DOJ Confirms Antitrust Probe of Beef Processors
The U.S. Justice Department confirmed a combined criminal and civil antitrust investigation into the meat‑packing sector as beef prices hit record highs and cattle inventories shrink. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the probe will move quickly, targeting major processors such as JBS, Tyson, Cargill and National Beef. The inquiry focuses on purchase practices, including alternative marketing agreements that may distort spot‑market pricing. At the same briefing, the DOJ announced a settlement with data firm Agri Stats over a separate poultry and pork price‑fixing lawsuit.
A Seriously Delicious Frozen Pizza, Girl Scout Cookie-Inspired Candy Clusters, and More: The Best New Trader Joe’s Groceries for May
Trader Joe’s rolled out its May lineup of limited‑time groceries, featuring a Detroit‑style pepperoni pizza, Turkish three‑cheese flatbread called Gözlemes, coconut‑cashew candy clusters that echo Girl Scout Samoas, a sparkling lychee juice beverage, and a cloud‑like whipped ricotta. Prices range from...
Loblaw Steps Further Into AI
Loblaw Companies Limited has partnered with Canadian AI specialist Shakudo to build a centralized platform for developing and scaling in‑house artificial‑intelligence and machine‑learning applications. The new system will streamline data infrastructure, reduce duplicated effort across Loblaw’s digital teams, and support...
FMI Expands Health and Well-Being Practice with Appointment of Kim Visioni
The Food Industry Association (FMI) announced the appointment of Kim Visioni, MS, RDN, as its new director of health & well‑being. Visioni will spearhead efforts to position grocery stores as health hubs, expanding access to nutritious foods, wellness products, and...
Hemp THC Ban Remains Intact After House Abandons Rescue Plan
The U.S. House voted to keep a federal ban on intoxicating hemp drinks as part of the long‑delayed Farm Bill, leaving the restriction set to take effect in November unchanged. The measure now moves to the Senate, where a proposal...
Molson Coors Brings Back Keystone Ice After 5 Years
Molson Coors announced the return of Keystone Ice, its discontinued ice‑brewed lager, after a five‑year hiatus. The relaunch, highlighted on the Q1 earnings call, targets select U.S. markets as part of a broader effort to revive the company’s value‑beer portfolio....
Eye on POS: Preferred Hotels Prefer Toast; NCR Voyix Expands at Stater Bros. Markets
Toast Inc. joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts' Alliance Partner Program, becoming an endorsed point‑of‑sale provider for the luxury hotel group’s 625 independent properties across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The partnership opens a new hospitality revenue...
Sargento Exec Explains Why We Need to Define 'Natural Cheese'
Sargento executive Chad Hamilton testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, urging passage of the Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions (CURD) Act to create a statutory definition of “natural cheese.” He highlighted that natural cheese is minimally processed and made...
SoftBank Robotics Debuting Autonomous Cooking Robots ‘STEAMA’ and ‘FLAMA’ in the US
SoftBank Robotics is launching its autonomous cooking robots STEAMA and FLAMA in the United States, debuting them at the National Restaurant Association Show 2026 in Chicago. STEAMA uses high‑pressure steam to prepare frozen noodle dishes in roughly 90 seconds, while...
Men’s Health Innovation Should Be Driven by Motivations and Need States: Experts
The men’s health supplement market is shifting from age‑based targeting to motivation‑driven segmentation, with energy, libido and prostate support identified as primary entry points. CPG Radar uncovered 21 distinct consumer profiles based on life‑stage needs, while retailers like GNC report...
Australia to Develop Foodborne Campylobacter Action Plan
The Australia‑New Zealand Food Regulation System has approved a five‑year National Campylobacter Action Plan and opened stakeholder registration. The plan will map short‑, medium‑ and long‑term measures to understand and mitigate foodborne Campylobacter risks across the supply chain. Campylobacter accounts for...
US Legislators Revive FAIR Labels Act With Tighter Restrictions on Alt Protein Labeling
A bipartisan group of House and Senate members reintroduced the FAIR Labels Act of 2026, aiming to place plant‑based and cell‑cultivated proteins under the same federal labeling rules as conventional meat. The bill would require the term “cell‑cultivated” or the...
