Why Food Allergen Laws Are Pushing Restaurants to AI
New allergen disclosure laws in California and New York are set to reshape menu transparency for restaurants in 2026. California’s Senate Bill 68, effective July 1, requires chains with 20 or more locations to list the nine major allergens on every menu item, while New York’s upcoming bills target pre‑packaged foods in delis and grab‑and‑go outlets. AI‑powered platforms such as EveryBite and Foodini are emerging to help operators automate data collection and keep digital and physical menus compliant. Industry leaders argue that treating compliance as a guest‑experience investment can boost sales, loyalty, and reduce legal risk.
FSANZ Releases 2030 Roadmap Outlining Priority Food Standards Proposals
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has published a 2030 Roadmap that charts food‑standards proposals through 2030 across four strategic outcomes: safe food, healthy supply, informed consumers, and thriving economies. The plan modernises standards for sports nutrition, infant formula, and nutrient...
U.S. Spirits Exports Slid 3.8 Percent in 2025 Amid Ongoing Tariff Battle
U.S. spirits exports fell 3.8 percent in 2025 to $2.37 billion, driven primarily by a Canadian provincial boycott that cut shipments to the neighbor by more than 70 percent. Excluding Canada, overall spirits exports grew 2.5 percent, but whiskey suffered a 19 percent global decline...
Strong Dairy Market Growth to Continue in 2026 and Beyond
Global dairy production hit record levels in 2025, driven by unprecedented herd growth in the United States. US milk output rose 2.8% year‑over‑year, and cheese exports surged 20% beyond the previous record. While Europe is expected to trim output to...
La Tortilla Factory Launches Refrigerated Tortillas for Health Trends
La Tortilla Factory announced the launch of two refrigerated tortilla lines aimed at health‑conscious consumers. The new products are positioned as convenient, gut‑friendly meal bases, offering fresher texture without the preservatives typical of shelf‑stable tortillas. By entering the refrigerated segment,...
New Snacking, Deli Hall for SIAL Paris 2026
SIAL Paris 2026 is set for October 17‑21 at Paris Nord Villepinte, with organizers reporting a 16% increase in sold exhibition space compared to the same planning stage last year. The trade show now expects up to 8,000 exhibitors, and...
Cafe Spice Adds Convenience to Indian Street Food Favorites
Cafe Spice is expanding its menu to bring Indian street‑food staples into a fast‑casual format. The brand’s flagship Naan Toasties reimagine traditional naan as a handheld sandwich, offering a portable, familiar flavor profile. In addition, the chain has launched a...
Food Industry Moves Toward Transparency with Smarter Barcodes
SmartLabel, the QR‑code based product‑labeling platform, now covers over 106,000 SKUs from more than 1,000 brands, delivering 22 million consumer interactions a year with an average 90‑second page view. The initiative follows GS1’s Sunrise 2027 project, which aims to add 2‑D barcodes...
Kelley Padgett Joins Avery Dennison as VP, CPG - Intelligent Labels
Kelley Padgett has been appointed vice president of CPG – Intelligent Labels at Avery Dennison, bringing more than two decades of sales and marketing experience from Sanofi, Walmart, Shell and Black & Decker. Her hire follows the recent rollout of...
NutraWomen Wednesday: Anna Harshman, VP of Impact and Development at WishGarden Herbs
Anna Harshman, VP of Impact and Development at WishGarden Herbs, steered the family‑run company through B Corp certification, cementing its sustainability and community‑focused ethos. Drawing on a childhood steeped in herbal tradition, she now blends cross‑functional experience with storytelling to...
Tequila 101
Tequila has transformed from a regional mezcal offshoot into a global spirits powerhouse, with over 150 distilleries and 2,492 registered brands by 2025. The spirit’s identity is anchored in blue Weber agave, which takes five to seven years to mature,...
How Firehouse Subs Is Leveraging Franchise Incentives to Speed up Growth
Firehouse Subs announced a suite of franchise incentives lasting through 2028 to accelerate its U.S. footprint, including a $75,000 bonus for single‑unit openings and $100,000 per restaurant for multi‑unit developers. The brand’s net openings are projected to rise from 21 in...
