NYC Health Department Launches Anti-Alcohol ‘Buzzkill’ Campaign
The New York City Department of Health launched the "Buzzkill" campaign, a city‑wide effort to warn residents that alcohol consumption raises the risk of cancers in the breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat and voice box. The initiative uses ads on subway cars, bars, restaurants, radio and social media to make the link clear. It is the first major U.S. city to frame alcohol control as a cancer‑prevention strategy, arriving months after federal dietary guidelines dropped daily drinking limits. Officials say no amount of alcohol is safe, but drinking less can lower cancer risk.
Canmakers Say Capacity Is Tight as They Gear up for Big Summer
Cankmakers Ball, Crown Holdings and Ardagh Metal Packaging reported strong Q1 revenue growth but warned that capacity will be tight as summer promotions ramp up. Ball posted $3.6 B sales, up 16.3% YoY, and is investing $35 M in a new Oregon...
Ancient Grains, Legumes Make a Comeback with UPF Concerns
Ancient grains and legumes are re‑emerging in Western baking as a response to growing concerns over ultra‑processed foods. Experts at the BakingTech conference highlighted the higher fiber, mineral density, and phytonutrients these whole‑grain flours provide without drastic diet changes. Gluten‑containing...
Niman Ranch Offers Ultra-Premium Sausage Products
Perdue’s ultra‑premium Niman Ranch brand is expanding its sausage lineup, spotlighting chef‑inspired flavors and higher animal‑welfare standards. The seasonal Hatch Green Chile sausage, previously an online limited‑time offer, is now being evaluated for year‑round placement at a national retailer. The...
Versuni Launches Philips Airfryer Partnership with Unilever Foods
Versuni, the global licensee for Philips home appliances, announced a multi‑year partnership with Unilever Foods to pair Philips Airfryer technology with Knorr seasoning products. The collaboration launches in the UK this July, starting with a QR‑code giveaway in Tesco stores...
POULTRY DEMAND SURGE DRIVES NEW PROCESSING AND PACKAGING STRATEGIES
U.S. poultry demand is accelerating as beef prices surge, pushing total meat sales to a record $112 billion in 2025. Retailers respond with case‑ready and private‑label formats, now preferred by 87% of shoppers, while processors seek automation to maintain quality and...
Behind Cheesecake Factory’s ‘More Is More’ Strategy
The Cheesecake Factory continues to operate a menu of more than 250 items, defying the industry trend toward streamlined offerings. The chain relies on a highly coordinated kitchen workflow, modular prep stations, and sophisticated inventory management to keep the massive...
Innocent Drinks Launches New Dessert-Inspired Healthy Smoothies
Innocent Drinks, the UK’s leading juice and smoothie brand, is debuting a new line of "creamy smoothies" that mimic dessert flavors while staying sugar‑free and plant‑based. The range—strawberry cupcake, blueberry muffin and lemon pie—offers fiber, Vitamin C and counts toward a...
First Watch, Portillo’s and KFC
First Watch’s refreshed menu and a digital push lifted same‑store sales 2.8% despite a 2% dip in traffic, with 75% of locations now running targeted ads. Portillo’s saw a 0.8% rise in transactions but a 0.1% same‑store sales decline as average...
Branch Launches TipCalc to Automate Tip Pooling and Cashless Payouts for Restaurants and Reduce Errors at Close
Branch, a workforce‑financial platform, launched TipCalc, an automated tip‑pooling and cashless payout tool for restaurants. The solution pulls real‑time data from point‑of‑sale systems, applies custom sharing rules, and distributes tips nightly to workers’ Branch accounts. By replacing manual spreadsheets, TipCalc...
DS Smith Protects Absolut Vodka Products with Stylish Brown Box Packaging Solution
DS Smith, an International Paper subsidiary, has rolled out a new brown‑box packaging solution for Absolut Vodka’s flavored spirits line. The 100 % recyclable corrugated cartons replace the brand’s traditional glossy white boxes and feature color‑coded artwork that matches each flavor. Designed...
Memo: RNDC to Shed Five More Markets as Firesale Continues
Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) is preparing to offload five additional markets as part of a broader 2026 firesale. A letter of intent from BreakThru Beverage Group covers RNDC’s Kentucky and Indiana joint‑venture operations, while Quality Brands Distribution is negotiating...
Ahold Delhaize USA Appoints Abby Cook as Senior Vice President, Own Brands to Lead Strategy and Growth
Ahold Delhaize USA announced Abby Cook as Senior Vice President of Own Brands, reporting to Chief Commercial and Digital Officer Keith Nicks. In her new role she will steer strategy, innovation and execution of the company’s private‑label portfolio across its U.S. grocery...
Finsbury Food Group Renews Disney Licensing Collaboration
Finsbury Food Group has renewed its two‑decade licensing partnership with The Walt Disney Company, allowing the UK‑based baker to continue producing celebration cakes themed around Disney, Pixar, and Marvel properties such as Frozen, Moana and Lilo & Stitch. The extension includes a...
