Know What's Happening in Food and Beverage
Know What's Happening in Food and Beverage
Food and Beverage Pulse
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EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
A new cross‑industry coalition called Alliance Food Sourcing (AFS) has been launched to redirect surplus food from the UK supply chain to charities. Backed by the Institute of Grocery Distribution, The Felix Project and FareShare, the group already counts 50 major food businesses and aims to deliver 30 million meals annually by 2028. Early pilots have rescued over 10 million meals, with initiatives ranging from repackaging bulk chicken to using spare HGV capacity for cheaper transport. Retailers are also running a month‑long "Let’s make a meal" fundraising campaign.
Brian Pearson, the newly appointed Chief Technology Officer at Mendocino Farms, is a veteran of restaurant technology with a background in operations and executive leadership. He has overseen large‑scale projects such as POS modernization, digital ordering, catering platforms, and AI‑driven...
Former Warburtons chief executive has resigned from the multinational food sector to found a new brand focused on healthier snacks for children. The venture aims to replace sugar‑laden products with nutrient‑rich alternatives, leveraging the founder’s extensive bakery and distribution experience....
French spirits group Pernod Ricard is introducing its flagship Irish ready‑to‑drink, West Coast Cooler, to the UK market. The sparkling wine‑based seltzer, offered in Original tropical fruit and Sunburst peach‑mango cans, will debut in Tesco stores this month at £2.25...
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative awarded $32.8 million in grants to six conservation partners, backed by McDonald’s USA, USDA’s NRCS and major beef and beverage suppliers. The program is part of a $200 million, seven‑year effort...
King’s Hawaiian is rolling out its limited‑edition Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls to grocery shelves across the United States. The purple‑hued rolls combine real ube and coconut milk, contain no artificial dyes, and are sold in 12‑count bags and 24‑count twin...
Coca‑Cola has revived its iconic 1971 “Hilltop” ad with a gospel‑inspired remake called “Drink in America,” produced by WPP Open X and Ogilvy. The brand teamed with the America250 Commission for a nationwide 2026 campaign and introduced 52 limited‑edition mini‑cans, each...
Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij, chef‑owner of Potong in Bangkok, became the first Thai and Asian recipient of the 2025 World’s Best Female Chef award. She frames her cuisine around five core elements—salt, acid, spice, Maillard reaction and texture—emphasising progression rather than...
Restaurants are actively fighting delivery‑platform dominance by building first‑party ordering channels, adopting B2B order‑management tools, and pursuing regulatory relief. Large chains such as McDonald’s and Domino’s have launched branded apps to capture customers directly, while independents turn to services like...
Fermtech, a UK‑based food‑tech startup, announced a £2.5 million funding round to accelerate its fermentation‑derived cocoa alternative. The capital, sourced from impact‑focused investors, will fund scale‑up, regulatory approvals, and pilot manufacturing. The company claims its product mimics cocoa’s flavor and texture...
Food and drink manufacturers face delays upgrading cooling equipment due to tightening F‑gas regulations. Aggreko's survey of 334 UK plant managers shows 94% expect moderate or major impact. The UK plans to cut HFCs by 98.6% by 2048, accelerating the...
Dr. Sue Kleiner warns the supplement industry of a missed opportunity by continuing to market creatine as a male‑centric performance aid. She argues that messaging should pivot to metabolic health, daily functional strength, and fertility benefits that resonate with women at...
Snappy Technologies unveiled a new integration platform that consolidates disparate food‑delivery marketplaces into a single unified system. The solution leverages a standardized API to aggregate orders, inventory, and driver data across services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Early pilots...
The first 13 weeks of 2026 confirm that the craft‑beer category remains under pressure, with overall volume continuing to slip while price hikes sustain revenue. Growth is confined to specific niches rather than broad‑based recovery, echoing the 2025 data that...
Oregon‑based Sivetz Roasting Machines and Kansas‑based Peachey Roasters have merged under the Sivetz brand, re‑introducing electric‑heat fluid‑bed coffee roasters. The unified lineup adds 4‑kg and 9‑kg electric models alongside the flagship SRM15 gas‑fired roaster, all sharing common PLC control and...
KFC introduced a new music‑driven campaign featuring the single “Finger Lickin’ Machine,” starring Colonel Sanders dancing to promote its Value Feast menu. The ad includes an extended music‑video style spot and limited‑edition physical copies handed out in Los Angeles to...
