George Hajjar

New York

Reporter, Special Projects Editor at The Food Institute

Book Reviewer at Foreword Reviews

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Articles

Foodservice Focus: Consumers Can’t Get Enough of Texas Roadhouse, Chick-fil-A

3 days ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

Chick-fil-A’s 11-year dominance in the QSR space indicates it is getting something right in terms of customer satisfaction; meanwhile, sales rates slip, foreboding a tenuous period for foodservice operators. Moreover, the chain has hit a stagnation point, as U.S. sales only grew by 5.4% in 2024, providing opportunities for other QSRs to gain market share.
Amazon Prime Day Expansion May Dilute Sales

4 days ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

Amazon reportedly is expanding its Prime Day sales from two days to four, giving consumers and sellers nervous about tariffs and the economy in general a break and targeting younger shoppers with discount subscriptions to Prime. This year’s “Christmas in July” sale will run July 8-11, Reuters reported. A survey of 1,000 adults by Algolia indicated 87% of consumers plan to shop summer sales and 69% wait for such events as Amazon Prime Day.
Cannes Lions Event Reveals Real Secret to Food Marketing ROI

5 days ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

CANNES, France – This year at the Cannes Lions festival, the most awarded food campaigns didn’t seduce with taste. They converted with strategy. If you still think food marketing is about glossy ads and sentimental taglines, you’re sorely behind the competition. The most recognized work at Cannes Lions 2025 proved that utility, creativity, and commerce are not only separate lanes, they’re the same highway.
It’s Getting Difficult to Keep Pace with Walmart

5 days ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

Home>Food RetailIt’s Getting Difficult to Keep Pace with Walmart Earlier this month, Walmart executives presented at a pair of industry conferences. Given the retailer’s massive reach and the uncertainty in the economic environment, stakeholders asked each about the general state of the consumer. Both gave similar answers. At an Oppenheimer & Co. conference on June 9, Walmart Inc.
Baby Boomers: A Restaurant’s Reliable Friend

1 week ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

Home>FoodserviceBaby Boomers: A Restaurant’s Reliable Friend Despite dining out less frequently than younger demographic cohorts, the generation of Baby Boomers still holds the largest portion of wealth and provides a reliable consumer base for foodservice’s bottom line. The generation’s value proposition comes from Boomers’ reliability.
Energy Drink Makers Navigate a Choppy Environment

1 week ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

To look solely at stock charts, one would think status quo in the energy drink segment has returned. Monster Beverage shares are up 20% so far in 2025 and 23% over the past twelve months. That’s a strong performance in an environment with a lot of volatility, concerns around tariffs, and still-lingering inflation.
As Importers Race the Clock, Cargo Surges

1 week ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

Home>Supply ChainAs Importers Race the Clock, Cargo Surges Analysts portend a summer surge in retail cargo heading into July and August as businesses ready their supplies for the back-to-school season and Q3 and Q4 holiday rush. This year, however, monthly traffic will likely remain below last year as consumers exhibit cautious spending behaviors.
Wrap It Up: Fast-Food Chains Bet Big on Boneless Chicken

2 weeks ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

McDonald’s has decided that it’s no longer a wrap on its Snack Wrap. The long-lost menu item will be making its return to the Golden Arches on July 10, after a nine-year hiatus. The McDonald’s Snack Wrap isn’t the only such hand-held menu item that’s making its way onto menus; Popeyes, for example, also launched a new chicken wrap item recently. McDonald’s pulled the wrap from its menu in 2016 as a way to make “operational improvements,” according to an article by Restaurant Business.
Feeling Peachy: Summer Darling Leads Beverage Innovation

2 weeks ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

Home>FoodserviceFeeling Peachy: Summer Darling Leads Beverage Innovation From 2024 flavor of the year to summertime menu hero, retailers and CPG companies continue to experiment with peach-inspired ingredients to innovate today’s offerings. There’s little doubt – peaches are in, finding their way into beverages across myriad channels.
5 Thriving Fast-Food Chains in 2025

2 weeks ago | foodinstitute.com | George Hajjar

Home>Foodservice5 Thriving Fast-Food Chains in 2025 We’ve surpassed the midway point of the year, and I remain confident that 2025 will prove to be a solid year for fast-food and fast-casual restaurant chains. Same-store sales are up. And, there’s no longer the labor problem that we recently had. Yes, tariffs are absolutely a thing, and costs are going up.