Latest news with #FreshChoice
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Further batches of spinach recalled over listeria
Batches of two further spinach products sold in Irish supermarkets have been recalled due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued alerts for two further products, one by McCormack Family Farms and another by Fresh Choice. The following batches of 500g McCormack Family Farms Irish Spinach Leaves have been recalled: L199, L200, L202, L203, L204 and L205. While Fresh Choice Market Spinach Leaves 100g with the following use-by dates have also been recalled: 25/07/2025, 26/07/2025, 27/07/2025, 28/07/2025, 29/07/2025, 30/07/2025 and 31/07/2025. The FSAI has requested that retailers remove the implicated products from sale, and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors are being asked to contact their affected customers and recall the affected products and put a recall notice in place. Caterers who may be in possession of the impacted products have been asked not to use them, while consumers are advised not to eat them. The FSAI has said there is currently "no evidence that this food recall is linked with the listeriosis outbreak related to ready-to-heat meals that is currently under investigation". Over 200 ready-made meals produced by Ballymaguire Foods were called back early last week. The authority said that one person with a confirmed case of listeria died, while nine other cases were identified as of Tuesday last week. The FSAI's latest update follows a recall yesterday of seven spinach and mixed leaves products following detection of harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The FSAI said that symptoms of listeria can include mild flu-like symptoms such as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Symptoms can be more severe in rare cases, it added. "Some people are more vulnerable to listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. "The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average three weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days," said the FSAI. The FSAI said today that to date, there are no cases of listeriosis associated with the spinach and mixed leaves products that were subject of yesterday's recall. How inspections are carried out The FSAI and official agencies carry out inspections of food production facilities and review all the control measures in place. This includes examining the testing regimes for listeria at the factory and also taking official control samples of food and equipment. These official control samples are tested for listeria monocytogenes in accredited laboratories run by the State. Where listeria monocytogenes is found in any official control samples, enforcement action is taken to minimise or eliminate the risk to consumers. "Precautionary recalls of food due to Listeria monocytogenes can be found by either the food business itself or the authorities and happen from time to time, reflecting the high level of awareness, control and testing that takes place in factory settings," the FSAI said.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
10 Defunct Restaurant Chains From The '90s That Should Have Stuck Around Longer
The '90s were a radical time that we'll never get back. Along with legendary rap icons, cable sitcoms, and a slew of popular snacks unique to the decade that we'd like to taste again, casual restaurant chains helped define the vibrant culture of the transformative period. But what once thrived in the era of dial-up internet and boy bands has since faded away. Throughout the '90s, casual dining chains started popping up in cities and suburbs like the creatures in the arcade game Whac-a-Mole. Characterized by kitschy themes and traditional American fare, these establishments set themselves apart from restaurants of prior decades, partly due to baby boomers desiring a shift from the sleeker feel of mid-century modern that dominated interiors until then. But what worked then no longer applies today. In 2024, 20 restaurant chains that thrived at the tail end of the 20th century filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. To survive the streamlined, almost corporate feel of the modern-day restaurant, businesses must adapt. Companies that value fresh food over mass production, incorporate technology into their service, and overall cater to the preferences of the younger generations will have an easier time staying afloat. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity has permanently shut for some eateries that were (and still are) loved. Read more: 8 Restaurants That Were Once Frequented By Al Capone In 1990s New England, there was a place families could go to enjoy a steak, mac and cheese, or loaded baked potatoes under a talking animatronic buffalo and moose busts. The rustic Canadian-themed steakhouse was full of funky, out-of-the-box details, like a birthday song about kissing a moose and Timber the Talking Christmas Tree, who informed customers of random facts about nature in the country of pine trees and maple syrup. It was just the sort of kitschy-themed '90s restaurant that everyone raved over at the time. Sadly, it couldn't keep up with a changing industry. Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse opened in Rhode Island in 1992, with about 30 restaurants across New England, along with states like Pennsylvania and Georgia, during its peak success. Its legacy started dying down when, in 2010, the business filed for bankruptcy, forcing the shutdown of several of its locations. The remaining restaurants slowly started closing one by one over the following years, with the last one closing its doors in 2016. Buffet chains were so undeniably '90s, and Fresh Choice was one of the many that made an epic mark in the industry before eventually fading into gastronomical oblivion. Sure, it was known for its signature health-conscious food choices, but there was something special about its soft and fluffy muffins that you could eat all day. The buffet made it a point to prepare its meals in front of its customers, proving the freshness it reputed itself for. It sold its quality, locally-sourced items for just $5.99 for lunch and $7.49 for dinner, a steal considering there was no cap on how much you could fill your plate with. The brand began in Sunnyvale, California, in 1986, spearheaded by two brothers with a vision for health-focused dining but no prior managerial restaurant experience. Their passion outshone their lack of experience, and their business expanded from coast to coast with over 48 restaurants by the late '90s. However, it overplayed its hand, opening too many locations and losing profitability. Over time, its success declined, and by 2012, the chain shut down all of its restaurants. Now, it's just one of a handful of forgotten buffet restaurants of the 1990s. La Petite Boulangerie never quite made it as one of America's biggest bakery chains. Still, it boasted a mini-empire with over 140 locations at the height of its success, including in California, Colorado, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Translating to "The Little Bakery" from French, the casual breakfast chain served fresh French-style pastries like croissants as well as delicious warm baguettes. Its sweet aroma and saccharine selection of treats won the hearts of many in the 1990s, but unfortunately, the sugary craze died down, and the popular breakfast chain disappeared at the turn of the century. A lot of drama went down before the chain reached peak success. La Petite Boulangerie was born in 1977 in San Francisco by Food Resources Inc., starting off with two bakeries before it was bought by the food industry giant PepsiCo in 1982. However, the partnership turned sour when Food Resources sued PepsiCo for allegedly misleading them about sales and profit potential in 1986. The chain shifted hands to Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies, Inc. in 1987, then Interwest Partners in 1993, and Java City just a year after. Java City successfully ran the business throughout the decade, selling the company to Cucina Holdings, Inc. in December 2000, where it was promptly shuttered. As to whether IHOP is really an international chain, the famous breakfast joint is named the International House of Pancakes because it serves the sweet breakfast food globally. It's a titan of its culinary genre, but in the '90s, it had some stark competition in the form of The Royal Canadian Pancake House. But while its misleading name inferred the chain was from Canada, it actually opened in New York City back in 1989, with its name as an ode to its overall Canadian theme. It opened various locations across NYC and even made it to Miami Beach, but never Canada. RCPH, as its loyal customers called it, was known for its behemoth pancakes that, according to Amanda Cohen of Eater New York City, had to be flipped with a snow shovel (very Canadian) and taken home in a pizza box. While that might be an exaggeration, so was the size of RCPH's servings. Other famous menu items of the chain included Womlettes, a giant waffle topped with an omelet, and Canadian Crackers, composed of waffles with eggs and loads of melted cheese. The Royal Canadian Pancake House had a good run before closing down in 1998 despite its cult following and quality food. In fact, it wasn't a decline in popularity that forced its shutdown but rather its investment banker, who was reported by the Securities and Exchange Commission for ethical violations. Now, its chocolate chip cornbread will forever exist only in our memories. '90s chain restaurant Roadhouse Grill didn't know it would have a relatively short run as a business when it first launched in 1992. At its peak, the business had about 85 restaurants in states like New York and Florida. Known for its artful wall murals and American fare, the casual dining restaurant defined the '90s-style culinary experience. But its success abruptly ended shortly after the decade closed. In 2007, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy a second time when a $1.3 million loan from MCF Development fell through. It was the nail in the coffin for MCF Development, which already owed about $5 million in overdue rent in 2002. The company was forced to liquidate and abandon all the capital equipment in its restaurants, and