Monster Energy Celebrates America’s 250th with Summer Pack, New Flavors
Monster Energy is launching a patriotic summer line to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, featuring the new Juice Monster Strawberry Lemonade and the zero‑sugar Ultra Red, White & Blue Razz. The products arrive in limited‑edition cans adorned with flag‑bearing...
FMI Appoints Visioni As Director Of Health, Well-Being
The Food Industry Association (FMI) has named Kim Visioni as its new director of health and well‑being. Visioni will steer FMI’s strategy to turn grocery stores into health‑focused destinations, covering nutritious foods, wellness products, and credible guidance. Her appointment comes...
Rethinking the Coffee Replacement
Search data from Spate shows the coffee‑alternative category expanding 39.5% year‑over‑year, with tea‑based drinks leading the surge. Matcha beverages posted a 154.5% jump, while herbal and wellness teas grew steadily, reflecting a shift toward functional benefits such as gut health...
Ahold Delhaize USA Brands Expand On-Demand Grocery Delivery with Uber Eats
Ahold Delhaize USA announced an expanded partnership with Uber Eats, adding nearly 2,000 stores from Food Lion, Giant, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop to the Uber Eats grocery marketplace. Shoppers can now browse fresh foods, pantry staples, household essentials and alcohol directly in the Uber Eats app,...
Top 10 Stories for April
April’s top meat‑processing headlines underscore a wave of expansion, consolidation, and operational challenges across the U.S. sector. Sysco announced a $29 billion acquisition of Restaurant Depot, while Triumph Foods and Empirical invested $30 million and opened a new Kansas plant to lift...
US Army Issues Call to Manufacture Plant-Based Meat for Military Meals in Combat Zones
The U.S. Army has issued a Sources Sought notice inviting industry and academic partners to develop precision‑fermentation and other biomanufacturing methods for plant‑based proteins that can be produced in combat zones. The effort supports the upcoming 2027 rollout of fully...
Tray’s Maple AI Integration and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 5/4/26
Tray, a point‑of‑sale system provider, announced a completed integration with Maple, an AI‑driven voice platform that will now be available to restaurant operators using Tray. Western Union disclosed it will leverage Fireblocks’ digital‑asset infrastructure to back its new USDPT stablecoin,...
Greece: Santorini Growers Supply 120 Restaurants on the Island
Kissiras Santorini Microgreens, a family farm founded in 2020, now delivers fresh microgreens, edible flowers and specialty vegetables to more than 120 restaurants across Santorini. The operation grows 32 varieties of microgreens and around 40 edible‑flower types, enabling same‑day cut‑and‑deliver...
"The Pendulum Has Swung so Far that People Don't Know What Real Food Looks Like"
Local Leaf Farm opened in a former Chipotle space in Highland Park, Illinois, turning the retail site into a year‑round indoor hydroponic operation. The farm grows 30 microgreen varieties, 13 lettuce types and edible flowers using deep‑water‑culture towers and Agrowtek’s precision...
Why Wine Can’t Keep Leaning on Tradition Alone
Wine industry’s digital push is limited to sensors, says Timofey Golovin, co‑founder of Winno. While traditional segments like Burgundy cling to heritage, climate‑driven losses force even legacy producers to consider new tech. Small family estates face steep capex, with a...
Lottie’s Meats’ Target Expansion Marks Brand's Largest Retail Move
Lottie’s Meats is expanding into Target stores across Northern California, Washington and Oregon, marking its biggest retail rollout yet. The move adds to the brand’s presence in more than 300 retail and food‑service locations nationwide. Target will stock two fully...
US (OH): Locals Thrilled at Aquaponic Lettuce
Sweet Melissa’s, a regional salad chain founded in Boardman, Ohio, has partnered with WestWinn Urban Ag to source its lettuce from an indoor aquaponic farm in Sharon. The farm uses a recirculating system that combines tilapia and koi with hydroponic...
Australian Snacking Trends Reshape Fresh Produce Demand
Australian consumers now treat snacking as a core eating occasion, but packaged snacks dominate with $9.73 bn in retail sales. Fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts remain popular, yet volumes are slipping as convenience and taste drive choices. Higher prices have lifted...