7 Brew Will Open Its First College Location in the Fall
7 Brew announced its first on‑campus kiosk at the University of Arkansas, slated to open in the fall. The walk‑through stand will feature indoor seating, diverging from the chain’s traditional drive‑thru format. This move follows the brand’s rapid expansion from...
The Race for Restaurant Industry Leads Is Shifting Earlier in the Buying Cycle
Restaurant technology vendors are finding that most purchasing decisions are locked in before a new location opens, shifting the valuable lead window months earlier in the build‑out phase. Traditional inbound tactics targeting newly opened sites no longer capture the most...
UK Food Inflation to Hit 9% by End of Year, Trade Body Forecasts
UK food inflation is now projected to reach between 9% and 10% by year‑end, up sharply from the 3% forecast made in September. The Food and Drink Federation attributes the surge to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which...
Grass-Fed Claim Could Mislead Consumers, Fonterra Admits
Fonterra has settled a Greenpeace lawsuit by acknowledging that its “100 % New Zealand Grass‑Fed” label could mislead consumers. The company will remove the combined claim from Anchor butter packaging, retaining only “Grass‑Fed,” while Greenpeace highlighted the use of imported palm kernel...
Front-of-Package Label Designs: Which One Works Best?
A recent randomized controlled trial evaluated several front‑of‑package (FOP) nutrition label designs, including the FDA’s proposed format and a multi‑high‑in label used in Latin America. The multi‑high‑in label—featuring color‑coded red, yellow, and green signals—significantly outperformed the FDA version in helping...
Why Rave Restaurant Group Cut Ties with Uber Eats
Rave Restaurant Group’s CEO Brandon Solano ended the chain’s partnership with Uber Eats after the delivery platform unilaterally raised its marketplace fees, increasing the Lite tier from 15% to 20% and pickup fees from 6% to 7%. Solano said Uber...
Spotlight on The CGF Japan: Driving Change Through Collaboration, Consumer Engagement and Local Innovation
The Consumer Goods Forum’s Japan office highlighted rapid progress on food waste, health and climate initiatives, emphasizing cross‑sector collaboration and consumer engagement. Japan has already achieved its 50% household food‑waste reduction goal, while the government pushes a 60% target for...
Banza Expands Beyond Gluten-Free with High-Protein Chickpea Pasta Range
Banza is expanding beyond its gluten‑free niche by introducing a Wheat Protein Pasta line that blends semolina wheat with chickpeas. The new range includes rotini, penne, elbow pasta and a Mac & Cheese product, delivering up to 22 g of protein and 7 g...
Wendy’s Updates Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Wendy’s announced a refreshed Spicy Chicken Sandwich featuring a new nine‑spice panko‑style breading and a slightly sweet potato bun with homestyle mayo. The upgrade follows more than a year of consumer testing and ingredient refinement. A milder classic chicken version...
Culver's Shows No Signs of Slowing Down
Culver's reported another strong year, with average‑unit volumes climbing more than 9% and the chain now operating over 1,000 restaurants nationwide. The growth figures come from recent franchise disclosure documents and highlight the brand’s resilience amid broader industry headwinds such...
Shake Shack Unveils Tech Strategy to Support Its Ambitious Growth
Shake Shack announced Project Catalyst, a technology overhaul designed to support its goal of exceeding 1,500 U.S. restaurants by 2026. The initiative rolls out a cloud‑native POS and kitchen‑display system from the Qu platform, adds edge‑computing via Qube, and embeds...
Here Are the 2026 James Beard Award Chef and Restaurateur Finalists
The James Beard Foundation unveiled its 2026 chef and restaurateur finalists, with Los Angeles emerging as a dominant force. Nancy Silverton was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, while Othón Nolasko and Damián Diaz received Humanitarian of the Year for their...
A Group of Independent Restaurants Wants the FTC to Block Sysco-Restaurant Depot Deal
The Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) has asked the FTC to block Sysco’s $29.1 billion cash‑and‑stock acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot. The coalition argues the deal would eliminate the only large cash‑and‑carry wholesale option that independent eateries rely on to avoid minimum...
