Pita Pit Rolls Out Shawarma Lineup Across Canada with Chef-Developed Menu
Pita Pit is launching a chef‑developed shawarma lineup across Canada, adding chicken, beef and halloumi options served as pita, salad or bowl. The items use fixed ingredient combos, moving away from the chain’s usual build‑your‑own model to improve speed and consistency. The menu features a crispy shawarma with Chipotle Crunch sauce and halal‑certified proteins. The rollout covers the brand’s more than 200 Canadian locations, backed by parent Foodtastic’s 1,200‑plus restaurants.
Marc Lore Says that AI Will Soon Enable Anyone Open a Restaurant
Veteran e‑commerce founder Marc Lore unveiled Wonder Create, an AI‑driven platform that can design, brand and launch a virtual restaurant in under a minute. The concept runs on Wonder’s programmable, all‑electric kitchens—currently 120 locations, slated to grow to 400 by...
Pacific PET Enters Australia’s Recycling Supply Chain
Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners Australia (CCEP) has teamed with Circular Plastics Australia to launch a regional circularity program that creates a bottle‑to‑bottle supply chain for PET collected from Pacific Island nations. In its first year the initiative will recover about 2,000 tonnes...
See’s Makes Australian Debut – in Queensland
See's Candies, the iconic American confectioner founded in 1921, opened its first Australian store at Robina Town Centre in Queensland. The launch is a licensed partnership with local operators Jason and Megan Banks, who highlighted the Gold Coast’s community vibe...
‘Just the Beginning’: NZ’s Kiddicare Expands to Canada
New Zealand‑born baby care brand Kiddicare announced its entry into Canada, securing shelf space at more than 450 retail locations nationwide. The rollout includes major chains such as Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and Zehrs. Since its 2012 launch, Kiddicare has...
This New NYC Restaurant Transports Guests to a Rustic Farmhouse
Chef Hasung Lee, a Korean‑born talent who cut his teeth at Gramercy Tavern, The French Laundry and Copenhagen’s Geranium, is opening Oyatte in Manhattan’s Murray Hill. The restaurant leans heavily into the farm‑to‑table movement, pulling the majority of its produce...
Supermarket Inflation: Falling Oil Prices Help Keep Costs Down at the Till
City AM’s informal price check across Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose shows supermarket inflation hovering near zero in May. A 500 ml bottle of rapeseed cooking oil dropped 14 % on average, offsetting price hikes in items like chopped tomatoes (+12.6 %) and tenderstem broccoli...
Zappfresh in Talks for Majority Stake in GM Foods
Zappfresh, the direct‑to‑consumer meat and seafood delivery platform owned by DSM Fresh Foods, is negotiating to acquire a majority stake in Haryana‑based GM Foods for roughly Rs 20 crore (about $2.4 million). The acquisition would add GM Foods’ ready‑cook breakfast, spice and dessert‑mix...
Four in Five Britons Worried Iran War Will Make Food More Expensive, Poll Finds
A poll by Opinium shows 80% of Britons fear the Iran‑Israel conflict will raise grocery prices. The war’s impact on oil, gas and fertiliser markets has already pushed energy costs higher, prompting retailers to urge the UK government to cut...
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Making Matcha Work: How to Balance Flavor, Color and Performance
Beverage formulators are increasingly turning to matcha as a functional ingredient, but its strong flavor, vivid color, and hygroscopic nature demand careful handling. Experts from Vibrant Ingredients, Virginia Dare, Keychain, and MartinBauer stress the need for high‑grade matcha, precise flavor...
On The Rocks Passion Fruit Margarita, Sparkling Watermelon Margarita
On The Rocks Bartender Created Cocktails is launching two new ready‑to‑drink margaritas—a Passion Fruit Margarita and a Sparkling Watermelon Margarita. Both drinks are built around Hornitos Blanco tequila, house‑made triple sec and cane sugar, with the Passion Fruit offered in...
Asian Convenience Stores Wow with Ready‑to‑eat Meat
My fav thing about Asian countries is just the food at c-stores. Like the wall of ready to eat meat products for on the go carnivores. https://t.co/9LW86H4ZB1
China Focus: BioGaia, Functional Drinks Demand, Shifts in Retail Landscape and More
China’s health‑food market is undergoing rapid change, with functional drink sales surging and supplement brands shifting to e‑commerce channels. Eastroc reported a 17.3% rise in energy‑beverage sales and a 119% jump in sports‑drink revenue, pushing total revenue to US$3 billion. BioGaia...
