Yum China Scales Kpro Concept Beyond 300 Locations
Yum China is rapidly expanding its light‑meal brand Kpro, which has just crossed the 300‑store threshold nationwide. The company aims to double that footprint to 600 locations by year‑end, leveraging the momentum of healthier, affordable dining trends in China. Kpro operates side‑by‑side with KFC outlets, offering a menu of multigrain bowls, yogurt smoothies and whole‑wheat sandwiches. The rollout targets tier‑1, tier‑2 and select tier‑3 cities, especially in the eastern and southern regions where demand for light meals is strongest.
Eataly Launches La Piazza Dining Concept in Toronto
Eataly is rolling out a new dining concept called La Piazza in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville district. The venue will open at the chain’s Eaton Centre and Sherway Gardens locations, recreating an Italian public square with live music, surprise tastings, and...
Co-Pay Unlikely to Help Big Eateries
The Thai government’s “Thai Chuay Thai Plus” co‑payment scheme subsidises 60 % of restaurant costs, capping the benefit at 200 baht ($5.7) per day and 1,000 baht ($28.6) per month from June to September. Eligibility is limited to non‑legal entities and small legal firms with revenue...
Don Q Dropped a Pair of Bourbon Barrel-Aged Rums That Are Perfect For Whiskey Fans
Destilería Serrallés, the historic Puerto Rican rum maker behind Don Q, unveiled two new bourbon‑barrel‑aged rums—Don Q Reserva and Reserva Especial. Reserva is a blend aged at least five years in ex‑bourbon barrels, while Reserva Especial sees seven‑to‑ten years of aging, delivering richer dried‑fruit and...
From Star Wars to Stranger Things — IP Experience Is Now a Powerful Ingredient On The QSR Menu
Fast‑food chains are moving beyond limited‑time offers to full‑scale intellectual‑property (IP) experiences that blend menu items, packaging, apps and collectibles into a single brand moment. License‑global data shows food‑and‑beverage brands generated $7.4 billion in licensed product sales last year, while the...
Unilever to Sell Food Business to McCormick in $66 Billion Mega‑Merger
Unilever agreed to sell its food division to McCormick for $66 bn, paying $15.7 bn in cash and giving Unilever a 65% equity stake in the new entity. The deal creates a $20 bn‑revenue global flavour leader and leaves Unilever as a €39 bn...
En Route Scales Regional Ranges with Global Strategy
En Route International is rolling out region‑specific menu ranges while leveraging a global data‑driven innovation platform. The company’s new "Power of Possibility" research highlights a shift toward flexible, familiar, and experience‑focused inflight dining, prompting product launches such as a reimagined...
4 Beverage Trends Reshaping the Industry: From Energy Management to Microritualized Drinking Moments
At CSP’s Cold Vault Forum, RBC Capital’s Nik Modi outlined four emerging beverage trends reshaping the market. Consumers are moving from high‑octane energy drinks toward "managed energy" products that smooth physiological spikes, driven by GLP‑1 use, anxiety and hybrid‑work fatigue....
Chile Relaxes Regulation to Clear Path for Multitrophic Aquaculture at Salmon Farms
Chile’s Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) is amending a 2021 resolution to allow macroalgae cultivation alongside salmon farming. The change removes the need for a technical concession modification, streamlining approval under the 2025 Framework Law on Sectoral Authorizations. Multitrophic...
An Existential Shift Is Coming: Dimbleby on the Forces Set to Reshape Food
Former UK food tsar Henry Dimbleby warned at the British Nutrition Foundation summit that soaring nitrogen‑fertiliser costs and an upcoming El Niño could push food inflation higher, while a rapid rollout of cheap GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs will reshape consumer demand. He...
5 Food and Drink Trends Highlighted at the National Restaurant Show
The 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago highlighted emerging food and drink trends, from duck‑based proteins like bacon and prosciutto to functional mood‑enhancing spritzes and low‑ABV Italian aperitivos. Plant‑forward burgers made with real vegetables such as roasted artichokes are...
