Melto Cuts Through the Ice Cream Noise With Pure Indulgen
Melto is a conceptual ice‑cream brand created by art director Hodan Nasra, who uses bold typography and color to convey pure indulgence. The branding deliberately avoids typical ingredient imagery and cluttered graphics, opting for minimalist visual cues that cut through the crowded ice‑cream market. By focusing on form and art direction, Melto aims to elevate the perceived premium experience of a pint. The launch showcases how design can reshape consumer expectations for everyday food products.
Industry-Funded Study of the Week: Taurine Supplements
Nestlé’s research unit conducted a double‑blind, crossover trial with 44 healthy adults aged 25‑40, testing a blend of taurine and vitamins B6, B9, and B12. After 14 days of daily supplementation, participants reported significant gains in motivation, attention, mental energy...
Yiayia and Friends Brings Its Whimsical Brand World to Tea
Greek lifestyle brand Yiayia and Friends is extending its whimsical universe into the beverage sector with a line of four organic Greek mountain teas. The products are sourced from Greek tea maker Symbeeosis and feature packaging designed by the Greek...
Remember Odometers? Bidai Berri’s Label Goes the Distance
Moruba’s new label for Bidai Berri wine adopts an odometer‑inspired design, using minimalist typography and a deep monochrome palette to convey a journey theme. The stripped‑back aesthetic contrasts with traditional ornate wine labels, creating a modern, memorable identity. The design’s...
The Bear’s Swedish Lager Is Built Around Swedes’ Signature Swenglish
The Bear is a new budget lager from Sweden’s Åbro Bryggeri that leans into the country’s quirky English accent, branding the product around the “Swenglish” pronunciation of “beer.” Designed by Pond Design, the can features a dead‑eyed bear speaking in...
Mirepa Invests in Ghanaian Food Company
Mirepa Investment Advisors has closed a strategic investment in Ghanaian food producer Uniik Foods through its Mirepa Capital SME Fund I. The capital will fund modernisation of Uniik’s production lines, boost manufacturing capacity, and enhance distribution networks for its shelf‑stable...
Grocery Update #150: Spring Fresh Reading List for Aspiring Grocery Nerds.
Errol Schweizer’s latest Checkout Grocery Update offers a spring‑time reading list aimed at turning anyone into a “grocery nerd.” The newsletter highlights the $1.1 trillion U.S. grocery market, notes that its readership has nearly doubled after a year of curated lists,...
Rosa’s Thai Celebrates Songkran with Bangkok Trip Giveaway and Special Menu for April
Rosa’s Thai is marking Thailand’s Songkran festival with a UK‑wide promotion that includes a prize draw for a round‑trip flight and five‑night stay in Bangkok, two limited‑edition dishes, and daily free Pad Thai giveaways at three locations. Diners who book and...
Colombia Reported More than 650 Outbreaks in 2025
Colombia’s National Institute of Health reported 661 foodborne outbreaks in 2025, affecting 7,394 people. The overall number of outbreaks remained steady compared with prior years, but the total number of illnesses declined. Antioquia province accounted for the most incidents, registering...
FDA Warns New York Firm for Failing to Verify Safety of Imported Foods
The FDA issued a warning letter to Life Plus Style Gourmet LLC of Plainview, New York, citing major violations of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP). During a January 2026 inspection, the agency found the firm lacked a documented, maintained, and implemented FSVP...
Beef Export Update March 2026
Australia’s beef exports surged in March 2026, reaching 149,973 tonnes – a 33% increase year‑on‑year and 58% above the five‑year average. The United States remained the top destination with 42,043 tonnes, up 30% YoY and more than double the five‑year norm. China...
Marketing as a Compounding Asset
Marketing is being reframed as a compounding asset rather than a pure cost center, especially in the beer sector where brands seek cultural relevance and mindshare beyond the point of purchase. Companies are leveraging unconventional partnerships—such as soccer jerseys, heritage...
