The New Bucket Special
The traditional bar‑centric bucket special is being reimagined for off‑premise retailers in 2026, allowing breweries to showcase branded buckets of cans or bottles on consumer tables. While the concept demands a larger upfront spend for custom packaging, it delivers measurable lift in impulse sales and visual brand exposure. The model thrives on buzz rather than scale, making it accessible to both large and craft brewers seeking a low‑cost, high‑impact promotional tool. Analysts see the approach as a fresh way to drive volume outside the taproom.
World Fresh Readies Three New Canadian Cherry Drops
World Fresh Exports, a British Columbia fruit marketer, is set to launch three new Canadian‑bred sweet cherry varieties, including the AAFC‑approved Sansia and Safirah cultivars and an unnamed third line timed to the Regina harvest. The company is already promoting...
“Tomato Prices This Winter Were Among the Highest I’ve Seen in My 25-Year Career”
Tomato prices in winter hit a 25‑year high, with beef tomatoes topping €3 ($3.24) amid supply problems in Spain. Other vegetables show mixed trends: aubergines have fallen to about €0.70 ($0.76), cucumbers are plentiful, and green peppers trade at €2...
US Imports of Brazilian Beef Surged in First Quarter
U.S. imports of Brazilian beef jumped 21% in Q1, reaching $795 million, as overall beef imports rose 28% to $4.5 billion. The surge occurs amid U.S. officials accusing Brazilian packers of corruption and investigating anti‑competitive practices, while the USTR pursues Section 301 cases...
Vori Secures $22 Million Series B to Build AI Operating System for Grocery Stores
Vori announced a $22 million Series B funding round led by Cherryrock Capital, with Greylock Partners and The Factory also participating. The capital will fund the rollout of an AI‑driven operating system that automates checkout, inventory, pricing and supplier interactions across...
New Tyson Foods Products Target Demand for Spicy Flavors
Tyson Foods is rolling out a suite of heat‑forward items across its Ball Park, Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm brands to capture the growing appetite for spicy flavors. The launch includes Ball Park Bun‑Size Jalapeño Beef Franks, Jimmy Dean Premium Hot Bacon, and Hillshire Farm’s Spicy...
The Whisky Exchange Unveils Second Zodiac Quartet
The Whisky Exchange has rolled out the second installment of its Zodiac Series, dubbed the Summer Solstice Release, featuring four single‑cask Scotch malts linked to Cancer, Leo, Virgo and Libra. Each whisky was hand‑selected to mirror the astrological traits of...
Diageo Taps Into Mini Canned Cocktails
Diageo has introduced a 100 ml canned version of its Cocktail Collection in the United States, offering five premium ready‑to‑drink cocktails—including a Ketel One Espresso Martini and a Bulleit Old Fashioned—at $4.99 per can or in multi‑pack bundles. The mini cans...
Grupo Bimbo to Invest $1 Billion in US Operations
Grupo Bimbo announced a $1 billion investment in its U.S. operations over the next two years, focusing on maintenance, product innovation, affordability, nutrition enhancements, and regenerative‑agriculture partnerships. The funding supports a broader North American transformation aimed at sharpening operational efficiency and...
Sainsbury’s Celebrates 25 Years of MSC-Certified Seafood as UK Spending on Sustainable Fish Hits £1.7bn
Sainsbury’s has been honoured by the Marine Stewardship Council for 25 years of promoting sustainable seafood, coinciding with a surge in UK consumer spending that now tops £1.7 billion (about $2.2 billion). The MSC report shows retailers sold 189,000 tonnes of MSC‑labelled fish,...
Silver Brothers Distillery Plans June Opening
Silver Brothers Distillery, a regenerative‑farm whiskey operation on a 220‑acre Hudson Valley estate, will open in June 2026. The distillery grows its own rye, barley and heirloom corn, uses custom copper alembic pot stills and dunnage‑style barrel aging, and will...
Discus CEO Testifies for Tariff Exemption on Spirits
The Distilled Spirits Council (Discus) testified before the USTR Section 301 Committee, urging the Biden administration to exempt spirits from any current or future tariffs. CEO Chris Swonger highlighted that the U.S. spirits sector fuels over $250 billion in economic activity, supports...