Milly Positions Pepper As the Kitchen Workhorse It’s Always Been
Milly is launching a line of single-origin Ecuadorian peppercorns paired with adjustable ceramic grinders and plastic-free tin packaging, positioning pepper as a premium kitchen staple. The brand follows recent upscale revamps of pantry items, aiming to become the go-to name...
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How Restaurants Can Once Again Become an Employer of Choice
Restaurant labor shortages have eroded the industry’s reputation as an employer of choice, with turnover now at historic highs. Associate professor Audrey Benet urges operators to adopt a "Miss Pat" mindset—personal, welcoming, and community‑focused—to rebuild belonging and psychological safety. She...
Adding Energy to the Foundation of Functional Foods
Functional‑food makers are intensifying efforts to add energy, with caffeine still dominant but complemented by protein and fiber blends. About 90% of U.S. adults consume caffeine, yet manufacturers are seeking cleaner, sustained‑energy sources such as guarana, green tea, and guayusa....
Industry Shaping Trends From the 2026 NRA Show
At the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show, experts highlighted cold beverages as the new profit engine, noting a projected 130% growth in the refresher segment over four years. They also underscored the rising importance of Instagram‑ and TikTok‑ready dishes, with...
Athletic Brewing Opens Marketing Tap to Stand Out in Crowded Summer
Athletic Brewing is rolling out its largest national summer campaign, boosting media spend by 120% compared with a year earlier. The effort centers on a 30‑second spot, “Exceed Every Expectation,” featuring beer writer Jenn Litz‑Kirk, chef David Chang and restaurateur...
Industry Experts Lay Out Most Effective Levers for Healthier Diets
The British Nutrition Foundation’s report "Beyond Ultra‑Processed Foods" outlines evidence‑based levers—pricing, placement, reformulation and front‑of‑pack labeling—to reshape the UK food environment amid an obesity crisis. It stresses structural change over individual willpower, noting that mandatory HFSS rules and fiscal tools...
What Do GLP-1s Mean for Food Waste?
Around 12% of U.S. adults have tried GLP‑1 drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy, according to a JAMA study. ReFED reports that these medications are reshaping grocery demand, prompting smaller portion preferences and heightened awareness of plate waste. While early...
Restaurants Use Menu Intelligence to Shape Loyalty, Discovery and Personalization
Restaurant leaders at the 2026 Food On Demand Conference highlighted how menu intelligence transforms digital ordering, offering ingredient‑level transparency and personalized recommendations. More than 90% of guests now browse menus online before dining, prompting chains to adopt e‑commerce‑style filtering. Noodles...
Greenpeace Study Finds Up to 5,000 Microplastic Particles in Each Gerber Baby Food Pouch
Greenpeace’s latest investigation detected an estimated 5,000 microplastic particles in each Gerber baby‑food pouch, along with over 100 plastic‑related chemicals. The findings have prompted the group to demand product testing, a phase‑out of plastic pouches, and new federal legislation to...
When an Ingredient Goes Viral, Can the Supply Chain Keep Up?
The food and beverage industry is racing to incorporate viral ingredients such as butterfly pea flower, natural colors, and protein isolates, but supply chains often lag behind consumer hype. Companies are confronting scalability gaps at the R&D stage, dealing with...
PepsiCo Hikes Small Chip Bag Prices by up to 20¢ Amid Cost Pressures
PepsiCo announced it will raise prices on select single‑serve chip bags by roughly 10 to 20 cents per pack, beginning in late June. The move ends a 15‑year period of stable pricing for its smallest snack formats and reflects mounting...
Prosur Develops Clean Label-Focused Ingredient Toolbox
Prosur unveiled the Get It Natural Toolbox, a suite of clean‑label ingredients designed to eliminate synthetic additives in food and beverage formulations. The portfolio offers chemical elimination, next‑level fermentation, a smarter sweetener system, and a cost‑efficient cocoa alternative with fiber‑driven...
SK Capital Partners Takes Hold of Brothers International
SK Capital Partners has acquired Brothers International Food Holdings from Benford Capital, though financial terms were not disclosed. Founder Travis Betters will stay on as president and CEO while retaining a significant equity stake. The deal positions SK Capital to...