Meat Industry Groups Respond to DOJ Investigation of Beef Processors
The Department of Justice announced an antitrust investigation into the four largest U.S. beef processors. The Meat Institute highlighted a historic low in the cattle herd and record‑high feeder prices, noting that packers have been losing money monthly for the...
Burger King’s Sales Jumped, Popeyes Slumped in Q1
Restaurant Brands International reported divergent Q1 performance for its two flagship chains. Burger King posted a 5.8% rise in comparable U.S. sales, driven by menu upgrades, the Whopper revamp, and family‑focused promotions. In contrast, Popeyes saw a 6.5% drop in...
Phytokana Locks In $450M in Customer Contracts Ahead of Faba Protein Facility Launch
Phytokana Ingredients, a Calgary‑based faba protein startup, has locked in definitive off‑take agreements worth roughly $450 million, with total potential sales exceeding $500 million when combined with existing MOUs. The contracts span three to ten years and are tied to the upcoming...
Applebee’s Store Closures: See an Updated List of Locations that a Bankrupt Franchisee Wants to Shutter
NRPF Group Two, a franchisee operating roughly 50 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar locations in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, has filed for Chapter 11 protection and now seeks court approval to reject the leases on five additional restaurants—four in Florida and one in...
NIQ Brandbank and RangeMe Expand Wellness Product Discovery Capabilities
NielsenIQ announced an expanded integration of its Brandbank data with the RangeMe marketplace, enriching the platform with verified wellness attributes and product insights. Retail buyers can now filter for high‑protein, probiotic, low‑sugar and GLP‑1‑friendly products, gaining faster access to emerging...
Chef Hasung Lee Is Going Full French Laundry at Oyatte
Chef Hasung Lee, known from Netflix’s *Culinary Class Wars*, launches his first solo venture, Oyatte, in a Murray Hill townhouse. The 33‑seat space offers an eight‑course tasting menu (more than 15 dishes) priced at $210, with an optional $170 wine...
Mars: The Global Heavyweight Setting the Snacking Agenda
Mars, the world’s largest confectionery and snacking group, is reshaping the industry through a series of high‑profile acquisitions and aggressive product innovation. The $36 bn purchase of Kellanova adds salty‑snack icons such as Pringles, Pop‑Tarts and Cheez‑It, broadening Mars’ reach beyond...
Oatly Launches UK’s First Plant-Based Cold Foam for Cafes and Bars
Oatly has launched Barista Cold Foam in the UK, the first plant‑based cold foam designed for cafés, bars and restaurants. The shelf‑stable oat topping sits on iced coffee, cold brew and specialty drinks, staying stable for about an hour on...
Zero‑tariff Apples Land in Shenzhen, Boosting SA‑China Trade
The first shipment of South African apples arrived in Shenzhen, China on May 1. Benefiting from zero-tariff treatment, the 24-ton consignment received a tariff saving of approximately R50,000. More South African products are expected to enter the Chinese market as...
The High-Carb Diet That Prevents Heart Disease
Researchers conducted a 21‑day trial that returned modern Hawaiians to the traditional high‑carb diet of ancient Kauai. Participants ate until full, consuming tubers, fruits, fish and seaweed, and saw rapid weight loss, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol profiles. The...
Healthy Ageing Beyond the Wrinkle: 4 Big Opportunities in Food and Drink
The healthy ageing trend is moving from beauty products into mainstream food and drink, driven by an aging population and rising chronic‑disease awareness. Nestlé’s launch of a longevity‑focused drinks line targets a projected $43.1 bn (≈ $39.5 bn) elderly nutrition market by 2032....
Jacaranda Opens in LA with 30‑Seat, $295 Tasting Menu Emphasizing Foraged Flavors
Chef Daniel Patterson and music‑scene veteran Sarah Lewitinn opened Jacaranda in Los Angeles on May 6, offering a 30‑seat, $295, 10‑course tasting menu that blends fine‑dining precision with a communal, solo‑diner friendly vibe. The restaurant leans heavily on foraged and...
Another Drop in Revenue for HelloFresh
HelloFresh reported a 7.7% drop in first‑quarter 2026 revenue to €1.7 billion ($1.85 billion), while orders fell 11.6% to roughly 25 million. The company’s strategy of targeting higher‑value, more loyal customers lifted the average order value 4.2% to €71 ($77.5) but did not...
Mars Dips Toe Into Cocoa-Free Chocolate
Mars, the maker of Snickers, has introduced a cocoa‑free Balisto Trail Mix in Germany, using Planet A Foods’ ChoViva ingredient. The product, sold in 140‑gram bags at Rewe supermarkets, will be available from April through October as a test launch....
Grillo's Pickles X PBR Dares To Ask If Vinegar Improves Cheap Beer
Pabst Blue Ribbon teamed with Grillo's Pickles to launch a limited‑edition pickle‑infused lager, hitting shelves on May 4, 2026. The 4.7% ABV beer is sold in 12‑ounce cans, typically in 6‑packs priced around $6.99 at major retailers. A reviewer noted the briny...
