POULTRY DEMAND SURGE DRIVES NEW PROCESSING AND PACKAGING STRATEGIES
U.S. poultry demand is accelerating as beef prices surge, pushing total meat sales to a record $112 billion in 2025. Retailers respond with case‑ready and private‑label formats, now preferred by 87% of shoppers, while processors seek automation to maintain quality and profitability. Multi‑head weighing systems can slash product giveaway from 5‑6% to under 1%, reclaiming millions in lost revenue. Advanced packaging—hermetically sealed trays, thermoforming, and modified‑atmosphere solutions—extends shelf life and supports the expanding variety of ready‑to‑cook poultry.
Innocent Drinks Launches New Dessert-Inspired Healthy Smoothies
Innocent Drinks, the UK’s leading juice and smoothie brand, is debuting a new line of "creamy smoothies" that mimic dessert flavors while staying sugar‑free and plant‑based. The range—strawberry cupcake, blueberry muffin and lemon pie—offers fiber, Vitamin C and counts toward a...
First Watch, Portillo’s and KFC
First Watch’s refreshed menu and a digital push lifted same‑store sales 2.8% despite a 2% dip in traffic, with 75% of locations now running targeted ads. Portillo’s saw a 0.8% rise in transactions but a 0.1% same‑store sales decline as average...
Branch Launches TipCalc to Automate Tip Pooling and Cashless Payouts for Restaurants and Reduce Errors at Close
Branch, a workforce‑financial platform, launched TipCalc, an automated tip‑pooling and cashless payout tool for restaurants. The solution pulls real‑time data from point‑of‑sale systems, applies custom sharing rules, and distributes tips nightly to workers’ Branch accounts. By replacing manual spreadsheets, TipCalc...
DS Smith Protects Absolut Vodka Products with Stylish Brown Box Packaging Solution
DS Smith, an International Paper subsidiary, has rolled out a new brown‑box packaging solution for Absolut Vodka’s flavored spirits line. The 100 % recyclable corrugated cartons replace the brand’s traditional glossy white boxes and feature color‑coded artwork that matches each flavor. Designed...
Ahold Delhaize USA Appoints Abby Cook as Senior Vice President, Own Brands to Lead Strategy and Growth
Ahold Delhaize USA announced Abby Cook as Senior Vice President of Own Brands, reporting to Chief Commercial and Digital Officer Keith Nicks. In her new role she will steer strategy, innovation and execution of the company’s private‑label portfolio across its U.S. grocery...
Finsbury Food Group Renews Disney Licensing Collaboration
Finsbury Food Group has renewed its two‑decade licensing partnership with The Walt Disney Company, allowing the UK‑based baker to continue producing celebration cakes themed around Disney, Pixar, and Marvel properties such as Frozen, Moana and Lilo & Stitch. The extension includes a...
Meat Industry Groups Respond to DOJ Investigation of Beef Processors
The Department of Justice announced an antitrust investigation into the four largest U.S. beef processors. The Meat Institute highlighted a historic low in the cattle herd and record‑high feeder prices, noting that packers have been losing money monthly for the...
Burger King’s Sales Jumped, Popeyes Slumped in Q1
Restaurant Brands International reported divergent Q1 performance for its two flagship chains. Burger King posted a 5.8% rise in comparable U.S. sales, driven by menu upgrades, the Whopper revamp, and family‑focused promotions. In contrast, Popeyes saw a 6.5% drop in...
Phytokana Locks In $450M in Customer Contracts Ahead of Faba Protein Facility Launch
Phytokana Ingredients, a Calgary‑based faba protein startup, has locked in definitive off‑take agreements worth roughly $450 million, with total potential sales exceeding $500 million when combined with existing MOUs. The contracts span three to ten years and are tied to the upcoming...
Applebee’s Store Closures: See an Updated List of Locations that a Bankrupt Franchisee Wants to Shutter
NRPF Group Two, a franchisee operating roughly 50 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar locations in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, has filed for Chapter 11 protection and now seeks court approval to reject the leases on five additional restaurants—four in Florida and one in...