Danone to Close Plant-Based Dairy Facility in New Jersey
Danone announced it will shut its Bridgeton, New Jersey plant that produces Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free alternatives, with the closure slated for Aug. 4. About 114 workers will be laid off as production moves to facilities in Dallas, Virginia and Florida. The...
Gordon Ramsay Teams with Sea Containers to Open Riverside Restaurant on London’s South Bank
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants and Sea Containers London announced a joint venture to open a new flagship restaurant on the South Bank this autumn. The venue will combine Ramsay’s culinary reputation with Sea Containers’ design pedigree, offering indoor dining and an...
India’s Supreme Court Seeks Gov Response on Plea to Ban Tetra Pack Spirits
The Supreme Court of India has asked the central government, Globus Spirits and Wave Distilleries for responses to a petition by the NGO Community Against Drunken Driving seeking a ban on spirits sold in Tetra Pak and sachet formats. The...
How RTD Is Unlocking New Opportunities in Dairy
The ready‑to‑drink (RTD) beverage market is on track to reach roughly $1.5 trillion by the mid‑2030s, a 67% rise from 2026, driven by high single‑digit CAGR and consumer demand for health, affordability and moderation. Dairy companies are leveraging this growth, with...
The Functional Beverage Checklist
Functional beverages are reshaping the global drinks market as consumers demand both health benefits and great taste. A new checklist highlights five critical pillars—flavour, proven function, fun branding, clean formulation, and price—that determine a product’s success. The article cites data...
GLP-1s and Anhedonia: The Death of Dopamine Snacking
GLP‑1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound are dampening cravings and “food noise,” leading users to cut back on discretionary snacks. Market data show households with GLP‑1 users have reduced spending on confectionery, frozen foods and takeaways, contributing...
Meeting Customer Demand for Shareable and Snackable
Restaurant operators are increasingly adding shareable, snack‑size dishes as diners seek flexible, build‑your‑own experiences throughout the day. Joe Hannon of Restaurant365 notes that smaller plates reduce labor strain, align with off‑premise growth, and allow more intentional margin management. ...
Metal Branding Beats Expensive Meta
Liquid Death went from $3M to $333M in revenue in under 5 years by branding water like a metal band — and locking in a Live Nation deal that puts cans at 120+ music festivals. Meanwhile you're paying $30 CPMs to...
Clean Juice Launches Sparkler Drinks Amid Refresher Boom
Clean Juice, a fast‑casual juice chain with 50 locations in 16 states, has launched Sparkler, a limited‑time line of sparkling fruit‑based drinks made from fresh‑pressed juices and whole‑food ingredients. The three flavors—Cucumber Ginger‑Aid, Blue Citrus, and Pineapple Mango Citrus—are marketed...
Upcycled Ingredients Gain Momentum
The food sector is accelerating the use of upcycled ingredients—materials like fruit pulp, spent grain, whey, coffee fruit pulp, and vegetable trimmings that would otherwise be waste. SPINS data shows a 16.6% year‑over‑year dollar increase in the natural retail channel,...
Canada Reclassifies Sports Drinks as Foods
Health Canada announced that sports electrolyte products will move from the Natural Health Product (NHP) regulatory regime to the food regulatory framework. The shift means ready‑to‑drink beverages, powders and tablets will be treated as foods, subject to the Canadian Food...
Sial Paris 2026: The Event that Sheds Light on the Food Business
Sial Paris 2026, running October 17‑21 at Paris Nord Villepinte, is shaping up as the most ambitious edition of the global agri‑food trade fair. Organisers report 95% of the 280,000 sqm exhibition space booked six months early, with nearly 8,000 exhibitors...
McDonald’s Makes Major Menu Change
McDonald’s has launched a nationwide specialty beverage lineup that adds three fruit Refreshers and three crafted sodas, marking its biggest drinks overhaul in years. The fast‑food giant pairs this premium‑drink push with an expanded $3‑or‑less value menu to attract both...
Pizza Hut Closes 49 Locations as Part of Major Restructuring Plan
Pizza Hut is executing a sweeping restructuring known as the "Hut Forward" initiative, which includes closing up to 250 U.S. restaurants by the summer of 2026. So far, at least 49 locations across 20 states have vanished silently, leaving customers...