India's Food Crisis: Clean Eating Ten Times Harder
I saw this firsthand on my first trip back to India in 2019 after a decade away. The metabolic decline since I lived there in the mid 90s was shocking. I have been back 6 times since and it has...
Alcoholic Beverage Industry Seeks Price Hike Amid Rising Costs From West Asia Crisis
India's alcoholic beverage makers, led by the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies and the Brewers Association of India, are urging state governments to approve a 15‑20% price increase for IMFL, wine and beer. The request follows sharp cost spikes:...
Here’s What Happened After AI Launched And Ran A Café In Stockholm
AI startup Andon Labs handed control of a Stockholm café to an autonomous AI agent called Mona. Within moments Mona produced a detailed operational checklist, secured suppliers, and even filed permits, but struggled with Sweden’s BankID authentication, forcing human staff...
The Buildout Podcast: Kees
Renowned bartender Jeff Bell launched his second bar, Kees, in Manhattan’s West Village this February, handling the build‑out himself after his acclaimed tenure at Please Don’t Tell. The new venue blends minimalist design with a cocktail program that mixes classics...
Fast-Food Sales Rise Despite Higher Gas Prices
Fast‑food giants McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell posted sales growth in Q1 2026 despite a 35 percent surge in U.S. gasoline prices linked to the Iran war. McDonald’s global comparable sales rose 3.8 percent and U.S. same‑store sales climbed 3.9 percent year‑over‑year....
Coffee (Even Decaf) Might Be Helping Your Brain More Than You Think
A small Nature Communications study compared 31 regular coffee drinkers with 31 non‑drinkers and found distinct gut‑microbiome profiles linked to mood, stress and cognition. After a two‑week coffee break, participants resumed either caffeinated or decaf coffee for three weeks, and...
Wingstop Suffers Third Consecutive Sales Decline, 8.7% Drop
Wingstop's domestic same-store sales just dropped 8.7%. Worst quarter ever. Three straight quarters of declines. They couldn't grow even during NBA and NFL season. What's happening?
Pakistan’s Oldest Brewery Resumes Alcohol Exports
Murree Brewery, Pakistan’s oldest privately‑owned brewer, has finally obtained a government licence to export alcoholic beverages after a multi‑year lobbying effort. In its first shipment, the company sent beer and spirits to the United Kingdom, Japan, Thailand and Portugal, marking...
Bordeaux Unveils Modernisation Drive
Bordeaux's trade body CIVB unveiled a modernization plan emphasizing new wine styles, sustainability, and a stronger UK presence as the region marks 90 years as an AOC. The initiative highlights the launch of red wines in Entre‑deux‑Mers, a revival of...
Mastiha: What Is It and Why Is It Gaining in Popularity?
Mastiha, a resin‑flavoured Greek spirit made exclusively from trees on Chios, is experiencing a renaissance beyond its Mediterranean roots. The traditional liqueur, historically sweet and low‑proof, is being reimagined by brands like Axia, which offers a 40% ABV, extra‑dry version...
DoorDash Grocery Push Sparks 37% Marketplace Sales Surge
DoorDash said its first‑quarter marketplace gross order value hit $31.6 billion, a 37% year‑over‑year rise, as grocery delivery became the engine of growth. The company credited a surge in new grocery shoppers, record DashPass sign‑ups and AI‑driven operations for the jump.
This 1950s Italian Sandwich Chain Is Still Going Strong In The Northeast
Moe's Italian Sandwiches, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire‑based chain founded in 1959, has grown to 16 locations across New England, most of them franchise‑owned. The brand sticks to a focused menu centered on a signature Italian sub, complemented by a few...
Hendrick’s Opens Immersive Selfridges Experience
Hendrick’s Gin is debuting its first permanent line extension in almost ten years with Another Hendrick’s, an expression infused with orange blossom, cacao beans, rose and cucumber. To launch the 41.4% ABV spirit, the brand has created an immersive "Anotherland"...
