Molson Coors Brings Back Keystone Ice After 5 Years
Molson Coors announced the return of Keystone Ice, its discontinued ice‑brewed lager, after a five‑year hiatus. The relaunch, highlighted on the Q1 earnings call, targets select U.S. markets as part of a broader effort to revive the company’s value‑beer portfolio. Alongside Keystone Ice, the brewer is also rolling out a seasonal Keystone apple‑flavor, signaling a balanced push between value brands and its premium and non‑alcoholic offerings.
Eye on POS: Preferred Hotels Prefer Toast; NCR Voyix Expands at Stater Bros. Markets
Toast Inc. joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts' Alliance Partner Program, becoming an endorsed point‑of‑sale provider for the luxury hotel group’s 625 independent properties across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The partnership opens a new hospitality revenue...
Sargento Exec Explains Why We Need to Define 'Natural Cheese'
Sargento executive Chad Hamilton testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, urging passage of the Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions (CURD) Act to create a statutory definition of “natural cheese.” He highlighted that natural cheese is minimally processed and made...
SoftBank Robotics Debuting Autonomous Cooking Robots ‘STEAMA’ and ‘FLAMA’ in the US
SoftBank Robotics is launching its autonomous cooking robots STEAMA and FLAMA in the United States, debuting them at the National Restaurant Association Show 2026 in Chicago. STEAMA uses high‑pressure steam to prepare frozen noodle dishes in roughly 90 seconds, while...
Men’s Health Innovation Should Be Driven by Motivations and Need States: Experts
The men’s health supplement market is shifting from age‑based targeting to motivation‑driven segmentation, with energy, libido and prostate support identified as primary entry points. CPG Radar uncovered 21 distinct consumer profiles based on life‑stage needs, while retailers like GNC report...
Australia to Develop Foodborne Campylobacter Action Plan
The Australia‑New Zealand Food Regulation System has approved a five‑year National Campylobacter Action Plan and opened stakeholder registration. The plan will map short‑, medium‑ and long‑term measures to understand and mitigate foodborne Campylobacter risks across the supply chain. Campylobacter accounts for...
US Legislators Revive FAIR Labels Act With Tighter Restrictions on Alt Protein Labeling
A bipartisan group of House and Senate members reintroduced the FAIR Labels Act of 2026, aiming to place plant‑based and cell‑cultivated proteins under the same federal labeling rules as conventional meat. The bill would require the term “cell‑cultivated” or the...
The Most Iconic New England-Style IPA Will Go Down As...
The article argues that while Sierra Nevada remains the gold standard for pale ale, the New England‑style IPA (NEIPA) is still in its early growth phase and has yet to crown a definitive industry leader. One brewery, however, is emerging...
Monster Energy Celebrates America’s 250th with Summer Pack, New Flavors
Monster Energy is launching a patriotic summer line to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, featuring the new Juice Monster Strawberry Lemonade and the zero‑sugar Ultra Red, White & Blue Razz. The products arrive in limited‑edition cans adorned with flag‑bearing...
FMI Appoints Visioni As Director Of Health, Well-Being
The Food Industry Association (FMI) has named Kim Visioni as its new director of health and well‑being. Visioni will steer FMI’s strategy to turn grocery stores into health‑focused destinations, covering nutritious foods, wellness products, and credible guidance. Her appointment comes...
DoorDash Is Bad For Restaurants, Drivers, And Customers — Why Does Everyone Keep Using It?
DoorDash’s commission model forces restaurants to add surcharges and absorb 15‑30% fees, squeezing already thin profit margins. Drivers receive low pay and often deliver sub‑par service, leading to food‑quality issues. Consumers face higher total costs, while restaurants lose direct customer...
Rethinking the Coffee Replacement
Search data from Spate shows the coffee‑alternative category expanding 39.5% year‑over‑year, with tea‑based drinks leading the surge. Matcha beverages posted a 154.5% jump, while herbal and wellness teas grew steadily, reflecting a shift toward functional benefits such as gut health...