‘Real’ Chocolate Is Making a Comeback as Cocoa Prices Fall
Cocoa futures have slumped about 70% from their late‑2024 peaks, prompting major confectioners to re‑introduce higher‑cocoa chocolate. Hershey announced it will restore original recipes and increase cocoa content across its Hershey’s and Reese’s lines starting next year. Lower input costs...
Behind the Scenes of the Restaurants You’ll Never Eat Inside
At I.CON East in Jersey City, CloudKitchens opened its 17,000‑square‑foot Union City ghost‑kitchen, a plug‑and‑play facility that now hosts 32 delivery‑only restaurants, including brands like Starbucks. The site serves 206,000 residents and 90,000 workers within a 15‑minute radius, illustrating the...
New and Cool at the Show: Drinks, Spices, Alternative Beef Win the Day
At the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, exhibitors spotlighted THC‑infused low‑calorie drinks, sugar‑free mocktail syrups, award‑winning black truffle crumbles, plant‑based beef alternatives, and a Dubai‑chocolate pistachio phyllo dessert. Over 53,000 industry professionals attended, confirming strong interest in functional,...
ICON 2026 - Conagra's Blue Yonder Transformation Delivers 'Near-Dark-Room' Production Planning. And Agents Are Next.
Conagra Brands, a $12 billion CPG giant, won Blue Yonder’s ICONic Customer Award after overhauling its supply‑chain planning with an AI‑driven platform. By tightening time fences and eliminating manual overrides, the company lifted service levels to 98% and cut inventory by...
Michelin Adds 11 L.A.-area Restaurants, Announces the Date of Its 2026 Guide Reveal
Michelin announced 21 new entries for its 2026 California Guide, with 11 restaurants located in the Los Angeles area. The additions range from high‑end omakase venues like Miura and Kojima to the first taqueria, Sonoratown, and several Bib Gourmand and green‑star selections....
China Boosts Wheat Imports as Pork Imports Plunge
🇨🇳China's grain imports in the first four months of 2026 were up from the same period last year, especially in wheat. Meanwhile, pork imports fell 30% amid strong domestic output. Soybean imports were up 8% year-on-year but below the period's 5-year...
MSP To Overhaul Concessions Program
Minneapolis‑St. Paul International Airport (MSP) announced its biggest concessions overhaul in over a decade, targeting 47 new food, beverage and retail concepts across 80,000 square feet by 2029. The airport will issue a formal request for proposals (RFP) on May 26,...
Walmart Steps in for McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Deliveries
Walmart is expanding its Spark delivery network to include restaurant orders from in‑store locations such as McDonald’s and Dunkin’. The retailer will bundle these meals with grocery and merchandise shipments, leveraging its existing last‑mile infrastructure. This move follows a $100 million...
Grocers Need to Make Sure Stores Have Personality
The Food Industry Association (FMI) released its U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2026 Report, revealing that shoppers still favor physical grocery stores despite growth in online channels. On average, consumers visit more than five grocery banners per month, seeking stores whose...
GLP&1 and Restaurants: Shifting Habits, Not Shrinking Demand
A recent National Restaurant Association survey finds roughly one in eight U.S. adults are using GLP‑1 medications, a figure that could climb to 40% as affordability improves. Despite appetite‑suppressing effects, GLP‑1 users dine out more frequently—averaging 7.6 visits per week...
Independent Grocers Make up Nearly 40% of US Food Retail Sales, Report Says
Independent grocers now generate over $353 billion in sales, representing more than 38% of the U.S. food‑retail market. Their sales have risen 39% since 2020, driving a total economic impact of $557.5 billion—about 2% of U.S. GDP. The National Grocers Association reports...
India Coffee Report: Soluble Coffee Drives Exports but Arabica Declining
India’s coffee output is projected to dip 4.5% to 6.14 million 60‑kg bags in 2026/27, with Arabica production falling sharply due to erratic weather, aging trees and pests. Robusta remains relatively resilient, keeping overall yields above 4.5 million bags. Exports are expected...