Type 2 Diabetes in Youth Has Risen 70% Since 2013
New research in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that type 2 diabetes among U.S. youth surged 70% between 2013 and 2024, climbing from 0.73 to 1.24 cases per 1,000. The rise is most pronounced in older adolescents, females, and...
Silva Appoints Charlie Dilworth as Head Chef to Lead Anniversary Menu in Mayfair
Silva, the Mayfair Mediterranean restaurant celebrating its first anniversary, has hired 29‑year‑old Charlie Dilworth as head chef. Dilworth arrives from a Michelin‑starred background, most recently senior sous chef at Lita, and will debut a new menu on 28 April. The refreshed...
Study: ‘Default Nudge’ to Oat Milk Reduces Carbon Footprint of Cafe Drinks
A UK study published in Global Environmental Psychology tested a "default nudge" that made oat milk the standard option in a university café while still offering cow's milk on request. The intervention boosted plant‑based milk usage from roughly 16% to...
Weekly Coffee News: Chain Removes Pride Flags + Science and Ed News
Philz Coffee announced it will remove Pride flags and other décor to create a more consistent, inclusive experience, sparking a Change.org petition and public backlash. The chain was sold last year for $145 million to a Los Angeles‑based private‑equity firm. At...
Brixton Culture Capital 00.04.2026
London’s iconic Roti King and Morley’s have launched a four‑day pop‑up in Brixton Village, blending Malaysian mamak stall flavors with the borough’s beloved fried chicken. The collaboration offers mash‑up dishes like nasi goreng topped with Morley’s wings and roti‑wrapped chicken...
Drink of the Week: Estate 98 Espresso Liqueur
Estate 98 Espresso Liqueur, a new coffee liqueur from a sixth‑generation Salvadoran family farm, uses honey‑processed single‑origin beans blended with neutral cane spirit and vanilla. Priced at $44.99, it mimics the taste of a fresh espresso, offering bitter chocolate notes,...
The La Fermière X Alex Albert Collab Will Have You Saying ‘J’Adore NYC’
French yogurt maker La Fermière has teamed with visual artist Alex Albert to release a limited‑edition line of terra‑cotta yogurt containers featuring iconic New York City landmarks. The collaboration coincides with La Fermière’s first U.S. market entry, a decade after the brand...
Weekend Reading: More on Alternative Meats
Alternative‑protein companies are navigating a shifting landscape as the European Union bans the use of the term “meaty” for plant‑ and cell‑based foods, while U.S. investors grow impatient for clearer paths to profitability. The ban, which still allows words like...
Treblasé Is Bringing Italian Design History Back to the Bar
Treblasé, a new Turin‑origin aperitivo, is launching with a brand identity crafted by Oslo studio OlssønBarbieri. The design pulls directly from Italian Futurism, echoing Fortunato Depero’s iconic 1926 Campari poster and incorporating onomatopoeic phrases from the “Parole in Libertà” movement....
L16 Far North Dry Gin Is Where the Great Barrier Reef Meets the Bottle
L16 Far North Dry Gin launches with a packaging system that immerses consumers in a Great Barrier Reef experience. Designer Clay Andrews crafted an aqua‑tinted glass bottle, beechwood cap, and sand‑toned label that together mimic light refracting through water. Every material choice is intentional,...
Now They’re Adding Creatine To Coffee
Bulletproof, the brand behind butter‑coffee and protein blends, has released an instant coffee that packs 5 g of creatine, MCT oil and electrolytes per serving. The product, dubbed "creatine coffee," joins the company’s line of functional coffee mixes aimed at gym‑focused...
Dina Foods Announces Nationwide Ocado Retail Partnership
Family‑owned Mediterranean specialist Dina Foods announced a nationwide partnership with Ocado Retail, launching its artisan flatbreads, sourdough pittas and handcrafted Baklawa on Ocado.com from April 13. The deal adds the Paninette® range, Tasty Goodness sourdough pittas and 200 g Baklawa packs to...
7 Things You Should Know About Appleton Estate Rum, Jamaica’s Oldest Continuously Operating Distillery
Appleton Estate, founded in 1749, is Jamaica’s oldest continuously operating rum distillery and the only one that ferments, distills, ages and bottles its spirit on a single estate. Its limestone‑filtered water, locally sourced molasses, and tropical climate accelerate aging, delivering...
