Biography

Heather Lalley

Managing editor

 Contact Heather

Heather Lalley is the managing editor of Restaurant Business, Supermarket News and CSP Daily News. She previously served as editor in chief of Winsight Grocery Business.

Before joining Winsight and Informa, Heather spent nearly a decade as a reporter for the daily newspaper in Spokane, Washington. She is the author of "The Chicago Homegrown Cookbook." She holds a journalism degree from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the two-year baking and pastry program at Washburne Culinary Institute in Chicago.

She is the mother of two and rarely passes up a chance to eat tater tots.

Articles by
Heather Lalley

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Consumer Trends

Can Chipotle get its higher-income diners to stick around?

Retail watch: The fast-casual burrito chain can take some lessons from discount retailers that have also seen an influx of wealthier consumers.

Technology

Amazon’s grocery retreat is a warning to restaurants chasing full automation

Retail Watch: The retail giant is closing all of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores and Amazon Go convenience stores. It’s a lesson that technology can’t replace human interaction.

Retail Watch: Store brands continue to set records. Their rise should give restaurants some clues about what diners want right now.

The city's restaurants, bars and retailers will be able to sell beverages with no more than 10 milligrams of THC per 12 ounces, but edibles, flower and vapes will be prohibited.

Retail Watch: Plus, grocery stores are trying to eat your lunch business.

Retail Watch: Don’t expect fine dining at convenience stores. But do expect ongoing threats from gas station pizza, breakfast, fried chicken and more.

The proposal now heads to the full city council for a vote. Beverages made with intoxicating hemp have become popular in Chicago's restaurants, bars and performance venues.

From 7-Eleven’s new Japanese-Style Egg Salad Sandwich to Casey’s cult-favorite Breakfast Pizza, convenience stores nationwide are developing signature dishes that set them apart—and boost foodservice sales.

Passage of the legislation ends the long-running government shutdown. But it also could spell the end of a beverage category some view as a major potential growth driver.

Grocery store delis are stealing customers from restaurants as shoppers hunt for better value and convenience. New FMI research shows the percentage of people choosing deli meals over dining out has more than doubled since 2017, jumping from 12% to 28%. The $52.1 billion retail foodservice market keeps growing, with fully cooked meats, pizza and sushi leading sales gains. Shoppers say grocery-prepared foods offer the same value as restaurants while saving time and money. Most want grocers to act more like restaurants with online menus, advance ordering and drive-thru options.

Marketing Bites: And fast-casual chains have become a casualty as a value war between fast food and full service intensifies, data shows.

The company known for selling fruit bouquets is now selling hemp-THC products online, via delivery and, soon, in at least one retail storefront.

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