Resilient but Restless: Fast Casuals Outpace Industry as 2026 Competition Heats Up
Fast‑casual restaurants outperformed other dining segments in 2025, posting a 3% traffic gain in the U.S. and a 0.8% global increase despite inflation and cautious consumer spending. Growth stemmed mainly from brand expansion and higher‑quality menu offerings, while average visits per location slipped and pricing concerns lingered. Analysts expect 2026 to bring continued expansion, with health‑focused menus, protein‑rich items, and value‑driven pricing as key differentiators. Competition will intensify from grocery and convenience channels, pressuring operators to balance premium quality with affordability.
How the Whole-Grain Trend Went Wrong
The whole‑grain movement, propelled by 1990s nutrition advice and reinforced by the Dietary Guidelines, turned wheat, oats and rice into a health‑selling label. Yet definitions of a "whole‑grain food" differ among the FDA, the Whole Grain Council and government guidelines,...
Sun Pacific Unlocks New Insights Through NIQ Collaboration
NielsenIQ and Sun Pacific have signed a new agreement to apply retail measurement and analytics to Sun Pacific’s fresh‑produce portfolio. The partnership will deliver deep, data‑driven insights into shopper behavior, seasonal patterns, and competitive performance across categories such as Cuties...
Drinks Firms Pull Wireless Festival Sponsorship over Kanye West Booking
Diageo and AB InBev have withdrawn their sponsorship of the 2026 Wireless Festival after Kanye West was announced as the headline act. The controversy surrounding West’s recent antisemitic remarks and extremist imagery prompted other sponsors, including Pepsi, Rockstar Energy, and...
Lofted Spirits President Steps Down
Pete Marino, president of Lofted Spirits, will depart at the end of June after three years leading the Kentucky whiskey maker. Under his tenure the company’s brands more than doubled, the portfolio was streamlined, and new tasting rooms and state...
Ambienta Backs Plant-Based Dairy Producer The Bridge to Accelerate European Growth
Ambienta has acquired a majority stake in Italian plant‑based dairy specialist The Bridge, marking its second investment from the Small Cap Fund. The Bridge, founded in 1994, generates about 80% of revenue from international markets and operates a fully vertical,...
Modelo Especial UK Launch Set to Shake up the Sector
AB InBev has launched its Mexican lager Modelo Especial in the UK, rolling it out simultaneously in draught form for pubs and in bottles and cans for retail. The brand is being positioned as an ultra‑premium offering, highlighted by gold‑foil...
Hacha’s Original Site to Close
Hacha’s original Dalston bar will shut its doors on 25 April 2026, exactly seven years after opening. The closure leaves the brand without a permanent venue after the Brixton site closed in February 2025 and the Bermondsey location folded after...
Inside Koan’s £2,000 Wine Pairing with Rare Krug by the Glass
Koan, a two‑Michelin‑starred restaurant in Copenhagen, has unveiled a £2,000 prestige wine and Champagne programme centred on rare Krug selections, including the 2009 Clos du Mesnil served by the glass. The offering pairs the 18‑course Korean‑Danish tasting menu with vintage wines...
Gnarly Suds: Opprobriations Uses Skate Nostalgia to Brand Wax’s THC ‘Brewskis’
Wax has introduced a THC‑infused non‑alcoholic beer line, with branding and packaging created by Opprobriations. The design draws on vintage skate and surf culture, aiming to differentiate the product in a market dominated by seltzer‑style cannabis drinks. Future Market Insights...
Crust Bros and Daffodil Mulligan Unveil Limited-Edition Guinness Rarebit Pizza for April
Neapolitan pizza chain Crust Bros has teamed with Richard Corrigan’s Daffodil Mulligan to launch a limited‑edition Guinness rarebit and sugar‑pit‑cured bacon pizza, priced at approximately $23, available at all Crust Bros venues throughout April. Each pizza sold contributes £1 (about $1.30) to the...
Can the UK Food Sector Keep Its Promises?
The UK food sector has set bold climate, health and nature targets, but leaders now question whether they can execute them at speed. A new "Execution at Risk" report finds that capability—not strategy—is the main bottleneck, especially within commercial, marketing,...