New Ovens Elevate Freshii's Menu and Lift Sales
Freshii has installed high‑heat ovens that let kitchens roast proteins and vegetables instead of steaming them, delivering richer flavors in bowls, salads and wraps. The equipment upgrade launched across its U.S. locations in early 2026 and immediately boosted menu appeal....
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Franchisee Plans 6 More Units in South Carolina
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken franchisee Harris Mullis announced plans to open six additional units across South Carolina, expanding the brand’s footprint in the state. Mullis, who revived the Rock Hill restaurant in 2010, has been recognized as an Operator of...
Yeats Irish Whiskey Unveils Inaugural Release
Brand Bridge Liquids has launched Yeats Irish Whiskey with its inaugural expression, The Lake Isle of Innisfree. The blend combines 90% grain whiskey aged in ex‑Bourbon barrels, 9% triple‑distilled malt finished in Ruby Port casks, and 1% peated malt, each...
Coca-Cola System to Invest $1bn in South Africa by 2030
Coca‑Cola’s South African system will invest roughly $1 billion (ZAR 17.6 billion) by 2030, targeting expanded production capacity, stronger distribution and innovation across its value chain. A recent impact study showed the system generated about ZAR 51.2 billion in economic activity in 2024 and supported...
Soreen Appoints Former McCain Marketing Lead as New MD
Mark Hodge, former head of marketing at McCain Foods GB, has been appointed managing director of Soreen, the Samworth Brothers‑owned malt‑loaf brand. Hodge will build on Soreen’s nostalgic heritage while leveraging its health credentials to capture the rising demand for...
March NPD Launchpad: Canned Creatine, Protein Partnership and Modernized Magnesium
The March NPD Launchpad highlights a wave of functional supplement innovations, from VitClear’s UK‑first creatine soda packed with nootropics and 400 mg electrolytes to Unfabled’s women‑focused Creatine Superblend that adds vegan collagen and electrolytes. Myprotein deepens its partnership with Mars Wrigley,...
Amcor Unveils Lightweight UniPak Pot for Dairy Sector
Amcor has launched a redesigned UniPak 1 kg dairy pot that weighs just 31.6 g, delivering up to a 9% reduction in carbon emissions versus the previous model. The new container retains polypropylene’s structural strength while offering a liquid‑tight, compression‑moulded lid and...
Sensient Food Colors Launches Major US Expansion to Meet Shift Away From Artificial Additives
Sensient Food Colors announced a $250 million expansion of its St Louis natural colours facility, dubbed Project Prism. The project adds 28,800 sq ft of specialised processing space to the existing 500,000 sq ft plant, the company’s largest worldwide. The investment also covers supply‑chain upgrades and workforce...
How Oil and Gas Prices Affect a Restaurant Bill
Rising oil and gas prices are inflating every stage of the restaurant supply chain, from farm production to transportation, which pushes food costs higher. Higher fuel costs also strain restaurant labor as employees face increased commuting expenses, prompting turnover and...
Standing Ovation Secures $34.2m to Scale Precision-Fermented Dairy Proteins
French food‑tech startup Standing Ovation raised $34.2 million in a Series B round, led by Bpifrance and joined by Danone Ventures, to scale its precision‑fermented casein protein platform. The company’s patented process converts whey permeate into high‑value casein, the dominant milk protein...
Shake Shack Launches Digital Overhaul to Fuel 1,500-Unit Expansion
Shake Shack announced Project Catalyst, a multiyear digital overhaul aimed at supporting a 1,500‑unit expansion. The initiative partners with commerce platform Qu to replace POS and kitchen displays with edge‑computing technology, while embedding AI‑driven operational insights across its restaurants. A...
Red Lobster Closes Two More Restaurants as Turnaround Effort Remains in Tenuous Position
Red Lobster, the Orlando‑based seafood chain, has shuttered two underperforming restaurants – one in Michigan and another in Texas – as part of its post‑bankruptcy turnaround. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 in May 2024, has rolled out new menu items,...
