Nicholson Supplies Cocktails for Kia Oval
Nicholson has been named the official pre‑mixed cocktail supplier for London’s Kia Oval for the 2026 season. The partnership will see the Pitch Perfect Cocktails range available in cans, bottles and on‑tap throughout the cricket ground. The deal follows Nicholson’s recent collaborations with Chelsea FC and Ministry of Sound, reinforcing its push into high‑traffic London venues. Founder William Nicholson’s historic ties to Lord’s add a heritage dimension to the agreement.
Unilever and McCormick Shares Tumble as Investors Baulk at Food ‘Megamerger’
U.K. consumer‑goods giant Unilever agreed to sell its food division to U.S. spice leader McCormick in a £33.7 billion cash‑and‑equity transaction that will create a new food‑manufacturing powerhouse. The deal leaves Unilever with a 65% stake in the spin‑off while McCormick...
Philippine Restaurants Struggle With Energy Crisis, Call for Unity
Every restaurant in the Philippines is absorbing an energy crisis that nobody asked for. Rising LPG costs. Razor thin margins. And an industry that just keeps showing up. Talked about this yesterday on Bilyonaryo News Channel. The food industry keeps this country...
Enbiosis Reveals 2.0 Platform: AI-Powered Nutraceutical Discovery
Enbiosis unveiled its AI‑driven 2.0 platform at Vitafoods Barcelona, employing a digital twin of the gut microbiome to craft food‑grade nutraceutical blends containing 12‑15 bioactives for specific health conditions. The system builds on a proprietary dataset of more than 200,000...
MyProtein Returns to Growth Despite Record-High Whey Prices
THG’s Nutrition division posted a 6.4% constant‑currency revenue increase, pushing MyProtein into its fifth straight quarter of growth despite record‑high whey prices. Operating profit swung to £8.1 million (≈$10.3 million) in 2025 from a £147.9 million loss (≈$188 million) the year before. The brand...
McCormick Bets On Flavour In Unilever Tie-Up Amid Shifting Tastes
McCormick announced a merger with Unilever’s food division, forming a $65 billion sauce‑and‑spice powerhouse. The deal aims to capture growing global demand for flavorful, low‑calorie products as GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs reshape eating habits. It also gives McCormick access to Unilever’s extensive...
Right Bank Château Extends with Acquisition of Its Neighbour
Right Bank estate Château des Mille Anges has purchased neighboring Château Génisson, adding 25 ha to its holdings near Cadillac‑sur‑Garonne. The owner, Heather van Ekris, announced a plan to replant roughly 20 ha of vines over the next three years, defying the current wave...
High Fuel Costs Lead Nearly Half of Thai Fishing Fleet to Tie up, Sparking Supply Fears
Escalating fuel costs have forced more than 40% of Thailand’s commercial fishing fleet to dock. Fuel prices jumped nearly 120% in a month, making trips financially unsustainable. The government responded with a seven‑point aid package, including a discounted biodiesel subsidy,...
Innovative Firms Driving AI Adoption in Vietnam's Shrimp Sector
Vietnamese shrimp farms are turning to AI to curb rising production costs and protect thin profit margins. ESG uses weather stations, satellite data and underwater cameras to automate feeding and prevent waste, while RYNAN’s TOMGOXY system balances dissolved oxygen and...
AquaChile Incorporates Sustainable Fuel Into Truck Transport Logistics Strategy
AquaChile, Chile's largest salmon farmer, will power its 270‑truck transport fleet with renewable BioLNG starting in 2025. The BioLNG, produced by partner Lipigas from agricultural waste, can run on existing LNG equipment, enabling a seamless transition. The switch is projected...
‘Stop Killing Hospitality Jobs’, Says Scottish Trade Body
The Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has launched a billboard campaign demanding the UK government halt recent business‑rates revaluations that it says are destroying hospitality jobs. The new rates, which took effect on 1 April, have pushed some non‑domestic bills up by...
