GLP-1 ‘Halo Effect’ Reshapes Consumer Behavior
Acosta Group’s new research shows that users of GLP‑1 receptor agonists are creating a “halo effect” that reshapes purchasing across grocery, foodservice, health‑beauty and omnichannel retail. About 55% report buying more fresh produce and protein‑focused items, while indulgent snacks and sugary drinks decline. Nearly half say their healthier habits influence the whole household, and Gen Z and Millennials are the most vocal drivers, favoring high‑protein, high‑fiber and functional nutrition products. Retailers that align assortments, messaging and innovation with these evolving preferences stand to capture long‑term growth.
Westminster Abbey’s Cellarium Café Unveils Summer Afternoon Tea in Historic Medieval Vaults
Westminster Abbey’s Cellarium Café & Terrace has introduced the Abbey in Bloom Afternoon Tea, a seasonal menu priced at £38 (≈$48) per person, available daily throughout summer 2026. The offering combines classic British flavors, seasonal ingredients, and a selection of...
Bill Reintroduced to Overhaul Front-of-Pack Food Labels, Ingredients Lists
The Food Labeling Modernization Act was reintroduced in the House by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, aiming to overhaul front‑of‑package nutrition labels and ingredient lists that haven’t been updated since the 1990s. The bill would require a...
Weekend Reading: Online Marketing of Soda and Alcohol
Vital Strategies released two AI‑driven reports exposing how soda and alcohol brands dominate social media, embedding themselves in sports highlights, influencer content and viral moments. The Coca‑Cola analysis uncovered 795 posts linked to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, generating...
Can 2 Cups Of Beans A Day Really Change Your Life? An Expert Weighs In
A social‑media trend dubbed "BeanTok" promotes eating two cups of beans daily for health benefits. Registered dietitian Angel Luk explains that beans are rich in fiber, protein, iron, and low in saturated fat, which can support heart health and digestion....
More than a Rough Patch: Recent Restaurant Closures Signal Market Correction
Recent closures of Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box and other chains highlight a market correction driven by sustained traffic declines and rising cost pressures. Analysts point to soaring food, labor, insurance and rent expenses that are eroding margins,...
Julienne Bruno Returns to Ocado and Foodservice Under Harvey & Brockless Ownership
Julienne Bruno, the UK plant‑based cheese label, is relaunching its Collection 01 range on Ocado and through Harvey & Brockless’s foodservice network after being acquired by The Compleat Food Group in November 2025. Three 150‑gram SKUs – Crematta, Superstraccia and Burrella –...
Congress to Hold Legislative Hearing on 28 Active Bills Related to Food Safety, FDA
On April 29, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing to examine 28 active bills addressing food‑safety oversight and FDA authority. The legislation spans issues such as GRAS determinations, modernizing food labeling, infant formula safety, dietary supplement...
Brixton House Welcomes New Flavours with Bar Opening by Karma Sherpa and Levi Roots
Brixton House theatre is opening The House Bar on Thursday, a food and drink venue co‑created by reggae‑sauce entrepreneur Levi Roots and local chef Karma Sherpa. The menu blends Jamaican, Latin American and Caribbean influences, featuring items such as chicken...
How Are Food Processors Faring in 2026?
Food processors are proceeding with equipment upgrades in early 2026 despite economic headwinds, driven by protein and health‑focused consumer trends. Flexibility and modularity now outweigh large fixed‑line commitments as firms seek to stay competitive. Automation and AI adoption are accelerating...
More than a Post: Turning Influencers Into Content Engines for Your Restaurant
At the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, a panel of restaurant CMOs argued that influencer marketing is evolving from a peripheral tactic to a core content engine. They cited a $5,000 influencer video that outperformed traditional Meta ads and highlighted...
A New Initiative To Map Coffee Farms And Fight Deforestation
The EU Deforestation Regulation, set to apply to medium and large firms by end‑2026 and to smaller firms by Q3 2027, threatens coffee imports unless producers can prove their beans aren’t from post‑2020 forest land. To address this, JDE Peet’s and major...
