Mondelēz International Cuts Emissions by a Fifth in 2025
Mondelēz International announced that it reduced greenhouse‑gas emissions across its value chain by just over a fifth in 2025 compared with its 2018 baseline. The cut, roughly 21%, was achieved alongside progress on water stewardship, food‑waste reduction and a shift to recyclable packaging. The company attributes the improvement to tighter supplier standards and investments in low‑carbon manufacturing. Mondelēz says the results put it on track to meet its Science‑Based Targets for net‑zero by 2050.
Laird Superfood Buys US Peer Terrasoul
Laird Superfood used fresh private‑equity capital to acquire Texas‑based Terrasoul Superfoods, expanding its portfolio of nuts, seeds, and baking ingredients. The deal, funded by Nexus Capital Management, lifted the firm’s ownership to roughly 71.7% after an additional $60 million equity infusion,...
Loyalty Transactions Surge 28% as QSR Habits Shift; Kiosks Rising in Popularity
PAR Technology’s 2026 Quick Service Restaurant Operational Index shows loyalty program members now out‑spend anonymous guests, with loyalty transactions rising 28.5% year‑over‑year. Digital kiosks are the fastest‑growing ordering channel, up 35% YoY, while delivery continues to command premium check sizes,...
White Castle to Expand Slider Reach with 1K Automated Kiosks
White Castle is rolling out 1,000 "Crave & Go" automated kiosks in partnership with Automated Retail Technologies. The kiosks, powered by ART’s Just Baked platform, will appear in hospitals, corporate campuses, transit hubs and other high‑traffic sites where the chain has no...
Alcohol‑Free Beers Match or Exceed Vitamin B6 Levels
Nonalcoholic and conventional beers contain comparable levels of vitamin B6, with some alcohol-free lagers offering even higher amounts depending on production methods. nutrition
Britannia 5050 Expands Premium Range with Caramel Variant
Britannia Industries has launched a caramel‑dipped version of its 5050 premium layered sandwich range, adding a sweet coating to the existing crunchy biscuit format. The new snack delivers a dual texture of crunch and melt, targeting consumers seeking indulgent, texture‑rich...
Alden’s Launches Banana Cookie Crumble Ice Cream
Alden’s Organic announced the launch of Banana Cookie Crumble, a 48‑ounce organic ice‑cream that mixes banana‑flavored base with crunchy cookie crumbles. The new flavor, priced between $9.99 and $15, is available online and at select natural‑food retailers such as Sprouts,...
How Nestlé’s US CMO Keeps Tabs on Changing Consumer Tastes
Nestlé USA’s chief marketing and innovation officer Vicki Felker is steering the food giant into new at‑home categories, debuting Minor’s Kitchen sauces for pantry use and expanding frozen‑food offerings. The company is leveraging AI‑powered consumer segmentation and rapid‑testing tools to...
Mars Plans to Close Pet-Food Factory in Germany
Mars Pet Nutrition announced plans to shut its Minden, Germany dry‑pet‑food plant, affecting roughly 110 workers. Production would cease by late 2026, with output redirected to other European facilities. The closure comes as Mars rolls out a €1 bn ($1.18 bn) investment program...
5 Big Food Trends in Sweden
Swedish consumers are putting price first, driving a surge in private‑label products that mimic premium quality while staying affordable. Sustainability remains a key secondary concern, with brands emphasizing local sourcing and recyclable packaging to meet consumer expectations. High‑protein foods have...
More Cream, Less Air: What Makes Ice Cream ‘Super-Premium’?
Clover Sonoma has entered the emerging super‑premium ice‑cream tier with a four‑flavor line priced at $9.99 per 32‑oz quart. The brand touts 14% butterfat and a low 30% overrun, delivering more cream and less air per scoop. This formulation promises...
Dinnerly Meal Kit Review (2026): Hearty Meals on a Budget
Dinnerly, the budget arm of Martha Stewart‑endorsed Marley Spoon, now offers more international dishes while keeping portions generous. Prices range from $6 to $10 per serving, dropping to $6 for large family plans, positioning it between cheap kits like EveryPlate...
Ajinomoto Creates New Tech to Replace One of Cultivated Meat’s Most Expensive Components
Japanese food conglomerate Ajinomoto has engineered a plant‑derived hinokitiol compound to replace transferrin, the most expensive ingredient in cultivated‑meat culture media. Transferrin accounts for roughly 95% of media costs, so the new iron‑binding molecule could slash production expenses dramatically. Hinokitiol...
