Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman Abandon Merger Talks, Both Confirm
Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman announced they have ended discussions on a proposed merger of equals. The termination follows a month‑long speculation after both firms confirmed they were exploring a deal, and comes as Sazerac’s $15 billion bid for Brown‑Forman remains unresolved. Brown‑Forman shares dropped about 5% in after‑hours trading. Both companies said they will stay focused on their existing growth strategies.
RestaurantFounder.com Founder Says Most New Restaurants Fail Before Opening
Aaron Gersonde, founder of RestaurantFounder.com, warned that the majority of new restaurant failures are rooted in decisions made before doors open. He argues that founders must treat the pre‑opening stage with the same rigor as day‑to‑day operations to avoid costly...
Coca-Cola Is Betting on Smaller Sizes to Keep Sales Growing Amid Inflation
Coca‑Cola is expanding mini‑can offerings to attract price‑sensitive shoppers amid inflation. The 7.5‑ounce cans, priced at $1.29, debuted in convenience stores and posted strong first‑quarter performance. CEO Henrique Braun said the move is part of a broader affordability strategy as...
Italy’s Ripening Market Enters a New Phase as Catalytic Generators Targets Expansion
Catalytic Generators used its first appearance at the Macfrut trade show to launch an expansion push in Italy, a market that handles over 600,000 tonnes of bananas annually and a €3.5 billion (≈$3.85 billion) avocado import sector. The company’s Ethy‑Gen II system produces ethylene...
The Hidden Ingredient Layer Behind Automated Food Processing
Food processors are discovering that the real driver of automation performance is not the robot arm or vision system, but the product’s formulation—moisture, texture, binders and coatings. Variations in these hidden ingredients cause clogs, broken pieces and quality rejects, even...
Why McDonald's New McValue Menu Is Not The Deal Customers Were Hoping For
McDonald’s introduced a revamped McValue menu that groups eight items at a $3 price point, but it eliminated the popular $1 BOGO deal that let customers pair two items for a dollar. The new combos often cost more than the...
Taim Mediterranean Kitchen Signs First Franchise Agreement in New York City
Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, now part of Craveworthy Brands, has signed its first franchise agreement in New York City. Operator Jose Tabor will take over the Park Slope, Brooklyn location, marking the brand’s franchising debut in its founding market. Founded in...
Stoner's Pizza Joint Plans Eight New Units in Orlando Metro
Stoner's Pizza Joint announced eight new restaurant units in the Orlando metro area, with two slated to open this summer at 4781 South Orange Avenue and 207 North Clarke Road. The move follows a recently signed 10‑unit development agreement in...
How to Tell If Your Restaurant AI Is Real
The restaurant tech market is plagued by AI‑washing, with vendors branding generic analytics as "AI‑powered" while delivering little value. Real AI should act as a painkiller, stitching together POS, labor, inventory and delivery data to expose hidden cash leaks instantly....
Workforce Staffing: How the Right Hiring Practices Drive ROI
The National Restaurant Association released its "Research Insight: Workforce Hiring and Staffing" report, highlighting how strategic hiring and technology drive ROI for restaurants. It quantifies the cost of understaffing, breakeven timelines for new hires, and the financial drag of turnover....
Kellogg's Mission Tiger Launches in Canada
Kellogg’s Mission Tiger, the company’s sports‑access initiative first launched in the U.S., has expanded to Canada. The program pairs Frosted Flakes sales with a $5 CAD (≈$3.70 USD) donation to KidSport Canada for each QR‑code scan, funding registration fees and equipment for...
A New Normal at the Grocery Store: More Strategy, Less Freedom
The Dalhousie Canadian Food Sentiment Index shows that while panic over food inflation has eased, affordability remains a critical issue for Canadians. In spring 2026, 81% still cite food as the expense rising most sharply, and average monthly spending on...
Climate Change Is Increasing Northern Ontario Cattle Herds—And Beef Prices
Canadian cattle herds showed a modest 2.5% rise in early 2026 after eight years of decline, but beef prices remain 23% above the five‑year average. Climate‑driven pasture stress and frequent droughts in the Prairies keep feed scarce, limiting herd expansion....
How Restaurants Can Maximize Revenue During the World Cup
The 2026 World Cup will draw 650,000‑4 million visitors to 16 North‑American host cities, each spending over $400 per day on food, lodging and experiences. Restaurants can turn this surge into predictable revenue by shifting from walk‑ins to pre‑booked watch‑party packages...
Sazerac Nabs Minority Stake in Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila
Sazerac has taken a minority equity position in Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila and will serve as the brand’s exclusive U.S. sales and distribution partner. Financial terms were not disclosed. The partnership aims to broaden 818’s shelf presence across formats from 50 ml...
Dassai Moon Project: Sake Space Shot a Success
Dassai and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries successfully completed the first mission of the Dassai Moon Project, demonstrating that sake can be fermented under lunar‑gravity conditions aboard the ISS. The experiment, conducted in JAXA’s Kibo module, produced a mash with 12% alcohol that...
