Happy Belly Expands Footprint as It Nears 100 Locations
Happy Belly Food Group is racing toward 100 Canadian locations, up from 77 at the end of Q4 2025, with a planned U.S. debut in Texas. Q4 revenue jumped 183% year‑over‑year to roughly $4.2 million USD, while adjusted EBITDA posted a $0.37 million loss due to upfront franchise rollout costs. The company’s multi‑brand, franchise‑heavy model underpins capital‑efficient scaling, supported by a pipeline of about 650 prospective sites. Analysts see strong top‑line momentum but warn that near‑term profitability and cash‑flow pressures remain.
US District Judge Denies Conagra’s Motion to Dismiss Short-Weighting Lawsuit
A U.S. district judge denied Conagra Brands' motion to dismiss a 2024 lawsuit accusing the company of short‑weighting its Mrs. Paul’s and Van de Kamp’s fish products with sodium tripolyphosphate (STTP). The plaintiffs allege false "100 percent Whole Fish" labeling and...
New Faroese Fisheries Minister Urges Industry to Innovate Amid Declining Quotas
Bárður á Steig Nielsen, the new Faroese minister of fisheries, is urging the sector to innovate as pelagic quotas for mackerel and other species decline. He is promoting the capture of mesopelagic fish such as lanternfish and Mueller's pearlside, and...
Environmental and Geopolitical Pressures Are Driving Deeptech’s Steady Growth in Agrifood
Environmental and geopolitical stresses are reshaping the global food system, prompting agrifood firms to seek deeptech solutions for drought‑resistant crops, faster R&D, and novel ingredients. Deeptech’s share of agrifood investment has risen from 34% in 2021 to 59% in 2025,...
Chopped Leaf Launches Premium Sandwich Lineup with Toasted Ciabatta Options
Chopped Leaf is rolling out a premium sandwich lineup across its 120‑plus North American locations, adding two new toasted ciabatta options—Southwest Steak and Chicken Club—and moving existing chicken sandwiches onto an eight‑inch ciabatta bun. The brand also upgraded its Jalapeño...
Mowi and TidalX AI Expand Collaboration Into Salmon Genetics Program
Mowi and TidalX AI have broadened their partnership to embed AI‑driven tracking into Mowi Genetics, the company’s salmon breeding arm. The technology will monitor individual fish without physical tags, feeding continuous data on growth, disease resistance and welfare back into...
Europeans Exposed to High Doses of Glycerol in Drinks, EFSA Recommends Setting Limits
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that a single serving of glycerol‑containing slush‑ice drinks or dealcoholised wine can push children and adults above the acute reference dose (ARfD) of 125 mg per kilogram body weight. EFSA’s acute exposure model...
Ecuador’s Shrimp Sector Exploring Ways to Implement New Technologies Across Its Value Chain
Over 60 shrimp‑industry professionals gathered in Guayaquil for the SustainED conference, a joint initiative of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership and the National Chamber of Aquaculture. The event highlighted how artificial intelligence, data integration, traceability and renewable‑energy tools can give producers...
Thai Union's Sales, Profits Rise in Q1 2026 on Pricing, Volume Growth
Thai Union posted first‑quarter 2026 sales of THB 32.05 billion (about $985 million), a 7.6% year‑over‑year increase, the strongest since Q3 2022. Operating profit surged 29% to $35.7 million and net profit rose 9.2% to $34 million, helped by a $13 million tax benefit and lower SG&A...
This Hyped New York-Style Pizza Restaurant Is Opening a New Slice Shop in Central London
Carmy’s, a new New York‑style slice shop, is set to open this summer at 1 Monmouth Street in Covent Garden. The venture is launched by the founding trio behind Carmela’s—Phil Chaykin, Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany—and will focus on a streamlined, order‑and‑go model. The...
The Collapse of the Food Matrix: How Ultra-Processed Foods Impact Satiety and Metabolism by Altering Physical Structure Beyond Nutrient Composition
A 2026 Frontiers in Nutrition review argues that the health risks of ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) stem primarily from the industrial collapse of their physical food matrix, not just poor nutrient profiles. The authors detail how a softened matrix accelerates oral...
The Simple Sandwich Is Pushing Boundaries Like Never Before
The UK sandwich market is undergoing a premium‑driven renaissance, with more than half of consumers reporting increased consumption. Quality, especially artisanal bread and fresh fillings, now outweighs price, prompting shoppers to pay £10+ (≈$13) for elevated options and even £28...
