Expana's Weekly Top 10: Key Market Drivers from Trade Developments to Seasonal Trends

From major trade developments and tariff shifts to supply chain warnings and seasonal demand trends, Expana’s top ten stories this week capture the forces shaping global commodity and trade markets. This roundup highlights the most impactful moves, from US trade diplomacy and USMCA advocacy to Valentine’s Day price dynamics. In no particular order:

10.Turkish glass company Sisecam has started commissioning its first European glass packaging facility in Kaposvár, Hungary, with the first furnace set to begin test production. The facility...

The Retail Rundown: Game Weekend Sparks Grocery Rush

The approaching game-day weekend is drawing shoppers into grocery stores as fans nationwide stock up for watch parties ahead of the Seattle Seahawks–New England Patriots showdown for the Lombardi Trophy.

Americans are expected to consume about 1.48 billion chicken wings during Sunday’s game, according to the National Chicken Council’s 2026 Chicken Wing Report, roughly 10 million more than last year and enough to wrap around the Earth more than three times.

Retail wing prices are competitive this season. Circana data show prices broadly in line with recent years, with fresh...

Game-Day Demand and Promotions in Foodservice

In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, the food industry prepares for what sports enthusiasts may consider a different sort of holiday: the National Football League’s championship game. This year's event is scheduled on February 8 in Santa Clara, California- South of San Francisco. 

Football fans are anticipated to gather in groups for the big day, indulging in an assortment of small bites that drives food sales across grocery, retail, and foodservice, with pizza and chicken wings traditionally taking the lead.

According to the National Retail Federation's...

Restaurants Embrace the Autumn Shift

The chill is in the air, and as we welcome a new, crisp month, the industry is gearing up for consumers to embrace autumn flavors and seasonal recipes. With the arrival of the new season, people are swapping their cookout favorites and salads for bonfires, comfort food, and Sunday wings.

Retailers are ahead of the curve, rolling out smoky and savory specials to capitalize on the shift, while some focus on attracting budget-conscious customers amidst rising food and labor costs.

More McValue

Starting September 8, McDonald’s will expand its...

Popeyes Re-introduces its Wings Lineup

Officially in restaurants nationwide today, Popeyes® is re-introducing their wings lineup, now with a new mild marinated base on their bone- mild or spicy!

Popeyes new wings lineup spotlights their three bestselling sauce flavors: Signature Hot, Sweet 'N Spicy and Honey BBQ, as well as four all-new dry rubs: Ghost Pepper, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parm, and Buffalo all featured on a mild marinated based wing.

• Mild Base on All Bone-In Wings: Now every bone-in wing starts with our mild marinated base – featuring a savory...

ANALYSIS: March Chicken Inventory Trends Reflect Shifting Domestic and Export Dynamics

Cold storage inventories of chicken continue to diverge from 2023 levels, with March values up 3.1% year-over-year (YoY). Although there was a month-over-month (MoM) decrease from February to March, it was less significant than the typical five-year average decline. This overall trend was largely driven by the breast and breast meat category, which alone accounted for 32% of total chicken supplies in cold storage. Frozen holdings of breasts and breast meat were up 13.7% YoY and declined just 0.6% MoM—far less than the five-year average decrease of 4.2%.

This is particularly notable given the difficulty many domestic buyers faced in uncovering both...

The Retail Rundown: Valentine’s Day Brings Foodservice Gains 

The grocery segment received a boost from last weekend’s pro-football championship game, with strong movement at the meat case. According to Circana data, retail chicken wing sales ahead of the game reached about $8.7 million, up from $8.5 million the previous week. Pork ribs brought in nearly $7 million, rising from $6.7 million, while ground beef sales totaled approximately $76 million, compared to $74.7 million the prior week. 

Looking ahead, February is typically a slower month for retail and overall meat demand. However, Valentine’s... 

7-Eleven, Inc.'s Laredo Taco Company Launches New Flavor-Packed Chicken Fajita Burrito

New crave-worthy menu items and meal deals are here! Today, 7-Eleven, Inc.'s Laredo Taco Company® restaurant launched an all-new Chicken Fajita Burrito that's sure to satisfy every craving. Plus, customers can start their day with Raise the Roost® and Speedy Café® crave-worthy breakfast offerings or enjoy delicious lunch deals at participating 7-Eleven®, Speedway® and Stripes® stores nationwide.

The bold new Chicken Fajita Burrito at Laredo Taco Company features perfectly seasoned chicken...