Elena Arzak Takes Lead as Juan Mari Steps Down From 3‑Star Arzak
Juan Mari Arzak and María Teresa Espina Aguirre have resigned as administrators of Arzak, the three‑Michelin‑star restaurant in San Sebastián. Their daughter, Elena Arzak, now heads the business, inheriting a €6 million (≈$6.5 million) turnover and a legacy that spans four generations.
Industrial Agriculture and the Future of Food and Health
Jan Dutkiewicz and Gabriel N. Rosenberg’s new book *Feed the People* argues that industrial agriculture, while flawed, remains essential for feeding America and can be improved through policy and technology. The authors introduce "democratic hedonism" – a framework that seeks...
Fermented Dairy Alternatives Show Enhanced Biofunctionality
Researchers in Greece and Ireland found that fermenting oat‑ and soy‑based dairy alternatives markedly boosts their biofunctional properties. Fermented soy yogurt‑type products displayed stronger antiplatelet and anti‑inflammatory effects, while fermented oat yogurt‑type products showed superior antioxidant activity. The study also...
McVitie’s Expands Iconic Jaffa Cakes Range with the Launch of Jaffa Mango Flavour
McVitie’s has added a Jaffa Mango variant to its iconic Jaffa Cakes line, inserting a sweet mango‑flavoured jelly between the classic sponge and chocolate coating. The new 10‑pack retails at £1.50 (approximately $1.90) and is already stocked in major UK...
Why Italian White Wine Has Enormous Untapped Potential
The Drinks Business hosted a masterclass at Vinitaly 2026 to highlight the untapped potential of Italian white wines in the UK market. Twelve wines—from Sicilian Grillo to Alto‑Adige Müller‑Thurgau—demonstrated diverse styles, aging capacity and premium quality. Speakers noted that UK...
Review of Vandemoortele / Délifrance Deal Moves to In-Depth Investigation
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has escalated the Vandemoortele‑Délifrance merger to a phase 2 investigation after the deadline to propose a buyer for two French production sites passed without a submission. In phase 1, the CMA warned the deal could...
How 1 Fast Casual Founder Aims to Build AI Bridge Between Wearables, Wellness
Summits Technologies has launched StarAI, an AI platform that translates wearable fitness data into personalized fast‑casual meals prepared in a 350‑square‑foot ghost kitchen in Venice Beach. The kitchen operates limited hours, offering dishes priced $13‑$30, and plans to boost output...
Sustainability Drives 25% of CPG Sales
The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and Circana released the 2025 Sustainable Market Share Index, showing sustainable‑marked consumer packaged goods now command 25.4% of U.S. CPG dollar sales, up 1.6 points year‑over‑year. These products are growing at a 10.9%...
Is Canada’s Spirits Market Opening Up?
Ontario and Nova Scotia have signed a landmark agreement to permit direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) alcohol sales between the two provinces, allowing consumers to buy spirits, wine and beer directly from producers. The deal is part of a broader push, backed by...
Indonesia Turns to Paper, Glass Packaging as Plastic Prices Climb
Indonesia’s Industry Ministry is urging food‑and‑beverage firms to replace costly plastic with paper, glass, metal and recycled PET as global plastic prices surge. The push is framed as both a cost‑saving measure and a sustainability drive, leveraging the country’s robust...
Espolòn Celebrates Short Kings with The Hangover’s Ken Jeong
Campari Group’s Espolòn Tequila has launched a Short King Week campaign featuring actor Ken Jeong, celebrating confident underdogs. The promotion runs May 1‑9 and includes a nine‑day “Short Kings” advent calendar with a $75 margarita kit. Espolòn, the seventh‑largest tequila globally,...
Master of Malt Reveals World Cup-Inspired Whisky Line-Up with Retro Kits
Master of Malt has unveiled a five‑bottle World Cup collection, each label styled after classic football kits from Italia ’90 and France ’98. The range includes two English expressions—a 12‑year single malt at £59.95 (≈$75) and a 9‑year rye at...