Ahold Delhaize USA Brands Expand On-Demand Grocery Delivery with Uber Eats
Ahold Delhaize USA announced an expanded partnership with Uber Eats, adding nearly 2,000 stores from Food Lion, Giant, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop to the Uber Eats grocery marketplace. Shoppers can now browse fresh foods, pantry staples, household essentials and alcohol directly in the Uber Eats app,...
How Cocktail Ice Visually Vanished
Clear, bubble‑free ice has long been a home‑host obsession, but most DIY tricks—boiling water, double freezes, distilled water—still produced cloudy cubes. In the 1990s, spirits writer Camper English applied physics to the problem, discovering that directional freezing in an insulated...
US Recall of A2 Platinum Infant Formula Over Cereulide Toxin Affects 16,000 Babies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recalled three batches of a2 Platinum Premium USA infant formula after detecting the heat‑stable cereulide toxin. Of the 63,078 units produced, an estimated 16,428 were sold to consumers, sparking a nationwide safety alert...
Bangkok Cracks Down on Street‑Food Vendors, Relocating Thousands to Hawker Centres
Bangkok’s municipal government is accelerating a crackdown on illegal street‑food stalls, forcing thousands of vendors to relocate to five newly built hawker centres. The move, aimed at clearing footpaths and improving order, has sparked protests from longtime sellers who fear...
McDonald's to Drop Self‑Serve Soda Fountains Nationwide, Shifting to Crew‑Served Drinks
McDonald's announced it will eliminate self‑serve soda fountains in all U.S. restaurants, moving to employee‑served, automated beverage systems. The change supports the chain’s Accelerating the Arches plan to standardize ordering channels and curb product loss, while sales have already risen...
Taste Test: Nonalcoholic Pilsners
The nonalcoholic (NA) beer segment is booming, with sales up nearly 160% over the past five years, according to the Brewers Association. Imbibe Magazine highlights six standout NA pilsners, ranging from Go Brewing’s hop‑forward Sunbeam Pils to Oskar Blues’ Designated...
Starbucks Elevates Barista to Menu Architect as AI-Run Café Tests Future of Employment
Starbucks announced that a former part‑time barista now leads menu development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, underscoring the power of internal mobility. At the same time, San Francisco startup Andon Labs opened an AI‑managed café in Stockholm, raising...
Top 10 Stories for April
April’s top meat‑processing headlines underscore a wave of expansion, consolidation, and operational challenges across the U.S. sector. Sysco announced a $29 billion acquisition of Restaurant Depot, while Triumph Foods and Empirical invested $30 million and opened a new Kansas plant to lift...
US Army Issues Call to Manufacture Plant-Based Meat for Military Meals in Combat Zones
The U.S. Army has issued a Sources Sought notice inviting industry and academic partners to develop precision‑fermentation and other biomanufacturing methods for plant‑based proteins that can be produced in combat zones. The effort supports the upcoming 2027 rollout of fully...
Tray’s Maple AI Integration and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 5/4/26
Tray, a point‑of‑sale system provider, announced a completed integration with Maple, an AI‑driven voice platform that will now be available to restaurant operators using Tray. Western Union disclosed it will leverage Fireblocks’ digital‑asset infrastructure to back its new USDPT stablecoin,...
Greece: Santorini Growers Supply 120 Restaurants on the Island
Kissiras Santorini Microgreens, a family farm founded in 2020, now delivers fresh microgreens, edible flowers and specialty vegetables to more than 120 restaurants across Santorini. The operation grows 32 varieties of microgreens and around 40 edible‑flower types, enabling same‑day cut‑and‑deliver...
"The Pendulum Has Swung so Far that People Don't Know What Real Food Looks Like"
Local Leaf Farm opened in a former Chipotle space in Highland Park, Illinois, turning the retail site into a year‑round indoor hydroponic operation. The farm grows 30 microgreen varieties, 13 lettuce types and edible flowers using deep‑water‑culture towers and Agrowtek’s precision...