India Bans Ashwagandha Leaf Use in Any Form, Industry Reacts
India's Food Safety and Standards Authority has banned the use of ashwagandha leaf in all food and supplement products, limiting the herb to root‑only extracts. The directive follows an Ayush ministry letter citing a 2024 safety dossier that flags higher...
SFP, Seafood Souq Sign MoU to Strengthen Traceability Across Middle East, North Africa
The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai‑based traceability software firm Seafood Souq to boost seafood traceability across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The deal will integrate SFP’s data‑driven Seafood Metrics tool into...
US Lawmakers Attempt to Attach Several Seafood Amendments to Farm Bill
U.S. lawmakers are attaching a slate of seafood‑focused amendments to the upcoming Farm Bill renewal, aiming to embed the USDA Office of Seafood and several industry‑specific provisions into federal law. The proposals include codifying the Office of Seafood, adopting the...
Aldi Is Pulling Another 44 Ingredients From Its Private-Label Brand
Aldi announced it will strip another 44 artificial preservatives, colors, flavors and sweeteners from its private‑label foods, vitamins and supplements, bringing the total number of eliminated ingredients to 57 by December 2027. The decision, driven by customer feedback, follows a decade‑long...
The Return of Cheetos® Flamin’ Hot® Dill Pickle Hits the Streets of Austin for the Ultimate Taste Test
Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle has been re‑launched, this time as a puff snack available nationwide. Frito‑Lay partnered with Billboard to conduct a street‑level taste test in Austin, Texas, gathering real‑time reactions from passersby. The majority of participants praised the bold, tangy flavor and...
SSP Opens Flax Soda at Belfast International Airport with Focus on Local Flavors
SSP Group has launched Flax & Soda, a 280‑seat casual‑dining venue in Belfast International Airport’s newly refurbished Departures Lounge. The restaurant showcases Northern Ireland’s culinary identity with locally sourced meats, dairy, baked goods and regional beers and spirits, and features a partnership...
Seven Certified B Corps Launch a Global Coffee Coalition
Seven Certified B Corporations spanning Brazil, Switzerland, the United States, Singapore, Denmark, Australia/New Zealand and Kenya have launched the B Corp Coffee Coalition. The coalition will begin with working groups aimed at farmer prosperity and workforce development and is open to...
NGA Urges Congress To Reject New SNAP Restrictions In Farm Bill
The National Grocers Association (NGA) and a coalition of retail groups sent a letter to Congress on April 28 urging rejection of proposed amendments to the 2026 Farm Bill that would impose new federal SNAP food restrictions. The coalition, representing independent...
Subway Debuts $5 Value Menu with 15 Options
Subway is launching its first-ever value menu on April 28, with 11 six-inch subs and four Protein Pocket wraps priced under $5. The Fresh Value Menu includes a rotating $4.99 Sub of the Day, classic sandwiches like the B.L.T. and...
McDonald's Refresher Craze Becomes Industry Benchmark
"It's almost a compliment that our Refresher business is being imitated in so many places." -Brian Niccol on roughly every company on the face of the planet adding Refreshers these days.
84.51° Report: Online Shopping Grows But In-Store Remains The Default
84.51°’s new Consumer Digest report shows that while 90% of shoppers are increasing their online grocery activity, 74% of trips still happen in physical stores. Digital research tools are now a key part of the purchase journey, but the final...
Starbucks Targets 1,000 Remodels, 8,000 Upgrades Soon
Starbucks has remodeled about 300 stores and expects to get to 1,000 by the end of the yeawr. But it also expects to spruce up 8,000-plus stores "in short order."
Starbucks Lifts Same‑store Sales Target to 5%+
Starbucks raised its expectations for same-store sales this year to 5% or better globally and in the U.S. $SBUX
NYC’s Gigi’s $40 Half‑Chicken Stirs Debate Over Dining Costs
Chef Hugo Hivernat’s Brooklyn restaurant Gigi’s listed a half rotisserie chicken at $40, prompting public outcry over dining affordability. Hivernat says steep overheads and ingredient costs force the price, highlighting a broader clash between rising restaurant expenses and consumer expectations.
Starbucks Forecasts Lower Tariffs, Coffee Costs Later 2024
Starbucks expects tariffs and coffee prices to ease in the back half of this year. $SBUX
Starbucks' Top 10 International Markets Finally Post Positive Same‑Store Sales
All 10 of Starbucks' 10 largest international markets generated positive same-store sales for the first time in nine quarters last period. $SBUX
McDonald's Rolls Out New McCafé Drinks Lineup to Take on Starbucks
McDonald's will introduce six new McCafé drinks on April 28, including fruit‑based refreshers and crafted sodas, in a bid to capture market share from Starbucks. The launch leverages lessons from the short‑lived CosMc’s concept and targets the higher‑margin beverage segment.