Buffalo Trace Distillery Café Confirms Opening Date
Buffalo Trace Distillery will launch its first permanent dining venue, the John G Carlisle Café, on May 11. Housed in the 1935 Elmer T Lee Clubhouse, the 4,900‑square‑foot space seats 70 guests and adds patio seating. The menu blends made‑to‑order...
3 Top Trends From ProWine Tokyo 2026
ProWine Tokyo 2026 gathered 188 exhibitors from 23 countries, spotlighting three strategic trends: Japanese wine, rosé, and South American offerings. Japanese wines, which make up only 5.4% of domestic distribution, focused on quality storytelling to attract discerning buyers. The fair...
Tahini’s Launches “First-of-Its-Kind” Shawarma Ramen
Tahini’s Restaurants, Canada’s fastest‑growing Mediterranean‑fusion chain, is debuting a “Shawarma Ramen” that fuses Middle‑Eastern shawarma flavors with Japanese ramen broth. The product, two years in development, features chicken or halloumi, mozzarella, corn, crispy onions and optional spice levels. Early pilots...
Grocery & Specialty Food West Reveals Top Ten in Grocery 2026
The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers announced the Top Ten in Grocery 2026 winners at Grocery & Specialty Food West in Vancouver. Editors from trade media and a retail committee selected the best products from the New Product Showcase. Categories...
Domestic Chinese Wineries Raise Their Game
Longting Vineyard, a Shandong‑based biodynamic winery, has signed an exclusive omnichannel distribution agreement with Shanghai importer ASC Fine Wines. The deal, sealed on 20 April 2026 in Yantai, gives ASC sole rights to Longting’s core range and on‑trade exclusivity for its premium...
Gippsland Dairy Leans Into ‘Yoghurt Trance’ via Special
Gippsland Dairy has unveiled a new brand platform called “Let The World Wait,” created with agency Special. The campaign centers on the so‑called “yoghurt trance,” a moment when consumers become fully absorbed in savoring the product. A hero film directed...
AI Hype or Reality? Wine Sector Weighs Its Next Move
The Weinheimer Group’s AI Marketing Readiness Report shows 93% of winery owners are experimenting with or researching artificial intelligence, yet only 7% deem it a low priority. Respondents cite online discoverability as the top AI-driven opportunity, while uncertainty and ROI...
Lidl Is Now Doing Pubs?
Lidl is set to launch its first UK pub this summer in Dundonald, Northern Ireland, after a six‑year legal battle. The venture was only possible because two nearby bars closed, allowing Lidl to acquire a surrendered alcohol licence under NI’s...
Decision Logic Launches Embedded AI That Acts as an “Assistant Store Manager” For Multi-Unit Restaurant Brands
Decision Logic has launched Decision Logic AI, an embedded assistant for multi‑unit restaurant brands that continuously monitors over 25 operational metrics and provides proactive alerts. The AI surfaces issues 1–3 days earlier than traditional reporting, answers plain‑language queries instantly, and...
Growth Asia Summit 2026: Bel Group, Calbee Spotlight Protein and Healthier Innovation
The Growth Asia Summit 2026 will convene at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from July 8‑10, with Day Two spotlighting protein and healthier product innovation. Bel Group’s Chief Strategy Officer for Asia, David Naidu, will outline the dairy giant’s shift toward nutritionally...
Private Label Is Surging. Here Are 3 Ways Food Brands Can Fight Back
Private label products now command a record 50% of unit sales across Europe’s six largest grocery markets, driven by low pricing and persistent food‑inflation pressure. Shoppers are gravitating toward supermarket own‑brands as they seek cost‑effective options, while retailers also expand...
India’s Seafood Exports Hit Record Rs 72,325 Crore in FY 2025–26
India’s seafood exports reached a record Rs 72,325.82 crore (≈$8.28 bn) in FY 2025‑26, with volumes of 19.32 lakh metric tonnes. Frozen shrimp drove the surge, contributing Rs 47,973.13 crore (≈$5.51 bn) and accounting for over two‑thirds of earnings. While shipments to the...
Doors Open at Diageo’s US$415m Alabama Site
Diageo has opened a $415 million, 360,000‑square‑foot manufacturing and warehousing complex in Montgomery, Alabama, adding roughly 100 full‑time positions and supporting 750 construction jobs during build‑out. The plant, dubbed Diageo Montgomery, features high‑speed bottling lines, automated guided vehicles and electric boilers...
