7 Things You Should Know About St. Agrestis, the Brand Behind the Rapidly Growing Phony Negroni
St. Agrestis, founded in Brooklyn in 2014, pivoted from a 30% ABV amaro to a non‑alcoholic cocktail line, most notably the Phony Negroni, after a 2019 trade‑show insight. The brand’s volume surged 165% between 2023 and 2025, reaching 59,000 cases and earning VinePair’s Next Wave award. In April 2026, The Wine Group acquired St. Agrestis, planning to keep Brooklyn production while expanding the portfolio. On‑premises sales now account for 45% of revenue, and the company brands its drinks as ready‑to‑serve (RTS).
From Star Wars to Stranger Things — IP Experience Is Now a Powerful Ingredient On The QSR Menu
Fast‑food chains are moving beyond limited‑time offers to full‑scale intellectual‑property (IP) experiences that blend menu items, packaging, apps and collectibles into a single brand moment. License‑global data shows food‑and‑beverage brands generated $7.4 billion in licensed product sales last year, while the...
Milly Positions Pepper As the Kitchen Workhorse It’s Always Been
Milly is launching a line of single-origin Ecuadorian peppercorns paired with adjustable ceramic grinders and plastic-free tin packaging, positioning pepper as a premium kitchen staple. The brand follows recent upscale revamps of pantry items, aiming to become the go-to name...
Meeting Customer Demand for Shareable and Snackable
Restaurant operators are increasingly adding shareable, snack‑size dishes as diners seek flexible, build‑your‑own experiences throughout the day. Joe Hannon of Restaurant365 notes that smaller plates reduce labor strain, align with off‑premise growth, and allow more intentional margin management. ...
India Coffee Report: Soluble Coffee Drives Exports but Arabica Declining
India’s coffee output is projected to dip 4.5% to 6.14 million 60‑kg bags in 2026/27, with Arabica production falling sharply due to erratic weather, aging trees and pests. Robusta remains relatively resilient, keeping overall yields above 4.5 million bags. Exports are expected...
MAHA Ruins Everything – Apeel Edition
Apeel Sciences, backed by a Gates Foundation grant, created an edible plant‑based coating that extends fruit and vegetable freshness by two‑to‑three times and can shave up to 12% off spoilage‑related waste. Influencers aligned with the MAHA network spread false claims—confusing...
Ecotact Introduces TraceIQ for Green Coffee Shipment Tracking
Ecotact has launched Trace IQ, a real‑time environmental and location monitoring device built specifically for green coffee shipments. The sensor attaches inside a container, records temperature, humidity and GPS every 30 minutes, and uploads data to a cloud dashboard for up...
Honduras Coffee Report: Production Rising to Highest Level in Years
Honduras’ green coffee output is projected to reach 6.03 million 60‑kg bags in the 2026/27 market year, a 9% increase driven by better nutrition, expanded acreage and maturing plantations. Exports are expected to climb to about 5.5 million bags, with the United...
The DiFluid Moment Offers a Digital Tasting Experience for Cafe Guests
Chinese coffee equipment maker DiFluid is expanding into services with the Moment, a touchless infrared thermometer that displays tasting notes as a cup cools. The device, showcased at World of Coffee San Diego, syncs real‑time feedback to the CoffeeOS app,...
Olipop Launches ‘The Feel Good Soda’ Platform, Complete With a Refreshed Identity and Sonic Signature
Olipop has rolled out a new creative platform called “The Feel Good Soda,” featuring a refreshed visual identity, updated packaging, a distinctive sonic signature, and a national advertising push. The initiative builds on the brand’s 2018 launch that helped spark...
Monster Mash
Chef Hasung Lee, former Atomix executive chef and TV personality from Culinary Class Wars, opened his own restaurant Oyatte in a Murray Hill townhouse earlier this month. The venue debuted with a series of preview dinners attended by FOUND staff,...
The VinePair Podcast: Where Is the Market for Domestic Sparkling Wine?
The VinePair podcast explores whether Oregon’s burgeoning sparkling‑wine sector can carve out a sustainable domestic market. Winemakers in the Willamette Valley are uniting under stricter production standards to create a recognizable state identity. The discussion pits the prestige‑driven pricing of...
Consumers Demand Value, Yet Want to Splurge
Revenue Management Solutions’ Q1 2026 data shows diners still prioritize value, yet Millennials and Gen Z are willing to pay extra for protein‑rich meals and specialty beverages such as prebiotic sodas. Almost half of Millennials would splurge on high‑protein options,...
Santa Nata Celebrates 10 Million Pastel De Nata Sales as It Prepares to Open First Overseas Bakery in Hong Kong
Santa Nata, the London‑based Portuguese bakery chain, celebrated its 10 millionth pastel de nata sale, a milestone achieved within seven years of its 2019 launch. The company now runs six bakeries in London and one in Oxford and is preparing to...
Saying Goodbye to Minute Maid and Its Frozen Can of Nostalgia
Coca‑Cola announced that Minute Maid will cease production of its frozen juice concentrate this spring, ending an 80‑year‑old product line that began as a World War II army supply. The concentrate, once a breakfast staple, has lost relevance as consumers gravitate...