Regen Nutrition Project Measures Real Food Nutrient Density
The Nutrient Density Initiative (NDI) and food‑testing firm Edacious have launched the Regen Nutrition Project, a 2024 effort that measures how regenerative farming practices affect the nutrient profile of foods. More than 50 member companies and farms submit product samples to Edacious’s lab, where the nutrient content is compared against conventional retail equivalents. Early results show regenerative samples contain less fat, a healthier omega‑6 to omega‑3 balance, higher protein and no detectable heavy metals. The initiative also provides a public Nutrient Density Data Explorer to help stakeholders visualize the findings.
From 5‑cent Tonic to $40 Billion Empire
On this day in 1886 the inventor of Coca Cola sold his first glass of the cocaine infused “brain tonic” meant to cure headaches and addiction at a pharmacy in Atlanta. His name was Dr. John Pemberton. - He sold a glass...
Wendy's Same-Store Sales Slip 6‑8% Early 2024
Wendy's same-store sales down 8% in January and "high 8% range" in February, down 6.2% in March and down 6.4% in April. $WEN
Mushus Launches as UK’s First Sparkling Skincare Drink with Vegan Collagen
Met Foods, the UK maker of dairy‑free brands Nush Foods and Cocos Organic, has launched Mushus, the country’s first sparkling skincare drink featuring vegan collagen. The 250 ml cans, sold in six‑packs for £20 (about $25), come in Raspberry Fizz and...
Top-Performing Wendy's Franchises Thrive Amid Overall Sales Dip
Wendy's U.S. franchisees in 2025: Net sales down 6% EBITDA margin down 270bp to 9.3%. But the company says franchisees with the strongest customer experience and satisfaction scores are doing better on both sales and profits. $WEN
Yemeni Coffee Blooms After Decades of Being Overlooked
Didn’t think about Yemeni coffee one time for the first 39 years of my life but now these shops are popping up like dandelions
Starbucks Launches New Bearista Cups After Fan Requests but They’re Super-Limited
Starbucks has re‑introduced its collectible Bearista glass cups, this time launching two pink‑themed designs exclusively in South Korea. The cups, marketed as limited‑edition accessories, are sold only in Korean stores, prompting global fans to scramble for them and driving secondary‑market...
Wendy's System Upgrade Costs $15‑20M, Aims Long‑Term Gains
System optimization is a "net headwind of $15 million to $20 million" to Wendy's revenue, but company believes it's better for the long-term health of the system. $WEN
Wendy's Nears Completion of Footprint Optimization, Trims Breakfast Hours
Wendy's has completed more than half of its "footprint optimization" and is on track to finish by the end of 2Q. Company is also working with operators to "optimize hours," re: cut back on breakfast. Most stores still have breakfast. $WEN
Affordability Is Changing How Canadians Eat Protein
A new Canadian Food Sentiment Index shows omnivorous diets dropping from 67.6% in fall 2024 to 55% by spring 2026, while flexitarian eating rose to 9.4% of adults. Vegan and vegetarian shares remain flat, with only about 600,000 Canadians identifying...
Wendy's Introduces Label Printers for Accurate Order Identification
Wendy's adding menu item label printers to ensure customers receive the food the way they ordered it and so customers can identify the item they're getting. $WEN
Wendy's Revives Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger After Fan Vote
Wendy's plans to bring the Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger later this year after customers made it the clear favorite in a March Madness vote. $WEN
Weekly Coffee News: Dean’s Beans Wins + Drinks as Self-Expression
Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Company was named Massachusetts Rural Business of the Year by the SBA and posted a B Impact Score of 168.5, underscoring its worker‑owned, ethical model. At the same time, major players such as Lavazza and Fairtrade...
Wendy's Accelerates Innovation Pipeline for Faster, Customer‑Focused Promotions
Wendy's says it is strengthening its innovation pipeline. It plans to "prioritize the best ideas and move quickly" to build promotions that resonate with customers. $WEN
How Hershey Is Using AI to Future-Proof Its Marketing Model
Chocolate giant Hershey has built an AI‑powered marketing measurement system after nearly a year of development. Trained on three years of sales and marketing data, the tool aggregates social, search and streaming signals to deliver monthly mix updates and prioritize...