HMO Infant Formulas: Regulatory Developments to Drive NPD and Affordability
H&H Group introduced its first six‑human‑milk‑oligosaccharide (HMO) infant formula in mainland China under the new Guobiao (GB) standards, leveraging a French‑made product with six HMOs including a high‑dose 2′‑FL. The launch helped drive a 74.4% year‑over‑year jump in the company’s...
Mars to Expand Wodonga Pet Food Plant with $113 Million Investment
Mars Australia is allocating roughly $132 million USD to expand its manufacturing footprint, including a $74 million USD wet‑pouch production line at the Wodonga pet‑food plant slated for commissioning in June 2026. The broader $200 million AUD (≈$132 million USD) program also targets R&D...
Autonomous Delivery Reaches Age of Expansion
Autonomous delivery is moving from concept to rapid expansion as Zipline and Coco Robotics announced aggressive growth plans at the 2026 Food on Demand Conference. Zipline will add service in Austin and Phoenix by the end of the quarter and...
AI Grocery Startup Vori Secures $22 Million Series B to Aid Independent Stores
Vori, the San Francisco AI grocery platform, closed a $22 million Series B round led by Cherryrock Capital. The funding will expand its AI‑driven operating system for the 75% of U.S. food retailers that sit outside the Walmart‑Amazon orbit.
Fries that Fly? Curly Fry Inventor Lamb Weston Taps Novelty for New Retail Ranges
Lamb Weston, the potato pioneer behind the curly fry, is expanding its retail portfolio with novel products such as Dippers, Grill Fries, a Mash Cup, and the airline‑optimized Snap Fry. The Dippers are crinkle‑cut fries designed for scooping sauces, while...
Policy Picks: Alcohol Warning Labels, Vietnam Food Safety and More Updates
China’s Shanghai city has launched full‑scale alcohol warning‑label trials covering every beverage above 0.5% ABV across online and offline retailers, aligning with its 2019‑2030 health plans. Vietnam’s long‑delayed Decree 46 food‑safety overhaul remains stalled, creating port congestion and trade disruptions. South...
Antoni Porowski and Fresh Express Dish on Salad Kits
At the CPMA Convention, Fresh Express promoted its salad kits as full‑meal options, with host Antoni Porowski stressing health, taste and convenience. The brand highlighted a consumer shift toward layered textures, global flavor profiles and easy DIY upgrades. Executives said...
HHS Threatens to Withhold Millions From Hospitals Over Non‑Compliant Patient Meals
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that hospitals serving meals that violate the 2025‑30 USDA dietary guidelines risk losing millions in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. The move, framed as a “federal mandate,” has ignited pushback from...
Chef Roy Yamaguchi to Open Ocean House at Outrigger Kaua‘i Beach Resort in June
Award‑winning chef Roy Yamaguchi is set to debut Ocean House, an oceanfront restaurant at Outrigger Kaua‘i Beach Resort & Spa, slated to open in June. The venue will feature a menu that showcases Kaua‘i’s seafood and agricultural bounty, with executive...
Vita Coco Q1 Sales Surge 37% on Distribution Push and Brand‑Centric Marketing
Vita Coco posted $180 million in net sales for Q1 2026, up 37% year‑over‑year, as broader U.S. and international distribution and a CMO‑led marketing push lifted coconut‑water volumes. The company also saw a modest insider sale that analysts say reflects a...
Vitafoods Europe 2026 Live: Transforming Functional Foods with Sustainable Biotech Solutions
At Vitafoods Europe 2026 in Barcelona, leading F&B ingredient makers unveiled a wave of biotech innovations, including precision‑fermentation microbes, probiotic strains, and postbiotic ingredients. Companies such as Lesaffre’s Gnosis, Lallemand Bio‑Ingredients, and Symrise demonstrated animal‑free alternatives, heat‑stable postbiotics and enzyme...