the abrupt closure came as an unpleasant surprise to both employees and customers, who were blindsided by the impending failure of the company. Despite it all, some locations were able to weather the storm, and in 2002, the company officially exited bankruptcy. But the relief was short-lived because a Florida hurricane severely affected some of its restaurants just two years later. Duffy's Holdings stepped up to the plate by purchasing 85.5% of the business; however, it almost immediately abandoned ship when realizing how dire its financial situation was. It handed the stock over to Willie's Roadhouse Grill LLC like a hot potato, and Willie's, which couldn't handle the heat, fell quickly back into bankruptcy. It shuttered all of its restaurants by 2008. One location reopened in 2009 under the name "Buffalo Roadhouse Grill," but it closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. Shopping malls are a relic of the recent past, and China Coast was a key part of its retail-centric culture. If you ever frequented your local mall in one of the eight-plus states it was located in, chances are you tasted this fast-casual restaurant's savory sesame chicken and noodles. Nestled among other vanished mall food court restaurants like Orange Julius and Blimpie, this Chinese restaurant chain, known for its turquoise pagoda, offered shoppers a place to refuel in between visits to FYE and Limited Too. In the 1980s, Chinese food grew to become the most consumed international cuisine in the U.S., according to the National Restaurant Association. In response to high demand, China Coast opened in 1990 in Orlando, first as a standalone, full-service fast casual spot before integrating itself into mall cafeterias. Its menu, which was curated by Chinese-American biologist-turned-chef Terry Cheng, was designed with the western consumer in mind, featuring an Americanized version of the country's cuisine. One newspaper stated that China Coast was "to Chinese food what the Olive Garden is to Italian or Red Lobster is to seafood." It made sense, considering the chain was owned by General Mills, which owned all three establishments. But unlike Olive Garden, which had virtually no competition, China Coast faced stark rivalry that it failed to beat. By 1995, all 51 locations of the chain were permanently closed. People in the '90s loved a hearty chain buffet. These establishments were affordable, convenient, and provided a sense of comfort in the sense that no matter where in the country you found yourself, you could always rely on tasting the same bottomless dishes in the same rustic-themed ambiance. But like the drying chicken under the heat lamps, Old Country Buffet didn't last. For better or worse, it's now on the list of the many chain buffets that you'll never see again. In its golden era, Old Country Buffet boasted around 650 locations. Though it opened in the '80s, it defined the '90s with its nostalgic homestyle vibe that attracted families with low prices (kids ate for just 50 cents with each year of age). It was just as loved as competitors like Golden Corral, but it didn't stand the test of time due to a combination of poor management and inconsistent quality control. Things started to go sour when the comfort food chain first got sued in 2014 for salmonella, but that was only the beginning of the business' woes. Its parent company, Fresh Acquisitions, which once dominated the buffet chain domain (owning big-name locales like Furr's, Hometown Buffet, and Ryan's, along with the California-centric meat lovers restaurant, Tahoe Joe's Famous Steakhouse) was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2021 after the pandemic hit. This caused the once-thriving Old Country Buffet to cease its operations forever. Just because Don Pablo's was a chain restaurant doesn't mean it lacked in quality. Specializing in flavorful Tex-Mex fare, the dining destination served scratch-made salsa and warm, house-made tortillas with its sizzling fajitas that rapidly became a crowd favorite across the nation. But while the business rode the '90s nachos and tacos bandwagon, it earned its achievement as the U.S.' second-biggest Mexican chain, just behind Chi Chi's, for its fun and wholesome service, just as much as its hearty and spicy dishes. The Tex-Mex eatery made its debut in 1985 in -- you guessed it -- Texas. After a few years, Don Pablo's reached the summit of its success with a total of 120 restaurants spread across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Texas, Maryland, Michigan, and Oklahoma. Then, in 1995, the little Lubbock franchise launched by DF&R Restaurants was sold to the industry giant Apple South, owner of the wildly successful American dining chain, Applebee's. In what was, in hindsight, a bad business move, Apple South eventually changed its name to Avado Brands and dropped Applebee's to focus solely on the expansion of Don Pablo's. The company filed for bankruptcy twice in the 2000s while facing growing competition from emerging fast-casual spots. It clung on to the remnants of its former empire as its restaurants continued shuttering, but even with a change in ownership, the place that introduced the