GLP-1s: Is the Industry Asking the Wrong Question?
GLP‑1 medications now reach roughly 13.3% of U.S. consumers and could climb to about 21% by 2030, prompting a reevaluation of food‑category impacts. Industry research from the American Bakers Association shows that rather than abandoning baked‑goods, users are eating smaller...
Michelin-Starred Chef Thierry Marx Develops Plant-Based Kebab Recipe for French School Canteens
French foodservice distributor PRO à PRO, which serves more than half of the country’s secondary schools, has teamed with plant‑based brand ACCRO to launch a new kebab recipe developed by Michelin‑starred chef Thierry Marx. The kebab uses ACCRO’s 100% plant‑based...
Microbiome Explorer Challenge Returns Seeking Europe’s Next Microbiome Start-Up Stars
The Microbiome Explorer Challenge (MEC) returns for its 2026 edition, expanding from a Central‑Eastern European focus to cover the entire continent. It invites pre‑seed, seed‑stage startups and research spin‑outs to submit market‑ready concepts for personalized microbiome modulation across gut, skin,...
Mars Rewrites Confectionery Marketing Playbook with NYX Partnership
Mars, Inc. has partnered with NYX Professional Makeup to launch a limited‑edition line of M&M’s Smushy Surprize Matte Lip Balms. The collection is designed for TikTok‑driven unboxing and collector culture, targeting Gen Z and millennial consumers who favor social‑first experiences. By...
Pita Pit Rolls Out Shawarma Lineup Across Canada with Chef-Developed Menu
Pita Pit is launching a chef‑developed shawarma lineup across Canada, adding chicken, beef and halloumi options served as pita, salad or bowl. The items use fixed ingredient combos, moving away from the chain’s usual build‑your‑own model to improve speed and...
Marc Lore Says that AI Will Soon Enable Anyone Open a Restaurant
Veteran e‑commerce founder Marc Lore unveiled Wonder Create, an AI‑driven platform that can design, brand and launch a virtual restaurant in under a minute. The concept runs on Wonder’s programmable, all‑electric kitchens—currently 120 locations, slated to grow to 400 by...
Pacific PET Enters Australia’s Recycling Supply Chain
Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners Australia (CCEP) has teamed with Circular Plastics Australia to launch a regional circularity program that creates a bottle‑to‑bottle supply chain for PET collected from Pacific Island nations. In its first year the initiative will recover about 2,000 tonnes...
See’s Makes Australian Debut – in Queensland
See's Candies, the iconic American confectioner founded in 1921, opened its first Australian store at Robina Town Centre in Queensland. The launch is a licensed partnership with local operators Jason and Megan Banks, who highlighted the Gold Coast’s community vibe...
‘Just the Beginning’: NZ’s Kiddicare Expands to Canada
New Zealand‑born baby care brand Kiddicare announced its entry into Canada, securing shelf space at more than 450 retail locations nationwide. The rollout includes major chains such as Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and Zehrs. Since its 2012 launch, Kiddicare has...
This New NYC Restaurant Transports Guests to a Rustic Farmhouse
Chef Hasung Lee, a Korean‑born talent who cut his teeth at Gramercy Tavern, The French Laundry and Copenhagen’s Geranium, is opening Oyatte in Manhattan’s Murray Hill. The restaurant leans heavily into the farm‑to‑table movement, pulling the majority of its produce...
Supermarket Inflation: Falling Oil Prices Help Keep Costs Down at the Till
City AM’s informal price check across Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose shows supermarket inflation hovering near zero in May. A 500 ml bottle of rapeseed cooking oil dropped 14 % on average, offsetting price hikes in items like chopped tomatoes (+12.6 %) and tenderstem broccoli...
Zappfresh in Talks for Majority Stake in GM Foods
Zappfresh, the direct‑to‑consumer meat and seafood delivery platform owned by DSM Fresh Foods, is negotiating to acquire a majority stake in Haryana‑based GM Foods for roughly Rs 20 crore (about $2.4 million). The acquisition would add GM Foods’ ready‑cook breakfast, spice and dessert‑mix...
Four in Five Britons Worried Iran War Will Make Food More Expensive, Poll Finds
A poll by Opinium shows 80% of Britons fear the Iran‑Israel conflict will raise grocery prices. The war’s impact on oil, gas and fertiliser markets has already pushed energy costs higher, prompting retailers to urge the UK government to cut...