Kraft Heinz Co (KHC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Kraft Heinz’s Q1 2026 call highlighted a portfolio reshuffle, moving Frozen to "Hold," Hydration to "Win Big," and Cheese to "Win" as margin outlooks evolve. The company guided Q2 revenue down 3%‑5%, citing an Easter timing shift and a 100‑basis‑point SNAP...
Bloomin' Brands Inc (BLMN) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Bloomin' Brands reported Q1 2022 revenue of $1.14 billion, a 15.5% increase year‑over‑year, and adjusted EPS of $0.80, up 11%. Comparable restaurant sales rose 14% driven by higher pricing, mix and traffic, while off‑premises digital orders accounted for 79% of U.S....
Vitafoods Europe 2026 Live: Transforming Functional Foods with Sustainable Biotech Solutions
At Vitafoods Europe 2026 in Barcelona, ingredient makers unveiled a wave of biotechnology‑driven solutions, including precision fermentation, probiotic strains, post‑biotics, and enzyme platforms. Companies such as Lesaffre’s Gnosis, Lallemand Bio‑Ingredients, and Symrise highlighted animal‑free alternatives like MyCondro chondroitin and heat‑stable...
When Every Product Is Functional, What Actually Drives Choice?
Functional claims such as protein, gut health and indulgence have become baseline expectations on shelves, eroding their power to drive trial. Brands are shifting from single‑attribute promises to blended protein sources, credible gut‑health stacks and indulgent formats that also deliver...
Halva Recalled in Canada because of Salmonella Contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall of Hafez brand "Sugarless" Halva with Date Syrup after confirming Salmonella contamination. The 400‑gram packages bearing UPC 8 15872 00501 1 and code BB 12_26 35/11420 were sold in British Columbia and Ontario. CFIA testing triggered...
Kimchi Recalled because of Undeclared Fish
Ocinet Inc. of Downey, California, is recalling all “…And Kimchi” sliced kimchi products after discovering undeclared anchovies in the ingredient list. The recall affects three UPC codes and three jar sizes—126‑oz, 63‑oz, and 30‑oz—distributed to six Zion Market locations across...
Potato Chips Recalled because of Salmonella Risk
Utz Quality Foods, a Utz Brands subsidiary, issued a voluntary recall of several limited‑edition Zapp’s and Dirty potato chip varieties after learning that a seasoning containing dry‑milk powder from California Dairies may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall spans multiple...
The Catastrophe Beneath the Surface
The U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the Trump administration’s conflict with Iran, has halted the flow of fertilizer shipments that traverse the waterway. Roughly one‑third of the world’s fertilizer supply moves through the strait, and...
One of America’s Best Craft Distilleries Dropped a Trio of Its Oldest Whiskeys Yet
Hard Truth Distilling Co., a decade‑old craft operation in Indiana, launched three seven‑year‑old whiskeys—a straight bourbon, a wheated bourbon, and a rye—each bottled at high proof. The releases showcase the distillery’s sweet‑mash fermentation, a departure from the industry‑standard sour mash....
Former Tyson CEO Donnie Smith Discusses Leadership Insights
Last week, Donnie Smith, former CEO of Tyson Foods, joined us for a Dean’s Dialogue. Watch the full conversation. ⬇️ https://t.co/7XdQomPD9c
‘Almost at a Crisis’: Canada's Restaurants Face Perfect Storm of Costs and Cautious Consumers
Canada’s restaurant sector is confronting a perfect storm of rising labour and food costs, dwindling foot traffic and a tightening talent pool. Restaurants Canada’s Q1 report shows 49% of operators face lower sales, 71% see profitability slip and one‑third are...
Chef Kwame Onwuachi Launches Maroon Afro‑Caribbean Steakhouse at Sahara Las Vegas
Chef Kwame Onwuachi opened Maroon, an Afro‑Caribbean steakhouse, at the Sahara Las Vegas resort on April 24, his first restaurant outside the East Coast. The concept blends classic American steakhouse service with Jamaican‑inspired flavors, signaling a new chapter for Afro‑Caribbean...
Checkers & Rally’s Rolls Out $3 Double Sandwich Lineup to Drive Value‑Focused Growth
Checkers & Rally’s unveiled a $3 Double Sandwich lineup, featuring three new double‑patty options and a $6 combo with fries and a drink. The launch, championed by CMO Scott Johnson, aims to attract price‑sensitive diners and increase average ticket size...
