support continued system expansion. Full Story
Executives on the Move (Continued)
Jack in the Box added former P.F. Chang’s CEO Eduardo Luz to its Board of Directors, bringing additional restaurant leadership experience as the company works through a multi‑year transformation. Full Story
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream named former Ben & Jerry’s CEO David Stever as Chief Executive Officer, bringing deep consumer packaged goods and brand‑scaling expertise to the premium ice cream company.Full Story
McDonald’s created a new U.S. Chief Operating Officer role, appointing Skye Anderson to oversee operations, supply chain, technology, and development across the domestic system. Full Story
Starbucks hired Stephen Piacentini as Chief Development Officer, leaning on his Chipotle background to support store renovations and long‑term development initiatives tied to its turnaround plan. Full Story
Topgolf named Jay Spears Chief Information Officer, adding technology leadership as the experiential dining brand continues investing in digital platforms and proprietary tech. Full Story
Women’s Foodservice Forum appointed Ellie Doty Chief Brand Officer, tapping the former Chili’s and Burger King marketing executive to expand the organization’s reach and industry engagement. Full Story
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Supply Chain News
Fuel Volatility and Freight Constraints Tighten Distribution Economics
Fuel markets re‑introduced meaningful cost pressure across foodservice distribution in April, as higher diesel prices, geopolitical disruption, and tightening freight capacity converged. According to ITS Logistics’ April Supply Chain Report, diesel price increases tied to global energy volatility are driving fuel surcharges, while trucking availability continues to tighten across multiple regions.
For foodservice distributors, transportation and warehousing remain among the most difficult costs to manage. Multi‑stop delivery routes, lower‑density geographies, and cold‑chain requirements heighten sensitivity to fuel and freight fluctuations. Distributors are responding by reassessing delivery frequency, optimizing routes, and closely reviewing fuel surcharge mechanisms tied to benchmark indices.
Key implications across the distribution network include:
Increased focus on route density and order consolidation
Greater scrutiny of fuel surcharge structures and recovery timing
Ongoing evaluation of delivery cadence by customer and geography
Heightened coordination with operators to balance service reliability and cost‑to‑serve
At the same time, broader logistics data shows warehouse capacity has contracted even as inventories remain relatively lean. This signals structural network constraints rather than volume expansion, reinforcing the importance of inventory placement and throughput planning. For operators and suppliers, accurate forecasting and disciplined ordering remain critical to supporting efficient, cost‑effective distribution.
Supply Chain News (Continued)
Supply Chain Resilience Becomes a Strategic Priority
April survey data from Lineage highlighted a clear shift in food and beverage supply chain strategy: resilience has overtaken pure cost reduction as the top strategic focus. Respondents cited tariff uncertainty, geopolitical disruption, and regulatory complexity as ongoing factors influencing logistics decisions well into 2026.
Foodservice and CPG companies are increasingly prioritizing investments that enhance flexibility and visibility rather than relying on excess capacity. Cold‑chain infrastructure, data transparency, and partner collaboration were identified as especially important as demand for refrigerated and frozen products continues to grow.
Areas receiving increased focus include:
Real‑time data visibility across transportation and storage
Automation and predictive analytics to improve responsiveness
Stronger third‑party logistics partnerships
Network designs that emphasize adaptability over scale
For distributors, these findings underscore the importance of reliable execution, cold‑chain integrity, and proactive communication. As volatility persists, the ability to adjust quickly — and keep partners informed — is becoming a competitive differentiator.
Economic Pulse
Energy Prices Drive Inflation Higher as Foodservice Cost Pressure Persists
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.9% in March, with data released in early April. The increase was driven largely by energy, as gasoline prices posted one of the largest monthly increases in years. While food at home edged lower, food away from home continued to rise, reflecting sustained labor, rent, and operating cost pressure within restaurants.
For foodservice operators, the data reinforces an uneven cost environment heading into late spring. Energy‑driven inflation affects not only consumer budgets, but also utilities, distribution, and transportation — all of which indirectly impact restaurant margins. While some commodity inputs are stabilizing, overall operating costs remain elevated.
Notable takeaways from the April CPI release include:
Energy costs were the primary inflation driver
Food away from home prices continued to rise
Consumer spending remains selective and value‑focused
Operators face limited pricing power without traffic impact
From a demand perspective, consumers continue to weigh dining occasions carefully as household expenses fluctuate. Operators are responding by emphasizing clarity in value, simplifying menus, and tightening execution rather than relying solely on additional price increases. For distributors and suppliers, the data reinforces the importance of planning accuracy and predictable demand to support pricing stability and service consistency.
Regulatory Update
DOL Proposes New Joint Employer Rule Impacting Franchise Systems
In late April, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a new rule aimed at clarifying joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and other federal labor statutes. The proposal seeks to establish a single nationwide standard, addressing inconsistencies that have emerged across federal courts in recent years.
For franchise systems and multi‑employer operating models, joint employer definitions carry significant implications. When joint employment is established, multiple entities may share responsibility for wage compliance, overtime, and other employment obligations. The proposed rule emphasizes a four‑factor analysis focused on control over hiring, supervision, pay, and employment records, providing clearer guardrails for compliance.
While the rule is still in the proposal stage, it signals continued regulatory attention on franchised and outsourced labor models. Foodservice operators, distributors, and franchise brands are closely monitoring the measure, as any changes could influence contracting strategies, workforce management practices, and legal exposure. As with prior labor rulemaking, stakeholder feedback and legal challenges are expected before final implementation.
USDA Announces FSIS Reorganization and New Food Safety Center
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced an organizational restructure in April, including the creation of a National Food Safety Center in Iowa and expanded scientific operations in Georgia. The reorganization is designed to modernize agency operations, streamline administrative support, and strengthen data‑driven food safety oversight.
According to USDA, the changes will not disrupt frontline inspection services, but aim to improve laboratory capacity, coordination, and long‑term regulatory effectiveness. While largely structural, the move reflects ongoing investment in food safety infrastructure amid increasing scrutiny of supply chain integrity, traceability, and compliance.
For distributors, manufacturers, and operators, the update reinforces the continued importance of food safety systems, documentation, and regulatory alignment. As agencies modernize oversight capabilities, expectations around compliance, transparency, and data accuracy are likely to increase over time.
