Gourmet News

Aldi Promotes Hart to Global Office, McGrath to US CEO

Published May 30, 2025

Aldi U.S. has promoted Jason Hart, Aldi U.S. Chief Executive Officer to join the Executive Board of Aldi South as Group Chief Operating Officer. Hart will help oversee the company’s global operations in Salzburg, Austria, effective Sept. 1. Atty McGrath, currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume the U.S. Chief Executive role.

During his decade-long leadership as CEO, Hart has led the rapid expansion and development of the brand, overseeing the store count nearly double from 1,300 in 32 states to 2,500 across 39 states. Aldi has become the fastest-growing grocer in America, renowned for its employee-first mentality, industry leading sustainability commitments and pledge to serving customers with the lowest prices of any national grocery store.

“I am honored to take on this new role with Aldi supporting our global business,” said Hart. “The growth and positive development of the Aldi brand we’ve achieved together in the U.S. is a tribute to our incredible teams across the business. I look forward to working with Aldi teams around the globe to drive our growth and success.”

McGrath brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this critical role, serving most recently as Chief Operating Officer. McGrath has spent her entire 20-year career with Aldi, holding a variety of positions ranging from district manager, director of operations, division vice president and most recently chief operating officer.

“On behalf of the entire Aldi U.S. team, I extend heartfelt thanks to Jason for his unwavering dedication and remarkable leadership,” said McGrath. “I am excited to build upon our momentum, expand our footprint and continue adapting to serve our customers.”

As part of its aggressive growth strategy, Aldi U.S. plans to open 800 new stores over the next five years, with a target of more than 225 locations opening this year alone, a record for the retailer. Already this year, It has opened 55 stores with 75 more locations set to open this summer in key growth markets such as Arizona, California, Florida and South Carolina as well as established markets like the Midwest and Northeast.

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Darden Restaurants CEO Rings NYSE Opening Bell

Published May 30, 2025

Photo: NYSE

The New York Stock Exchange welcomes Darden Restaurants, Inc. on May 30 to the podium. To honor the occasion, Rick Cardenas, President & Chief Executive Officer, joined by Lynn Martin, President, NYSE Group, rings the Opening Bell.

Darden Restaurants plans to release its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter financial results before the market opens on June 20, 2025, with a conference call to follow at 8:30 am ET. Cardenas and other senior management will discuss fourth quarter results and conduct a question and answer session.

This spring, Darden Restaurants and Uber Technologies, Inc. announced that Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the next Darden brand to pilot on-demand delivery.

Cheddar’s is currently conducting the pilot in 10 restaurants, enabling guests to order delivery directly through the Cheddar’s website and app, while Uber Direct will handle deliveries through Uber’s national delivery network. Following the completion of a successful pilot, Cheddar’s plans to deploy it more broadly across their system.

“We have developed a strong partnership with the Uber Direct team,” said Chris Chang, Chief Information Officer at Darden. “We learned a lot from the initial pilot at Olive Garden, and that, combined with the success of the full rollout, gave us confidence to quickly move to piloting delivery at Cheddar’s.”

“The needs of restaurants are evolving more quickly than ever, and we’re focused on providing world-class solutions to meet those needs,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Vice President of Delivery, Head of Americas at Uber Eats. “We’ve heard excellent feedback from Olive Garden operators on the benefits and ease of integrating Uber Direct into their operations, and are confident our teams can deliver the same benefits for Cheddar’s operators, their team members, and guests.”

Darden is a restaurant company featuring a portfolio of differentiated brands that include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy’s, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, and Bahama Breeze. For more information, visit www.darden.com.

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Mezete Debuts Middle Eastern Food Products at IDDBA Show

Published May 28, 2025

Global demand for authentic international cuisine is booming—and Middle Eastern food is leading the way. Mezete, a Jordan-based brand transforming traditional recipes into convenient, clean-label products, is excited to debut at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association Show, June 1–3 in New Orleans.

With a presence now in over 45 countries, Mezete’s U.S. expansion is fueled by growing consumer demand for bold, plant-based, preservative-free foods. At IDDBA, Mezete will showcase its full range of ready-to-eat dips, sauces, soups, and stews—all made with natural ingredients and no added oils.

“Middle Eastern cuisine is rich in flavor, culture, and nourishment,” said Khaled Kasih, CEO of KASIH Foods, Mezete’s parent company. “We’re proud to share authentic, ready-to-eat Middle Eastern foods crafted with care and integrity, just the way they’re made at home.”

We’re proud to share authentic, ready-to-eat Middle Eastern foods crafted with care and integrity, just the way they’re made at home.

What Makes Mezete Different?

Mezete hummus is made with much higher levels of tahini vs U.S. made brands which provides a velvety smooth texture that you only experience when making it at home or in an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant.
Clean-label, real food: All products are non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, halal, with many gluten-free options.
No preservatives.
No added oils: no cheap fillers or oils.

Not Just Hummus!

While known for its signature hummus, Mezete will present a wide variety of Middle Eastern staples, including:

Dips: