Spanish Lettuce Dominates EU Markets
Spain continues to dominate the EU lettuce market, accounting for 50.5% of total sales in 2025 with 499.39 million kg exported, generating €690.34 million (≈ $753 million). The EU’s overall lettuce trade reached 988 million kg, valued at €1,578 million (≈ $1.72 billion), showing steady growth despite Brexit‑related statistical shifts. The Netherlands and Italy follow as the only other sizable exporters, each moving under 140 million kg. Over the past two decades, Spanish lettuce volumes have risen more than 30%, reinforcing its leadership role.
Quorn’s Transition Plan Takes Hold with Shift Away From Artificial Ingredients
Quorn Foods, owned by Monde Nissin, reported a strong Q1 fiscal 2026, with EBITDA more than doubling to 325 m pesos ($5.4 m) and net profit turning positive at 87 m pesos ($1.4 m). Gross margins jumped 881 basis points to 31.8%, driven by targeted...
Quaker’s Latest Campaign Puts Breakfast Nutrition in Focus
PepsiCo India has launched a refreshed Quaker brand campaign emphasizing protein and fibre in its oats, featuring updated packaging and a new television commercial. The initiative aligns with a Mintel report that identifies protein and fibre as top considerations in...
P&G Shifts Supply Chain 3.0, Other Platforms Into Large-Scale Rollout
Procter & Gamble has moved its Supply Chain 3.0 program from pilot to company‑wide rollout, deploying automation across warehouses and manufacturing sites. The initiative, launched in 2023, targets up to $1.5 billion in cost‑of‑goods‑sold savings and 98% product availability by 2030. Technologies...
Lallemand Group to Present Yeast and Enzyme Solutions for Plant-Based Foods at Copenhagen Summit
Lallemand Group will attend the Bridge2Food Summit in Copenhagen from June 9‑11, showcasing microbial and enzyme‑based ingredients for plant‑based foods. The company will present Engevita HiPRO Beyond, a high‑protein nutritional yeast, and its Savor‑Lyfe flavor line that adds umami and kokumi...
Willem Dafoe Joins Laphroaig for Limited-Edition Whisky
Actor Willem Dafoe has partnered with Islay distillery Laphroaig to launch a limited‑edition 14‑year‑old single malt called “Willem by Willem.” The whisky is Oloroso cask‑finished, bottled at 53.7% ABV, and retails for £139 in the UK (approximately $156 in the...
The Snack Barometer: The Iran Conflict and the Limits of Consumer Resilience
Geopolitical tension from the Iran‑US‑Israel conflict is already inflating fuel prices, prompting food and beverage manufacturers to see early signs of consumer stress. Shoppers are swapping branded items for private‑label products, cutting discretionary snack purchases, and demanding more promotions as...
Holland & Barrett Partners with Weight Loss Drugs Provider
Holland & Barrett has teamed up with weight‑loss drug provider Phlo to feature the service across its physical stores and e‑commerce platform. The partnership aims to give UK consumers access to clinically supervised weight‑management options while the retailer only signposts, avoiding...
FrieslandCampina Invests €90M in Whey Protein for Sports Nutrition
FrieslandCampina Ingredients is allocating €90 million (about $98 million) to boost whey protein capacity at three Dutch sites—Bedum, Veghel and Workum—aiming for full operational output by 2028. The expansion targets the fast‑growing sports, lifestyle, early‑life and medical nutrition markets, building on recent...
Tatratea Names New German Distributor
Tatratea’s producer Karloff has appointed Hamburg‑based Spirits Platform NXT as its exclusive German distributor. The partnership gives the Slovak brand a dedicated route‑to‑market strategy for both off‑trade listings and on‑trade activations. NXT brings over 20 years of industry experience and...
How the Islands Are Driving Rosé’s Rise in Southeast Asia
Island destinations in Southeast Asia are accelerating the rise of rosé as tourists seek lighter, lower‑alcohol wines. In Thailand’s southern resorts, premium Provence labels dominate, while Bali’s beach bars favor more affordable, entry‑level rosés alongside local producers. Rosé currently holds...
This Viral Korean Corndog Brand Is Opening Its First South London Restaurant
Korean street‑food chain Bunsik is opening its first south‑London outlet in Brixton on May 15, marking the brand’s expansion beyond central London. The new shop will serve the chain’s signature deep‑fried corn dogs, mozzarella‑filled varieties and other Korean comfort dishes. To...
