Ukiyo Partners with The Ivy Asia for Sakura Season
Japanese spirits brand Ukiyo has teamed with upscale restaurant group The Ivy Asia to launch a sakura‑season cocktail activation across its UK venues until May 31. The partnership features five Ukiyo‑based drinks, co‑crafted with Fever‑Tree mixers, and a seasonal food menu at the St Paul’s location, including cherry‑blossom themed décor. The activation builds on Ukiyo’s recent travel‑retail expansion with Gebr Heinemann, aiming to boost on‑trade visibility and position the brand as a premium, seasonally‑driven spirit.
A Million a Minute: Adaptability and Innovation Define Brand Winners
In 2025 U.S. consumers spent roughly $1 million per minute at restaurants, with the top three chains—McDonald’s, Starbucks and Chick‑fil‑A—accounting for 32% of total spend and generating over $107 billion. The Circana report shows the top 50 brands represent 61% of spending...
Is Efficiency Replacing Empathy?
The 2026 Intouch Insight On‑Premises Study shows fast‑food operators have cut service times by 60 seconds and pushed order accuracy to a record 92.7%, but human hospitality is eroding. Metrics such as the use of “please” (29.9%), genuine smiles (64.3%)...
Panera Rolls Out New Salad Stuffer Menu Category
Panera Bread introduced a new "Salad Stuffer" menu category, offering two system‑wide variants – the Steakhouse and Santa Fe – that combine fresh salads with a soft, one‑hand roll. Prices range from $8 to $13, and the items sit between the...
Protein Quality Confusion Opens Door For Innovation
The International Food Information Council’s latest survey shows Americans are actively seeking protein, but their definition of “protein quality” diverges from scientific standards. While 40% associate high‑quality protein with taste and 45% focus on total protein content on packaging, technical...
How La Copine's Founders Left L.A. to Build a Culinary 'Oasis' In the Desert
La Copine, the desert‑side restaurant founded by former Los Angeles chefs Nikki Hill and Claire Wadsworth, is releasing a new cookbook, *La Copine: New California Cooking from an Oasis in the Desert*, on April 28. The book translates the restaurant’s seasonal, desert‑inspired dishes—ranging from...
Kroger Brings Its Near-Expired Food to Flashfood App in 100-Plus Stores
Kroger is expanding its partnership with the Flashfood app to more than 100 stores across the Mid‑Atlantic, turning near‑expiration groceries into discounted items for shoppers. The pilot in Richmond, Virginia diverted over 320,000 pounds of food that would have been...
Alcohol E-Commerce Misses US$40bn Opportunity
A new survey by DRINKS reveals a $40 bn gap between how U.S. consumers discover alcohol brands and their ability to purchase them online. Social media now drives 63% of purchases among 21‑34‑year‑olds, yet 70% say they cannot buy directly where...
Ghana Launches Blue Food Innovation Hub, Aiming to Drive Innovation, Spur Private Investment in Aquaculture
Ghana has inaugurated Africa’s first Blue Food Innovation Hub in Accra, partnering with the World Economic Forum and overseen by the Ghanaian Chamber of Aquaculture. The hub will convene researchers, investors, policymakers and startups to share best practices, cut post‑harvest...
Hiya Brings Kids Chews and Greens Powder to UK Parents
Hiya, the US‑based kids‑vitamin brand acquired by USANA for $260 million, has rolled out three sugar‑free product lines in the United Kingdom: a chewable multivitamin, a chocolate‑flavoured greens‑and‑superfoods powder, and a Biotic+ probiotic formula. The range is dietitian‑formulated, free of added...
KFC India Launches Crispy ShaWOWrma Wrap with New Campaign
KFC India has introduced the Crispy ShaWOWrma Wrap, a shawarma‑inspired chicken wrap, through a new advertising campaign starring actress Priyamani and influencer Ashlesha Thakur. The 30‑second film depicts a mother‑daughter exchange about when to eat, turning a hesitant "naa" into...
Rémy Cointreau Launches Three-Year Plan to Revive Growth
French spirits group Rémy Cointreau unveiled a three‑year RC Forward plan aimed at restoring profitability, especially in its struggling Cognac division. The strategy emphasizes margin improvement, operational streamlining, and a new Prestige Division for premium brands like Louis XIII. CEO Franck Marilly said the...