NIQ Brandbank and RangeMe Expand Wellness Product Discovery Capabilities
NielsenIQ announced an expanded integration of its Brandbank data with the RangeMe marketplace, enriching the platform with verified wellness attributes and product insights. Retail buyers can now filter for high‑protein, probiotic, low‑sugar and GLP‑1‑friendly products, gaining faster access to emerging...
Chef Hasung Lee Is Going Full French Laundry at Oyatte
Chef Hasung Lee, known from Netflix’s *Culinary Class Wars*, launches his first solo venture, Oyatte, in a Murray Hill townhouse. The 33‑seat space offers an eight‑course tasting menu (more than 15 dishes) priced at $210, with an optional $170 wine...
Mars: The Global Heavyweight Setting the Snacking Agenda
Mars, the world’s largest confectionery and snacking group, is reshaping the industry through a series of high‑profile acquisitions and aggressive product innovation. The $36 bn purchase of Kellanova adds salty‑snack icons such as Pringles, Pop‑Tarts and Cheez‑It, broadening Mars’ reach beyond...
Oatly Launches UK’s First Plant-Based Cold Foam for Cafes and Bars
Oatly has launched Barista Cold Foam in the UK, the first plant‑based cold foam designed for cafés, bars and restaurants. The shelf‑stable oat topping sits on iced coffee, cold brew and specialty drinks, staying stable for about an hour on...
Healthy Ageing Beyond the Wrinkle: 4 Big Opportunities in Food and Drink
The healthy ageing trend is moving from beauty products into mainstream food and drink, driven by an aging population and rising chronic‑disease awareness. Nestlé’s launch of a longevity‑focused drinks line targets a projected $43.1 bn (≈ $39.5 bn) elderly nutrition market by 2032....
Another Drop in Revenue for HelloFresh
HelloFresh reported a 7.7% drop in first‑quarter 2026 revenue to €1.7 billion ($1.85 billion), while orders fell 11.6% to roughly 25 million. The company’s strategy of targeting higher‑value, more loyal customers lifted the average order value 4.2% to €71 ($77.5) but did not...
Mars Dips Toe Into Cocoa-Free Chocolate
Mars, the maker of Snickers, has introduced a cocoa‑free Balisto Trail Mix in Germany, using Planet A Foods’ ChoViva ingredient. The product, sold in 140‑gram bags at Rewe supermarkets, will be available from April through October as a test launch....
Grillo's Pickles X PBR Dares To Ask If Vinegar Improves Cheap Beer
Pabst Blue Ribbon teamed with Grillo's Pickles to launch a limited‑edition pickle‑infused lager, hitting shelves on May 4, 2026. The 4.7% ABV beer is sold in 12‑ounce cans, typically in 6‑packs priced around $6.99 at major retailers. A reviewer noted the briny...
Food Tank Explains: True Cost Accounting
Food Tank’s primer explains True Cost Accounting (TCA), a holistic framework that quantifies the hidden environmental, health, social and economic externalities of the global food system. The UN’s FAO estimates these unpriced impacts total roughly $12 trillion each year, with separate...
How Meat-Snack Marketers Are Meeting the Moment
Archer Jerky secured a high‑profile partnership with Disney’s *The Mandalorian*, using Baby Yoda to launch a limited‑edition jerky tied to the film’s premiere. The meat‑snack category posted 6.6% growth in 2025 and is projected to exceed $22 billion in 2026, driven by...
BENEO and Meatless Publish Consumer Survey Results on Hybrid Meat
Ingredient maker BENEO’s Meatless division released a consumer survey of nearly 3,500 shoppers in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. In Germany, more than half of respondents said they would purchase hybrid meat products if taste and price meet expectations,...
Wellbeing Nutrition’s New Ad Focuses on Picky Eating Among Children
Wellbeing Nutrition has rolled out a new advertising campaign for its Kids Superfuel drink mix, aimed at children’s picky‑eating habits. The tagline “Super Nutrition. Zero Negotiation” frames the product as a hassle‑free way for parents to meet daily nutrient needs. The...
Debut Partners With Oterra to Develop Natural Alternative to Red Dye 40
Debut, a biotech firm known for beauty‑focused ingredients, has teamed up with natural‑color supplier Oterra to create a bio‑based alternative to synthetic Red Dye 40. The partnership aligns with the FDA’s plan to phase out certain FD&C colors by the end...