It’s Official: UK Champagne Market Returns to Growth
The UK Champagne market posted its first growth since 2021, with shipments rising 1.9% to 22.7 million bottles in 2025. Volume increased 9% after a 6% decline the previous year, yet overall value fell nearly 6% as producers absorbed higher costs....
Sales of Rosé Buck the Falling Trend in UK Wine Sector
UK wine producers face steep duty hikes, packaging taxes and rising logistics costs, pushing overall volume growth negative. Amid this downturn, rosé wine stands out, recording a 3 % volume increase and a 5 % rise in value, generating £882 million in sales....
Rosebank Extends Celtic Renewables Partnership
Rosebank Distillery has renewed its three‑year partnership with Celtic Renewables, extending the agreement to 2029. The deal channels the distillery’s pot ale by‑product to Celtic’s Grangemouth biorefinery, where 500 tonnes of bio‑based chemicals are produced each year. Since the collaboration began,...
Pernod Ricard Completes California Wine Exits with Mumm, Kenwood Sales
Pernod Ricard has completed the sale of its Mumm sparkling wine operations in the United States to Trinchero Family Wine and Spirits, and simultaneously divested its Kenwood winery in Sonoma to F Korbel & Bros. Both deals, finalized in April 2026, remove...
Devon-Based Charcuterie Brand Issues Recall Due to Listeria
The Curing Barn, a Devon‑based charcuterie producer, has recalled its 60 g British Bresaola after testing revealed Listeria monocytogenes. The affected items carry product code WLRC J1Z2 0WD0 J85J and a use‑by date of 10 June 2026. Consumers are instructed to return the packs in‑store for...
Red Sea Disruption Drives Shift to Smaller, Flexible Cold Chain Networks
Geopolitical volatility in the Red Sea is prompting major retailers such as Walmart and IKEA to redesign their cold‑chain logistics, moving away from large central warehouses toward smaller, regional facilities. Executives highlighted the need for faster decision‑making, regional sourcing, and...
Beyond Russian Oil, China Also Increases Appetite for Ukrainian Wheat Flour
China’s ambassador to Ukraine signed a protocol establishing inspection, quarantine and sanitary standards for Ukrainian wheat‑flour imports, expanding China’s agricultural trade with Kyiv. The agreement highlights the complementary nature of the two economies and signals a shift from raw‑grain shipments...
Chris Doe Explains How Pilgrim’s Europe Drives Growth Through Its Retail Marketing Strategy
Pilgrim’s Europe leverages an integrated marketing mix that pairs large‑scale above‑the‑line campaigns with highly targeted retail media to accelerate growth of its Richmond and Fridge Raiders brands. By anchoring each touchpoint to distinctive brand assets—rolling hills for Richmond, bold rays...
Say Cheers to the No-Frills Cocktail
A wave of new bars in New York, Chicago and London are stripping cocktail menus back to timeless classics like the Martini, Manhattan and Espresso Martini, with price points under $20 (≈ $22) in NYC and $12 (≈ $13) in Chicago. Veteran...
Bango: From a 300-Square-Foot Acai Shop to Leading a 'Better for You' Movement
Ryan Thorman turned a 300‑square‑foot açaí shop into Bango, a "better‑for‑you" food franchise now operating ten locations with two more under construction. The company is shifting to a franchise model that’s gaining traction along the East Coast. Thorman attributes the breakthrough...
Gallo Finalises $775m Buyout of Four Roses Bourbon
Gallo has completed a $775 million acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon from Japan’s Kirin Holdings, returning the iconic brand to U.S. family ownership after 83 years. The deal expands Gallo’s premium spirits portfolio and strengthens its presence in Europe and Japan....
Art of You on Moving Personalized Nutrition Beyond ‘Guesswork Dressed in an Algorithm’
Herbalife Ltd. announced a $150 million acquisition of UK‑based personalized supplement firm Bioniq, aiming to broaden its tailored nutrition offerings. The deal arrives as research on digital “gut twins” advances, promising more accurate predictions of probiotic success. Over the past decade,...
Finalists Announced for 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards
Seafood Excellence Global Awards have named 38 finalists from 17 countries for the 2026 competition, which will be presented at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona from April 21‑23. The finalists compete in two main categories—Best Retail Product and Best HORECA...
