RTD Beverages Target Hormonal Wellness
The Cycle, a ready‑to‑drink brand focused on hormonal wellness, unveiled two new beverages—Peri Comfort and Meno Comfort—targeting perimenopause and menopause. The additions expand the line to four phase‑specific drinks, all featuring organic sea buckthorn juice and botanicals like black cohosh and sage. The products will debut nationwide in Sprouts stores this spring and are also stocked at select wellness retailers. Priced at $4.50 per can or $18 for a four‑pack, the drinks offer a sugar‑free, caffeine‑free alternative to pills and powders.
Sprouts’ Achilles’ Heel Is Affordability. Can Its New Loyalty Program Mend That?
Sprouts Farmers Market, amid rapid expansion of its small‑store format, launched its first loyalty program, Sprouts Rewards, in October 2025 to combat growing affordability concerns among price‑sensitive shoppers. The program offers five points per dollar, personalized offers, member‑only events, and...
Bi-Rite Market Plans New Store in San Francisco's Richmond District
Bi‑Rite Family of Businesses, a Certified B Corp, announced plans for its fourth neighborhood market at 6001 California Street in San Francisco’s Richmond District, slated to open in 2027. The new store will revive a historic 1917 building that has...
Smokey Bones Just Closed All of Its Stores: See a List of Doomed Locations
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, a 30‑year‑old casual‑dining BBQ chain, shut down all of its locations on April 28, 2026. The closures follow Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings by its direct owner Twin Hospitality Group and parent company FAT Brands. Customers and employees...
Rancher’s Premium Smokehouse Adds Kroger Retail Distribution
Family‑owned Rancher’s Premium Smokehouse is rolling out its entire sausage portfolio to Kroger stores across Texas, as well as Fry’s in Arizona and Smith’s in Nevada, just before the summer barbecue rush. The 12‑oz refrigerated packs feature four distinct flavors,...
Mondelez “Cautiously Optimistic” As Outlook Rests on Consumer Uncertainty
Mondelez International reported an 8.2% rise in first‑quarter sales to $10.08 bn, driven by pricing gains despite the Middle East crisis. Management described consumer confidence as fragile in Europe and deteriorating in the U.S., but said no slowdown in snacking demand...
Ben & Jerry’s Opens UK’s First Mall Kiosk at Merry Hill
Ben & Jerry’s opened the United Kingdom’s first mall kiosk at Merry Hill, a super‑regional shopping centre now owned by Redical. The 270‑sq‑ft stand marks the brand’s debut mid‑mall presence in the UK, offering its signature ice‑cream flavours, loaded desserts...
Study: Plant-Based Mince and Meatballs a Third Cheaper than Meat Options
A Good Food Institute study finds that plant‑based mince and meatballs are, on average, 33% cheaper than comparable beef, lamb, or pork dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and meatballs. The price gap is driven by volatile meat costs linked...
High ABV Fruit-Flavoured Modelo Launches in the US
Constellation Brands has rolled out Modelo Chelada Suprema, an 8% ABV, fruit‑flavored ready‑to‑drink beer in 24‑ounce cans. The line debuts two variants—Mangonada, blending mango and chamoy, and Tropical, mixing guava and pineapple—to capture Gen Z and Millennial consumers. The launch follows...
Dave’s Killer Bread Debuts Mini Bagels
Dave’s Killer Bread is introducing Mini Bagels in two flavors—Plain Awesome and Epic Everything—available nationwide. The 100‑calorie, organic‑whole‑grain mini bagels address a growing demand for smaller portions, especially among Gen Z, who often find regular bagels too large. The brand is...
Andalucía Exports Grow as Fruit and Vegetable Shipments Increase
Andalucía’s exports rose 11.4% in February to €3.83 billion (US$4.13 billion), outpacing a 0.8% decline across the rest of Spain. Over the first two months of 2026 the region posted €7.03 billion in exports, a 2.8% year‑on‑year gain, while imports fell 13%, creating...
U.S. Grown Greenhouse Tomatoes Roll Into the Market
Pluck’d, a Virginia‑based greenhouse tomato grower, began shipping U.S.-grown tomatoes to New York City distributors in late March and has quickly secured placement in Weis, Walmart’s Mid‑Atlantic stores, and upcoming launches at Harris Teeter and Food Lion. The company offers three product lines—Preemos...