masses to the bold flavors of Tex-Mex said its final farewell in 2019. In a sea of themed dining chains in the U.S. like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Hard Rock Café, All Star Café is often forgotten. Back in the '90s and the aughts, however, it made waves with its whimsical sports motif that included baseball glove-shaped booths, athletic collectibles, and more than enough screens to watch the game of the moment. As the brainchild of Planet Hollywood, the funky restaurant started off strong, opening its first location in Times Square in 1995 and featuring 70 TV screens, around the same time that so many other chains were launching. Shortly after, other hotspot destinations like Cancun, Las Vegas, and Disney World got their own venues. But with a bland and unoriginal yet overpriced menu consisting of your standard burgers and wings, the establishment didn't have much to offer beyond its aesthetics. In the '90s, patrons were willing to overlook flavor for vibe, but what worked in the final decade of the 20th century no longer resonated with customers as the years progressed, and in 2007, the sports restaurant's final location in Orlando shut down. Sadly, Koo Koo Roo has been a part of the defunct '90s chain restaurants club since its extinction in 2014. Stepping foot in one of these spots in its heyday, with lines around the block, you would have never guessed its impending fate. Since 1988, it had marketed itself as a healthy fast food option, specializing in flavor-rich chicken with a Middle Eastern flair that was low-calorie, fat-free, and cholesterol-free. The idea was a hit, and the company expanded from California to New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Canada. But a competitive market and menu changes that didn't resonate with customers ultimately caused its demise. According to a little birdie, there will be a return of the mac (and cheese). The Koo Koo Roo website is officially up and running again, but for now, it's only selling merch and nothing edible. The restaurant is set to open one location back in its original LA stomping grounds. Fairfax-based real estate developer Daniel Farasat, who grew up on the chicken and nutritious yet delectable side dishes, stated in an interview with Los Angeles Magazine that he's set on resurrecting Koo Koo Roo because "restaurants are an integral part of the fabric of a neighborhood," especially this one, that resonated with the hearts and taste buds of millennials from coast to coast. Read the original article on Chowhound.
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
From inspired to inspirational
On Sunday night, Queenstowner Cam Marshall, 21, settled in with a pizza to watch Runn, a documentary detailing Nedd Brockmann's journey to run 100km a day, for 46 days, across Australia. "I just got super-inspired and thought, 'what am I doing?' "I'm just sitting on the couch eating pizza. "This guy's out here running 100km a day for 46 days." Having just returned from a working holiday in Japan, and not due to start back at Queenstown's NZONE until tomorrow, Mr Marshall figured he had nothing else planned on Monday, so on a whim decided to attempt his first 100km run, setting out to raise $100 for I Am Hope. The farthest he had previously run was 27km, about seven months ago. Mr Marshall promptly took himself to bed, woke up about 2.30am, made a rough plan for his adventure and set up his Givealittle page, "Running 100km for Mental Health — No Training, Just Purpose". "Obviously mental health [is] such a big topic in New Zealand, especially among young people," he says. "I feel like I've had my own sort of battles with mental health growing up, especially like leaving high school. "It's not easy being a young person in New Zealand, I find. "There's a lot of bad things that people can focus on, but I wanted to sort of bring some light and ... donate money to mental health and help out." He set off from his parents' Threepwood home about 4.45am, intending to do the entire distance unsupported. But as soon as he started posting on Instagram, "people started reaching out and wanting to help". His jaunt took him into Queenstown, where he stopped at FreshChoice for some food, then to Frankton, where there was another stop at New World, and then on to the Kelvin Heights golf course. He doubled back and headed towards Arrowtown — his mum's cousin dropped off some more food at Morven Ferry — but around the 75km mark he blew out his right foot. 'It just got worse and worse ... so I just had to walk it out. "I knew it was going to be a long 25km." By then, though, he had a growing support crew, who were with him every last step of the way. Mr Marshall finished about 9pm, "right outside my house" with about 10 people, including his sister who travelled over from Wānaka to keep an eye on him overnight. By Wednesday, he had obliterated his fundraising target, with over $3100 donated to the cause. Mr Marshall said he intended to keep the Givealittle page open and was considering another fundraising challenge down the track. "I love keeping fit, and I think there's potentially some room down the line to be doing a bit more of this."