Is $9 For Coffee An Affordable Premium Experience?
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol told the Wall Street Journal that a $9 cup of coffee can be an "affordable premium experience," sparking a wave of criticism from media outlets and consumers. The comment landed amid a U.S. cost‑of‑living squeeze, prompting...
How a Robot (Sort of) Made Me Lunch
London startup Kaikaku AI is piloting a food‑assembly robot called Fusion at a poke‑bowl shop, backed by $1.8 million in funding. The machine automatically dispenses vegetables, sauces and raw salmon into a bowl, while a human adds rice and final seasoning....
ALOHA Launches Key Lime Protein Bar
ALOHA, the employee‑owned plant‑based protein brand, introduced a limited‑edition Key Lime Protein Bar featuring 14 g of protein, 10 g of fiber, and only 4 g of sugar per serving. The bar uses a short, whole‑food ingredient list—real key lime, brown rice crisps,...
5 Restaurant Marketing Mistakes that Cost Traffic, Leads, Revenue
Mike Kresch of Moburst warns that many quick‑service and fast‑casual restaurants treat marketing as a collection of isolated tactics instead of a unified, data‑driven system. He outlines five costly mistakes: passive reputation management, lax local SEO and website upkeep, friction‑laden...
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FAO Food Price Index up for Third Consecutive Month Largely on Rising Vegetable Oil Prices
The FAO Food Price Index rose 1.6% in April, marking a third straight month of gains and a 2% increase over the previous year. The surge was driven primarily by a 5.9% jump in the vegetable oil index, its highest...
The SoCal Burger Chain That's Unfairly Overshadowed By In-N-Out
Fatburger, founded in 1947 in Los Angeles, predates In‑NOut by a year but remains a niche player with fewer than 100 U.S. locations, most of them in California. In‑NOut operates over 400 sites nationwide, yet Fatburger differentiates itself with a...
Chipotle’s Margins Under Pressure; Volume May Rescue
Chipolte margins gonna collapse. Can they make it up in volume? Lines probably gonna slow down too https://t.co/Z1iGjFplOf
Iran Conflict Pushes Global Food Prices to Three-Year High
The United Nations’ food commodity index jumped 1.6% in April, reaching its highest level in over three years as the Iran‑Israel war disrupts supply chains. Prices for vegetable oils, meat and cereals drove the increase, with the meat index up...
Bharat Vedica Contrasts Fast Living with Slow Food in New Brand Film
Bharat Vedica unveiled a brand film called “The Art of Slowing Down,” showcasing traditional Indian food practices. The video contrasts today’s fast‑paced lifestyles with time‑intensive methods such as making Bilona ghee, wood‑pressed oils and stone‑ground flours. It emphasizes patience, cultivation...
Coppa Cocktails Grows GTR Footprint
MG Destilerías' Coppa Cocktails, acquired in 2024, has rolled out canned ready‑to‑drink cocktails on four European airlines and in key Spanish and Turkish airports, expanding its global travel retail footprint. The brand offers 100ml and 200ml cans across 12 cocktail...
Euromonitor: Spirits Premiumisation Hits a Wall
Euromonitor warns that the two‑decade premiumisation surge in spirits has hit a ceiling as macroeconomic headwinds trigger a prolonged slowdown. Diageo’s CEO confirmed a strategic pivot toward the mass market to offset weakening premium sales. In the United States, spirits...
Spanish Lettuce Dominates EU Markets
Spain continues to dominate the EU lettuce market, accounting for 50.5% of total sales in 2025 with 499.39 million kg exported, generating €690.34 million (≈ $753 million). The EU’s overall lettuce trade reached 988 million kg, valued at €1,578 million (≈ $1.72 billion), showing steady growth despite Brexit‑related statistical shifts....