Cinnabon to Release Harry Potter-Inspired Butterbeer Treats for Limited Time
Cinnabon, a GoTo Foods brand, is teaming with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to launch two Harry Potter‑inspired Butterbeer menu items—a Classic Roll and a Chillatta—available May 4‑17. The treats will be sold in special packaging at Cinnabon and Schlotzsky’s Deli locations...
Campaign Trail: 1664 Taps Multiple Robert Pattinsons to Examine Good Taste
Carlsberg’s 1664 Blanc brand launched “A Question of Good Taste,” a 60‑second spot starring Robert Pattinson playing multiple Parisian neighbours. The ad, created by Fold7 with director Brady Corbet, uses contrasting characters to illustrate that taste is subjective, while all agree on a...
Totis Launches Kettle Cooked Plantain Chips
Vilore Foods is rolling out Totis Kettle Cooked Plantain Chips nationwide, adding three globally inspired flavors—Chile Lime, Cinnamon Churro, and Sea Salt. The snack is positioned as a better‑for‑you alternative, being gluten‑free, vegan, and non‑GMO. By leveraging its national distribution...
Senators Push Forward to Make Hot Rotisserie Chicken Available to SNAP Recipients
A bipartisan group of senators introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken. The bill adds “hot rotisserie chicken” to the definition of eligible food,...
UK Deposit Return Scheme to Apply Flat 20p Levy for All Materials
The UK Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will impose a flat 20 p (≈$0.25) levy on all eligible single‑use drink containers made of PET plastic, steel or aluminium. The uniform charge takes effect in October 2027 across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. By...
Elia Viramontes on Júrame Mezcal, Women and Community
Júrame Mezcal, co‑founded by Elia Viramontes, has entered the UK market, bringing a mezcal made from wild Salmiana agave harvested in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The brand emphasizes a community‑first model, employing local women in all stages of production and...
The Daily Dirt: Mamdani’s Socialist Supermarkets
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a city‑owned, rent‑free site in East Harlem for a "socialist" supermarket that will sell a core basket of staples at below‑market prices. The plan pairs a private operator with city‑set standards on pricing, union‑level wages, and...
JUBEL, the Pioneering Fruit Lager Brand, Lands Exclusively in Tesco
JUBEL, the Alpine‑born fruit lager pioneer, is debuting a lime‑flavored brew exclusively at Tesco. The new lime variant becomes the sixth flavor in JUBEL’s portfolio, joining peach, grapefruit, mango, lemon and blood orange. Tesco highlighted a 300% surge in demand...
Op-Ed | The Future of Protein Is Delicious and Data-Backed
The op‑ed highlights a growing consensus that taste is the gateway to scaling healthier, sustainable protein. Industry leaders—from regenerative beef ranchers to insect and plant‑based innovators—are aligning on the need for flavor, convenience, and affordability. New data‑driven tools such as...
Green Gold Is Getting More Precious in Wartime
A war‑related export blockade in Iran has left millions of pounds of pistachios stranded in warehouses, creating a sharp supply shock for global food manufacturers. Prices for shelled pistachios have jumped roughly 30% since the conflict escalated, squeezing margins for...
The VinePair Podcast: Why Are Spirits Brands Bypassing Bartenders for Somms?
The VinePair Podcast examines why emerging spirits brands are partnering with sommeliers instead of bartenders. Hosts note that sommeliers bring wine‑focused credibility and access to upscale restaurant wine lists, while bartenders are traditionally the go‑to for spirit expertise. The discussion...
This Midwest Bakery Chain Is Vanishing — But Still Hanging On In A Few Places
Bakers Square, a beloved Midwestern bakery chain known for its signature pies, grew from a single Des Moines eatery in 1970 to more than 140 locations at its height. After a series of ownership changes—including Pillsbury, VICORP, and American Blue Ribbon...
Whey Protein Isolate Vs. Concentrate: Which One Is Better?
Whey protein isolate and concentrate are the two primary forms of milk‑derived protein powder, each with distinct processing levels and nutrient profiles. Isolate is 90‑95% pure protein, delivering roughly 27‑28 g per 30 g scoop, low in carbs, fat, and lactose, but...