Slice Enters Dirty Soda Market
Slice, a Suja Life brand, launched Dirty Soda—a ready‑to‑drink version of the viral mix‑your‑own trend—at Target stores nationwide. The line debuts two flavors, Dirty Orange (60 calories) and Dirty Strawberry (50 calories), each sweetened with just 4 g of sugar and...
Loblaw Reports Q1 Profit and Sales up From Year Ago, Raises Quarterly Dividend
Loblaw Companies Ltd. posted a stronger first‑quarter, with profit rising to $594 million and revenue climbing to $14.72 billion, up from $14.14 billion a year earlier. Same‑store food sales increased 2.4%, while drug and pharmacy services grew 4.1% and 6.7% respectively. The company...
Antibiotic Overuse in European Farming Is Driving Resistance Crisis, Experts Warn
Scientists, veterinarians, policymakers and advocates convened in Nicosia to highlight the surge in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) driven by antibiotic overuse in European livestock. Although EU farm antibiotic sales dropped 51% between 2011 and 2022, they rebounded in 2023‑24, with Cyprus...
Hass Avocado Board Unveils New Foodservice Report
The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) released a new quarterly Foodservice Insights report, created with Datassential, to map avocado usage across restaurant menus. Despite weak consumer sentiment and rising food prices, diners are shifting toward value and convenience, keeping avocados in...
Frankie’s Expands Organic PuffCorn Distribution
Frankie’s Organic Snacks is extending its PuffCorn line to 41 new East Coast stores, adding 27 MOM’s Organic Market locations and 14 Earth Fare outlets. The rollout introduces six flavor varieties, all certified organic, gluten‑free, kosher and non‑GMO. The 4‑oz bags...
Anchor ‘Absolutely Buttered’ for Havas London Ad Debut
Anchor, the butter brand owned by Arla Foods, has unveiled a new brand platform titled “Let’s Get Absolutely Buttered,” rolled out by its creative partner Havas London. The launch centers on a 30‑second film that humorously depicts a woman oblivious...
Auction Update: Bordeaux Means Business
iDealwine’s 2025 auction data shows Bordeaux rebounding, with total sales hitting €42.4 million (about $46.6 million), a 9% year‑on‑year increase and volumes up 19%. Blue‑chip estates such as Petrus, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Lafite Rothschild remain dominant, with Petrus averaging €2,480...
Why Europe Is Slower than US to Adopt Technology
Stuart Maxwell, COO of Proof 8, explained how digital tools are reshaping whisky distilleries by improving stock visibility and product traceability. He highlighted that U.S. distilleries have rapidly adopted automated reporting to meet the demanding TTB requirements, while many European...
White Peak Distillery Marks Anniversary with Carudo X
English craft distillery White Peak Distillery has launched a limited‑edition Wire Works Carudo X single malt to mark its 10th anniversary. The 1,000‑bottle release blends whiskies aged in first‑fill ex‑bourbon barrels and re‑charred ex‑red‑wine casks, and employs a “special waters”...
Ocean Spray Seeks to Revive the Cosmopolitan
Ocean Spray is reviving the iconic Cosmopolitan with two new UK‑focused recipes—a short, bittersweet “Cosmo Hold Up” and a longer, berry‑laden “Cosmo Berry Bush.” The drinks, created by mixologist Ed To and vetted by a focus group that included Table...
Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill Taps Into Mid-Strength Wine Boom with 7% Rosé
Olympic champion Jessica Ennis‑Hill has launched Seven Summers, a premium 7% alcohol rosé from Provence, aimed at the fast‑growing mid‑strength wine segment. She teamed with former Majestic MD Josh Lincoln and Master of Wine Ray O'Connor to create a de‑alcoholised rosé...
Clase Azul’s ‘Most Ambitious Project to Date’
Luxury tequila maker Clase Azul México has opened La Hacienda, a 50‑acre estate in the Los Altos de Jalisco region, one hour from Guadalajara. The destination, ten years in the making, blends hospitality, cultural exhibition, and full‑process tequila production. Visitors...
Strains in the Food Supply Chain Are Pushing California Prices Higher
California's food supply chain is under strain as rising fuel, fertilizer and water costs force farmers to cut acreage and consolidate, while grocers absorb higher operating expenses. Diesel prices have topped $7 per gallon and fertilizer affordability has plummeted, squeezing...