DoorDash Announces ‘DashLoop,’ a Returnable and Reusable Container Pilot Program
DoorDash launched DashLoop, a pilot that uses returnable, reusable containers for takeout orders. The program is being tested with ten restaurants in Half Moon Bay, requiring diners to bring back empty containers for cleaning and reuse. The initiative targets the...
In 2026, The Competitive Advantage in QSR Isn’t a Bigger Budget – It’s Better Signal
The quick‑service restaurant (QSR) sector generates roughly 72% of its revenue offline, yet most marketers still base performance on digital clicks and last‑touch attribution. Only about 31% of brands are pulling point‑of‑sale (POS) data into their measurement frameworks, leaving the...
The Subtle Art of Building Restaurant Culture
The article argues that a restaurant’s success hinges on deliberately building a strong culture, with the general manager acting as the chief cultural architect. Empowering managers through trust and autonomy enables them to provide tools, set standards, and make day‑to‑day...
Whole Cantaloupe Recalled because of Salmonella
Ayco Farms Inc. has recalled 8,302 cartons of fresh whole cantaloupe due to potential Salmonella contamination. The affected fruit was shipped to Pennsylvania, Florida, California and New York, with lot numbers ranging from GC26257 to SGC2607. The recall, initiated on...
Zaatar Being Recalled in Canada because of Salmonella
Royal Zaatar's 450‑gram Alarjawi brand zaatar has been recalled in Canada after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency detected Salmonella contamination. The affected batches were distributed in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, identified by UPC 212055036239 and an expiration...
USDA Issues Public Alert on Beef and Pork with Undeclared Sesame
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public‑health alert on April 9, 2026 for several raw beef and pork products that contain sesame oil but do not list sesame as an ingredient. The affected items, produced between Dec 1, 2025 and Apr 6, 2026,...
Reports Suggest Sazerac in Talks With Brown-Forman Following Rumors of Pernod Merger
Sazerac has entered talks with Brown‑Forman after rumors of a merger between Brown‑Forman and Pernod Ricard surfaced. The news sent Brown‑Forman’s stock up more than 11 percent, mirroring the reaction to earlier reports of discussions with Pernod. Brown‑Forman, valued at roughly...
Unilever Is Acquiring Grüns
Unilever announced it is acquiring Grüns, the fast‑growing greens supplement brand that hit roughly $300 million in revenue within two years. The company has become the #1 greens supplement on Amazon and in U.S. retail, with 80% of users taking it...
Fats in the MAHA Era: Consumer Perceptions of Common Cooking Fats
The Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey reveals that U.S. consumers are broadly aware of seven cooking fats, yet purchase patterns vary sharply. Olive oil, butter/ghee, and soybean oil dominate household buying, while beef tallow, despite 73% awareness, is purchased...
Barra Brings Sunshine Coast Vibes to Central Minneapolis
Barra opened on March 2 in the Skyway shopping center, bringing an Australian‑inspired coffee experience to downtown Minneapolis. The café offers a concise menu—espresso, drip, latte, flat white, and a Lemon, Lime and Bitters refresher—while customizing its water to mimic Melbourne’s...
Honest Burgers Teams up with Sauce Shop for Limited-Edition Maple Cajun BBQ Burger and Wings
British chain Honest Burgers has partnered with condiment maker Sauce Shop to roll out a limited‑edition Maple Cajun BBQ burger and wings across all 45 UK locations until May 11, 2026. The menu item features smoky bacon, American cheese, buttermilk‑fried...
Zula Alpha Kilo Layers in Storytelling For Henry of Pelham’s Wine Labels
Design studio Zula Alpha Kilo has unveiled an interactive wine label for Henry of Pelham that uses stacked paper layers to reveal the brand’s heritage narrative. The label combines muted tones, textured stock, and photographic inserts to create a tactile,...