Theo Müller Group Acquires German Plant-Based Producer Berief Food
The Theo Müller Group announced the pending acquisition of German plant‑based producer Berief Food, subject to antitrust clearance. Berief will operate as a largely independent unit within the Müller portfolio. The deal follows Berief’s search for financing to fund expansion into...
Middle East Crisis: FAO Sounds Warning over Fertiliser Supplies
FAO Director‑General Qu Dongyu warned that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are creating a fertilizer shortage that will depress crop yields from late 2024 through 2027. The corridor handles 20‑45% of global agri‑input exports, and delays force farmers to...
How McDonald’s 'Three-for-Three' Strategy Drove Q1 Gains
McDonald’s Q1 2026 earnings highlighted the impact of its “three‑for‑three” strategy—value leadership, breakthrough marketing, and menu innovation. Global system‑wide sales rose 6% and comparable sales climbed 3.8%, delivering a $3.6 billion restaurant margin and a 46% operating margin. The rollout of...
ExportGaGroup Ramps up Shrimp Export Push at SEG, Targeting South America, Middle East, and Beyond
ExportGaGroup, an Ecuadorian white‑shrimp farmer, used Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona to showcase its vertically integrated operation—from hatchery to processing—under its own brands Star Ocean and Shrimp King. The company highlighted a broad product line that includes A2/A3 head‑on, headless, peeled‑and‑deveined...
The Ultimate Gut-Health Grocery List To Boost GLP-1 Naturally
Microbiologist Colleen Cutcliffe explains that a healthy gut microbiome can naturally stimulate GLP‑1, the hormone that curbs appetite and stabilizes blood sugar. She highlights two key strains—Akkermansia muciniphila and Clostridium butyricum—as central to GLP‑1 production. By prioritizing fiber‑rich vegetables, polyphenol‑dense fruits,...
This “Bad” Fat In Dairy Is Not Linked To Heart Disease, Study Shows
A new systematic review and meta‑analysis found that naturally occurring trans fats in dairy do not worsen blood lipid markers or increase cardiovascular disease risk. The analysis covered ten randomized trials comparing high‑trans‑fat dairy to conventional products and twelve long‑term...
Prices Are up, but Mother's Day Still Means Brunch
Mother’s Day spending is forecast to hit a record $38 billion, an 11% jump from last year, driven by strong demand for flowers, cards and dining out. Restaurant reservations are up roughly 30% year‑over‑year, confirming the holiday’s status as the busiest...
Manolin CEO Tony Chen Bets on AI to Reduce Fish Mortality, Transform Aquaculture
Manolin, an aquaculture data‑analytics firm founded in 2018, is deploying user‑friendly AI models to lower fish mortality and improve operational decisions on oyster, salmon and tilapia farms. CEO Tony Chen emphasizes that AI should augment, not replace, farmers' instincts by...
Scottish Salmon Survival Rates Reach New Q1 High Following GBP 1 Billion Investment Push
Scotland’s salmon‑farming industry posted a record 99.03 percent average survival rate for Q1 2026, the highest ever recorded. The improvement follows more than £1 billion (≈$1.4 billion) of investment since 2018 in veterinary care, freshwater‑treatment technology, and monitoring systems. The sector’s stronger fish health...
Whittaker’s Launches New Banana Caramel Block Into Woolworths
Whittaker’s, the New Zealand chocolate maker, has launched a limited‑edition Banana Caramel block in Woolworths stores across Australia. The product combines the brand’s milk chocolate with caramel and natural banana flavoring and retails for $9 per block. This follows the earlier...
Wagalot Launches Dog Food Range Made From Surplus Produce
Australian pet brand Wagalot has introduced Dogood, a premium line of dog treats and meal boosters made from surplus produce rescued from Melbourne’s Prahran Market. Partnering with sustainability specialist Eco Guardians, the range uses on‑site dehydration technology to transform up...
Foodstuffs Launches Soft-Plastic Recycling Trial
New Zealand’s Foodstuffs group has begun a five‑month pilot of a front‑of‑house soft‑plastic compactor developed by Manco Environmental. The system is installed at five stores – four New World locations and one Pak’nSave – in partnership with The Packaging Forum’s...
