Foodservice Operators Balance Menu Innovation, Value and Evolving Consumer Trends in October

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October brought a mix of menu innovation, restaurant business developments and shifting consumer trends across the foodservice sector. As operators look to attract customers amid affordability pressures, chains are balancing seasonal launches and core-menu updates with value-oriented offerings. Meanwhile, industry research points to changing expectations around convenience, technology and prepared foods, with emerging trends offering insight into opportunities for foodservice and seafood markets in 2027.

Menu innovation remained a priority, with several chains introducing seasonal offerings and refreshing established favorites. Smashburger...

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PODCAST: Episode 48 - Fueling Food Production: The Volatility of Energy Costs in 2026

Harvest season is well underway and it is the most energy-intensive period of the agricultural year. Meanwhile, the energy cost outlook for the food and agriculture sector remains complex and uncertain. In this episode of Agri-Food for Thought, join Jamie and guest, Senior Forecast Analyst Amanda Rastovic, as they break down the latest in energy market volatility and its impact on the sector.

Listen now.

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USDA Earmarks $472.5 Million in Food Buys, Including $12 Million for Pacific Whiting and $20 Million

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to buy up to $472.5 million in American-grown and American-raised commodities for the charitable food network and other nutrition assistance programs. The purchases run through USDA's Section 32 authority, which the department describes as one of its most direct tools for supporting producers when market conditions are tight. "Through Section 32 authority, USDA can direct funding to support commodity markets during periods of imbalance...

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FDA Finds Nearly Half of Imported Frozen Seafood Samples Short-Weighted

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Ice glaze is a thin protective layer of ice applied to frozen seafood after processing, and the FDA says that including...

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US Shrimpers Petition ITC to Block Indian Shrimp Imports Over Forced Labor

The US shrimp industry, backed by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, has filed a trade action with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking to end imports of Indian shrimp produced "through the reprehensible use of forced labor."

The Section 337 complaint asks the ITC to determine whether forced labor in the supply chains of seafood producer Nekkanti Sea Foods is an unfair trade practice that harms domestic shrimp producers...

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Expana's Weekly Top 10

From climate risks and shipping disruptions to shifting trade policies and seasonal demand, this week’s top stories highlight the pressures reshaping global food and seafood markets. Chile’s salmon sector faces another challenging stretch, US seafood policy is taking a new direction, and tighter protein supplies are keeping prices in focus as retailers prepare for the holiday season.

Find archived recaps here.

Seafood Industry, Production and Trade

10. Chilean Salmon Faces El Niño on Top of ISA, Tariffs and Feed Costs as Harvest Growth Slows by Ryan Doyle...

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Cruz Commits to Markup of Bill Extending Right Whale Pause for Maine Lobstermen

US Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) has committed to moving legislation that would extend the pause on new North Atlantic right whale fishing regulations through 2035. The committee will mark up the bill when the Senate returns in November.

Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Cruz on September 15, asking him to advance the bill. Their letter pressed the committee to act quickly and pointed to a right whale monitoring program run by Maine's Department of Marine Resources...

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Foodservice Operators Balance Menu Innovation, Value and Evolving Consumer Trends in October

Menu innovation remained a priority, with several chains introducing seasonal offerings and refreshing established favorites. Smashburger...

Full Story »

Coast Guard Rescues Five Crew From F/V Oracle Near False Pass, Alaska

The US Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak deployed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to the F/V Oracle in False Pass on October 29 and airlifted all five crew members to safety.

At 4:48 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic received a report that the vessel had run aground on the south end of False Pass with five people aboard. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an...

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SNP’s Call to Action: Strengthen the Country’s Brain Health Infrastructure With Better Nutrition

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The report builds on findings from SNP’s 10th Annual State of the Science Symposium, held September 14 in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Nutrition science, food systems, military health...

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Blue Crab Emergency: Friend of the Sea and WSF Launch an Initiative to Support Italian Fishers

Damaged aquaculture farms, falling production and businesses under pressure: the blue crab emergency continues to weigh heavily on coastal communities along Italy’s Adriatic coast. In parts of Emilia-Romagna, a region in northern Italy, the spread of this invasive species has contributed to a reduction of more than 70% in the production of market-size clams, according to figures released by the regional authorities in August 2026. The crisis threatens not only biodiversity, but also the livelihoods and future of many families...

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Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending October 30, 2026

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expects the war with Iran to end soon, although he offered no details on how the hostilities would be brought to a close.

Trump has previously said the United States would not launch strikes against Iran before the midterm elections.

Meanwhile, a Panama-flagged tanker was hit by two limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the first successful attack of its kind since the US-Iran war began. Trump reportedly sent Iran a letter seeking to revive peace talks, but Tehran has yet to respond.

Below is Expana’s weekly summary of...

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Chile Declares Preventive Emergency in 15 Regions as Algal Bloom Risk Builds Ahead of El Niño Season

Chile has declared a preventive emergency across 15 regions over the threat of harmful algal blooms (HABs), running from November 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The decree, published on October 26, is a precaution, not a response to a specific outbreak. It aims to prepare the country's disaster system before summer, when the risk peaks.

The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service requested the decree, and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service, Sernapesca, supplied the technical...