1News
24-04-2025
- Business
- 1News
A new take on a classic: NZ's first gluten-free Anzac biscuit lands
An Auckland company has produced what's believed to be the country's first commercially available gluten-free Anzac biscuit. Kea Cookies, based in St Johns, had been striving to perfect a gluten-free version of the beloved treat for several years. Success finally came with the arrival of new head baker Lucy Alexander, with a fresh perspective leading to a biscuit breakthrough. "I said, 'we've been trying for a couple of years and can't quite get it right'," said factory manager Julie Shew. "She thought about it, substituted ingredients from one of our other recipes, and played around with it until she got it spot on." Alexander said it took around five different trials to nail the perfect texture and flavour for the gluten-free treats. The key challenge was reimagining the traditional biscuit without its key ingredient, as oats contained gluten, she said. "In the original Anzac recipe, it's obviously mainly oats and coconuts, but we can't use oats because they contain gluten, so it's been substituted with rice flakes and coconut." The resulting bickie was crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and safe for those with gluten intolerances. "It's nice for people to enjoy Anzac biscuits when they usually can't because they contain gluten," Alexander said. The biscuits were available at the factory shop in St Johns, via the company's website, and at select FreshChoice supermarkets in Auckland and the South Island. Shew said Auckland Council had purchased some for Anzac Day commemoration events at RSAs and that New Zealand Blood use Kea Cookies to give to people who have donated blood. "We haven't quite decided if we'll do [the gluten-free Anzac biscuit] as a one-off or whether we'll keep it going."
NZ Herald
23-04-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Lotto Powerball: Numbers are in - are you $23 million richer?
The draw comes more than a week after thirty-two Lotto players bagged $9527 each Second Division. Two players also struck Powerball Second Division, upping their winnings to $19,875 each. One player walked away with $1m after winning the First Division draw. Where is mystery big-money winner? Earlier this week, Lotto bosses revealed a winning $500,000 Lotto ticket remains unclaimed after almost four months. The ticket was bought at Fresh Choice Pāpāmoa for the draw on New Year's Day. Lotto NZ head of corporate communications Will Hine said the ticket could be anywhere. 'We're urging players who may have bought a ticket in Pāpāmoa over the holidays to check it as soon as possible. 'The ticket could have been bought by a local, or maybe by someone visiting Pāpāmoa to see in the New Year.' Lotto NZ was hoping to unite the winner with their prize soon, and wondered what their story would be, he said. 'It's a life-changing amount of money, and we want to make sure the winner claims what's rightfully theirs sooner rather than later. 'I'm imagining a family on a summer getaway, enjoying days on the beach… maybe they popped into Fresh Choice to grab something for a barbecue back at the bach and picked up a ticket while they were there, tucking it away and forgetting all about it." What to do if you win Ticket-holders can see immediately if they have won if they purchased a ticket through MyLotto. Prizes of $1000 or less are automatically credited to the account. For prizes of more than $1000, winners have to fill in an online prize form. Results are available immediately after the live draws on TVNZ 1, which take place on Wednesday and Saturday nights. They can also be found through the MyLotto app, online at at Lotto NZ retailers and on Winners with a physical ticket must still visit a Lotto retailer to claim their prize.