Meet The Newest Alternative To Caffeine — But Does It Work?
Paraxanthine, the main caffeine metabolite that makes up about 80% of caffeine breakdown, is being marketed as a cleaner, crash‑free stimulant. Early animal research, notably a 2023 rat study, shows a higher lethal dose and fewer adverse effects compared with...
Scientists Tackle Food Waste with More Accurate ‘Sell By’ Dates Based on Meat Microbial Activity
Researchers at Auburn University have developed a machine‑learning model that predicts ground‑beef spoilage by tracking microbial community changes, showing that meat becomes microbiologically unsafe after six days despite current sell‑by dates extending to ten days. The study, funded by a...
Danone to Close US Dairy-Alternatives Factory
Danone announced it will shut its Bridgeton, New Jersey dairy‑alternatives factory on August 4, eliminating about 114 jobs. Production of Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free drinks will be moved to three existing plants in Virginia, Texas and Florida. The closure...
Jubel Rolls Out Lime Lager with Young’s
Jubel has introduced its Lime fruit lager on draught in a select group of Young’s pubs, extending the brand’s on‑trade presence after a Tesco exclusive that began on 20 April. The lime‑flavored brew is the sixth fruit‑lager offering, joining Peach, Grapefruit,...
Yili’s NZ Companies Back to Record Profits After Transformation
Yili Group’s New Zealand operations, now consolidated under the Yili Oceania brand, posted a record $1.29 billion in revenue for 2025, a 14% year‑on‑year increase. The integrated portfolio—including Westland Milk, Oceania Dairy, Canary, Pure Nutrition and Easi Yo—generated $48.1 million in profit, the...
Dutch Bros Q1 Earnings: The Newest Starbucks Rival Faces Its First Big Reality Check
Dutch Bros reported Q1 2026 revenue of $464.4 million, up 30.8% YoY and beating forecasts, while EPS matched expectations at 16 cents. The chain opened 41 new drive‑through locations and raised its full‑year revenue guidance to $2.05‑$2.08 billion, with a target of at...
Trend Tracker: HMO Innovations, Social Commerce Strategies, Sports Nutrition
Regulatory approvals for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are expanding across Asia‑Pacific, positioning HMOs as a core ingredient in next‑generation infant formulas and promising lower prices. In China, health‑supplement makers such as Haleon’s Centrum and BYHEALTH are intensifying Douyin‑centric e‑commerce and...
Calm in the Chaos: How US Bakers Are Fighting Back on Regulation, Reformulation and a Restless Consumer
U.S. bakers are confronting heightened regulatory scrutiny and rapidly shifting consumer preferences, prompting the American Bakers Association (ABA) to launch an ambitious "Baked for America" communications push. The campaign, funded by IBIE proceeds, seeks to present baking as safe, affordable...
Grate Expectations: The Troubled Quest for Tasty Vegan Cheese
The article examines why vegan cheese remains a niche product, accounting for less than 1% of the U.S. cheese market and seeing a 10% sales decline in 2025. It explains the scientific hurdle: plant proteins cannot replicate casein’s melt‑and‑stretch properties,...
Organic Tattva’s New Ad Explores How Food Connects Indians Abroad to Home
Organic Tattva has launched a new digital campaign starring chef Vikas Khanna that spotlights how Indian expatriates use familiar meals to stay connected to home. The film showcases dishes such as sambar and chole bhature, positioning the brand’s organic ingredients as...
Hot Right Now: China Health Foods, Alt-Protein Fusion and Tetra Pak Exclusive
Chinese consumers are accelerating demand for gut‑friendly, clean‑label and plant‑based foods, prompting local innovators like Joywin to commercialise inulin fibre from Jerusalem artichoke. Tee Yih Jia is countering a slowdown in the broader plant‑based sector with an “East meets West”...
Bikaji Promoter Deepak Agarwal’s Family Office Buys 35% Stake in Bengaluru’s The Filter Coffee
Deepak Agarwal’s family office, the promoter of Bikaji Foods, has acquired a 35% stake in Wishvish Foods Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Bengaluru‑based coffee chain The Filter Coffee. The deal is being funded in tranches, with up to ₹100 crore...