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Japan’s August Frozen Mackerel Export Rose 10%, Average Price Surged by 60%

According to a Minato Shimbun report, Japanese frozen mackerel exports in August totaled 11,632 metric tons, up 10% from the same month last year. With high landing prices and tight supply-demand conditions persisting, the average export price rose by 60% to 262 yen/kg ($1.66/kg)—the third-highest level on record, following 273 yen/kg ($1.73/kg) in March and 263 yen/kg ($1.66/kg) in May.

By destination, exports to Vietnam—the largest market—fell...

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SalmonChile Warns 26.5% Brazilian VAT Would Make Chilean Salmon Less Affordable

Chile's salmon industry is pressing Brazil to keep salmon off the standard tax rate. During a trip to São Paulo, SalmonChile president Patricio Melero warned that applying a 26.5% VAT would significantly raise the cost of the food basket. He said salmon needs competitive access terms in a market that is Chile's second most important.

The delegation met the Brazilian Supermarket Association (ABRAS) and the São Paulo Supermarket Association (APAS)...

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UK Seafood Market Reaches £4.96 Billion as Purchase Frequency Rises

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Chilled seafood led the gains, with value up 6.2% and volume rising 1.8%. Seafood shopping frequency increased 1.5% year over year, while average spending per trip climbed 2.9%, the report said. The figures indicate the category is retaining consumer engagement despite household budget pressures, and that higher prices are not the only factor...

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Russia's 2027 Pollock Catch Set to Fall 3% on Lower Sea of Okhotsk and Western Bering Sea Stocks

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ANALYSIS: Pacific Halibut Landings Gain Ground as Tight Supply Keeps Prices Elevated

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Wild Fish Conservancy Threatens New Suit Over Alaska Chinook Catches in Area M

The Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) has served notice of intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Alaska state officials. The group says they are failing to manage fisheries that catch Chinook salmon "without federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) oversight of their impacts on threatened and endangered Pacific Northwest Chinook."

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Copernicus Data Supports Aquaculture Planning as Ocean Conditions Shift

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As warming seas increase the risk of harmful algal blooms and aquaculture operations move farther offshore, producers face growing challenges in...

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Krusinski Completes 13,000-SF Santa Monica Seafood Expansion in Rancho Dominguez

Krusinski Construction Company has completed a 13,000-SF interior renovation of Santa Monica Seafood's Rancho Dominguez, California, facility. The project, which Expana reported was underway in August, supports the distributor's packaging, storage and distribution work for customers in more than 40 states.

The fast-track job reconfigured 9,000 SF of warehouse space and added a new 4,000-SF temperature-controlled cooler, held at 35°F, for packaging lines, ambient rooms and refrigeration equipment...

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McDonald’s China Opens First Ocean-themed Restaurant With Focus on Sustainability

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Ocean-inspired elements are incorporated throughout the restaurant from its exterior and communal spaces to the details on individual tables, connecting products, sourcing practices and educational content to help consumers better understand the story behind sustainable seafood...

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ASC Honors Sainsbury’s, MOWI and Seafood Suppliers at 2026 UK Awards

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) recognized retailers, producers and suppliers for their contributions to responsible aquaculture at the MSC and ASC UK Awards 2026, held Oct. 28 at Fishmongers’ Hall in London.

Sainsbury’s, MOWI, Co-op, Waitrose and New England Seafood were among this year’s winners, highlighting efforts to expand the availability of ASC-certified seafood and strengthen environmental and social responsibility across the aquaculture supply chain.

Sainsbury’s received the ASC Supermarket of the Year award for the fifth consecutive year...

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From Pages to Plates: Kura Sushi USA Partners with Nintendo’s Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Game

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Starting Nov. 1, Yosh...

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ADF&G Forecasts 67 Million Pink Salmon for Southeast Alaska in 2027, Largest Run Since 2013

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has forecast a 2027 Southeast Alaska pink salmon harvest of 67 million fish. That would be the largest harvest since 2013 and the fourth highest on record. "The 2027 harvest forecast of 67 million pink salmon would be the largest harvest since 2013 (94.7 million) and would be the 4th highest harvest on record," Andrew Piston, ADF&G's Southeast Alaska Salmon Research Supervisor, wrote.

The forecast rests on juvenile fish...

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Umios Raises Stake in New Zealand's Sanford to 15.5%

Umios Inc. will acquire an additional 10.31% stake in Sanford Limited, a major New Zealand fisheries company, lifting its ownership from 5.22% to 15.53%. The acquisition date is November 2, 2026, and the price is NZ$71,996,607 ($40.4 million).

Umios and its wholly owned subsidiary, Maruha (NZ) Corporation, already hold 5.22% of Sanford. Sanford holds fishing quotas within New Zealand's exclusive economic zone and fishes for hoki, silverfish and scampi. It also farms king salmon and green mussels. Its products are sold in the US, Europe and China...

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Salmon Evolution Keeps 2027 Output Guidance as Phase 2 Ramps, Adds $21.6 Million Credit Line

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Haifa Smoked Fish Recalls Cold-Smoked Sprats Over Botulism Risk

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The FDA said its inspection of the firm's Jamaica, NY, facility found cold-smoked sprats were being produced without the controls required to prevent C. botulinum growth and toxin formation...

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P.F. Chang’s Leans on Nostalgia in New Brand Campaign

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The campaign centers on a new brand spot set to Lukas Graham’s “7 Years,” following guests through milestones such as birthdays and family gatherings and celebrations. The creative highlights signature menu items and dining experiences, including Chang’s Lettuce Wraps and the Great Wall of Chocolate dessert, as the brand encourages former guests to return with their...

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