Why Wine Can’t Keep Leaning on Tradition Alone
Wine industry’s digital push is limited to sensors, says Timofey Golovin, co‑founder of Winno. While traditional segments like Burgundy cling to heritage, climate‑driven losses force even legacy producers to consider new tech. Small family estates face steep capex, with a...
Lottie’s Meats’ Target Expansion Marks Brand's Largest Retail Move
Lottie’s Meats is expanding into Target stores across Northern California, Washington and Oregon, marking its biggest retail rollout yet. The move adds to the brand’s presence in more than 300 retail and food‑service locations nationwide. Target will stock two fully...
US (OH): Locals Thrilled at Aquaponic Lettuce
Sweet Melissa’s, a regional salad chain founded in Boardman, Ohio, has partnered with WestWinn Urban Ag to source its lettuce from an indoor aquaponic farm in Sharon. The farm uses a recirculating system that combines tilapia and koi with hydroponic...
Australian Snacking Trends Reshape Fresh Produce Demand
Australian consumers now treat snacking as a core eating occasion, but packaged snacks dominate with $9.73 bn in retail sales. Fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts remain popular, yet volumes are slipping as convenience and taste drive choices. Higher prices have lifted...
Martha Stewart's Favorite Fast Food Restaurant Is Ridiculously Healthy
Martha Stewart revealed that Sweetgreen is her go‑to "fast‑food" choice, favoring its salad bowls, roasted sweet potatoes and kombucha over traditional burger chains. The lifestyle icon even served Sweetgreen salads at her American Made Summit, underscoring the brand’s appeal to...
![The Average Price of a Margarita in Every State in 2026 [MAP]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/5789e7476b7882338ea3621b9280ed5c.webp)
The Average Price of a Margarita in Every State in 2026 [MAP]
VinePair, using data from market‑research firm Ground Signal, analyzed the average price of a Margarita across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. in 2026. The study surveyed 66,583 bars, restaurants and hotels, covering 262,262 margaritas, and found New York tops the...
The World’s Best Tequila—According To The 2026 London Spirits Competition
Herradura Reposado earned 96 out of 100 points, being crowned Tequila of the Year at the 2026 London Spirits Competition. The 80‑proof spirit, first released in 1974, is aged 11 months in charred American oak, delivering butterscotch, cinnamon and vanilla...
Sometimes, the Human Is the Brand
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol announced this week that the company is reversing its Siren System automation and will rehire thousands of baristas, adding staff to roughly 3,000 U.S. stores by year‑end. The move follows a 1% decline in same‑store sales...
Dominique Crenn Crowned World's Best Female Chef at 2026 World's 50 Best Awards
Dominique Crenn was named the World's Best Female Chef at the 2026 World's 50 Best Awards, making her the third French woman to claim the title after Hélène Darroze and Anne‑Sophie Pic. The honor underscores her artistic approach to cuisine...
Can You Live Longer By Drinking More Coffee? What A New Study Concludes
A new review in the journal Nutrients consolidates decades of cohort data, concluding that drinking roughly 3.5 cups of coffee daily (about 28 ounces) is associated with the greatest longevity benefit. The analysis links regular coffee intake to a 15% lower...
Subway Launches $5‑Under Value Menu to Stem Sales Decline
Subway unveiled its first Fresh Value Menu on April 28, adding 15 sandwich and protein‑pocket options priced below $5 each. The rollout targets a sales dip that saw U.S. revenue slip below $9 billion in 2025, down from $9.5 billion the year before,...
Beverage Players Sharply Focus on Affordability, Ramping up Distribution This Summer
Leading soft‑drink makers in India are doubling down on affordability and distribution to capture summer demand. Coca‑Cola and PepsiCo are rolling out ₹10 (~$0.12) single‑serve packs and expanding rural reach, while PepsiCo bottler Varun Beverages plans to add roughly half...