ColdTrack’s National Logistics Network Helping US Seafood Companies Widen E-Commerce Reach, Save on Shipping Costs
ColdTrack, a New Jersey‑based e‑commerce logistics firm, has built a national perishable‑goods network that delivers seafood to U.S. consumers within two days. The company leverages proprietary route‑planning software and carrier partnerships across hubs in New Jersey, Indiana and California. After...
Bakkafrost Continuing Scottish De-Risking Strategy as Overall Harvests Lag Behind Earlier Stated Goals
Bakkafrost’s 2026 harvest outlook has been revised down to 112,000 metric tons, falling short of the 150,000‑ton target set in its 2022 plan. The company’s Scottish operations, acquired in 2019, continue to underperform, with a projected 20,000‑ton harvest for 2026...
US Beer Industry Uncovers More ‘Meaningful’ Routes to Market
The latest Sovos ShipCompliant and Brewers Association report shows overwhelming consumer appetite for direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) beer shipping in the United States. Sixty‑three percent of adults and 81 percent of regular craft drinkers favor expanding the current 12‑state limit. The data...
Eagle Park Snaps up RTD Brand
Eagle Park Brewing & Distilling has acquired the ready‑to‑drink brand SoulBoxer Cocktail Co, marking its first major move into canned cocktails. The deal expands Eagle Park’s portfolio beyond beer and spirits to include RTD cocktails, with plans for non‑alcoholic and...
American Whiskey Sales Fall 19% Year-on-Year
American whiskey exports plunged 19% in 2025, wiping out about $250 million in revenue, while domestic spirit sales slipped 2.2%, doubling the prior year’s decline. Trade friction drove the slump, with Canada’s ban cutting shipments over 70% and the EU market...
Drappier Unveils Éclose 2012: The Oak Egg Reshaping Champagne in the Côte Des Bar
Drappier unveiled Éclose 2012, a limited cuvée aged in a bespoke egg‑shaped oak barrel that has been fermenting and aging since 2010. The barrel’s curved geometry creates continuous convection, keeping lees in suspension and allowing gentle micro‑oxygenation without intervention. The...
Tesco, Sainsbury’s and UK Supermarkets Unite for Nationwide Hunger Campaign
Five of the UK’s biggest supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer – have launched the “Let’s make a meal of it” campaign for April. Customers can donate in‑store or online, with each pound raised funding five...
Mucho Group Opens Bar Bridge in Sydney
Mucho Group has opened Bar Bridge, a new cocktail venue on Sydney’s Bridge Street that positions itself as a classic Martini bar for modern patrons. The concept emphasizes extra‑dry Martinis, featuring a Vesper‑style Bridge Martini, a yuzu‑infused Citron Martini, and...
EJF Warns Southeast Pacific Squid Fishery Near Crisis as Investigation Finds Labor Abuse, IUU, and Lack of Oversight
The Environmental Justice Foundation warns that the Southeast Pacific jumbo flying squid fishery – the world’s largest, supplying 42% of global squid in 2023 – is nearing ecological and social collapse. Weak oversight by the SPRFMO has allowed China’s distant‑water...
US Government Asks Industry What to Call Rockfish
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has opened a request for information to determine a new market name for the Sebastes group, commonly known as rockfish. The move follows industry petitions for a more consumer‑friendly label to raise the species’...
Talisker Unveils 47YO Volcanic Rock-Toasted Magma
Diageo’s Talisker has launched a 47‑year‑old single malt, Magma, limited to 622 bottles and aged in new American oak casks toasted with heated volcanic rocks from Skye. The innovative rock‑toasting replaces traditional open‑flame exposure, delivering deeper fruit, smoke and spice...
New Grove Rum Experience Opens in Mauritius
The L’Aventure du Sucre exhibition in Mauritius has reopened after a two‑year renovation, featuring a dedicated New Grove Distillery experience. The interactive space walks visitors through fermentation, copper column and pot still distillation, oak‑barrel ageing and blending, using real equipment...
Stagflation Is Food Manufacturing’s Worst-of-Both-Worlds Scenario
Stagflation is resurfacing in food manufacturing as soaring energy and fertilizer costs collide with waning consumer demand. Brent crude has rebounded above $90 a barrel, pushing the FAO Food Price Index up 2.4% in March 2026 and inflating raw‑material expenses....
