Orf Genetics on Cutting Growth Factor Costs and Supplying Cultivated Meat Sector
Orf Genetics, an Icelandic biotech firm, is cutting cultivated‑meat growth‑factor costs by producing them in barley instead of traditional E. coli systems. The barley‑based platform delivers comparable bioactivity at a fraction of the price and is already used by roughly 150 cultivated‑meat companies, including Mosa Meat and Vow. Barley seeds can be grown in geothermal‑heated greenhouses or open fields across Iceland, Canada, Chile and Argentina, offering low‑carbon, stockpiled supply. Cheaper media, combined with automation and food‑grade equipment, is seen as essential for scaling the sector.
Heineken Reveals New Beavertown Boss
Heineken has appointed Will Rice, currently its UK on‑trade sales director, as managing director of Beavertown effective June 1, replacing Jochen Van Esch who returns to the group. The move is part of a broader reshuffle that sees Mick Howard take over...
Asahi Super Dry Launches Dry Crystal Light Beer in Hong Kong Taiwan
Asahi Super Dry has introduced a revamped Dry Crystal beer across Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan, offering a zero‑sugar formula in Hong Kong and the mainland and a low‑sugar version in Taiwan, all at 3.5% ABV. The launch targets...
Unilever Warns of Price Rises as Iran War Drives up Costs
Unilever warned it will lift prices this year as the Iran‑related war pushes cost inflation to roughly €750‑€900 million (about $820‑$980 million). CFO Srinivas Phatak said the surge is €350‑€500 million ($380‑$545 million) above early‑year expectations, prompting 2‑3% price hikes mainly in the second...
Beyond Thanks: Operators Must Boost Frontline Pay
Following up on my earlier post. Thanking frontliners is the easy part. The harder question is what we, as operators, actually do about it. We talk about minimum wage hikes like a threat. Like the industry won’t survive. Margins are thin, costs...
Dubai Chefs Shrink Menus as Iran War Makes Tomatillos, Scallops Harder to Source
Dubai’s restaurant scene is feeling the strain of the two‑month Iran‑UAE war, which has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz and driven air‑freight costs up by as much as 70%. Chefs like Shaw Lash and Kelvin Cheung are trimming menus,...
New Market Access to Indonesia for Five Export Meat Plants
The Australian government announced approval for five additional export beef plants to ship boxed beef to Indonesia, with one facility also cleared for sheep and goat meat. The plants, located in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria, expand the halal red‑meat supply...
Rohit Sharma Steps Into Wellness Arena with Launch of hydRo365
Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma has launched hydRo365, a high‑performance hydration and sports‑nutrition brand, on his 39th birthday. The flagship product is a powdered electrolyte blend with six electrolytes, vitamin C, zinc, B‑vitamins and L‑theanine, sweetened with monk fruit for...
Challenging Logistics Year for Australia’s Most Highly-Awarded Beef Brand
Stockyard Beef’s Kiwami Wagyu clinched the 2026 Brisbane Show grand‑champion branded‑beef award, marking its seventh overall win and reinforcing its status as Australia’s most decorated beef brand. The victory came despite severe logistics headwinds, including the Strait of Hormuz closure...
Filipino Craft Spirit Lands on Dan Murphy’s Shelves
Ube Cream Liqueur, a Filipino craft spirit, has been placed on Dan Murphy’s shelves, marking the first time the national liquor retailer carries a product from the Philippines. The liqueur is produced by Destileria Barako in Aklan using sugar‑cane spirit, coconut cream,...
From Chatpata Flavours to Home Cooking: Here's What 2026 Food Trends Indicate
The Godrej Food Trends Report 2026 was launched at the Tasting India festival in New Delhi, unveiling five headline trends that will shape India’s culinary landscape. The report, now in its ninth edition and based on insights from more than 200 chefs,...
Banana Leaf Targets Rs 100 Crore Revenue, Plans 40 Outlets with 10–15 Pc EBITDA
Banana Leaf, a Mumbai‑based South Indian restaurant chain, aims to surpass Rs 100 crore (≈$12 million) in revenue this fiscal. The company currently runs 20 outlets—12 owned and 8 franchised—and plans to expand to 30 by year‑end and 40 the following year, with...