Dine Like A Tim Burton Character At This Uniquely Ghoulish NYC Restaurant
Beetle House, founded by entrepreneur Zach Neil, has transformed from a 2016 pop‑up into a permanent New York City restaurant that delivers a Tim Burton‑inspired, Halloween‑style experience year‑round. Diners can reserve a $65 three‑course Poltergeist Feast, which includes inventive dishes...
The Unified POS as a Blueprint for Restaurant Success
Restaurant operators are turning to unified point‑of‑sale (POS) platforms to replace fragmented legacy systems. By aggregating transactions, inventory, staff actions and payment data, a single POS creates a real‑time data hub that fuels faster decision‑making. Integrated with cloud‑based AI, the...
Food Labels Are Actually Affecting Your Health
Food labels are emerging as a powerful lever to improve public health, with Chile's mandatory black‑label law slashing purchases of high‑calorie products by 23.8% and Europe’s Nutri‑Score gaining traction among 1,500 brands. Researchers link ultra‑processed foods to rising obesity and...
Jack Link’s Finally Reveals Flavors of Limited-Edition MrBeast Collab
Jack Link’s has finally disclosed the three mystery flavors in its limited‑edition MrBeast collaboration for Australia and New Zealand: Loco Taco, Butter Tikka, and Loaded Burger. The "What’s the Flavor" campaign invited fans to guess the tastes for a chance at...
Ultra-Processed Foods Cause Weight Gain Despite Identical Calories
People eating ultra-processed food ate about 500 extra calories a day and gained weight - while the same people LOST weight when fed unprocessed meals matched for calories, sugar, fat, and fiber.
Sysco CEO Reveals Surprising Truth About Independent Restaurants
I find this counterintuitive take from the Sysco CEO really interesting. As the largest player in #foodservice distribution, they have a unique perspective on the independent #restaurant, and I want to unpack some of what he says. 1/ https://t.co/hhJ1hqPV6o
US Sushi Sushirrito Chain Shuts Down
Sushirrito, the San Francisco‑born sushi‑burrito chain, announced it will wind down operations after 15 years, despite the U.S. sushi market expanding to roughly $22 billion. Founder Peter Yen, who trademarked the Sushirrito name in 2008 and claims to have invented the sushi...
Amazon Now Second‑largest Grocery Retailer in the U.S.
"We’re now the second largest grocer in the U.S." - Amazon CEO Andy Jassy (via @TheTranscript_ )
Crafted Drinks Eclipse Soda Fountains in Restaurants
One byproduct of the restaurant industries shift toward more specialty “crafted” beverages (and broader off-premise trends) is that the traditional soda fountain is less relevant.
Climate-Smart & Cocoa-Free: Mars Makes Moves to Decarbonise Chocolate Portfolio
Mars is testing a cocoa‑free chocolate trail mix under its Balisto brand in Germany, using Planet A Foods' ChoViva ingredient. The bean‑free product, sold at REWE until October, offers a high‑protein snack and demonstrates a 1:1 chocolate replacement. Simultaneously, Mars...
Espresso Prices Have Skyrocketed, Data Shows
If you think your espresso is getting ridiculously expensive... here's some data to back you up: https://t.co/GbFrhwLLFI
How Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Uses Square to Power 103 Stores
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has expanded to 103 brick‑and‑mortar locations in 15 states, crediting Square’s integrated suite of loans, flat‑fee processing, reporting and marketing tools. The fintech partnership gave the company predictable cash flow, real‑time sales visibility and data‑driven menu...
Why You Don't Really See This Old-School Beer Brand On Shelves Anymore
Schlitz, founded in Milwaukee in 1849, dominated the U.S. beer market until the 1970s when a cost‑cutting recipe overhaul introduced corn syrup and seaweed, alienating loyal drinkers. The brand’s reputation suffered, leading to a steep sales decline and eventual acquisition...
What FMCG Can Learn From Ferrari About Switching Lanes
FMCG supply chains face extreme pressure from high SKU counts, thin margins and rapid turnover, prompting firms to look for incremental improvements within the industry. Peter Jones of Prological Consulting argues that true step‑change innovation comes from borrowing ideas outside...