Independent Pubs Could Vanish by 2041
New research by Simply Business, using ONS data, predicts that independent pubs and bars in the UK could disappear by 2041 if current decline rates continue. The study places pubs third on its Endangered High Street List, alongside shoe shops...
Just Eat and Starship Technologies Launch Delivery Robots in Barnsley
Just Eat and Starship Technologies have launched a pilot of self‑driving delivery robots in Barnsley, the UK’s first government‑designated “tech town.” The service will operate in four neighbourhoods—Carlton, Athersley, Monk Bretton and Lundwood—covering roughly 11,000 households. The robots aim to replace...
Abundant Drug Resistance Genes in Retail Foods Pose ‘Significant Public Health Concern,’ Researchers Find
Researchers from the University of Tennessee, FDA and University of Illinois used metagenomic sequencing and qPCR to map antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in retail cabbage, lettuce, chicken legs and deli meats across Memphis. All samples harbored diverse ARGs, with multidrug...
Oceana: Nearly 40 Percent of Fish Sold in Mexico Has Been Substituted for Cheaper Species
A new Oceana report reveals that 38% of fish sold in Mexico are mislabeled, substituting cheaper species for premium ones. Genetic testing of 1,262 market and restaurant samples showed mislabeling rates far above the 20% global average reported by the...
Benchmark Wine Group Posts Record First Quarter
Benchmark Wine Group announced its best first‑quarter performance in 24 years, with Q1 2026 sales up roughly 14% versus the same period in 2025, setting a new quarterly record. The growth was driven by heightened demand for rare Bordeaux, white...
OM in the News: Weight-Loss Drugs Crush Food Demand as Farmers Face Dumping Mountains of Potatoes
Weight‑loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound are suppressing appetite, with users eating up to half as much as before. The resulting dip in food demand is already creating surpluses, exemplified by a UK farmer with 1.3 million pounds of...
Livermore Valley Winemakers Vote for Two-Grape Strategy
Winegrowers in California’s Livermore Valley have voted to focus on two signature grapes—Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc—replacing much of the existing Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay plantings. The decision follows a UC Davis study highlighting the varieties’ fit to local climate,...
Matcha Mania: The Latest Wave of Green Tea NPD
Alpro has introduced the UK’s first ready‑to‑drink matcha made with a soy‑coconut base, priced at £2.75 (≈$3.5) per litre and now stocked in Sainsbury’s. PerfectTed expanded its oat‑based matcha latte line with blueberry and original flavours, taking the brand to...
East Forged Wins Global Innovation Award
Australian beverage startup East Forged was named Best Drink Innovation at the World Food Innovation Awards in London, a competition that attracted more than 100 entries from 28 countries, including giants like Coca‑Cola and PepsiCo. The brand’s nitrogen‑infused, cold‑brew tea—free of...
How RML Machinery’s Automation Solutions Deliver ROI for FMCG Manufacturers
Australian fast‑moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers are turning to automation as margins tighten and customer expectations rise. RML Machinery offers end‑to‑end production automation—from cartoning and palletising to robotic assembly and modular conveyors—designed to boost throughput, cut waste and improve safety....
FDA Extends Deadline as Hidden Gluten Puts Regulatory Fine-Tuning Under the Spotlight
The FDA has extended its Request for Information on gluten labeling and cross‑contact to April 22 2026, inviting broader industry and consumer input. Current rules cap gluten at 20 ppm for a "gluten‑free" claim, yet hidden sources and inconsistent cross‑contact disclosures leave many...
Key Themes at SXSW 2026 with Omnicom's Greg Brown
In this episode, Omnicom SVP of Innovation Greg Brown breaks down the six strategic themes from Omnicom’s SXSW 2026 recap, highlighting the shift from a reach‑driven economy to a trust‑driven, AI‑infused landscape. He explains how brands must move from traditional...
Tim Tam Unveils Iced Vovo-Inspired Biscuit
Arnold's has introduced a limited‑edition Tim Tam biscuit inspired by the classic Iced VoVo, a wheat shortbread first sold in 1906. The new product blends Tim Tam’s chocolate coating and biscuit layers with the Iced VoVo’s signature raspberry jam and coconut topping....