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Making Matcha Work: How to Balance Flavor, Color and Performance
Beverage formulators are increasingly turning to matcha as a functional ingredient, but its strong flavor, vivid color, and hygroscopic nature demand careful handling. Experts from Vibrant Ingredients, Virginia Dare, Keychain, and MartinBauer stress the need for high‑grade matcha, precise flavor...
On The Rocks Passion Fruit Margarita, Sparkling Watermelon Margarita
On The Rocks Bartender Created Cocktails is launching two new ready‑to‑drink margaritas—a Passion Fruit Margarita and a Sparkling Watermelon Margarita. Both drinks are built around Hornitos Blanco tequila, house‑made triple sec and cane sugar, with the Passion Fruit offered in...
China Focus: BioGaia, Functional Drinks Demand, Shifts in Retail Landscape and More
China’s health‑food market is undergoing rapid change, with functional drink sales surging and supplement brands shifting to e‑commerce channels. Eastroc reported a 17.3% rise in energy‑beverage sales and a 119% jump in sports‑drink revenue, pushing total revenue to US$3 billion. BioGaia...
HMO Infant Formulas: Regulatory Developments to Drive NPD and Affordability
H&H Group introduced its first six‑human‑milk‑oligosaccharide (HMO) infant formula in mainland China under the new Guobiao (GB) standards, leveraging a French‑made product with six HMOs including a high‑dose 2′‑FL. The launch helped drive a 74.4% year‑over‑year jump in the company’s...
Mars to Expand Wodonga Pet Food Plant with $113 Million Investment
Mars Australia is allocating roughly $132 million USD to expand its manufacturing footprint, including a $74 million USD wet‑pouch production line at the Wodonga pet‑food plant slated for commissioning in June 2026. The broader $200 million AUD (≈$132 million USD) program also targets R&D...
Autonomous Delivery Reaches Age of Expansion
Autonomous delivery is moving from concept to rapid expansion as Zipline and Coco Robotics announced aggressive growth plans at the 2026 Food on Demand Conference. Zipline will add service in Austin and Phoenix by the end of the quarter and...
Fries that Fly? Curly Fry Inventor Lamb Weston Taps Novelty for New Retail Ranges
Lamb Weston, the potato pioneer behind the curly fry, is expanding its retail portfolio with novel products such as Dippers, Grill Fries, a Mash Cup, and the airline‑optimized Snap Fry. The Dippers are crinkle‑cut fries designed for scooping sauces, while...
Policy Picks: Alcohol Warning Labels, Vietnam Food Safety and More Updates
China’s Shanghai city has launched full‑scale alcohol warning‑label trials covering every beverage above 0.5% ABV across online and offline retailers, aligning with its 2019‑2030 health plans. Vietnam’s long‑delayed Decree 46 food‑safety overhaul remains stalled, creating port congestion and trade disruptions. South...
Antoni Porowski and Fresh Express Dish on Salad Kits
At the CPMA Convention, Fresh Express promoted its salad kits as full‑meal options, with host Antoni Porowski stressing health, taste and convenience. The brand highlighted a consumer shift toward layered textures, global flavor profiles and easy DIY upgrades. Executives said...
Vitafoods Europe 2026 Live: Transforming Functional Foods with Sustainable Biotech Solutions
At Vitafoods Europe 2026 in Barcelona, leading F&B ingredient makers unveiled a wave of biotech innovations, including precision‑fermentation microbes, probiotic strains, and postbiotic ingredients. Companies such as Lesaffre’s Gnosis, Lallemand Bio‑Ingredients, and Symrise demonstrated animal‑free alternatives, heat‑stable postbiotics and enzyme...
Kraft Heinz Co (KHC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Kraft Heinz’s Q1 2026 call highlighted a portfolio reshuffle, moving Frozen to "Hold," Hydration to "Win Big," and Cheese to "Win" as margin outlooks evolve. The company guided Q2 revenue down 3%‑5%, citing an Easter timing shift and a 100‑basis‑point SNAP...
Bloomin' Brands Inc (BLMN) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Bloomin' Brands reported Q1 2022 revenue of $1.14 billion, a 15.5% increase year‑over‑year, and adjusted EPS of $0.80, up 11%. Comparable restaurant sales rose 14% driven by higher pricing, mix and traffic, while off‑premises digital orders accounted for 79% of U.S....