Food Tank Explains: True Cost Accounting
Food Tank’s primer explains True Cost Accounting (TCA), a holistic framework that quantifies the hidden environmental, health, social and economic externalities of the global food system. The UN’s FAO estimates these unpriced impacts total roughly $12 trillion each year, with separate...
FDA Says Infant Formulas Are Free of Toxic Metals (Mostly)
The FDA released a one‑page report after testing more than 300 infant‑formula samples, finding that most products contain toxic metals at levels well below health‑based limits. The agency did not identify the brands tested, set formal contaminant standards, or assess...
How Meat-Snack Marketers Are Meeting the Moment
Archer Jerky secured a high‑profile partnership with Disney’s *The Mandalorian*, using Baby Yoda to launch a limited‑edition jerky tied to the film’s premiere. The meat‑snack category posted 6.6% growth in 2025 and is projected to exceed $22 billion in 2026, driven by...
Cucumbers
There is no world in which a cucumber should cost 99p, but somehow we live in that world.
Subway Shuts 700+ Stores, Marks 10th Year Down
JUST IN: Subway closed over 700 locations last year, its 10th straight year of declining store counts
BENEO and Meatless Publish Consumer Survey Results on Hybrid Meat
Ingredient maker BENEO’s Meatless division released a consumer survey of nearly 3,500 shoppers in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. In Germany, more than half of respondents said they would purchase hybrid meat products if taste and price meet expectations,...
AI Will Let Anyone Launch a Restaurant
I think I want his "infinite sauce machine." Marc Lore says that AI will soon enable anyone open a restaurant https://t.co/VhhOXNxC17
Burger King Steadies, Beef Costs Stay High
Restaurant Brands International earnings call summary: Burger King fixed operations before big marketing; Beef costs still suck and will probably suck for a while; Snow did not stop Tim Hortons; Popeyes sales improving; Spongebob brought repeat business; China improving. $QSR
90‑Year‑Old Jersey City Hot Dog Icon Faces Whole Foods Takeover
Oh, no, not Boulevard Drinks. #JerseyCity N.J. hot dog legend may be replaced by Whole Foods after 90 years. ‘We want to stay right here.’ https://t.co/rFkC6vyj0s
BK Delays Whopper Relaunch Until In‑store Experience Solid
Burger King waited to do its Whopper relaunch until the company felt confident that the in-store experience was strong enough. BK President Tom Curtis "nailed it," per Patrick Doyle. $QSR
Burger King Targets 85% Remodels After Reaching 60%
About 60% of Burger King locations are remodeled. Company plans to get to 85% plus. "It's going to take a little bit of time to get there." $QSR
Operator Quality Drives RBI Growth, New 30‑Unit Outperforms
RBI's "No. 1 criteria" as it refranchises restaurants is the quality of the operator. CEO Kobza noted that one new 30-unit operator is outperforming the system "by hundreds of basis points." Company getting "a ton of interest" in the stores....
RBI CEO Declares Consistent Outperformance of Burger QSRs
"We want to outperform the burger QSR segment consistently year upon year and we've started to do that." -RBI CEO Josh Kobza. $QSR
Burger King Hears Love, Promises Menu Innovation Roadmap
Burger King in Tom Curtis's listening tour heard a lot of "I love Burger King," but customers want it to do better. Company says it now has a "roadmap of menu innovation ideas" for years. $QSR
BK's Sales Surge via Spongebob Meal, Family Return, Whopper Upgrade
Burger King saw results progressively build with the Spongebob meal and the return of families, then the listening tour and Burger King's Whopper improvement. $QSR
Tim Hortons Canada Beats Q1 Sector by 150bps Despite Snow
Tims Canada outperformed the sector by about 150 basis points in Q1 despite heavy snow in Toronto. $QSR
Burger King China’s Sales Surge on Quality, Value Upgrades
Patrick Doyle on Burger King China: "Food quality is improving, the restaurants look good and they're hitting the mark on value and as a result sales are very, very strong." $QSR
Fundamentals Drive Exceptional Guest Outcomes, Says Doyle
Patrick Doyle notes that in almost 30 years "I've never seen better proof of how executing well on the fundamentals for guests can drive such differentiated outcomes." $QSR
Beef Prices Stay High for RBI Until 2027
Beef costs are not expected to ease until "closer to 2027," per Burger King owner RBI. BK's beef costs rose 20% last year. $QSR
RBI Set to Exit Restaurant Holdings by 2025
RBI is on track to sunset its restaurant holdings by the end of next year. $QSR
RBI Targets 1,800 New Restaurants Annually by 2028
RBI is on track to open 1,800 net new restaurants per year by 2028, with 300-400 of that coming in the U.S. and Canada, 300-400 from China and 1,100 international. $QSR