South Korean Restaurant Giant Bonjuk Quietly Enters Australia – Plans Expansion
South Korean porridge chain Bonjuk, which operates over 2,000 locations in Korea, opened its first Australian restaurant in Sydney’s Haymarket. The launch was carried out directly by parent company Bonworld rather than through a franchise partner. Bonworld’s head of global...
Higher Prices Slash Doritos Sales Despite Intense Flavor
Price increases tank Doritos sales even though: "A single Dorito has more extreme nacho flavor than a peasant in the 1400s would get in his whole lifetime." https://t.co/cEFaC1yu9b
Bite-Sized Dairy: Award-Winning Belgian Candy Butter Eyes Global Stage
Plaquette’s bite‑sized “candy” butters won the Gulfood Innovation Award at the 2026 Dubai show, praised for their waste‑free packaging and sustainability. The hand‑packed portions are produced by workers, including those with disabilities, creating social impact. The line spans sweet and...
Animal-Plant Mince Key to Revive APAC Alt-Protein Push: NECTAR Study
A NECTAR‑led sensory study of 116 APAC consumers found a blended chicken‑soy mince (70% chicken, 30% soy) outperformed a 100% chicken mince in a blind taste test. The research evaluated 20 blended products across ten categories, revealing that appearance and...
How Does Your Restaurant Stack Up? ATO Releases Small Business Benchmarks
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has published 2023‑24 small‑business benchmarks for restaurants, pubs, bars and bakeries. For restaurants with annual turnover roughly $43,000‑$330,000, $330,000‑$1.3 million and over $1.3 million USD, cost‑of‑sales should sit at 32‑39%, 32‑38% and 31‑36% of revenue respectively. Total...
EWG Reveals Its Dirty Dozen; AFF Challenges Validity of List
The Environmental Working Group released its 2026 shoppers guide, naming a Dirty Dozen of fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues and a Clean Fifteen of lower‑risk options. While the list is based on USDA’s Pesticide Data Program, EWG...
Aplós Dragon Fruit Martini
Aplós, the non‑alcoholic spirits brand, unveiled its Dragon Fruit Martini ready‑to‑drink cocktail on April 8, 2026. The beverage blends dragon fruit, kiwi, black tea, lemon verbena and Sarawak peppercorn, and is built on Aplós Arise, a functional zero‑proof spirit. It incorporates adaptogens such...
Nutella Made a Cosmic Cameo and Social Media Users Can't Get Enough
Nutella’s jar briefly floated past the Orion spacecraft during NASA’s Artemis II livestream, creating an unexpected viral moment. Social‑media monitoring showed mentions rise modestly while engagements exploded to over 1.1 million within hours. The brand quickly amplified the cameo with coordinated posts...
Good on Paper, Wrong in Market: Where Business Doesn't Shy Away From Talking About Failures
Marico’s first foray into healthy baked snacks with Saffola Zest flopped because taste lagged behind health claims, prompting a deep dive into consumer insight. The insight reshaped product development, leading to Saffola Masala Oats, which now commands about 80% of India’s savoury‑oats...
Two with E. Coli in San Diego Linked to Raw Farms Cheddar Cheese
County public health officials have issued a voluntary recall of RAW FARM raw cheddar cheese after it was linked to a Shiga-toxin producing E.coli outbreak. Nine people across California, Florida and Texas have fallen ill, including two San Diego residents...
What Are Banana Bags, And Do They Actually Extend The Fruit's Shelf Life?
Banana storage bags, typically sealed polyester or nylon with a drawstring, retail for about $10 and are marketed to keep bananas fresh longer by controlling airflow, temperature, and humidity in the refrigerator. Unlike the common paper‑bag hack that accelerates ripening,...
Constellation Brands Inc (STZ) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Constellation Brands reported Q4 FY2026 beer operating margins held up thanks to cost‑saving initiatives, favorable pricing and a one‑time depreciation benefit, offsetting volume declines, higher logistics costs and tariff pressures. Management warned that Q4 margins will fall as the depreciation...
Coke CMO’s Lessons on Advertising, Innovation and Surviving Corporate Politics - Walter Susini
In this episode, former Coca‑Cola CMO Walter Susini shares lessons from leading a global icon, emphasizing the power of distinctive brand assets like the Christmas jingle, polar bears, and the contour bottle. He explains why Coca‑Cola sticks with the same...