Cocoa Prices Surge 38% Monthly, Signaling Quad2 Inflation
Cocoa inflating more than +9% in a day to +38% in a month = #Quad2 Inflation Accelerating https://t.co/v93q9RpLgl
Doubling Down on Restaurant Marketing Spend
Restaurant owners are bucking recession‑driven caution by planning to boost marketing spend in 2026. A Constant Contact survey of 1,500 small businesses shows 68% will increase budgets and 74% will devote more time to promotion. The focus is on high‑impact...
Pei Wei, Gyro Hut Tap NCR Voyix to Modernize POS Operations
Fast‑casual chains Pei Wei Asian Kitchen and Gyro Hut have signed expanded technology agreements with NCR Voyix to deploy the Aloha Next point‑of‑sale platform. The unified commerce solution promises higher uptime, faster service and enterprise‑grade data tools as the brands scale. Pei Wei is reinforcing...
Norway’s Seafood Export Value Drops in April Largely Due to Stronger Krone
Norway's seafood export value fell 5% in April 2026 to $1.44 billion, primarily because a stronger krone reduced foreign‑currency earnings and the Middle East war raised transport costs. Salmon shipments to key markets such as Japan, Israel and the Philippines dropped...
Chicken of the Sea Commits to Complete MSC Certification Across Its Tuna Product Portfolio
Seafood brand Chicken of the Sea announced it will source tuna from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries by the end of 2024, becoming the first mainstream U.S. tuna label to carry the MSC blue eco‑label across its entire retail portfolio....
Mangrove to Distribute Fratelli Branca in the UK
Mangrove Global has secured the UK distribution rights for Fratelli Branca’s full portfolio, including its iconic Fernet‑Branca bitters, Carpano vermouths and Caffè Borghetti coffee liqueur. The historic Italian house, founded in 1845, brings a range built on secret blends of...
Campari Maintains Growth Outlook Despite Weaker-than-Expected Sales
Campari posted 2.9% organic revenue growth in Q1, reaching €643 million (about $701 million), slightly below analyst forecasts. Strong performance from its flagship Aperol and solid gains in 18 countries helped the group reaffirm its 2026 guidance of 3% underlying growth. While...
South Carolina Legislature Approves Two Versions of Shrimp Labeling Law
South Carolina’s House of Representatives unanimously passed HB 4248, mandating country‑of‑origin labels on all shrimp sold in the state. The measure responds to DNA testing that found the majority of Charleston restaurants were serving imported shrimp while claiming they were local....
Raising Cane’s Secret Recipe for Scaling, with CEO Todd Graves
In this episode of Masters of Scale, Todd Graves, co‑founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s, recounts how he turned a simple chicken‑finger concept into a multibillion‑dollar fast‑food chain. He emphasizes the power of relentless focus on a single, craveable product,...
Prices for Salmon From Norway Climb Heading Into Week 19
Atlantic salmon exported from Norway rose sharply in Week 18, with the Sitagri Salmon Index showing continued gains into early Week 19. As of 3 May, the average global export price reached NOK 91.87 per kilogram (approximately $8.54 or €7.90), up nearly NOK 10 ($0.93) from the...
Faster Slaughterhouse Line Speeds Are Increasingly a Climate Problem
The USDA has proposed raising line speeds in U.S. slaughterhouses, increasing poultry throughput from 140 to 175 birds per minute and removing speed caps for hog facilities. Critics argue the faster lines will exacerbate worker injuries—already averaging 27 serious cases...
The First Ever High-Tech Pizza Express Is Opening in London
Pizza Express opened its first high‑tech location in Brixton on May 2, 2024, featuring self‑ordering kiosks that let customers choose pies, request takeaways or delivery via screens. The restaurant offers classic menu items such as American Hot and Sloppy Giuseppe, with...
