5@5: Semi-prepped meal kit growth | JUST plans IPO

While Blue Apron stumbles, semi-prepped meal kits are seeing growth

While consumers are still cooking from home, they're starting to lose steam for making everything from soup to nuts from scratch. Enter the "semi-prepped" meal kit market, which provides cheaper alternatives to eating out or conventional meal kit programs. Companies in this space say that the key is to deliver on the promise of home-cooked meals while removing all the mundane chopping, mixing and forethought that consumers would otherwise have to undergo. Read more at Modern Retail…

Plant-based egg maker JUST sees profit next year, then will look at IPO

JUST thought the pandemic would delay its plans to go public, but at-home cooking habits drove sales to the point where CEO Josh Tetrick expects to go public as soon as the company hits operating profitability sometime before 2021. Tetrick noted that the company will begin to extract more protein from the mung beans it uses in its products in order to cut costs. Read more at The Globe and Mail…

Dunkin' launches oatmilk coast-to-coast

Dunkin' is adding vegan-friendly Planet Oat oatmilk to all its menus nationwide, making it the first national quick service restaurant brand to do so. The oatmilk launch coincides with Dunkin's fall menu featuring pumpkin-flavored and spiced drinks. Read more at QSR...

Honey found to be a better treatment for upper respiratory tract infections than traditional remedies

As it turns out, that jar of honey consumers mix into their tea every day may be doing more good for their respiratory system health than over-the-counter cold and sinus medications and antibiotics ever could. Researchers noted that honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is well-known for its bacteria-killing properties, and is also the perfect consistency to soothe irritation by coating the mouth and throat. Read more at MedicalXpress.…

Japan's Saizeriya restaurant develops face mask to wear when eating

A restaurant chain operator in Japan is debuting a face mask that patrons can wear while eating to help keep staff safe. The mask can be folded in half to allow for mouth access while an attached napkin hangs like a handkerchief from the bottom, which helps to prevent droplets from spreading. Read more at Japan Times…