Martha Stewart's Favorite Fast Food Restaurant Is Ridiculously Healthy
Martha Stewart revealed that Sweetgreen is her go‑to "fast‑food" choice, favoring its salad bowls, roasted sweet potatoes and kombucha over traditional burger chains. The lifestyle icon even served Sweetgreen salads at her American Made Summit, underscoring the brand’s appeal to...
The World’s Best Tequila—According To The 2026 London Spirits Competition
Herradura Reposado earned 96 out of 100 points, being crowned Tequila of the Year at the 2026 London Spirits Competition. The 80‑proof spirit, first released in 1974, is aged 11 months in charred American oak, delivering butterscotch, cinnamon and vanilla...
Can You Live Longer By Drinking More Coffee? What A New Study Concludes
A new review in the journal Nutrients consolidates decades of cohort data, concluding that drinking roughly 3.5 cups of coffee daily (about 28 ounces) is associated with the greatest longevity benefit. The analysis links regular coffee intake to a 15% lower...
Beverage Players Sharply Focus on Affordability, Ramping up Distribution This Summer
Leading soft‑drink makers in India are doubling down on affordability and distribution to capture summer demand. Coca‑Cola and PepsiCo are rolling out ₹10 (~$0.12) single‑serve packs and expanding rural reach, while PepsiCo bottler Varun Beverages plans to add roughly half...
Dine Like A Tim Burton Character At This Uniquely Ghoulish NYC Restaurant
Beetle House, founded by entrepreneur Zach Neil, has transformed from a 2016 pop‑up into a permanent New York City restaurant that delivers a Tim Burton‑inspired, Halloween‑style experience year‑round. Diners can reserve a $65 three‑course Poltergeist Feast, which includes inventive dishes...
Food Labels Are Actually Affecting Your Health
Food labels are emerging as a powerful lever to improve public health, with Chile's mandatory black‑label law slashing purchases of high‑calorie products by 23.8% and Europe’s Nutri‑Score gaining traction among 1,500 brands. Researchers link ultra‑processed foods to rising obesity and...
Jack Link’s Finally Reveals Flavors of Limited-Edition MrBeast Collab
Jack Link’s has finally disclosed the three mystery flavors in its limited‑edition MrBeast collaboration for Australia and New Zealand: Loco Taco, Butter Tikka, and Loaded Burger. The "What’s the Flavor" campaign invited fans to guess the tastes for a chance at...
US Sushi Sushirrito Chain Shuts Down
Sushirrito, the San Francisco‑born sushi‑burrito chain, announced it will wind down operations after 15 years, despite the U.S. sushi market expanding to roughly $22 billion. Founder Peter Yen, who trademarked the Sushirrito name in 2008 and claims to have invented the sushi...
Climate-Smart & Cocoa-Free: Mars Makes Moves to Decarbonise Chocolate Portfolio
Mars is testing a cocoa‑free chocolate trail mix under its Balisto brand in Germany, using Planet A Foods' ChoViva ingredient. The bean‑free product, sold at REWE until October, offers a high‑protein snack and demonstrates a 1:1 chocolate replacement. Simultaneously, Mars...
How Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Uses Square to Power 103 Stores
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has expanded to 103 brick‑and‑mortar locations in 15 states, crediting Square’s integrated suite of loans, flat‑fee processing, reporting and marketing tools. The fintech partnership gave the company predictable cash flow, real‑time sales visibility and data‑driven menu...
Why You Don't Really See This Old-School Beer Brand On Shelves Anymore
Schlitz, founded in Milwaukee in 1849, dominated the U.S. beer market until the 1970s when a cost‑cutting recipe overhaul introduced corn syrup and seaweed, alienating loyal drinkers. The brand’s reputation suffered, leading to a steep sales decline and eventual acquisition...
What FMCG Can Learn From Ferrari About Switching Lanes
FMCG supply chains face extreme pressure from high SKU counts, thin margins and rapid turnover, prompting firms to look for incremental improvements within the industry. Peter Jones of Prological Consulting argues that true step‑change innovation comes from borrowing ideas outside...
PepsiCo NZ Introduces New Snack Formats and Product Lines
PepsiCo New Zealand has launched two new snack lines – Mini Canister, a portable version of Doritos, Grain Waves and Cheetos priced at NZ $4.99 (≈$3.00 USD), and Bluebird Crackers, oven‑baked biscuits flavored like its chips at NZ $3.79 (≈$2.30 USD). Both ranges will be...