Plastic Ingenuity Using PureCycle Resin in Coffee Lids
PureCycle Technologies has teamed up with Plastic Ingenuity to embed its PureFive polypropylene resin into coffee lids, offering recycled content levels between 25% and 100%. The partnership gives food‑service brands a high‑performance, food‑safe alternative to virgin plastic while advancing circular‑economy...
Big Food’s Brand Reckoning: Why Scale Isn’t the Same as Resonance
Consolidation has long driven growth in CPG and retail, but the era of buying scale is hitting a wall as brands lose resonance after acquisition. Companies such as Kraft Heinz, WK Kellogg and PepsiCo are re‑examining sprawling portfolios to avoid...
Nomad Foods to Close Factory in Switzerland
Nomad Foods announced it will close its Rorschach manufacturing plant in Switzerland by year‑end, impacting 45 full‑time staff. The shutdown is part of a €200 m ($233 m) operational savings program targeting 2026‑2028, focusing on procurement, logistics and overhead efficiencies. Production of...
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Azure Launches
Diageo has unveiled Johnnie Walker Blue Label Azure, a coastal‑inspired, travel‑retail exclusive whisky. The 43% ABV expression, bottled in 100% post‑consumer recycled glass and designed by Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz, will debut in May at London Heathrow before rolling out...
Canadian Distillers Fight for Spirits Tax Cut
The Canadian Craft Distillers Alliance (CCDA) is pressing Prime Minister Mark Carney to extend the beer‑sector tax relief to craft spirits, arguing that current excise duties are up to 14 times higher than in the United States. The alliance proposes...
General Mills Faces Setback in Supply Chain Sustainability Push
General Mills reported a slowdown in its supply‑chain emissions reductions for fiscal 2025, cutting total greenhouse‑gas output by 14% versus a 19% decline the prior year. The dip stems from a 3% rise in operational emissions after adding electricity use...
Whitley Neill Taps Into RTDs
Whitley Neill, owned by Halewood Artisanal Spirits, has entered the UK ready‑to‑drink (RTD) market with two 250 ml canned gin cocktails – Rhubarb & Ginger with ginger ale and Yuzu & White Strawberry with lemonade – each at 8.3% ABV. The...
China Convenes Future Food Leaders at the 2026 Global Forum on Cultured Meat
China’s Nanjing Agricultural University and startup Joes Future Food hosted the 2026 Global Forum on Cultured Meat, gathering researchers, industry pioneers, and regulators. The forum tackled technology innovation, safety standards, and cost barriers while outlining a roadmap for scaling cultivated...
McDonald’s Highlights High-Protein Menu Options to Meet Customer Demand
McDonald’s is promoting its high‑protein menu items as 64% of customers seek balanced meals. The chain now highlights more than 30 offerings that deliver at least 15 grams of protein, including the Egg McMuffin, 10‑piece Chicken McNuggets and the McDouble. The company also...
Key Trends Emerge in Vitafoods Europe Education Programme
The Vitafoods Europe education programme showcased a series of high‑profile sessions that mapped emerging nutrition trends across gut health, longevity, GLP‑1 impacts, cognitive resilience, performance nutrition and nutricosmetics. Experts from Mintel, Euromonitor, Yakult and Nestlé highlighted how gut microbiome insights...
Foreign Coffee Chains Take Fresh Crack at China via New Cities, Formats
International coffee chains are pivoting to new store formats and expanding into less‑saturated Chinese cities to escape a price war dominated by local cafés. While budget outlets sell a cup for as little as 9.9 yuan (≈$1.4), premium brands like Peet’s...
‘Great British Menu’ Winner Nikita Pathakji Is Opening Her First Ever Restaurant in South London
Nikita Pathakji, the latest Great British Menu Champion of Champions, is opening her first solo restaurant, Maai, in Clapham. The venue launches on May 20, 2024, occupying the former Brook restaurant site on Abbeville Road. Maai’s menu will spotlight seasonal...
Opinion: Michelin Is Coming for Wine – But What Does a Wine Award Really Mean?