New Beverage Launches: Fibre Shots, Capri Sun, Captain Morgan and More…
A wave of new beverage launches is reshaping the market, from Sparkling Ice’s limited‑edition Life Savers‑themed sparkling water to Capri Sun’s Hydrate functional pouch with electrolytes and half the sugar of typical sports drinks. Wednesday’s Domaine entered the mid‑strength wine...
7 Things You Should Know About Frey Ranch, Nevada’s Farm-to-Glass Distillery
Frey Ranch Distillery, founded by Ashley and Colby Frey in 2006, is Nevada’s first ground‑to‑glass whiskey producer, growing, malting, distilling and bottling all grains on its 2,500‑acre farm. After a 13‑year development period and Nevada’s 2013 distilling law, its first...
Philadelphia Shuts Down Michelin‑recommended Roxanne over Missing Food License
The City of Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections ordered the immediate shutdown of Roxanne, a Michelin‑recommended restaurant on South Second Street, after discovering it had been operating without a food license for more than a year. The enforcement action...
Lucky Saint Launches Electrolyte Lager with Lime & Sea Salt
Lucky Saint, the UK’s largest independent alcohol‑free beer brand, unveiled Lucky Saint Lime & Sea Salt Lager, an electrolyte‑infused, alcohol‑free lager. The drink provides 305 mg potassium, 77 mg sodium, 57 mg magnesium and vitamin C, delivering only 80 calories and low sugar. It...
Alcohol-Free Brewing “Pioneers” Name First CEO and Embark on Ambitious £1M+ Funding Round
East London’s Nirvana Brewery has appointed Paul Thomas Walsh, a veteran of fintech and investment banking, as its inaugural CEO. The brewer, which operates the UK’s only dedicated no‑ and low‑alcohol brewhouse, is launching a £1 million (≈$1.25 million) funding round aimed...
Proof 8 Partners with Raer’s Jackton Distillery
Jackton Distillery in Scotland has adopted Proof 8's blockchain‑backed platform to secure its cask inventory with digital deeds linked to QR codes. The immutable records provide clear provenance, ownership and location data, addressing rising cask‑investment fraud concerns. Implementation slashed cask‑management...
Stoli Vodka Ups Presence in French Retail
Stoli Group’s flagship vodka has partnered with French distributor Slaur Sardet to enter the grocery channel, debuting in 600 stores across the country. The rollout covers 500 E Leclerc and 100 Super U locations, with a recommended retail price of $21 per...
Starbucks Rolls Out AI Ordering Platform to Drive Sales and Engagement
Starbucks has introduced an AI-driven ordering platform integrated with ChatGPT, targeting higher sales and richer customer interaction. The rollout, announced in a press release, promises personalized drink recommendations but has already sparked criticism over usability and reliability.
Yesway C‑Stores Pull Fast‑Food Diners as Fuel Costs Surge, Food Sales Jump 41% in 2025
Yesway CEO Tom Trkla says the chain’s upgraded food menu is luring fast‑food patrons amid soaring fuel prices, with 41 million proprietary food items sold in 2025 and food now accounting for a third of revenue. The trend reflects broader consumer...
Nestlé Slashes 450 Jobs Sparking Union Backlash
Nestlé announced it will cut more than 450 jobs across its UK operations, with the bulk of layoffs expected at the York factory and the Gatwick headquarters. The cuts are the first wave of a global restructuring plan that aims...
Queen Drummer Roger Taylor Breaks Into Wine Business with Rosé
Queen drummer Roger Taylor has entered the wine market with Cuvée Rock n’ Roll rosé, a Provençal blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Cinsault. The wine retails for £18 (about $23) and is positioned as an affordable, mainstream rosé rather than a luxury...
CEO Expands to Dim Sum Franchise in Southern Philippines
Most of you know me as the CEO of Mama Lou’s, but today I want to share something our group has been quietly building. MAMA Hospitality is the Philippine franchise partner of Ding Dim 1968, one of Hong Kong’s most beloved...