Quorn’s Transition Plan Takes Hold with Shift Away From Artificial Ingredients
Quorn Foods, owned by Monde Nissin, reported a strong Q1 fiscal 2026, with EBITDA more than doubling to 325 m pesos ($5.4 m) and net profit turning positive at 87 m pesos ($1.4 m). Gross margins jumped 881 basis points to 31.8%, driven by targeted...
Quaker’s Latest Campaign Puts Breakfast Nutrition in Focus
PepsiCo India has launched a refreshed Quaker brand campaign emphasizing protein and fibre in its oats, featuring updated packaging and a new television commercial. The initiative aligns with a Mintel report that identifies protein and fibre as top considerations in...
P&G Shifts Supply Chain 3.0, Other Platforms Into Large-Scale Rollout
Procter & Gamble has moved its Supply Chain 3.0 program from pilot to company‑wide rollout, deploying automation across warehouses and manufacturing sites. The initiative, launched in 2023, targets up to $1.5 billion in cost‑of‑goods‑sold savings and 98% product availability by 2030. Technologies...
Lallemand Group to Present Yeast and Enzyme Solutions for Plant-Based Foods at Copenhagen Summit
Lallemand Group will attend the Bridge2Food Summit in Copenhagen from June 9‑11, showcasing microbial and enzyme‑based ingredients for plant‑based foods. The company will present Engevita HiPRO Beyond, a high‑protein nutritional yeast, and its Savor‑Lyfe flavor line that adds umami and kokumi...
Does Uni Belong in a Cocktail? The Corima Team Doubles Down on Sea Urchin at Bar Chucho
New York’s Bar Chucho has revived Corima’s Uni Gin Sour, serving it on draft to address raw‑seafood safety and texture issues. The updated recipe infuses Isolation Proof Gin with freeze‑dried strawberries, adds yuzu juice, and uses a vegan foaming syrup,...
Willem Dafoe Joins Laphroaig for Limited-Edition Whisky
Actor Willem Dafoe has partnered with Islay distillery Laphroaig to launch a limited‑edition 14‑year‑old single malt called “Willem by Willem.” The whisky is Oloroso cask‑finished, bottled at 53.7% ABV, and retails for £139 in the UK (approximately $156 in the...
Michelin-Star Chef Adam Byatt to Open Italian Restaurant Rosina in South London
Michelin‑starred chef Adam Byatt will open Rosina, a 75‑seat Italian restaurant on Wandsworth Common on June 29, 2026. The venue marks Byatt’s first dedicated Italian concept after years of French‑inspired fine dining, and it promises a menu built on UK and...
The Snack Barometer: The Iran Conflict and the Limits of Consumer Resilience
Geopolitical tension from the Iran‑US‑Israel conflict is already inflating fuel prices, prompting food and beverage manufacturers to see early signs of consumer stress. Shoppers are swapping branded items for private‑label products, cutting discretionary snack purchases, and demanding more promotions as...
Holland & Barrett Partners with Weight Loss Drugs Provider
Holland & Barrett has teamed up with weight‑loss drug provider Phlo to feature the service across its physical stores and e‑commerce platform. The partnership aims to give UK consumers access to clinically supervised weight‑management options while the retailer only signposts, avoiding...
McDonald's CEO Warns K‑shaped Economy Deepens as Consumer Sentiment Sours
McDonald's chief executive Chris Kempczinski told investors the U.S. economy remains split, with affluent consumers still spending while lower‑income shoppers cut back. The fast‑food giant posted a 3.8% rise in global same‑store sales and $6.52 billion in revenue, but its stock...
FrieslandCampina Invests €90M in Whey Protein for Sports Nutrition
FrieslandCampina Ingredients is allocating €90 million (about $98 million) to boost whey protein capacity at three Dutch sites—Bedum, Veghel and Workum—aiming for full operational output by 2028. The expansion targets the fast‑growing sports, lifestyle, early‑life and medical nutrition markets, building on recent...
Tatratea Names New German Distributor
Tatratea’s producer Karloff has appointed Hamburg‑based Spirits Platform NXT as its exclusive German distributor. The partnership gives the Slovak brand a dedicated route‑to‑market strategy for both off‑trade listings and on‑trade activations. NXT brings over 20 years of industry experience and...