Me&u Founder Stevan Premutico’s New Startup Is Tackling Another Restaurant Pain Point: Phone Calls
Stevan Premutico, the founder behind Dimmi and me&u, has launched Hey Buddy, a voice‑AI platform that answers restaurant phone calls and converts them into reservations. In Australia, about one‑third of restaurant calls go unanswered—over 22 million missed calls annually—resulting in lost...
Subway Boss Shane Bracken Exits Sandwich Chain
Shane Bracken has stepped down as managing director of Subway ANZ after a four‑year tenure. During his time, he highlighted a strategic pivot toward a more digitised customer experience, emphasizing partnerships with third‑party delivery platforms. Bracken brought a blend of...
Reworking Formulation with ADM
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) highlighted five reformulation pillars—cleaner label, less sugar, more protein, less sodium, and optimized fat—to meet rising consumer demand for healthier food and beverage options. The company showcased new products, such as a zero‑sugar tribiotic soda and...
Almanac Beer Co. Flow
Almanac Beer Co. partnered with Aircapture to launch Flow – Clean Air Edition, a beer carbonated with CO₂ captured directly from the atmosphere using a modular Direct Air Capture (DAC) unit installed on the brewery floor. The system delivers 99.999% beverage‑grade CO₂,...
Packaging EPR Reports Due May 31: What Producers Need to Do Now
Producers of packaging must file state‑specific extended producer responsibility (EPR) reports by May 31, 2026, with California extending the deadline to June 1 for its annual and baseline supply filings. The Circular Action Alliance (CAA) administers reporting portals for six states, while California...
Tasty Awards: Violife on Solving the ‘Tension Between Taste & Nutrition’ with Plant-Based Dairy
Violife captured the most honors at the 2026 Tasty Awards, with four of its plant‑based products rated as good or better than their dairy counterparts. The brand credits its success to a simple coconut‑oil ingredient list, transparent labeling, and an...
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What Are Sulfites—And Should You Avoid Sulfite-Rich Foods?
Registered dietitians clarify that sulfites are widely used preservatives that appear naturally in foods like wine and fermented vegetables and are added to many processed products. For the majority of consumers they pose no health risk, but individuals with asthma...
Wendy's Co (WEN) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Wendy's reported an 8.3% decline in global system‑wide sales for the quarter, driven primarily by an 11.3% drop in U.S. same‑restaurant sales. International markets continued to expand, posting a 6.2% sales increase and marking the 21st consecutive quarter of growth....
Arla Foods Ingredients: How Aeration Is Reshaping Texture in High-Protein Bars
Arla Foods Ingredients unveiled its AirBar concept, an aerated protein‑bar solution that injects stable air into a milk‑protein blend to create a lighter, fluffier texture. The technology addresses a growing consumer appetite for novel textures, with 60% of shoppers rating...
RC Cola Zero Sugar Film via GIGIL Philippines Shows Zero Doesn’t Mean Less
RC Cola launched its Zero Sugar variant with a cinematic film crafted by GIGIL Philippines. The spot follows a man who discovers a "zero" coin that transforms his surroundings into zeros, culminating in him drinking the new product. The creative...
Hong Kong Restaurants Can Apply for Dog-Friendly Permits From May 18
Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will accept applications from May 18 to June 8 for dog‑friendly licences, allowing restaurants larger than 20 square metres to admit pets. The first batch of permits is slated for approval in mid‑June, with dogs permitted...
Report: Valentine’s Day Tops Spending in the City of Sydney During First Quarter of the Year
The City of Sydney’s economic monitor shows Valentine’s Day was the top‑spending day in Q1, with $61.8 million AUD (≈$40.8 million USD) spent – 45% above the February daily average. Overall dining out reached $863 million AUD (≈$570 million USD), up 7.9% year‑on‑year, while...
How To Spot Fake Wagyu Beef A Mile Away
Wagyu beef sold in the United States often carries a loose label, allowing cross‑bred cattle with minimal Wagyu genetics to be marketed as premium meat. Genuine, pure‑bred Wagyu—primarily from Japan or Australia—commands prices above $200 per pound, with a 5‑ounce...
PepsiCo Talks Bubly’s Expansion Into Soda Category with Bubly POP
PepsiCo introduced Bubly POP, a low‑sugar soda, in Canada on April 22, positioning it as the brand’s natural next step beyond sparkling water. The beverage contains three grams of sugar or less per 355 ml can, real fruit juice and no artificial colours,...