Seafood Companies, Representative Orgs Planning to Use New Dietary Guidelines for Americans to Market More Effectively
Updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans now place seafood at the top of an inverted food pyramid and recommend three servings per week, up from two. Pacific Seafood, the Wild Alaska Sole Association, and the National Fisheries Institute are mobilizing to...
Virginia Awards USD 248,000 to Wanchese Fish Company for Catfish Processing
Virginia has awarded a $248,000 grant to Wanchese Fish Company to expand its blue catfish processing capacity in Suffolk. The funding, part of the Governor’s Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program, aims to increase annual purchases from...
Arnott’s to Launch Bizza Shapes with Dual Flavours
Arnott's is introducing Bizza Shapes, a new dual‑flavour cracker that combines its classic Barbecue and Pizza tastes in each bite. The oven‑baked snack will hit major Australian supermarkets over the next few months with a recommended retail price of $4....
Ireland Food Safety Authority Issues Guidance on Controlling Listeria in Ready-to-Heat Meals
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has released a Guidance Note on controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready‑to‑heat meals. The guidance follows 2025 listeriosis outbreaks that sickened nine people in Ireland (one fatality) and 28 in the United States (seven...
Nestlé & UN University Launch Global Academy to Advance Sustainable Food Systems
Nestlé has partnered with the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health to launch the World Food Academy for Sustainable Food Systems, a free, multi‑partner platform aimed at youth in the Global South. The academy expands on Nestlé’s...
EU Publishes Guidance for Industry on New Packaging Law
The European Commission released detailed guidance to help businesses apply the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) uniformly across the EU. The document clarifies who qualifies as a manufacturer or producer, defines “packaging,” and outlines enforcement of PFAS limits, single‑use...
Nissui Rebrands Yumigahama Suisan Salmon Aquaculture Subsidiary as “Nissui Salmon”
Japanese seafood giant Nissui will rename its salmon subsidiary Yumigahama Suisan to Nissui Salmon Co. effective 1 April 2026. The rebrand supports the group’s Good Foods 2030 strategy, specifically the second‑stage Good Foods Recipe 2 focused on supply‑chain resilience. Nissui aims to produce...
California’s Tortilla Rule Underscores the Shift in Market Power
California will require folic acid in corn masa products starting Jan 1 2026, making tortillas the first major non‑wheat staple to be fortified nationwide. The mandate, driven by Assembly Bill 1830, forces manufacturers to standardize fortified tortillas across the U.S., effectively turning a...
Chancellor Reeves to Meet Supermarket Bosses After First Talks Fail to Attract Turnout
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will meet senior executives from Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons after an earlier attempt to gather the sector was abandoned due to poor retailer response. The rescheduled Downing Street meeting aims to assess how rising energy, fuel and...
Driving Trust and Resilience in Global Supply Chains: A Conversation with Tamara Muruetagoiena, IFPA
Tamara Muruetagoiena, Vice‑President of Sustainability at the International Fresh Produce Association, has been appointed Co‑Chair of the Consumer Goods Forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI). She emphasizes building trust through industry‑aligned sustainability benchmarking and reducing audit fatigue for global supply...
Lion Launches Kirin Hyoketsu Strawberry Flavour
Lion has added a strawberry variant to its Kirin Hyoketsu Chu‑hi line, a Japanese‑inspired ready‑to‑drink cocktail. The new 330 ml can contains 6% ABV, under 1 g sugar, and is sold in four‑packs for $26.99 across Australian liquor stores. It joins existing...
How GLP-1 Is Impacting Food and Beverage Consumption in Australia
GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for type‑2 diabetes, are rapidly being prescribed for weight management in Australia, with about 500,000 users today and projections that 10% of the population could be on the drugs by 2030. Their appetite‑suppressing effect is...
Soy Protein Wins Health Claim Approval in ANZ
The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved a general‑level health claim for soy protein, stating that consuming 20–25 g of isolated soy protein daily supports heart health by maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. This aligns Australia and New Zealand with the...