Ahold Delhaize USA has extended its partnership with Fiserv to launch Pay by Bank on the e‑commerce sites and mobile apps of The Giant Co., Giant Food and Stop & Shop. The new option lets shoppers link their bank accounts for...
Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) has released Dirty Mountain Dew, a dirty‑soda‑inspired carbonated drink, across the United States. The product ships in 20‑ounce bottles and 12‑packs of 12‑ounce cans, with both full‑sugar and Zero Sugar formulations. The launch leverages a 600% year‑over‑year...
Starbucks has introduced its protein‑rich cold foam topping to UK outlets, marking the brand’s first rollout of the product outside the United States. The foam, which delivers about five grams of protein per serving, is positioned as a low‑calorie, dairy‑free...
German Doner Kebab (GDK) announced the appointment of John McCarthy, a former senior executive at Costa Coffee and Chipotle Mexican Grill, as its new chair. McCarthy brings a track record of scaling fast‑casual concepts, digital transformation, and franchise development. The...
Bakkafrost, the Faroe Islands' leading salmon producer, reported 2025 revenues down nearly 5% year‑over‑year, falling to DKK 5.2 billion. The decline was driven by weaker salmon prices and a modest drop in export volumes despite stable production capacity. EBITDA contracted to DKK 1.1 billion,...
The UN’s FAO Food Price Index climbed to 128.5 points in March, a 2.4% month‑on‑month rise marking a second consecutive increase. All five commodity groups – cereals, vegetable oils, meat, dairy and sugar – posted higher prices, led by a...
Drumstick has teamed with WWE superstar Cody Rhodes to launch a new creative platform, "Lick it. Flip it. Drumstick it." The campaign, timed for WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, combines a national TV spot, social media content, and the return of the...
Lifeway Foods is debuting a retro‑inspired wellness house in Palm Springs on April 10, marking the brand’s 40th anniversary. The pop‑up blends 1980s‑1990s design with modern wellness, featuring probiotic‑rich bites, a pool‑side setting, and performances by Debbie Gibson and Autograf. Hosted...
Entrepreneur Steven Hershberger led an investor group to acquire Honey Creek Legacy and rebrand it as Legacy Maker Farms, a premium USDA‑Prime beef producer based in Fairmount, Indiana. The company is deploying the AI‑powered predictive intelligence platform ELI, developed by...
Bakery manufacturers are rapidly introducing high‑protein breads, bagels, and tortillas, responding to a surge in consumer demand for protein‑rich foods. Products such as Nature’s Own Life Wheat+Protein loaf and Sola Protein soft white loaf deliver between 10 and 22 grams...
Nelson-Jameson announced a major expansion of its Fairview, Pennsylvania distribution center to increase cold‑storage capacity for dairy cultures. The project targets faster, more reliable deliveries to Northeast food manufacturers while cutting dry‑ice consumption through localized shipping routes. It also aligns...
Tyson Foods announced the closure of its Hillshire Brands plant in Rome, Georgia, effective May 31, affecting 168 employees. The facility, acquired in the 2014 $8.5 billion Hillshire deal, had been producing Nature Valley granola bars for General Mills under a single‑customer...
Swedish packaging giant Tetra Pak has broken ground on a $22 million innovation facility at its Denton, Texas campus, adjacent to its U.S./Canada headquarters. The new 12,000‑sq‑ft product development center and 3,000‑sq‑ft customer innovation space will double the site’s R&D capacity and...
Bel Group has outperformed a weak global snacking market by leaning into healthy‑snack innovation and strategic capacity expansion. The French multinational rolled out plant‑based Boursin, probiotic Babybel portions and limited‑edition flavors while doubling production in Vietnam and South Dakota. Acquisitions...
The American Heart Association released its 2026 Dietary Guidance, urging Americans to replace most meat with plant‑based proteins, choose low‑fat dairy, and prioritize whole grains while limiting red meat, full‑fat dairy, animal fats, and refined grains. The guidance also recommends...
Domino's is unveiling Slice Sauce, which will come with the chain's Handmade Pan or Parmesan Stuffed Crust Pizza. And customers who buy either of those pizzas between now and May 7 will get special access to buy special edition Shinola...
California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and the Environmental Working Group have introduced Assembly Bill 2244, which would create a voluntary “California Certified” non‑ultra‑processed food (non‑UPF) seal overseen by the state Department of Public Health. The seal mirrors the USDA Organic model,...