Alt Protein Watch: Beyond Meat, Processed Foods and Fusion Cuisine Growth
Beyond Meat is repositioning toward high‑protein drinks as plant‑based meat demand collapses, with Q1 2025 revenue falling sharply. In China, food‑science leaders are urging a fairer view of additives while the government rolls out a new natural‑colour standard that bans chemical...
FMCG’s Masters of Formulation: Heaps Normal, Oatly, True Protein and More
Inside Retail profiles ten formulation leaders shaping today’s FMCG landscape, from Heaps Normal’s preservative‑free draught non‑alcoholic beer to Oatly’s oat‑milk engineered for barista‑grade performance. The piece highlights Reckitt ANZ’s blend of AI‑driven R&D with regional expertise, True Protein’s ultrafiltered milk base...
System Report: Warehouse Automation as Plant Production Platform
OnePointOne has turned an AutoStore automated storage and retrieval system into a modular vertical farm, launching its Opollo Farm near Phoenix. The pilot supplies leafy greens, herbs and microgreens to ten Whole Foods stores and a regional distributor, delivering roughly...
Why Is Kerrygold Butter 65% Dearer in Kerry than It Is in Berlin?
Kerrygold butter sells for about $3.29 per 250 g in Ireland, roughly 65% more than the $2.19 price in German Lidl stores. The price gap translates to $13.17 per kilo in Ireland versus $8.76 in Germany, even the larger 454 g Irish...
Pinnacle Food Group Eyes Open-Source Precision Fermentation Hub in Hong Kong
Canadian biotech firm Pinnacle Food Group has signed a non‑binding MoU with the Open Yeast Collection and Bioboost Synbio Consulting to explore an Open Yeast Platform hub in Hong Kong‑Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park. The hub would combine an open‑access...
Aldi Named Best Supermarket in Roy Morgan’s Customer Satisfaction Awards
Aldi Australia has been crowned Supermarket of the Year 2025 by Roy Morgan, marking its sixth straight win and ninth overall. The retailer posted an 87.6% customer‑satisfaction score, maintaining the top spot every month for a 55‑month streak. The award highlights...
UK Salad Sampling Reveals Low Contamination Rate
UK authorities tested 2,495 ready‑to‑eat salad samples collected from England and Northern Ireland between April 2023 and March 2024. Culture‑confirmed Shiga‑toxin‑producing E. coli (STEC) appeared in three samples and Salmonella in one, yielding an overall contamination rate of roughly 0.16%. The low incidence suggests...
Seafood, Papayas Among Imports Under Greater Scrutiny by FDA
The FDA has recently updated its import alerts, placing seafood from Vietnam and papayas from Mexico under heightened scrutiny due to safety violations. The agency’s real‑time modifications aim to block contaminated products before they reach U.S. markets. Detailed alerts are...
Performance Driven And The Power Of One
Jill Blanchard, president of OSMG America, explains how national grocery‑brand coverage has shifted from a fragmented network of sales agencies to a handful of consolidated partners offering single‑source management. She highlights the time‑intensive challenges of juggling multiple agencies and stresses...
Canada and UK Support Food Safety Projects
Canada announced a CAD $500,000 (≈US $366,000) contribution to the Standards and Trade Development Facility to bolster food‑safety and plant‑and‑animal health programs. The funding will enhance sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity across public and private sectors in developing and least‑developed nations. By...
Tostitos Expands Into Refrigerated Aisle
Tostitos, the leading unflavoured tortilla‑chip brand, has entered the refrigerated aisle with its first‑ever dip, Tostitos Chunky Guacamole – Mild, Hint of Lime. The product is made from fresh Hass avocados, contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, and comes...
Affordable Luxuries
New Zealand’s ice‑cream and gelato market generates roughly NZD 550‑600 million ($330‑$360 million USD) a year, with consumers drinking 65‑70 million litres annually – about 28.4 L per person, one of the world’s highest per‑capita rates. Over the past 12 months retail sales rose about...