Michelin, the century‑old authority on restaurant ratings, has launched its first wine distinction, the Michelin Grapes, targeting Bordeaux and Burgundy estates for 2026. The system uses a three‑tier badge—One, Two, and Three Grapes—to denote exceptional, excellent, and very good producers....
Wellbeing Nutrition Teams up with Dhurandhar Cast for Protein Push
Wellbeing Nutrition has teamed with Dhurandhar actors Gaurav Gera and Mustafa Ahmed to launch mango and Swiss chocolate whey protein blends, positioning flavor as a driver of daily protein consumption in India. The campaign reflects a broader shift toward tasty,...
RAFAC 2026 Focuses on Innovation, AI Integration in Food Analytics
The Coconut Development Board launched RAFAC 2026, a two‑day national conference on Recent Advancements in Food Analytical Chemistry. The event highlighted AI and machine‑learning integration to streamline food analytics and boost innovation across the coconut sector. Speakers from leading research...
Transparency Tech: New App Reveals Supplement Ingredient Credibility
Supplemate by Remedy released a new app that matches dietary supplements to users' specific health goals and rates ingredient credibility on a ten‑point scale. The platform scans scientific literature, clinical trial data, regulatory status, dosage levels and potential ingredient interactions,...
Uruguay Declares Wine a Living Culture in Landmark Policy Move
Uruguay has officially declared wine a ‘living culture’ through a cross‑government declaration signed at Palacio Santos, uniting the Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture ministries with the national wine institute (INAVI). The Vitivinicultura como Cultura Viva del Uruguay programme reframes the...
Coors Light Elongates Name to Celebrate World Cup Goals
Coors Light launched “The Coooors Call” campaign timed with the 2026 World Cup, using the iconic elongated “goal” chant popularized by Andrés Cantor. The 30‑second Droga5 spot will air on TV, digital, out‑of‑home and in‑stadium activations, while inviting fans to...
Starbucks' Shine Is Back: 3 Lessons From the Brian Niccol Playbook
Starbucks posted a 9% revenue increase to $9.5 billion, marking the first quarter in eight where both top‑line and bottom‑line grew together. Global comparable store sales rose 6.2% and U.S. transactions climbed 4%, the strongest performance in three years. CEO Brian...
Kwality Wall’s Bets on Milk in New Tub Launch, Signals Portfolio Shift
Kwality Wall’s India launched a new line of 500 ml and 700 ml ice‑cream tubs and party packs priced between roughly $1.3 and $4, positioning milk as the core ingredient. The range spans classic, regional and premium flavours such as Hawaiian Sundae...
DropWorks Brings British Rum to Fortnum & Mason
DropWorks, the independent British rum brand, has secured a nationwide listing with luxury retailer Fortnum & Mason. The debut features three expressions – Barrel Drop aged in American and Portuguese oak, the limited‑edition Distiller's Drop #001 matured 17 months in...
How Coca-Cola Is Winning in a K-Shaped Economy
Coca‑Cola posted a 12% rise in net revenues and a 3% increase in global case volume in Q1, beating analyst expectations. New CEO Henrique Braun highlighted a dual‑track strategy that pairs premium brands with affordable, smaller‑size offerings. The company’s recently launched...
Libya Suspends Fish Exports as It Reassesses Domestic Fisheries Sector
Effective 21 April, Libya imposed a 90‑day suspension on all seafood exports and re‑exports to give the government time to reassess its domestic fisheries sector. The ban aims to regulate exports, protect the local market and achieve self‑sufficiency. Libya’s fish production...
Scottish Salmon Sector Steps up Pre-Election Push for Regulatory Reform
Scotland’s salmon‑farming sector is ramping up lobbying ahead of the May 7 parliamentary election, urging candidates to slash regulatory delays and adopt a one‑stop licensing shop with a 10‑year framework. The industry says it generates roughly $1.3 billion annually and supports about...
Icelandic Fish Farming Company First Water Finances Phase One of Six for Expansion
Icelandic salmon processor First Water announced the completion of phase one financing, raising roughly €75 million ($88 million) to double its land‑based production capacity. The funding combines a €40 million ($47 million) convertible bond from existing shareholders and a €35 million ($41 million) loan from Landsbankinn...