Pioneering Protein Innovation: Inside the Nordic Approach to Next-Generation F&B Ingredients
The Nordic food‑and‑beverage sector is positioning itself at the forefront of protein innovation, with Finnish dairy leader Valio and ingredient specialist Apetit developing next‑generation dairy and plant proteins. Valio’s lactose‑free, high‑protein powders are tailored for the rapidly expanding GLP‑1 medication...
US Chicken Prices Outpace Canada, Now Converging Post‑pandemic
I thought (likely incorrectly) that fans of the @FoodProfessor might like some context, so I made a couple of graphs. US chicken prices have increased far faster than Canadian prices in recent years and have basically tracked Canadian prices for...
Waitrose to Stock Northern Pasta Co's 'Regeneratively Farmed' Pasta in UK Stores
Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to carry Northern Pasta Co's regeneratively farmed spelt pasta, adding radiatori, fusilli and rigatoni to its shelves nationwide. The partnership marks a milestone for British sustainable food brands, showcasing products grown using regenerative...
Beyond Meat Makes Blunt Claim on Climate Change
Beyond Meat, now rebranded as Beyond, has launched two protein drinks and announced that its Beyond Burger and Beyond Steak qualify as climate solutions under the Exponential Roadmap Initiative framework. The company claims these products use 97% less land, 92%...
Chocolate Recalled because It Contains Erectile Dysfunction Drug
Nalpac is voluntarily recalling its DTF Sexual Chocolate after testing revealed the presence of sildenafil and tadalafil, the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis. The undeclared erectile‑dysfunction drugs were found in 20‑unit cases sold through adult‑focused retailers and two online...
A Mobile Grocery Store Championing Black-Owned Brands Will Soon Cruise L.A.
Prosperity Market, a 48‑foot pink mobile grocery trailer, launched in Los Angeles to sell products from Black‑owned food brands and farms. Founded by former fashion professionals Carmen Dianne and Kara Still, the solar‑powered trailer debuted with a pop‑up on Crenshaw...
Brussels Airlines Partners With Ralph & Roxy’s to Bring Belgian Ice Cream to the Skies
Brussels Airlines has teamed up with Belgian artisanal ice‑cream maker Ralph & Roxy’s to serve the brand’s small‑batch product on its long‑haul flights. The partnership will deliver roughly 420,000 servings each year, initially launched in Business Class and now rolled out...
Claims Wild-Caught Australian Seafood Will Soon 'only Be Afforded by the Rich'
Australian wild‑caught seafood is facing a steep price surge as fuel costs for fishing vessels have doubled, pushing operating expenses from $54,000 to $100,000 per trip. A permanent ban on demersal fishing in Western Australia and the recent collapse of...
Most Restaurants Are Missing Out on the Platform That Brings Customers In — Here’s What a Google Strategist Recommends
Google’s strategic partner manager Farah Shirzadi urges restaurants to treat YouTube as a core discovery engine, not just a marketing add‑on. By publishing short clips, long‑form videos, and live streams, eateries can showcase kitchens, chefs, and sourcing stories before a...
Weekly FIH Livestream | Inside the CPG Machine - A 30-Year Veteran on Why the Outcomes Layer Doesn't Exist Yet
WiseCode is building the world’s most comprehensive, real‑time food attribute database, linking product scans to DNA, blood work and long‑term eating patterns. Its Scout app lets consumers add new items in seconds, creating a continuously expanding data set. The company’s...
Coca-Cola to Replace Pepsi Across Marriott Hotels Worldwide, Ending 34-Year Partnership
Coca‑Cola has secured a global agreement to replace Pepsi as the exclusive beverage supplier for Marriott International, ending a 34‑year partnership. The contract spans Marriott’s more than 9,700 properties across 143 countries and covers lobby bars, mini‑markets, mini‑fridges, soda fountains,...
Soft Drink Vending Machines in Japan Fall Below 2 Million for 1st Time
Japan’s soft‑drink vending machine fleet slipped to 1.95 million units in 2025, marking the first time the count fell below two million in three decades. The decline represents a 20 percent drop from the 2014 peak and the steepest annual reduction since...