Food & Drink

Akron, Ohio – October 06, 2026 -- Swensons Drive-In has reversed a recent change to its burgers, restoring the original locally baked buns, hand-buttering method, and classic vertical toasters across all of its Ohio locations.

Guests rejected a recent bun and toaster test

The Akron-based chain, known for its sprinting Curb Servers, had tested new buns and toasters before reverting the change. CEO Jeff Flowers said the Swensons community made clear the update "was not their favorite," prompting the company to bring back the toasted, flaky bun that anchors burgers like the Galley Boy, Double Cheeseburger, and Fried Bologna.

Fresh buns now arrive from Akron multiple times a week

Swensons confirmed the restored buns are delivered fresh from Akron several times weekly and prepared using the chain's original buttering process and vertical toasters, the same setup used throughout much of its 92-year history.

Dallas – October 06, 2026 -- Dave & Buster's has rolled out a limited-time Halloween menu, a new zombie escape game and restocked Human Crane prizes at its U.S. locations, building toward two ticketed parties on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Halloween falls on a Saturday for the first time since 2020

The National Retail Federation's annual survey projects that 74% of U.S. consumers plan to celebrate this year, with total spending expected to hit $13.5 billion. Jeremy Tucker, Chief Marketing Officer at Dave & Buster's, said the company is "showing up for a night people already plan to celebrate, with a menu that looks and tastes like Halloween and the kind of play you can't get at a restaurant or a bar."

Sacramento – October 06, 2026 -- Marianne's Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC®) Avocado Oil and Organic Avocado Oil are rolling into more than 800 Target stores nationwide this fall, giving shoppers access to what the brand says is the only Seed Oil Free Certified® avocado oil currently on shelves.

The launch comes less than a year after Marianne's entered broader retail and follows a 2026 UC Davis research study that found the majority of products labeled "made with 100% pure avocado oil" were actually adulterated with cheaper oils. Marianne's was named the benchmark for purity in that study, the standard every other brand was measured against.

Louisville, Ky. – October 05, 2026 -- SVEDKA Vodka Water is extending its transparent-can branding into a line of see-through tailgate gear, with the Clearest Gameday Collection going on sale October 9th at prices ranging from $4 to $90.

The collection turns stadium clear-bag rules into a fashion statement

Inspired by the brand's transparent vodka water can, the limited-edition lineup includes clear fashion and lifestyle items designed for tailgates, watch parties, and stadium seating. Each piece draws on one of SVEDKA Vodka Water's four flavors -- Strawberry, Peach, Lime, and Pineapple -- adding a splash of color to the otherwise clear products.

David Binder, Senior Brand Director at SVEDKA, said the collection takes the transparency that defines SVEDKA Vodka Water and makes it "playful, fashionably functional and football ready."

Arlington, Va. – October 05, 2026 -- Nestlé Toll House is selling its first-ever advent calendar this holiday season, a $29.99 countdown box packed with 12 days of cookie dough and chocolate morsels.

The house-shaped calendar opens like holiday cards each day

Designed to resemble the original Toll House Inn, the calendar features 12 numbered doors that double as festive holiday cards. Each door reveals a different Nestlé Toll House product, from refrigerated cookie dough to chocolate morsels.

Two new snowflake-shaped products debut inside the box

The calendar introduces Nestlé Toll House Snowflake Morsels and Snowflake Cookie Dough, both new additions to the brand's lineup of shaped products. The snowflake morsels can be baked into treats or sprinkled on top of cookies, brownies, and bark as decoration. The cookie dough is a sugar cookie base mixed with the same snowflake-shaped morsels.

Purchase, N.Y. – October 05, 2026 -- Pepsi is marking the New York Knicks' championship season with limited-edition cans and bottles that give fans a shot at winning game tickets. The "Champions Deserve Pepsi" campaign launched October 5, ahead of the Knicks' 2026–27 season tip-off at Madison Square Garden.

Limited-edition 16 oz Pepsi x Knicks Championship cans, along with 20 oz Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar x Knicks bottles, are now on shelves at participating retailers across the Tri-State region. Shoppers can scan a QR code at point of sale for a chance to win tickets to a Knicks game inside The Garden.

Chicago – October 05, 2026 -- McDonald's is giving away free bottles of its pickle brine to runners and spectators during Chicago Marathon weekend, betting on a long-rumored cramp remedy to win over endurance athletes.

Free samples hit the Lakefront Trail before race day

On Friday, Oct. 9, McDonald's will set up a "Pickle Boost Preview" station at 2401 N Lake Shore Drive from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT, timed to catch runners during popular pre-race shakeout runs along the Lakefront Trail.

Five Chicago locations offer bottles on race morning

On Sunday, Oct. 11, the chain will distribute two bottles per person, free of charge, at five McDonald's restaurants across the city from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT while supplies last. The locations are 2635 N Clark St, 1563 N Wells St, 600 N Clark St, 203 N LaSalle St, and 207 E 35th St.

Berkeley, Calif. – October 05, 2026 -- Once Upon a Farm PBC (NYSE: OFRM) has launched Electrolyte Blends, a new line of organic fruit and veggie purée pouches designed to support hydration for school-age kids heading back into busy, active routines.

The pouches use coconut water and sea salt instead of added sugar

The refrigerated 4oz pouches combine fruits, vegetables, coconut water, and sea salt to naturally deliver electrolytes rather than relying on traditional sports-drink formulas. They are sold as single-serve pouches and in four-pack bundles, and each pouch is cold-pressure processed (HPP) to preserve nutrients and flavor.

Minneapolis – October 5, 2026 -- Target has launched Bullseye's Top Toys List, a curated roundup of 50 holiday toys priced from $4.99, alongside its largest-ever digital Holiday Kids Catalog featuring nearly 500 items.

More than half of the top toys are Target exclusives

The 2026 list spans brands including LEGO, Barbie, Disney and Nintendo, with more than half of the 50 picks exclusive to Target and over one-fifth of Target's total toy assortment unavailable elsewhere. The retailer also stocks more than 1,000 toys under $10.

Thomasville – October 02, 2026 -- Flowers Foods, Inc. is recalling Nature's Own Hawaiian Bread in 20 oz. and 40 oz. bags because the packages failed to list milk as an ingredient, posing a risk to anyone with a milk allergy or severe sensitivity.

The affected bread was shipped to retail stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The recall covers Nature's Own 20 oz. Hawaiian Bread and the Nature's Own 2-pack Hawaiian Bread 40 oz.

A production records review uncovered the labeling error

Flowers Foods found the problem while reviewing production records, which showed certain packages did not declare milk despite containing it. No illnesses or related incidents have been reported.