Upcycled foods, made from food‑system byproducts, are surging as a sustainable snack category. A Precedence Research report valued the global market at $63.8 billion in 2025 and forecasts $124.39 billion by 2034, with North America accounting for 39% of sales in 2024....
Wayne‑Sanderson Farms, the United States' third‑largest poultry producer, announced two senior promotions effective April 1. Aaron Leach will serve as chief commercial and supply chain officer, overseeing sales, marketing, R&D and supply‑chain functions. Michael Crump will become chief operations officer, responsible for live...
Traditional grocery chains are abandoning generic low‑price messaging in favor of targeted promotions, private‑label price comparisons, and longer‑term discount programs. Surveys show only 13% of shoppers trust these stores to offer the lowest prices, prompting retailers like Wegmans, Kroger and...
Danone is redefining better‑for‑you food by emphasizing nutrient quality, digestibility and gut health rather than simply boosting macronutrient grams. The company is positioning itself as an educator, helping shoppers navigate complex nutrition claims while delivering formats and textures that fit...
Dogfish Head partnered with the Grateful Dead to launch the Juicy Pale Ale and later the Citrus Daydream Lager, sparking its fastest‑growing beer ever and reversing a multi‑year sales decline. The collaboration taps the Dead’s cult following, using vibrant branding...
Hershey reported 2025 sales of $11.7 billion, up 4.4 % as it outpaces rivals like Conagra and Kraft Heinz. CEO Kirk Tanner emphasizes the "next‑generation of snacking," blending legacy brands such as Hershey’s and Reese’s with newer better‑for‑you products like SkinnyPop and...
KFC has launched its first musical single, “Finger Lickin' Machine,” marking a shift from traditional jingles to a full‑length track. The song supports the rollout of the new Box Feasts, priced at $7, $9 and $11, under the Value Feast...
Croatia’s Fortenova Group has accepted Bosqar Invest’s binding offer to acquire 100 % of meat producer Pik Vrbovec, completing another step in its post‑Agrokor divestiture programme. The deal follows Fortenova’s debt‑cutting campaign that reduced gross debt to €650 m and its recent...
Goose Island has refreshed its flagship 312 lager to mark Chicago’s “312 Day,” a city‑wide celebration held each March 12. The new look features bright yellow cans emblazoned with the tagline “It’s a Chicago Thing.” The holiday, started by Goose Island employees...
Scientists at Rothamsted Research have used CRISPR/Cas9 to create wheat lines with dramatically lower free asparagine, achieving reductions of up to 93% while maintaining normal yield and protein levels. Field trials showed that bread and biscuits made from the edited...
Whole Foods Market is accelerating its UK footprint with a series of compact stores, highlighted by the new Angel location in London. Executive purchasing leader Jade Hoai says the retailer is reshaping its iconic American model to fit dense urban...
Del Taco is re‑introducing its 1990s‑era Big Fat Taco on buttery flatbread, accompanied by a retro collectible called Del Flipz. The limited‑time menu features five taco varieties, two breakfast options, and additional nostalgic treats like Dragon Fruit Blueberry Poppers and Mini...
Japanese gin defied the 2025 global spirits slump, with export value more than doubling to ¥8.2 billion, a 104 % increase. Ukiyo, a premium brand owned by Drinksology Kirker Greer, posted a 40 % CAGR from FY23 to FY25 and forecasts 35 % growth in...
2 Sisters Food Group has appointed Chris Tyas to head its Net Zero by 2035 strategy and advise on supply‑chain resilience. Tyas brings over 40 years of experience from senior roles at Mars, Nestlé and as chair of GS1 UK, as well as a stint...
Chick-fil‑A has posted two consecutive years of modest sales growth, signaling a slowdown after a decade of rapid expansion. Analysts point to a ceiling in unit volume as the chain approaches market saturation in key regions. Elevated gasoline prices are...
Prince St. Pizza, a fast‑growing by‑the‑slice Sicilian‑style pizza concept, has secured backing from one of the original and largest franchisees of Dave's Hot Chicken. The investor plans to accelerate expansion through a mix of company‑owned stores and franchising, leveraging the...
KFC launched a 90‑second music single titled “Finger Lickin’ Machine” to promote its new Value Feast menu, featuring bundled meals priced at $7, $9 and $11. The ad, produced by agency Highdive and music house Heavy Duty, showcases Colonel Sanders...