Mexcor Takes on Eight Lands in Florida
Eight Lands, a Speyside‑based producer of organic gin and vodka, has appointed Mexcor International as its exclusive distributor in Florida. The switch replaces Barrel & Wine just six months after the brand’s market launch, giving Mexcor control over logistics and brand‑building...
Why Spirits Are Losing Ground in South Africa
South Africa’s spirits market remains a niche, representing only 3.4% of alcohol volume but about 22% of value in 2022. Growth is limited to premium categories such as Cognac, tequila and a modest rum resurgence, while beer continues to dominate...
Why Daura 0.0% Has ‘Scarce’ Competition in the UK
Barcelona‑based brewer Damm is introducing Daura 0.0%, a certified gluten‑free, non‑alcoholic lager, to the UK market. The beer employs a proprietary enzymatic process that breaks down gluten while preserving flavor, and it meets the <20 ppm threshold verified by CSIC. With...
WHO Estimates a $46 Return for Every $1 Investment in National Foodborne Disease Surveillance
The World Health Organization reports that every $1 USD spent on national food‑borne disease surveillance can generate $46 in public‑health value. Analyzing 17 low‑ and middle‑income countries, WHO found that a $492 million ten‑year investment could avert 19 million illnesses and 13,000 deaths,...
“Dress the Bride” – In Competitive Climate, New Seafood Ventures Need to Professionalize Before Soliciting Investment
Seafood companies seeking external capital or M&A activity must first professionalize, industry experts warned at the Marine Money Seafood Finance Forum in Barcelona. Ignacio Kleiman highlighted a new class of consolidator investors looking for diversified sourcing, while investors now demand...
Radlers Set to Score with Younger Consumers This Summer
Asahi UK says radlers—low‑alcohol, fruit‑flavoured beers—have significant growth potential, anchored in the booming alcohol‑free and fruit‑flavoured beer trends. The UK alcohol‑free beer market is now worth £519 million (≈$650 million), while the fruit‑flavoured segment sits at £119 million (≈$149 million) after a 74% value...
5 Food and Drink Innovations Shaping the Industry’s Next Growth Wave
Food and drink innovators are capitalising on niche consumer needs, from chewable creatine gummies to nutrient‑dense meals for GLP‑1 drug users. Brands such as Momentous, Nestlé and Starbucks are launching products that blend performance, health and cultural appeal, while functional...
Italy’s Antitrust Watchdog Slaps €23.3m Fines on Snack Makers over Alleged Private Label Cartel
Italy’s Competition and Market Authority fined Amica Chips, Pata and Preziosi Food a combined €23.3 million (about $25 million) for coordinating supply of private‑label savoury snacks. The regulator said the trio ran a continuous market‑sharing scheme that divided supermarket own‑brand volumes, breaching...
The ‘Hormuz Challenge’: UK Must Keep Calm and Carry On
The article argues that potential disruptions to fertilizer and CO₂ shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will affect UK food costs more than availability. It points out that the UK food sector has already demonstrated resilience during the pandemic and...
The 9 Pm Rule Inside India’s Predictable Summer Shopping Pattern
India’s Instamart Summer Trends 2026 report reveals a striking 9 PM peak for ice‑cream orders, with demand more than doubling between 6 PM and 9 PM nationwide. Curd tops overall sales, while mangoes, cold beverages and frozen desserts surge up to 300% week‑on‑week as...
The Toy Is Back in the Box but Should It Ever Have Left?
WK Kellogg Co announced the return of in‑box toys for the first time in over a decade, tying the promotion to Disney‑Pixar’s *Toy Story 5*. The move is marketed as a “screen‑free” family experience aimed at millennial parents who remember cereal‑box prizes....
Jinius
Jinius, a new bakery‑cafe in Sydney’s Dawes Point, is the latest venture of former Quay chef Yeongjin Park. The shop opens Wednesday through Sunday, 7 AM‑3 PM, and showcases a menu built around Park’s signature sourdough, including the daring "Eggs in Hell"...
University of Queensland Opens Facility to Fast-Track Food Innovation
The University of Queensland has inaugurated the Faba MakerSpace, a purpose‑built facility aimed at accelerating product development in the food and beverage sector. Operated under Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (Faba), the hub provides rapid‑prototyping capabilities, specialised equipment and access...