KDP Secures Controlling Stake in JDE Peet’s, Appoints Rafael Oliveira to Lead Coffee Spin-Off
Keurig Dr Pepper has acquired a 96.22% stake in JDE Peet’s, creating a controlling interest that merges KDP’s single‑serve system with JDE’s global coffee brands. Rafael Oliveira has been appointed CEO of the combined coffee unit and will later lead the...
Juvé & Camps Joins Corpinnat
Juvé & Camps, the historic Penedès sparkling wine house, has joined the Corpinnat collective, signaling a strategic shift toward deeper control of origin and sustainability. The family‑run winery reported €27 million in revenue and €3.1 million EBITDA for 2025, underscoring solid financial...
Atlantic Salmon From Norway Prices Decline Again in Run-Up to Easter
Norwegian farmed Atlantic salmon prices slipped again ahead of Easter, marking a second consecutive weekly decline. The Sitagri Salmon Index reported a 5.4% week‑over‑week drop for the 3‑6 kg category, with the average price falling to NOK 91.01 per kilogram (≈ USD 9.41). The...
Australia Approves New Restrictions on Caffeine Ingredients
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) approved proposal P1056, tightening caffeine regulations in Australia. The new code bans retail sale of caffeine as a standalone food, restricts adding caffeine to foods, and limits high‑caffeine guarana extracts. Packaged coffee drinks must...
Pure Salmon Japan Secures USD 180 Million for Land-Based Farm
Pure Salmon Japan has secured an additional USD 180 million, raising total project funding to USD 640 million for its land‑based salmon farm in Tsu, Mie Prefecture. The facility, designed as a recirculating aquaculture system, will have a 10,000‑metric‑ton capacity, making it Japan’s largest...
Unilever Spins Off Food Division: What Does It Mean for Manufacturers?
Unilever announced a £33.7 billion spin‑off of its food division, merging it with McCormick Foods while retaining a 65% stake in the new entity. The move follows the earlier divestiture of its ice‑cream business and is driven by a strategic shift...
All Things Expands Cottage Cheese Range with Low-Fat Innovation Amid Category Boom
All Things has launched a low‑fat cottage cheese, expanding its fast‑growing portfolio amid a UK cottage‑cheese boom. The new product, priced at £1.85, promises the same creamy texture as the original range while cutting fat. Category data shows over 50%...
Volvic Enters Functional Hydration with Vitamin+ Launch in UK and Ireland
Volvic is entering the functional hydration segment in the UK and Ireland with the launch of Volvic Vitamin+, a mineral water enriched with magnesium and vitamins B and C. The range, debuting on 6 April, offers two flavors—Recharge Raspberry and Active...
Charlie Mitchell Leaves CGA for Wilde Toast
UK agency Wilde Toast has hired Charlie Mitchell as its data and insights director. Mitchell arrives from CGA by NIQ, where he served as global head of consumer insights and research for nearly 15 years. In his new role, he...
Tarquin’s Gin Seeks £1m Funding
Cornish distiller Tarquin's Gin has opened its first external funding round in 12 years, seeking £1 million via Crowdcube to accelerate US market penetration and the rollout of its Tinner Bros flavoured whisky. The company, self‑funded since 2012, has generated over...
All G Clears FDA Review for Precision-Fermented Lactoferrin
All G, backed by Agronomics, received a FDA “no questions” GRAS letter for its precision‑fermented bovine lactoferrin, LFX. The approval confirms the recombinant protein’s safety and clears the path for US commercialization in functional foods, dietary supplements, and early‑life nutrition. LFX...
Strait of Hormuz: How Are Beverage Commodities Under Pressure?
More than 30 nations will meet virtually on April 2 to address the escalating Strait of Hormuz crisis, a chokepoint that moves the bulk of the world’s oil and a growing share of beverage commodities. The blockage is already hitting tea,...
More than £100M Invested in New Apetito Facility
Apetito and its Wiltshire Farm Foods arm have secured planning permission to build Kitchen West, a new food‑production facility on the Canal Road Industrial Estate in Trowbridge. The project is backed by more than £100 million of shareholder investment and will...