Starbucks Margins Rise Thanks to Growth and Cost Discipline
Starbucks margins are up "We have more work to do, but we're pleased to see the combination of our comp growth and cost discipline starting to show up in margins" - CFO https://t.co/9xXd09aYXO
Airport Traffic Boosts Starbucks Licensed Same‑store Sales
Strong airport demand led to improving same-store sales in the Starbucks licensed business last quarter. $SBUX
Ferrero Officially Opens Nutella Peanut Production Line
Ferrero North America opened a new Nutella peanut production line in Franklin Park, Illinois, on April 24, investing $75 million. The peanut‑flavored Nutella marks the brand’s first new flavor in six decades and the first Nutella product manufactured in the United States. The...
Starbucks Rewards Membership Rebounds with 4% YoY Growth
Starbucks Rewards membership grew 4% year-over-year and steadily compared with the previous period, a shift from declines in previous quarters. $SBUX
Cold Foam Fuels 40% Sales Surge at Starbucks
Cold foam drove a lot of sales for Starbucks last quarter. Sales of cold foam rose 40% last quarter in the U.S., thanks to younger consumers and protein. $SBUX
Why This Beloved Campbell's Soup Flavor Was Discontinued
Campbell Soup Company stopped making its condensed New England clam chowder in 2025, citing consumer demand for ready‑to‑serve formats. The move follows previous discontinuations of niche flavors such as retro green pea soup (2019) and Chunky Chicken Mushroom Chowder (2023)....
Starbucks Comps Surge 6.2% on Transaction Growth
Starbucks global comps up 6.2%, "led by transaction growth." North America/U.S. up 7.1%, including 4.3% transaction growth. That's the best result since 2023. The company is crediting its new "green apron" service model. Revenues up 8.8% to $9.5B. EPS 45...
Starbucks Pre‑order Limited to One‑hour Advance
Frankly this seems like a no-brainer to be able to do on a delivery app: Starbucks will allow you to pre-order and plan your pick up times in advance. But - apparently only up to one hour ahead of pick-up. #restaurant #delivery...
Marin French Cheese's Petite Line Offers Something for Every Daypart
Marin French Cheese has expanded its Petite line with two new breakfast‑time flavors—Petite Breakfast Chive and Petite Breakfast Everything—while continuing to offer year‑round staples like Jalapeño, Truffle, and Garlic & Pepper. The company also rolled out Prospector Black Truffle Triple...
Kellanova Teams with U.S. Soccer to Launch Six Limited‑Edition World Cup Snacks
Kellanova, now part of Mars Snacking, and the U.S. Soccer Federation announced a six‑product limited‑edition snack line debuting in May, designed to amplify fan moments around the 2026 World Cup. The partnership blends sports sponsorship with product innovation, targeting watch...
Why Tactical Moves on Price Are No Substitute for Strategy
Major U.S. food companies such as PepsiCo, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Conagra and JM Smucker are rolling back price hikes and upping promotions after a three‑year stretch of inflation‑driven increases. The move reflects growing consumer price sensitivity, accelerated private‑label adoption,...
Charcuterie Artisans Hosts Innovation Week for Customer Brainstorming
Charcuterie Artisans, the parent of Creminelli, Daniele, Del Duca and newly acquired La Quercia, is leveraging an Innovation Week to collaborate with customers on private‑label and co‑manufacturing concepts. The company has opened an innovation center in Providence and is retrofitting...
Amazon, Walmart Seek Source Reduction Solutions From Suppliers
Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers are using the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s Retailer Forum to deliver a unified sustainability brief to packaging suppliers. The first design‑sprint focused on low‑barrier flexible films, selecting four finalists from nine submissions, and will be...
Top 2026 Sushi Trends Include Fusion Innovations, Sustainable Sourcing
The global sushi market is projected to grow at a 7.9% CAGR, reaching $13.5 billion by 2035. North American leaders Snowfox Group and Genji, LLC are highlighted for supermarket distribution and sustainable sourcing. Packaged sushi convenience, plant‑based fish alternatives, and transparent...
Coca-Cola Beats on Earnings, Raises Guidance
Coca‑Cola reported Q1 net revenue of $12.5 billion, up 12% year‑over‑year, and organic revenue growth of 10%, its strongest in five quarters. Adjusted earnings per share beat analysts’ forecasts, prompting the company to lift its full‑year earnings guidance. The gains were...
Nestlé USA Launches Minor's Kitchen
Nestlé USA has introduced Minor's Kitchen, a new line of chef‑crafted sauces that marks the company’s first foray into the U.S. at‑home condiment market. The range includes four premium flavors—Lemon Garlic Aioli, Creamy Korean BBQ, Spicy Chili Truffle, and American...
Croatian Producers Call for Stronger Branding After Another Record NYIOOC Showing
Croatian olive oil producers captured 128 awards at the 2026 New York International Olive Oil Competition, including 103 gold medals, positioning the country second globally behind Italy. The achievement reflects an 89% success rate from 144 entries, one of the...