61% of Brits Say Junk Food Firms Should Help Foot the NHS Bill
A YouGov poll commissioned by the Recipe for Change coalition shows 61% of Britons want junk‑food manufacturers to help fund NHS treatment costs for diet‑related illnesses. Nearly half (47%) say it is harder to eat a balanced diet today, citing...
Plastic Prices Are Over a Barrel: It’s Time Brands Rethink Their Packaging
President Trump’s second‑term agenda reinstated 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, keeping import duties high after the Supreme Court struck down other measures. The added cost pressure prompted Coca‑Cola and other consumer‑goods firms to increase reliance on virgin‑plastic containers, even...
Is Texas Chicken Ready for the Chinese Market?
Texas Chicken announced a partnership with Chinese operator Deke Shengtang to launch its first outlet in Shanghai this summer, with a rollout plan of more than 600 locations over the next few years, marking its 27th international market. The chain...
Unlocking $22bn in Grocery: Why Collaboration Is Now the only Path Forward
Australia and New Zealand’s grocery sector faces rising cost‑of‑living pressure, supply‑chain volatility and margin compression. A new white paper estimates up to $22 billion AUD (≈$14.5 billion USD) is trapped in inefficiencies such as out‑of‑stocks, waste and inventory misalignment, representing 6‑11% of...
Seagrass Boutique Hospitality to Open Hunter and Barrel Steakhouse in Canberra
Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group is set to open its fifth Hunter and Barrel steakhouse on 8 May, marking the brand’s first entry into Canberra. The new Scotts Street venue will showcase Australian‑sourced meats, including grass‑fed Wagyu and a 1.1 kg Tomahawk, prepared over...
Recall: Austral Herbs – Certified Organic Garlic Powder
Greenstorm Foods has issued a recall of its Austral Herbs Certified Organic Garlic Powder after discovering undeclared peanut allergens in the product. The recall covers multiple package sizes—from 250 g up to 10 kg—with a best‑before date of December 8 2028. The affected items...
Hard Fizz Launches Vodka-Based Flavours as RTD Sales Surge
Hard Fizz, a Gold Coast‑based beverage brand, is adding two vodka‑based RTD flavors—Vodka Lime and Soda and Vodka Watermelon—to its lineup. The vodka category has grown 12.7% nationally over the past year, while Hard Fizz’s seltzer portfolio posted 4% growth despite a 10.7% sector...
California Upholds Kangaroo Trade Ban, Rejecting Push to Reopen Market
The California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee rejected SB 1212, preserving the state’s ban on kangaroo skins and meat. The prohibition, in place since 1971, survived a second repeal attempt in 2015, underscoring long‑standing legislative resistance. Humane World for...
Quick-Commerce, Nescafe Coffee Push and Ad Spends: Inside Nestle India's Growth Play
Nestle India posted its strongest quarterly results in nearly a decade, with FY 2026 sales reaching ₹23,071.5 crore (≈$2.8 bn), a 15% year‑on‑year rise. The fourth quarter alone grew 23.4% to ₹6,445 crore (≈$777 m), driven by double‑digit volume gains across e‑commerce, quick‑commerce and beverages....
AuX Labs Nabs $4M to Commercialise Cheese Made From Animal-Free Milk Protein
Toronto‑based AuX Labs secured $4 million in a round led by NYA Ventures and Nàdarra Ventures to commercialise its precision‑fermented recombinant casein. The funding will accelerate a brewing‑capacity‑leveraged platform that produces animal‑free, melt‑and‑stretch cheese at price points viable for pizzerias and...
Sustainable Whisky and Spirits For Eco-Conscious Drinkers
The article spotlights five spirits brands—The Macallan, Flor de Caña, Brora, Sapling Spirits, and Nc’Nean—leading the industry toward sustainability. Each has adopted distinct eco‑friendly practices, from closed‑loop biomass heating to carbon‑negative rum production and refill‑and‑replant programs. Notable milestones include Flor de Caña’s carbon‑negative status...
Jollibee Group Reports Record Fourth Quarter Operating Income
Jollibee Foods Corp reported a record fourth‑quarter operating income of Php4.1 billion (about US$70.6 million), a 41.9% year‑on‑year increase, and delivered 16.6% full‑year system‑wide sales growth to roughly US$7.9 billion. The growth was powered by strong performance in key Asian markets, especially Vietnam,...