Gourmet News

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:

Classic Hummus
Red Hot Chili Hummus
Zesty Za’atar Hummus
Baba Ghanouj
Muhammara

Sauces:

Classic Tahini
Shatta (spicy chili sauce)
Toum (Garlic Sauce)

Soups & Stews:

Adas Soup (Spiced Lentil Soup)
Freekeh Soup (Smoked Wheat Kernel)
Mulukhiyeh Stew (Vegan)
Shakshouka Base Stew

Convenient single-serve hummus & dip cups paired with breadsticks, available in bold and exciting flavors.

Classic Hummus with Breadsticks
Roasted Red Pepper with Breadsticks
Zesty Za’atar with Breadsticks
Muhammara with Breadsticks

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Performance Food Group Marks 10 Years on NYSE

Published May 27, 2025

Photo: NYSE

New York Stock Exchange welcomed Performance Food Group on May 27 to the podium to celebrate its 10th anniversary of listing. To honor the occasion, George Holm, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, joined by Chris Taylor, Chief Development Officer, NYSE, rings The Closing Bell.

Performance Food Group Company recently announced the grand opening of its brand-new Grand Western Upper Midwest facility in West Salem, Wis. Formerly known as the La Crosse Meat Plant, this state-of-the-art facility represents a major milestone in advancing the region’s foodservice capabilities. Spanning 60,000 square feet—three times the size of its previous location—the new facility is designed for maximum efficiency and innovation.

“This new facility is a game-changer for our operations and customers,” said Tyler Zimmerman, General Manager of Grand Western Upper Midwest. “The increased capacity and advanced automation allow us to deliver the high-quality products our customers expect—more efficiently than ever before.”

Photo: NYSE

The expansion enables the facility to triple production. It also features a fully equipped kitchen and training center with space for up to 20 participants, supporting ongoing education and hands-on product training for both employees and customers. Grand Western Upper Midwest continues to source premium meats from trusted ranches and farms, offering a robust portfolio that includes PFG-brands such as Braveheart, Ranahan Ranch, Contigo, Allegiance, and Piancone brands across beef, pork, veal, and lamb categories.

With service to eight operating companies via next-day delivery—and extended distribution on weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly schedules—the facility also strengthens PFG’s PFA consolidation program, supporting 42 operating companies nationwide.

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