by Tim Powell | Sep 11, 2025 | Blog
Alcohol moderation, functional ingredients, and the future of on-premise choices For decades, alcohol was the unquestioned centerpiece of socializing among younger adults. Today, that dominance is under review. While college campuses remain hubs for binge drinking,...
by Tim Powell | Sep 11, 2025 | Blog
In an industry where partnerships and franchising dominate, RaceTrac’s recent acquisition of Potbelly Sandwich Works is a strategic outlier. Rather than licensing or co-locating a brand within its c-store network, RaceTrac has opted for a full equity purchase—a...
by Tim Powell | Aug 28, 2025 | Blog
The Economic Backdrop As we pause this Labor Day, the broader economic picture is hard to ignore. Rising home prices, higher mortgage rates, and day-to-day inflation have shifted how consumers approach spending. Behavioral economists like Kahneman, Tversky, and Thaler...
by Tim Powell | Aug 26, 2025 | Blog
Reinvention is never easy. Legacy brands that built their reputations over decades often find themselves caught between the pull of loyal customers and the push to attract a new generation. The challenge is not just knowing what to change but also how quickly to move....
by Tim Powell | Aug 19, 2025 | Blog
When Washington announced billions in CHIPS Act funding to support Intel’s domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity, many observers were surprised. Why Intel and not NVIDIA? After all, NVIDIA has become the market leader in artificial intelligence chips,...
by Tim Powell | Aug 14, 2025 | Blog
The second half of 2025 and early 2026 will test the resilience and adaptability of food-away-from-home and grab-and-go operators. Economic signals are mixed: inflationary pressures are easing in some categories, while stubborn cost increases persist elsewhere. Labor...
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