Australian Dairy Nutritionals Targets China Growth After Future Brand Powder Sales Lift
Australian Dairy Nutritionals (ASX: AHF) posted $0.92 million USD revenue for the March quarter, with nutritional powders contributing $0.58 million USD and growing 20% year‑over‑year. Total revenue fell 13% versus the prior period after the company exited its North Brucknell milk and...
The Dieline’s Best of April 2026
The Dieline’s Best of April 2026 spotlights the month’s most compelling packaging designs, from a bold visual overhaul of a classic tobacco product to a sleek vermouth redesign and a sardine tin that looks like jewelry. The roundup also celebrates Pâte...
ERP Produce Shifts Sourcing to Europe and Africa as Middle East Conflict Spurs Fresh‑Produce Costs
ERP Produce, the fresh‑produce arm of Europe Retail Packing, announced a rapid overhaul of its sourcing model, moving volumes toward European and African farms after the Middle East conflict slashed Gulf‑linked airfreight capacity by more than half and drove polymer...
Heineken Names Serena Williams As Global Brand Ambassador
Heineken 0.0 has appointed tennis icon Serena Williams as its global brand ambassador, linking the alcohol‑free lager to the fast‑growing sport of padel. To debut the partnership, Williams surprised players in Miami through the Open Match feature on Playtomic, embodying Heineken’s "Unexpected...
Yeastup Secures Distribution Deal for Dietary Fibre Ingredient Made From Beer Waste
Swiss food‑tech startup Yeastup has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with DKSH to sell its UpFiber Beta‑Glucan, a dietary fibre derived from spent brewer’s yeast, across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. DKSH will handle business development, marketing, logistics and technical support,...
Salmonella-Tainted Milk Powder Prompts Breakfast Pizza Recall
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert after FDA flagged dry milk powder contaminated with Salmonella, prompting a recall of meat and poultry products that contain the ingredient. The alert specifically includes Mama Cozzi’s...
When Global Disruptions Trickle Down To Local Favorites
Legacy food brands are feeling the squeeze as global disruptions filter down to Main Street. Lammes Candies, a Texas staple since 1885, announced its closure, citing soaring ingredient costs and transportation pressures. Food‑price inflation is uneven, with premium proteins, chocolate...
Pork Company Canada Packers Says It Is Passing High Fuel Costs on to Customers
Canada Packers posted a first‑quarter profit of C$43.8 million (≈US$32 million), up from C$34.1 million a year earlier, while adjusted earnings fell to 54 cents per share from 89 cents. Sales slipped to C$428.3 million (≈US$313 million) as the company announced it will pass higher fuel costs—driven...
Chipotle Reports 21% Profit Drop in Q1 2026 Amid Rising Costs
Chipotle Mexican Grill released its Q1 2026 earnings transcript, showing a profit of $302.8 million—down 21% year‑over‑year—and earnings per share of $0.23 versus $0.28 last year. Revenue grew 7.4% to $3.09 billion, but higher commodity and labor costs squeezed margins and prompted...
India's Sensex Jumps 609 Points as Auto and FMCG Earnings Spark Rally
India's benchmark indices surged on Wednesday, with the Sensex gaining 609.45 points (0.79%) to 77,496.36 and the Nifty rising 181.95 points (0.76%) to 24,177.65. The rally was powered by strong earnings from auto‑maker Maruti Suzuki and FMCG leaders, while a...
Carbon Dioxide Supply Shortage Threatens Europe’s Beer and Beverage Sectors
Europe’s beer and beverage makers are confronting a tightening carbon‑dioxide supply as fertilizer‑plant outages, driven by soaring natural‑gas costs, curtail food‑grade CO₂ output. The UK has intervened, backing the restart of the Ensus plant in Teesside to shore up domestic...
Rep. Langworthy Continues Push for Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act
The Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act (H.R. 7366) would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prevent states from imposing supplement requirements that conflict with federal law, allowing exemptions only when a state rule is stricter and does not...
Health Canada Publishes Prebiotics Monograph
Health Canada has released a prebiotic monograph that adopts the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) 2017 definition. The document enumerates approved prebiotic ingredients—including inulin, acacia gum, FOS, GOS, XOS, and the human‑milk oligosaccharides 2′‑FL and LNnT—and draws...