How the Islands Are Driving Rosé’s Rise in Southeast Asia
Island destinations in Southeast Asia are accelerating the rise of rosé as tourists seek lighter, lower‑alcohol wines. In Thailand’s southern resorts, premium Provence labels dominate, while Bali’s beach bars favor more affordable, entry‑level rosés alongside local producers. Rosé currently holds...
The VinePair Podcast: Do People Really Care About the Color of Their Red Wine?
Large wineries use Mega Purple, a grape‑derived concentrate, to give red wines an inky, deep‑red look that has become a status cue thanks to Robert Parker’s influence. However, the rise of lighter‑style, thin‑skinned reds and chillable wines is shifting consumer...
This Viral Korean Corndog Brand Is Opening Its First South London Restaurant
Korean street‑food chain Bunsik is opening its first south‑London outlet in Brixton on May 15, marking the brand’s expansion beyond central London. The new shop will serve the chain’s signature deep‑fried corn dogs, mozzarella‑filled varieties and other Korean comfort dishes. To...
Post Holdings Posts $2.0 B Q2 FY2026 Sales, Reaffirms $1.55‑$1.58 B EBITDA Outlook
Post Holdings, the consumer‑packaged‑goods holding company, announced second‑quarter FY2026 net sales of $2.0 billion, up 4.7% year‑over‑year, and reaffirmed its full‑year adjusted EBITDA outlook of $1.55‑$1.58 billion. The results highlight operating profit growth and the impact of recent acquisitions and divestitures.
Theo Müller Group Acquires German Plant-Based Producer Berief Food
The Theo Müller Group announced the pending acquisition of German plant‑based producer Berief Food, subject to antitrust clearance. Berief will operate as a largely independent unit within the Müller portfolio. The deal follows Berief’s search for financing to fund expansion into...
Middle East Crisis: FAO Sounds Warning over Fertiliser Supplies
FAO Director‑General Qu Dongyu warned that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are creating a fertilizer shortage that will depress crop yields from late 2024 through 2027. The corridor handles 20‑45% of global agri‑input exports, and delays force farmers to...
How McDonald’s 'Three-for-Three' Strategy Drove Q1 Gains
McDonald’s Q1 2026 earnings highlighted the impact of its “three‑for‑three” strategy—value leadership, breakthrough marketing, and menu innovation. Global system‑wide sales rose 6% and comparable sales climbed 3.8%, delivering a $3.6 billion restaurant margin and a 46% operating margin. The rollout of...
ExportGaGroup Ramps up Shrimp Export Push at SEG, Targeting South America, Middle East, and Beyond
ExportGaGroup, an Ecuadorian white‑shrimp farmer, used Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona to showcase its vertically integrated operation—from hatchery to processing—under its own brands Star Ocean and Shrimp King. The company highlighted a broad product line that includes A2/A3 head‑on, headless, peeled‑and‑deveined...
The Ultimate Gut-Health Grocery List To Boost GLP-1 Naturally
Microbiologist Colleen Cutcliffe explains that a healthy gut microbiome can naturally stimulate GLP‑1, the hormone that curbs appetite and stabilizes blood sugar. She highlights two key strains—Akkermansia muciniphila and Clostridium butyricum—as central to GLP‑1 production. By prioritizing fiber‑rich vegetables, polyphenol‑dense fruits,...
Same Impala?
Super 8’s sixth venue, Impala, opens in London with a striking wood‑oven as its centerpiece, delivering oversized aish baladi bread and a menu that defies single‑cuisine labels. Co‑owner Meedu Saad, former Kiln head chef, infuses Egyptian heritage into the concept while the...
This “Bad” Fat In Dairy Is Not Linked To Heart Disease, Study Shows
A new systematic review and meta‑analysis found that naturally occurring trans fats in dairy do not worsen blood lipid markers or increase cardiovascular disease risk. The analysis covered ten randomized trials comparing high‑trans‑fat dairy to conventional products and twelve long‑term...