Jägermeister Opens €17.6m Barrel Storage Site
Mast‑Jägermeister has finished a €17.6 million (≈US$20.6 million) barrel‑storage project in Kamenz, Saxony. The 5,000‑square‑foot facility can hold up to 225 additional barrels, expanding the brand’s production capacity. Built primarily from timber and equipped with photovoltaic panels and rain‑water management, the site...
Why Supply Chain Resilience Now Defines the Survival of Fast Casual
Fast‑casual chains are confronting a prolonged sales decline and rising costs, with same‑store sales falling for the 11th month. Consumers are demanding higher‑quality, fresher ingredients while tightening budgets, forcing operators to balance price and value. Supply‑chain discipline has become the...
Why Most Restaurants Leave Private Event Revenue on the Table
Private events offer the highest margins for full‑service restaurants, yet most treat them as a side operation. Slow inquiry responses, manual proposal creation, and weak follow‑up cause revenue leaks. The article outlines three fixes: respond within two hours, use standardized...
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global Closes with Highest Attendance Ever
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global concluded its 32nd edition in Barcelona with a record 35,500 attendees, the highest in the event’s history. The show featured 2,290 exhibitors from 85 countries across 52,980 sqm, generating an estimated $153 million economic impact for the...
Prices for Atlantic Salmon From Norway Continue Their Steady Decline Into Week 17
Norwegian Atlantic salmon prices kept falling into Week 17, with whole fresh salmon averaging NOK 78.07 ($8.29) per kilogram on 19 April. Export volumes rose by almost 2 million kg week‑over‑week, while the global average export price for all salmon categories slipped to NOK 84.07 ($8.93)...
No Clicks Given: How to Get AI to Recommend Your Restaurant
The restaurant discovery landscape has shifted to AI‑generated answers, pushing traditional SEO links out of view. Google now delivers a concise paragraph that recommends eateries, creating a zero‑click environment. This change has birthed Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), which focuses on...
Tequila Centinela Expands US Reach
Tequila Centenela has signed a distribution agreement with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) to bring its high‑land tequila to retailers, bars and restaurants across Florida and Texas. The move comes as the global tequila market, valued at about $6.5 billion in...
Discus Lands $900k to Expand Export Opportunities
Discus, the trade association for U.S. distilled spirits, has secured a $900,000 grant from the USDA’s American First Trade Promotion Program for 2026‑27. The award adds to earlier USDA funding, bringing total federal support to over $1.9 million, and will fund...
Chile’s Salmon Industry Declares “Clear Signs of Sustained Recovery” With Q1 Growth
Chile’s salmon sector reported a 20.7% jump in Q1 2026 exports, reaching 251,413 metric tons. Export value rose 9.3% year‑over‑year to $1.9 billion, driven by higher volumes rather than price increases. The United States remained the top market, while China’s imports...
Motel Mezcal Refocuses Distribution in Singapore
Oaxacan mezcal producer Motel Mezcal has named Singapore‑based Cool Potions its exclusive importer and distributor. The deal follows the brand’s 2025 launch across six Asia‑Pacific markets and aims to boost its presence in the region. Motel Mezcal, made from 100%...
How Much Does One Hectare Cost to Buy Around the World?
Knight Frank’s latest Wealth Report shows vineyard values are climbing, not declining, with the most prized terroirs—Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy—commanding up to $1.9 million per hectare. Italy’s Piedmont Barolo tops the global price chart at $2.7 million per hectare, while Australia’s Barossa...
‘Show the Price of a Pint’: Transparency Push Gains Traction in Westminster
Early Day Motion 3002, tabled by MPs Peter Lamb and Jim Shannon, calls for pubs and bars to display drink prices clearly at the point of order. The motion highlights that a pint now costs between £6 and £8.50 (approximately...
Himchanmaru Repositions Korean Health Food Brand Globally
Himchanmaru, a Korean health‑food maker known for liquid extracts from snail and chicken feet, is overhauling its brand to appeal to overseas markets. The firm is highlighting Korea’s tonic‑food heritage while showcasing patented extraction technology at upcoming trade shows. A...