How New SNAP Restrictions on Sugary Foods and Drinks Are Affecting Texas Residents
Texas has enacted new SNAP restrictions that bar the purchase of sweetened drinks and items classified as candy, including chocolate, gum, and yogurt‑covered nuts. The ban, part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, affects roughly 300 families who rely...
Jonas Bros. Restaurant Shuts Down, Joins Celebrity Failures
Celebrity-owned Nellie's Southern Kitchen, opened by the Jonas family in June 2022 at MGM Grand, will close on or before June 1, 2026. The decision follows the lease’s end and a strategic shift toward the brand’s North Carolina location. The...
Ryan Slemons Named Chief Development Officer for Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen announced that Ryan Slemons will become its chief development officer on May 4, overseeing real estate, design, construction, facilities and portfolio management. Slemons arrives with two decades of development experience, most recently as chief development officer at Unleashed Brands and...
FDA Issues Alert About Blood Clams in Relation to Hepatitis A Outbreak
The FDA has issued a public alert about fresh‑frozen blood clams imported from Ecuador and sold under the La Serranita brand, which are linked to a hepatitis A outbreak that began in July 2025 and saw its latest case in...
Trump Removes Tariffs on Scottish Whisky After King Charles Visit
President Donald Trump announced the removal of the 10% tariff on Scotch whisky, framing it as a tribute to King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s recent U.S. visit. The decision follows months of lobbying by the Scotch Whisky Association and...
AgriFood Signals: US Farm Bill Passes, Halter Goes Off-Grid, Earlybird Closes Deeptech Fund
The latest AgriFood Signals roundup spotlights three headline developments: the U.S. farm bill cleared the House, opening the door for new agricultural policy; Halter launched a satellite‑based, fully off‑grid virtual fencing system; and Earlybird closed a record €360 million (~$390 million) deep‑tech...
AI Turns Menu Text Into Realistic Dish Images Instantly
karpathy just admitted that his own app got oneshotted and he thinks yours is next. he built menu gen. where you take a photo of a restaurant menu and it shows you pictures of what the food actually looks like (because 30-50% of...
Ending Tariffs Seems Ill‑timed Amid Bourbon Boycott
As a rule, I support the end of all tariffs, but this is a rather strange thing to do right as the Kentucky bourbon and Tennessee whiskey industries are getting devastated by international retaliatory boycotts.
Naturipe’s SnackBites Offer Protein, Fiber, Probiotics All in One Package
Naturipe Snacks has launched SnackBites, a portable snack that blends dried blueberries, all‑natural peanut butter and a probiotic blend to deliver protein, fiber and gut‑health benefits. The product arrives amid a surge in demand for fruit‑based, functional snacks as consumers...
Hussmann Introduces New Line of Refrigerant-Based Systems
Hussmann has launched a new line of commercial refrigeration systems that use low‑GWP A2L refrigerants, marking the first outdoor distributed A2L solutions in North America. The offering, part of the Evolve Technologies portfolio, includes compressors, condensers, evaporators and merchandising cases...
How Unhealthy Ultra-Processed Foods Are Designed and Marketed to Make Us Crave Them
New research maps the ultra‑processed food (UPF) ecosystem, showing how manufacturers blend refined carbs, fats and additives to trigger brain reward pathways and suppress satiety. The study identifies eleven reinforcing feedback loops—from product formulation to data‑driven marketing—that drive consumption, especially...
Lipman Family Farms Explains How Consumer Snacking Ideas Have Evolved
Lipman Family Farms says consumer snacking has moved from salty, sugary processed foods to fresh, whole‑food produce. The company attributes the shift to health consciousness, busy lifestyles and a growing gap between lunch and dinner. Lipman’s portfolio now includes snack‑ready...
Jack Daniel’s New McLaren F1 Collab Is a $600 Whiskey That Clocks in at Nearly 120 Proof
Jack Daniel’s has launched Halo MK1, a limited‑edition Tennessee whiskey created with its Formula 1 partner McLaren Racing. The 58.7% ABV spirit is bottled at 117.4 proof and priced at $600, making it the brand’s most premium release to date. It is...