Timber Pizza Co. Signs Two&Unit Franchise Agreement for Atlanta Metro Area
Timber Pizza Co. has signed a two‑unit franchise development agreement for the Atlanta metro area, targeting Alpharetta and Cumming. The first restaurant is projected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, with a second location to follow shortly after....
Viva Fresh 2026 Shares Roadmap To Future-Proof The Produce Industry
The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) used its 2026 Viva Fresh Expo to unveil a forward‑looking strategy for the $100 billion fresh‑produce sector. Futurist economist Richard Kottmeyer introduced “consumomics,” a framework that ties policy, health, and consumer behavior to demand, and...
Guestologie Launches to Help Restaurants Act on Guest Data in Real Time to Personalize Service and Boost Retention
Guestologie launched a platform that delivers real‑time guest‑data insights to restaurant staff, enabling personalized service at the point of visit. The system flags high‑value diners, offers actionable recommendations, and integrates with existing POS and reservation tools without a new app...
We Don’t Lack Ideas in Canada—We Bury Them in Red Tape
Canada’s Spring Economic Update signals a shift toward modernizing food‑safety regulation, proposing risk‑based, adaptive frameworks. Critics warn that fewer inspections could weaken oversight, but the government argues it will reduce administrative burdens while preserving safety. The current approval process can...
U.S. Restaurant Operators Report Mixed Sales and Traffic Readings in March
Restaurant operators reported mixed same‑store sales and traffic results for March 2026, marking a slowdown after February’s gains. Only 45% said sales rose year‑over‑year, down from 61% in February, while 39% saw declines, up from 27%. Customer traffic also turned...
Most Food Manufacturers Are Adjusting Prices, But Only Half Know If It’s Working
A 2025 Zilliant survey of 300 food‑manufacturing executives shows 99% have raised prices to offset material, labor and logistics cost spikes. Yet only about half feel confident they can trace those price changes to margin outcomes. The study highlights internal...
Celebrating the Success of Restaurant Industry Apprenticeships
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation marked National Apprenticeship Week by highlighting its registered apprenticeship programs for the restaurant sector. The initiative, run through the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center, blends on‑the‑job training with classroom instruction, culminating in nationally recognized...
Amazon Business Adds Same-Day Fresh Grocery Delivery
Amazon Business is extending its same‑day grocery delivery service to more than 2,300 U.S. cities, using the same temperature‑controlled fulfillment network that powers Amazon.com. The rollout lets businesses add fresh produce, dairy, baked goods and frozen items to a single...
IFPA Names Second Cohort For Packaging Innovation Program
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and the Foundation for Fresh Produce announced the second cohort of its Packaging Innovation Program, a $5 million USDA‑funded effort to accelerate sustainable packaging for U.S. specialty crop exports. Seven companies will receive non‑dilutive grants...
Young Consumers Are Snacking Differently, and Traditional Brands Are Out
Younger shoppers are reshaping the snack aisle, favoring natural ingredients and high‑protein options. NielsenIQ reports that 35% of parents buying for Gen Alpha prioritize natural ingredients and 34% seek protein‑rich snacks, while 25% avoid synthetic additives. Retailers such as Save A Lot...
Beef Imports Surge to Record $13.75B, up 28% Yo
"[B]eef imports in total are exploding at $4.5 billion through March, up 28% from a year ago. That comes after record for beef imports at $13.75 billion in 2025, up nearly $2.5 billion from a year earlier." https://t.co/M9mSqQvOq6
Ireland Forms Collective Oyster Brand for Marketing, Promotional Purposes
Ireland’s export promotion agency Bord Bia has launched the Irish Oyster Collective, branded “Ó”, to give domestically farmed oysters a distinct identity. The initiative, developed with Dublin‑based Slater Design, emphasizes the unique Irish merroir that sets its shellfish apart from...
A Shocking New Way To Determine The Quality Of A Cup Of Coffee
Researchers at the University of Oregon have introduced an electrochemical technique that uses a potentiostat to assess coffee quality beyond traditional total dissolved solids (TDS) measurements. By applying a controlled voltage, the device detects how much charge passes through a...