Posh Coffee Shop Chain WatchHouse – with Brews that Cost £25 – Is Opening a New Cafe in North London
WatchHouse, the ultra‑luxury coffee chain known for £25 (≈$32) brews, has opened a new 500‑square‑foot café on St John’s Wood High St in north London. The boutique space seats 20 inside, offers al fresco seating, and showcases a warm oak espresso bar, a concave...
Hidden Hazards - Your Questions Answered
Food and drink manufacturers are confronting hidden hazards such as combustible dust and design oversights created by AI‑driven production lines. Experts from Nilfisk, Weetabix and Birketts stress the growing role of third‑party hygiene specialists, provided they demonstrate low staff turnover...
April Beef Exports Soar to +140,000t, Led by Vigorous US, China Trade
Australian beef exports rose to 140,943 t in April, an 11% year‑on‑year increase and just shy of March’s near‑record level. The United States remained the top destination with 41,174 t, while shipments to China slipped 10% month‑on‑month to 29,583 t but were still...
Exclusive: Blue Tokai to Raise Rs 175 Cr in Its Extended Series D Round
Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters is raising Rs 175 crore (approximately $19 million) in an extension of its Series D round, led by Anicut Capital with participation from A91 Emerging Fund, Verlinvest, 12 Flags and others. The funding will bring the company’s post‑money valuation to about...
Kraft Heinz Insights: Is the Concept of Consumer Brand Loyalty Dead?
Kraft Heinz China’s head of data insight, Donna Li, warned that brand loyalty is no longer a given in today’s hyper‑connected market. Consumers can switch products after a single “okay” experience, forcing brands to earn repeat business through continuous, meaningful engagement....
A2 Milk Recalls Infant Formula in US over Toxin Risk
A2 Milk has recalled three batches of its Platinum Premium infant formula in the United States after detecting cereulide, a heat‑stable toxin produced by Bacillus cereus. The recall covers 63,078 units, of which 16,428 were already sold to consumers through...
Singapore’s 3 Hawkers Turn Curry Puff Into $393,000 Business with Modern Recipe
Three Singapore hawkers—brothers Lim Yuan Ming and Brandon Lim with partner Oh Chin Jie—launched What The Puff in December 2024, reinventing the classic curry puff with modern flavours. Within a year they expanded to three stalls, producing about 1,500 puffs daily...
Lactalis-Mainland Dairy’s Protein Innovation In Thailand
Thai dairy brand Anlene, part of Lactalis‑Mainland Dairy, has launched Anlene Protein+, a ready‑to‑drink protein beverage aimed at health‑conscious women. The drink features a lighter texture, lower sweetness, calcium and protein, and flavors tuned to local Thai preferences. Market research...
Restaurants Lean on AI to Cut Waste and Reduce Costs
London’s Fallow Group is piloting AI tools across its restaurants to streamline inventory, ordering and point‑of‑sale operations. The rollout includes All Gravy, a natural‑language recipe assistant, and Peckish, a fridge‑photo scanner that predicts fresh‑supply needs. Competitors such as Evolv and...
FreshAI at Checkout: Faster Exits. Happier Returns.
Mettler Toledo’s FreshAI at Checkout uses AI‑driven item recognition to speed grocery checkout lines, delivering 99% accuracy and scanning each item in roughly half a second. The solution eliminates manual entry errors, cuts labor costs, and reduces shrinkage, translating into higher...
Beverage Operations Turn to Customized Conveyor Systems to Meet Evolving Trends
Beverage manufacturers are rapidly upgrading to customized conveyor systems that can adapt to ever‑changing packaging formats, higher line speeds, and tighter changeover windows. Industry leaders from AMMEGA, Dematic and Swisslog note that flexibility, low‑friction belting, tighter roller spacing and seamless...
I Have some Ideas to Improve Ireland’s Food Scene and I’m Not Just a Newly Arrived Know-It-All
Ireland’s food scene has surged in the past decade, buoyed by Michelin‑starred chefs and a growing appreciation for premium beef, lamb, cheese and marine products. Government initiatives now aim to market Irish cuisine as a tourism and export driver, but...