Salt & Stone’s Founder Built a Breakout Brand by Ignoring This 1 Thing
Salt & Stone, founded by former pro‑snowboarder Nima Jalali, has become the top‑selling deodorant on Amazon and one of the fastest‑growing personal‑care brands. Rather than mimicking rivals, Jalali focused on a superior product and a distinct brand voice, allowing the...
Food-to-Go Supplier Around Noon Sells Minority Share to Whiterock
Around Noon, a Newry‑based food‑to‑go supplier, has sold a minority stake to Belfast‑based fund manager Whiterock. The company reported revenue of £81 million (≈$110 million) last year, while its 2024 turnover fell to £26.4 million (≈$36 million). It supplies more than four million ready‑to‑eat...
Rockliffe Hall Unveils New F&B Line-Up Ahead of September Launch
Rockliffe Hall will debut a suite of new food‑and‑beverage concepts in September, including Rialto, an all‑day Italian‑American restaurant, and Ro, a Japanese‑inspired cocktail bar. The renovation also adds The Morning Room afternoon‑tea service, Café Terra patisserie, an elevated sports bar, and...
This Antioxidant “Wakes Up The Brain” Similar To Exercise
A preclinical study published in Current Research in Food Science found that the astringent taste of flavanols—found in dark chocolate, tea, red wine and berries—activates brain alertness pathways in mice, producing effects similar to a mild workout. Mice given 25 mg/kg...
Saudi Arabia’s only Alcohol Store Runs Short of Booze Amid Iran War
Saudi Arabia’s only licensed liquor store in Riyadh, opened in 2024 to serve diplomats and wealthy non‑Muslim residents, is facing severe shortages of wine, tequila and beer. The shortfall stems from delayed shipments from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates,...
Strong Demand for Guinness Drives Diageo’s Growth
Diageo outperformed expectations in Q3, driven primarily by a resurgence in Guinness demand. The group posted a modest 0.3% rise in organic net revenue to $4.48 billion, supported by a 0.4% volume increase. Strong sales momentum came from Europe and Latin...
Cape Town Cocktail Week Gets Educational
Kurt Schlechter, founder of Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen, has been appointed director of education for Cape Town Cocktail Week (CTCW) and will co‑create the festival’s inaugural education programme. The 2026 edition runs 7‑13 December, following a successful debut in December 2025 that...
Here's How Much A Prime Rib Dinner Set Back Diners In The 1960s
Prime rib was a mid‑century dining staple, with 1960s restaurant meals priced between $3.45 and $4.50, equivalent to roughly $37‑$48 today. Modern equivalents charge $58‑$72, outpacing inflation adjustments. The article attributes the price gap to limited supply, seasonal demand, low...
Teremana Launches Social Connection Campaign
Dwayne Johnson’s Teremana Tequila has teamed with social‑meetup app Timeleft to launch the "Share the Table, Share the Mana" campaign. The initiative debuted with interactive billboards in Los Angeles and will run Thursday‑night events from April through August in 13 U.S....
Raw Milk Is In the News Again—Here’s What You Need to Know
Raw milk is re‑emerging as a political flashpoint, with more than 40 bills introduced in 18 states to ease sales restrictions. The push is championed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who accuses the FDA of suppressing the product....
Award Winners: The Asian Spirits Masters 2026
The 2026 Asian Spirits Masters, part of the Global Spirits Masters Competition, awarded medals to a range of Asian‑origin spirits across vodka, gin, agave, rum, arrack, whisky and specialty categories. Cashmir Vodka took Silver, while Stranger & Sons Gin earned...
Diageo Beats Expectations as Early Signs of Turnaround Emerge
Diageo posted a modest 0.3% rise in organic net sales to $4.5 bn for the quarter, defying analysts who had forecast a 2.3% decline. Strong demand in Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, plus a timely Chinese New Year boost,...
9 Franco Manca Pizza Restaurants Will Close in London: Full List of Locations Shutting for Good
Franco Manca’s parent company Fulham Shore announced the closure of nine London pizzerias as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) aimed at restructuring debt. The closures, which include sites in Battersea, Broadway Market, Brixton and Stoke Newington, are blamed...