Vitafoods Europe 2026 Live: Transforming Functional Foods with Sustainable Biotech Solutions
At Vitafoods Europe 2026 in Barcelona, ingredient makers unveiled a wave of biotechnology‑driven solutions, including precision fermentation, probiotic strains, post‑biotics, and enzyme platforms. Companies such as Lesaffre’s Gnosis, Lallemand Bio‑Ingredients, and Symrise highlighted animal‑free alternatives like MyCondro chondroitin and heat‑stable...
When Every Product Is Functional, What Actually Drives Choice?
Functional claims such as protein, gut health and indulgence have become baseline expectations on shelves, eroding their power to drive trial. Brands are shifting from single‑attribute promises to blended protein sources, credible gut‑health stacks and indulgent formats that also deliver...
One of America’s Best Craft Distilleries Dropped a Trio of Its Oldest Whiskeys Yet
Hard Truth Distilling Co., a decade‑old craft operation in Indiana, launched three seven‑year‑old whiskeys—a straight bourbon, a wheated bourbon, and a rye—each bottled at high proof. The releases showcase the distillery’s sweet‑mash fermentation, a departure from the industry‑standard sour mash....
‘Almost at a Crisis’: Canada's Restaurants Face Perfect Storm of Costs and Cautious Consumers
Canada’s restaurant sector is confronting a perfect storm of rising labour and food costs, dwindling foot traffic and a tightening talent pool. Restaurants Canada’s Q1 report shows 49% of operators face lower sales, 71% see profitability slip and one‑third are...
Timber Pizza Co. Signs Two&Unit Franchise Agreement for Atlanta Metro Area
Timber Pizza Co. has signed a two‑unit franchise development agreement for the Atlanta metro area, targeting Alpharetta and Cumming. The first restaurant is projected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, with a second location to follow shortly after....
Viva Fresh 2026 Shares Roadmap To Future-Proof The Produce Industry
The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) used its 2026 Viva Fresh Expo to unveil a forward‑looking strategy for the $100 billion fresh‑produce sector. Futurist economist Richard Kottmeyer introduced “consumomics,” a framework that ties policy, health, and consumer behavior to demand, and...
Guestologie Launches to Help Restaurants Act on Guest Data in Real Time to Personalize Service and Boost Retention
Guestologie launched a platform that delivers real‑time guest‑data insights to restaurant staff, enabling personalized service at the point of visit. The system flags high‑value diners, offers actionable recommendations, and integrates with existing POS and reservation tools without a new app...
We Don’t Lack Ideas in Canada—We Bury Them in Red Tape
Canada’s Spring Economic Update signals a shift toward modernizing food‑safety regulation, proposing risk‑based, adaptive frameworks. Critics warn that fewer inspections could weaken oversight, but the government argues it will reduce administrative burdens while preserving safety. The current approval process can...
U.S. Restaurant Operators Report Mixed Sales and Traffic Readings in March
Restaurant operators reported mixed same‑store sales and traffic results for March 2026, marking a slowdown after February’s gains. Only 45% said sales rose year‑over‑year, down from 61% in February, while 39% saw declines, up from 27%. Customer traffic also turned...
Most Food Manufacturers Are Adjusting Prices, But Only Half Know If It’s Working
A 2025 Zilliant survey of 300 food‑manufacturing executives shows 99% have raised prices to offset material, labor and logistics cost spikes. Yet only about half feel confident they can trace those price changes to margin outcomes. The study highlights internal...
Celebrating the Success of Restaurant Industry Apprenticeships
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation marked National Apprenticeship Week by highlighting its registered apprenticeship programs for the restaurant sector. The initiative, run through the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center, blends on‑the‑job training with classroom instruction, culminating in nationally recognized...
Amazon Business Adds Same-Day Fresh Grocery Delivery
Amazon Business is extending its same‑day grocery delivery service to more than 2,300 U.S. cities, using the same temperature‑controlled fulfillment network that powers Amazon.com. The rollout lets businesses add fresh produce, dairy, baked goods and frozen items to a single...
IFPA Names Second Cohort For Packaging Innovation Program
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and the Foundation for Fresh Produce announced the second cohort of its Packaging Innovation Program, a $5 million USDA‑funded effort to accelerate sustainable packaging for U.S. specialty crop exports. Seven companies will receive non‑dilutive grants...