Iran War Triggers Diet Coke Can Shortage in India
"The Iran war has caused a shortage of Diet Coke in India, where it is sold only in aluminium cans that have run short because of delayed shipments from the Gulf caused by the Iran war." https://t.co/uky4g78BIA
Packaging Costs Surge, Threatening Product Shortages
Prices of bags, containers, cups and utensils have all soared, sparking fears of shortages as manufacturers struggle to source packaging for products such as instant noodles, beverages and cosmetics. https://t.co/P0b2R0HC7X
One Planet Pizza Crosses £1m Sales Mark and Secures Third Asda Listing
One Planet Pizza, the UK plant‑based pizza brand, has surpassed $1.27 million in annualised retail sales and joined NielsenIQ’s Million Club. The company secured a third nationwide listing with Asda, rolling out the product at a $3.80 price point on May 11....
Woolworths Reinstates Soft Plastics Collection
Australian supermarket giant Woolworths has re‑opened soft‑plastic recycling drop‑off points in more than 700 stores across five states. The rollout follows a 2024 pilot in five Victorian locations and involves partnerships with local recyclers SaveBoard, IQRenew and Plascrete, which convert...
Thailand Targets 6 Million Chinese Visitors via ‘Authentic’ Content on RedNote, WeChat
Thailand is targeting more than 6 million Chinese visitors in 2024, up from 4.5 million in 2025, by leveraging the RedNote travel app and WeChat. After a 30 percent drop in Chinese arrivals last year due to safety scares and economic concerns, the...
‘We Are Not Going to Do Charity’: Kingfisher Beer Maker United Breweries to Exit Unprofitable States
United Breweries (Kingfisher) announced it will pull back from Indian states where strict price caps and soaring input costs erode margins. The brewer projects a ₹400‑₹500 crore ($48‑$60 million) profit hit this year, driven by higher glass, aluminium, fuel and logistics expenses....
Raw C Mango & Cream Paradise Coconut Yoghurt Inspired by Weis Launched
Australian snack brands Weis and Raw C have teamed up to launch Raw C Mango & Cream Paradise Coconut Yoghurt, a dairy‑free product inspired by Weis' iconic mango flavor. The yoghurt blends natural mango, velvety cream and coconut, and is free of...
Handle with Care: Chinese Study Finds Aquatic Virus Can Infect Human Eyes
Chinese researchers have identified the covert mortality nodavirus (CMNV), a pathogen long known in shrimp, as the cause of a newly described eye disease, persistent ocular hypertensive viral anterior uveitis (POH‑VAU), in humans. The study, published in Nature Microbiology, linked...
Urban Remedy Strawberry Collagen Meal Shake
Urban Remedy has added a strawberry flavor to its Organic Protein Collagen Meal Shake line, expanding the range to three options. The shakes, launched in 2024, deliver 28‑30 g of protein and 10 g of grass‑fed, organic hydrolyzed collagen per 16‑oz bottle....
The Stylish Aldi Gear Perfect For Keeping Cool And Hydrated This Summer
Aldi has launched the LS Live In Style Fashion Waterbottle Crossbody, a $10 accessory available in black, beige and white sherpa. The bag features an adjustable strap, a short braided handle and a zip‑secure pocket for keys, wallet and snacks....
All-Natural Breasts Take Centre Stage Born’s First Work For Paddock-To-Plate Meat Brand Our Cow
Australian paddock‑to‑plate brand Our Cow has launched its debut campaign, “No Bull,” created by independent agency Born. The provocative work rolls out across social channels and out‑of‑home billboards, using cheeky visuals like chicken breasts and a suspicious fish to call out...
What Happens To Texas Roadhouse's Leftover Food?
Texas Roadhouse is leveraging its from‑scratch kitchen to turn meat trimmings and excess fat into new menu items, dramatically cutting food waste. An external audit of a Connecticut location in 2025 found the chain’s per‑guest waste was lower than the...
Exclusive: Eden Brew Gets US GRAS Clearance for Animal-Free Casein & Eyes Supplements Industry
Australian precision‑fermentation startup Eden Brew has secured US GRAS clearance for its recombinant beta‑casein, positioning the animal‑free protein for dairy‑like applications. The company is now prioritising the health‑supplements market, leveraging its micelle technology to deliver fortified nutrients such as iron...