Damaged Goods: What Food and Beverage Businesses Can Do if Supplies Arrive Compromised
The article outlines three legal routes—rejection, damages claims, and injunctions—that food and beverage buyers can pursue when deliveries arrive damaged. It details the criteria for immediate rejection, the evidentiary steps required, and the contractual nuances that affect damage recoveries. The...
US Wine Drinkers Turn to Value Bottles as Consumption Softens
A Wine Opinions survey of 1,351 U.S. wine drinkers shows that value‑priced bottles under $20 remain the core of the market, with more than half purchasing them weekly or monthly. While 39% of respondents say they are spending more per...
Could There Be a UK Bottle Crisis Looming?
Glass bottle maker Encirc Elton announced multiple strike rounds – April 3‑7, night shifts April 16‑28 and May 9‑15 – after Unite members protested planned redundancies. The union warns the action could trigger bottle shortages for high‑profile spirits and wine...
With Children Ill with E. Coli and an Epidemiological Link to Raw Farm Cheese, Why No Recall?
The FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 tied to RAW FARM raw dairy products. Nine people in three states have fallen ill, including three hospitalizations and one case of hemolytic uremic syndrome, with children...
USDA’s Newest Label: Made in America
The USDA announced a new voluntary "Product of USA" label for meat, poultry and egg products that meet strict domestic‑origin criteria. To qualify, animals must be born, raised, harvested and processed entirely within the United States. The label is part...
Rebel Bourbon Rebel Root Beer
Rebel Bourbon has re‑launched its Rebel Root Beer Whiskey, a fan‑favorite infused with classic root‑beer flavors. The spirit is bottled at 70 proof (35% ABV) and sold nationwide in 750‑ml bottles for $19.99 and 50‑ml miniatures for $0.99. The product...
Spirits Market Faces Shifting Landscape, RTDs Continue to Drive Growth
The U.S. spirits market showed modest overall growth in 2025, with total volume up about 1% while dollar sales fell roughly 3%. Ready‑to‑drink (RTD) cocktails drove the positive side, expanding 20% in volume and capturing a larger share of total...
ACCC Changes Rules on Supplier Disclosures for Coles, Woolworths, Aldi
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has amended the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, effective April 1, 2026, targeting the nation’s three largest supermarket chains—Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. The revisions require suppliers to receive written disclosures about any contract...
Turkey Seeks Greater Returns From Olive Oil Expansion
Turkey’s olive sector has doubled its tree count to about 200 million, delivering a record 475,000 metric tons in the 2024/25 harvest and cementing its place as the world’s second‑largest producer. Despite the volume surge, 40 % of the oil is still shipped...
Trust in the Aisles: Product of the Year Canada Opens 2027 Entries
Product of the Year Canada has opened entries for its 2027 awards, inviting brands across food, personal care, household and pet categories to submit innovations launched after Jan 1 2025. The consumer‑voted award relies on a national study of 4,000 Canadians conducted...
Alcohol, 'Buy Canadian' Policy Flagged by U.S. as Trade Irritants: Report
The U.S. Trade Representative’s annual report flags Canada’s provincial liquor‑control rules and the federal “Buy Canadian” procurement policy as major trade irritants. It also highlights punitive tariffs on U.S. dairy, including 245% on cheese and 298% on butter, which hinder...
Drug-Resistant Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Moringa Supplements Ends, Root Cause Remains Unknown
The FDA closed a drug‑resistant Salmonella outbreak tied to Rosabella‑brand moringa powder capsules after ten illnesses were reported in eight states, including three hospitalizations. The strains, Salmonella Newport and Kentucky, were resistant to all standard antibiotics. A recall of all...
Government-Run Grocery Stores Are Likely to Fail. There's a Better Alternative
Canada’s largest city approved a pilot of four municipally run grocery stores, while the NDP’s new leader proposes a network of 50 government‑operated stores promising up to 40% price cuts. The article argues that such savings are unrealistic given the...
