Food, Beverage & Agriculture · Week of Nov 2, 2026
Holiday promotions and new openings: the week in food releases
Holiday promotions and gifting dominated, alongside restaurant openings in new formats and markets and a $915 million ethanol acquisition.
Seasonal marketing ran through much of the week's news. Yesway started holiday promotions on November 4 that run through January 5, 2027, including Hatch chile salsas, daily free items for Rewards members and a truck sweepstakes. KFC announced what it calls its largest global collaboration to date, a Doctor Doom-inspired menu tied to Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Doomsday" in 100 countries. Omaha Steaks expanded its business gifting program for the 2026 holiday season. OpenTable's 2027 Dining Trends Report says 76% of Americans expect to spend the same or more on dining out next year.
Restaurant openings made up the other main thread. Paris Baguette opened its first drive-thru in Moore, Oklahoma. FARE opened its first location outside Illinois, in Charlotte. Aries is set to open on the rooftop of Hotel La Jolla after an investment of more than $1 million. In agriculture and fuels, the largest deal of the week was The Andersons' agreement to acquire Harvestone Low Carbon Partners and its three ethanol plants for $915 million.
Yesway, Inc.
Yesway Brings Holiday Cheer, Savings and Friendly Competition to Its Stores this Holiday Season
Yesway announced holiday promotions at participating Yesway and Allsup's stores from November 4, 2026, through January 5, 2027. The program includes 49-cent Hatch chile salsas with a hot food purchase, 10- to 25-cent per-gallon fuel discounts and a sweepstakes with a 2026 Ford F-150 Lariat as the grand prize, across what the company says are more than 420 stores in eight states.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
KFC Brings the Doom: New Marvel-Inspired Menu Lands Ahead of Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Doomsday"
KFC announced a limited-time Doctor Doom-inspired menu tied to Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Doomsday," available from 9 November in select markets through January 2027, which it says is its largest global collaboration to date at 100 countries. The menu will not be offered in the United States, India or China, and offerings vary by market.
The Andersons, Inc.
The Andersons, Inc. to Acquire Harvestone Low Carbon Partners, Expanding Ethanol Production Capacity and Low-Carbon Fuels Capabilities
The Andersons, Inc. agreed to acquire Harvestone Low Carbon Partners from Energy Capital Partners for $915 million, adding three ethanol plants in North Dakota and Indiana with about 215 million gallons of annual production. The company says about half the price is attributed to expected 45Z and 45Q tax credit cash flows, and the combined platform would have about 730 million gallons of annual capacity once the deal closes, expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early in the first quarter of 2027.
OpenTable, Inc.
From Payday to Showtime, OpenTable Reveals Americans Are Finding New Reasons to Dine Out in 2027
OpenTable released its 2027 Dining Trends Report, saying dining on its platform rose 11% year-over-year in 2026 and dining through OpenTable Experiences rose 51%. In its survey, 58% of Gen Z expect to increase dining spending in 2027, compared with 44% of Americans overall, and 40% of Americans say entertainment or live events will lead them to dine out more often.
Omaha Steaks
Omaha Steaks Nears 5 Million Corporate Gifts, Expands Business Gifting Program and Holiday Resources
Omaha Steaks expanded its business gifting program with redesigned gift certificates, simpler online redemption and holiday planning resources, and says it expects to pass 5 million corporate gifts sent since 2000 by the end of 2026. Certificates have no minimum order, and the company sets deadlines of Dec. 11 for mailed certificates for Christmas delivery and Dec. 23 for e-certificates.
Paris Baguette
Paris Baguette Opens First-Ever Drive-Thru Location in Moore, Oklahoma, Marking a Major Brand Milestone
Paris Baguette opened its first drive-thru café on Nov. 3 in Moore, Oklahoma, operated by franchisees Mike Issa and Moe Touffaha. It is the brand's 346th North American café and its 62nd opening this year, and the company says it has 600 more locations in development.
FARE/ MATTIO Communications
FARE OPENS IN CHARLOTTE, BRINGING SEASONAL, CLEAN EATING TO NORTH CAROLINA
FARE opened its 11th restaurant, at Queensbridge Collective in Charlotte, N.C., on November 6, 2026, its first location outside Chicago and Illinois. The company says its menu contains no seed oils, refined sugars or ultra-processed ingredients.
Aries La Jolla
A New Spark for San Diego's Coastal Jewel: Aries Ushers in a New Social Era for La Jolla
Aries, an 11th-floor rooftop restaurant and lounge at Hotel La Jolla, part of Hilton's Curio Collection, debuts November 11, 2026, backed by an investment exceeding $1 million. The venue replaces a rooftop restaurant that historically catered to overnight guests and is being repositioned for locals and visitors, with a private event space for up to approximately 100 guests.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not Seedtime Money reporting.