Three Nights, Zero Waste
Mill, the cult‑favorite food‑recycling platform, is launching a three‑night, zero‑waste dinner series in Los Angeles for Earth Month. Acclaimed chefs from Los Angeles and New York will team up to create seasonal, waste‑free menus on April 14, 22 and 23...
Gravita Pours Out a Clean Typographic Approach With Lan Wines Refresh
Gravita has unveiled a refreshed visual identity for Bodegas Lan, replacing dense label layouts with a clean, typographic‑driven system. The new design spotlights an enlarged, single‑word "Lan" logo as the focal point across all varietals. Each wine now carries a distinct,...
Under the Hood: The Reset Spreads
Napa Valley’s wine slump has broadened into a wider contraction across the visitor economy, with recent restaurant closures and tasting‑room consolidations framed as repositioning rather than crisis. Large producers are rationalizing capacity and cutting jobs as inventories swell and market...
New School Food Rules on the Horizon?
The USDA is preparing to roll out new MAHA dietary guidelines that could reshape school nutrition standards. Advocacy groups, including United We Eat, are pressing the agency to tighten rules around processed animal products, citing additives, antibiotics, and cancer‑linked preservatives....
At the Seattle Mariners’ Stadium, a Secret Door Is Dispensing Gonzo Cocktails
On Opening Day at Seattle’s T‑Mobile Park, a hidden pentagonal door appeared, dispensing exclusive cocktails such as the blue‑cotton‑candy topped Atmospheric River. The door’s location is undisclosed, and fans who discover it are asked to keep it secret. Mariners vice...
Some Ultra-Processed Foods Are as Addictive as Cigarettes and Cocaine
Recent research shows ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) trigger brain reward pathways similarly to cigarettes and cocaine, making them highly addictive. About 57% of calories consumed by U.S. adults and 67% by children come from UPFs, with addiction rates comparable to alcohol...
Ultra-Processed Foods May Raise Risk of Preterm Birth and Pregnancy Complications, Study Finds
A large U.S. study of 6,693 pregnancies found that each 10‑percentage‑point rise in calories from ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) during pregnancy is associated with an 11% higher risk of preterm birth and a 5% increase in hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia....
Ask a Distiller: What Does It Mean When a Spirit Is ‘Overproof’?
Overproof spirits are defined as any liquor exceeding 50% alcohol by volume (100 proof), a threshold most commonly applied to rum. Historically, British sailors tested proof by igniting gunpowder soaked in the spirit, cementing the term’s naval roots. Jamaican rums...
The Disappearing Operator Is Changing How Decisions Get Made
Foodservice manufacturers once relied on a single decision-maker—the operator—to drive product adoption. Today, procurement, finance, and digital platforms are fragmenting that power, creating a multi‑stakeholder ecosystem that influences menu choices before they reach the kitchen. Centralized commissaries further standardize orders,...
Grocery Update #149: That Town That Bought Its Grocery Store.
Edgewood, Iowa residents collectively purchased Karl’s Grocery to prevent the town from becoming a food desert after the original owners sought to exit in 2020. About 50‑60 locals invested between $500 and $10,000, giving the community roughly 5% equity in...
ED+U: An Expansive, Free New Coffee Academy By Cafe Imports
Cafe Imports has launched ED+U, a free, open‑access coffee academy that debuted on April 10, 2026. The six‑part series, created by former US Brewers Cup champion Dylan Siemens, covers the coffee supply chain from plant biology to brewing art, offering...
Allagash Brewing: Rethinking Supply Chains From the Ground Up
Allagash Brewing Company’s founder Rob Tod explains how the craft brewer is redesigning its supply chain by sourcing grain from Maine farms and investing in local processing infrastructure. The company pairs this regional sourcing with granular sustainability measures—water‑use reductions, logistics tweaks,...
How Restaurant Merch Became Cultural Currency
Restaurant merchandise is evolving from a souvenir to a strategic brand asset, with nearly 20% of hospitality businesses now offering branded items. In high‑performing cases, merch accounts for 11% of monthly revenue and can reach as much as 27%. Limited‑run...