Inside Cairnspring Mill’s Bold New Model for Financing Regenerative Food Systems
Cairnspring Mills has assembled a hybrid financing package to build its 27,000‑square‑foot Blue Mountain Mill, slated for completion in 2026. The structure blends a $10 million subordinate loan from Steward, a $5 million equity stake from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla...
Inside the New National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe Manager
The National Restaurant Association released the ServSafe Manager 9th Edition, aligning the curriculum with the supplement to the 2022 FDA Food Code. The new edition shifts focus from compliance checklists to proactive risk management, emphasizing Food Safety Management Systems, Active...
How the Uber Eats Fees Stack Up Against 3PD Competitors
Uber Eats announced on March 11 a revision to its Marketplace fee structure, raising the Lite tier commission from 15% to 20% and increasing the pickup fee to 7% for all tiers. The Plus tier remains at 25% but jumps...
High Liner Foods Cuts 9% of North American Workforce
High Liner Foods announced a 9% reduction of its North American workforce, cutting 35 jobs amid rising inflation and tariff pressures. The layoffs are part of a broader cost‑reduction plan that emphasizes disciplined margin management, supply‑chain efficiency, and expense control....
CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market Opens First U.S. Location in Dallas
CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market opened its first U.S. location in Dallas’s Preston Center, offering seating for more than 500 guests across indoor, outdoor, and rooftop areas. The venue features a chef‑driven menu and a beverage program with over 100...
Mukbang Burger Sliders Launch Nationwide at Ruby Tuesday Locations
Virtual Dining Concepts is rolling out its Mukbang Burger brand to every Ruby Tuesday location in the United States, adding 200 new points of sale. The sliders are built on King’s Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet® rolls, blending a sweet‑savory profile with oversized...
The Fast-Casual Pizza Category Struggles Continue
Pieology announced the closure of its five Hawaii locations, eliminating more than 50 jobs, as part of a broader Chapter 11 restructuring after a 10% year‑over‑year sales decline in 2024. The California‑based chain has trimmed its footprint from 103 stores at...
Cheesecake Factory Launches App
The Cheesecake Factory rolled out its first mobile app on April 1, 2026, meeting its promise to launch in the first half of the year. The app lets Rewards members make reservations, place pickup orders, browse the menu, track rewards and receive...
Chagee Adjusts After a Tough 2025 with Big Goals for the U.S.
Chagee, the Shanghai‑based tea chain, reported a Q4 revenue decline of 3.34 billion RMB (≈$483 million) and a share price plunge to $9.31 after its earnings release. The company posted a $5 million operating loss tied to restructuring and admitted it underestimated competitive pressures...
The Future of Grocery: Introducing GroceryLab with FMI's Doug Baker
In this episode, Doug Baker, Vice President of Industry Relations at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), discusses the grocery sector’s lag in technology adoption and introduces Grocery Lab, a hands‑on, cross‑functional event slated for June 2‑4, 2026 in Detroit’s historic...
US Spirits Exports Decline 3.8% in 2025
U.S. spirits exports fell 3.8% in 2025 to $2.37 billion, driven by sharp drops in Canada and the European Union as trade bans and tariff threats took hold. Excluding Canada, exports rose 2.5%, showing resilient demand in other regions. Whiskey remained...
Richard Wright Takes Lessons Learned From Oil and Gas Background to New AI Predictive Fishing Venture
Richard Wright, a former oil‑and‑gas geophysicist, founded Ocean Advisor to apply four‑dimensional seismology and probability modeling to commercial fishing. The California‑based startup delivers daily, AI‑driven species probability maps that help fleets locate high‑catch zones while cutting tow time. Early adopters...
Gulf Menhaden Fishery Recertified to MSC Standard
The U.S. Gulf menhaden fishery has been recertified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard following a comprehensive audit by SCS Global Services. First certified in 2019, the fishery undergoes five‑year recertification cycles with annual surveillance audits. The recertification addresses...