Sun Cruiser Expands RTD Range with White Tea and Vodka Line
Sun Cruiser has entered the non‑carbonated vodka‑tea segment with its new White Tea + Vodka ready‑to‑drink line. The eight‑pack variety offers four fruit‑infused flavors—berry hibiscus, blackberry, peach and passionfruit—and delivers a low‑calorie profile of 100 calories and just 1 gram of sugar per...
Lucky Energy Taps Into Nostalgia with Slush Energy Drink Launch
Lucky Energy has introduced a new Slush line of energy drinks, offering three flavors—Blue Razz, Cherry Slush and Strawberry Slush—in a permanent 12‑oz can. The beverages contain 200 mg of caffeine, zero sugar and zero calories, and are formulated with maca,...
Twisties Adds New Flavour as Pickle Passion Surges
Twisties has launched a limited‑edition Tangy Pickle flavour to tap into Australia’s rising pickle craze, backed by research showing 58% of consumers love pickles. The snack debuted exclusively at 7‑Eleven stores before a nationwide rollout on April 30, 2026. Brand manager...
Animal Welfare Info Makes Consumers Want to Buy Meat . . . Up to a Point
European shoppers are increasingly demanding clear animal‑welfare information on meat, yet packaging space remains scarce. Retailers such as Carrefour are turning to blockchain‑based digital labels to convey husbandry details. Studies show that presenting welfare data in relative terms—highlighting improvements over...
How Australia’s Grocery Code Is Rewriting the Rules of Engagement
From April 1, Australia’s Food and Grocery Code of Conduct became mandatory, binding Coles, Woolworths, ALDI and Metcash to enforceable supplier contracts and transparent pricing rules overseen by the ACCC. The change follows a federal inquiry that highlighted power imbalances, including...
Suntory Boss Coffee Expands Portfolio with New Resealable Cafe Range
Japanese beverage giant Suntory has introduced a new 500 ml resealable bottle to its Boss Coffee ready‑to‑drink range, targeting “sip and savour” moments rather than quick consumption. The bottles employ the brand’s flash‑brew technology and debut with Iced Long Black and...
Private Label Beverages Pour on Growth as Innovation Accelerates
Private label beverages are shedding their cheap‑brand image, capturing a larger share of the U.S. aisle. In 2025, private label dollar sales hit a record $282.8 billion, with beverage sales up 4.8%—outpacing national brands’ 1.2% growth. Retailer‑owned brands such as Kirkland...
Grower Group Makes Plea to Supermarkets over Price Increases
The National Farmers Federation’s Horticulture Council has sent an open letter to Australia’s major supermarkets, demanding a swift response to supplier price‑increase requests triggered by the oil crisis. Rising fuel and freight costs, with surcharges reaching up to 65% of...
Chomps’ Chicken Sticks Hit Retail Shelves This Week After 10-Year Development
Chomps is debuting its first chicken‑based snack line after a decade of development, offering Original Chicken, Nashville Hot and Savory Breakfast flavors. The products launch this week exclusively at Target stores and on Chomps’ website, with a broader rollout to...
Lahori Zeera Targets ₹1,300 Crore Revenue in FY27; Expands Capacity, Pushes South India Entry
Chandigarh‑based Lahori Zeera, part of Archian Foods, is targeting ₹1,200‑₹1,300 crore (approximately $145‑$157 million) in revenue by FY27, up from ₹770‑₹780 crore ($93‑$94 million) in FY26. To achieve this, the company is adding five third‑party bottling units in Bihar, Bengaluru, Muzaffarnagar, Agra and Bhopal,...
Guzman Y Gomez Lifts Quarterly Sales as Demand Grows
Guzman y Gomez reported a strong third fiscal quarter, with network sales jumping 19.5% to about $345.9 million AUD (≈$228 million USD). Sales grew across all regions, rising 19.7% in Australia, 15% in Asia, and 31% in the United States. The boost...
FAO Warns Global Food Prices Will Continue to Increase if Iran War Lasts
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said the Food Price Index rose 2.4% in March, its highest level since September 2022, as oil‑driven energy costs lift commodity prices. Wheat prices jumped 4.3% while fertilizer cost pressures threaten planting decisions in...