Alternative Agave: Emerging Brands, Regions & Trends
At ProWein 2026, Rakshay Dhariwal, founder of Maya Pistola Agavepura, outlined the hurdles facing Indian agave spirits, from a shrinking overall alcohol market to the difficulty of securing distributors. He argued that treating distributors as logistics partners and investing in marketing are essential to bring the unique product to market. Dhariwal highlighted storytelling as the most expensive yet vital tool for category growth, warning that insufficient cash flow could invite acquisition by larger spirits groups. The full panel discussion is now available on The Spirits Business YouTube channel.
This Hyped American Cookie Chain with More than 200 Shops Around the World Is Coming to London
Insomnia Cookies, the American late‑night bakery founded in a 2003 dorm room, is set to open its first London shop on Camden High Street. The proposed site, a former butcher shop, would operate from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., seven days a...
This Famously Posh Restaurant Company Is Opening Its First Ever London Hotel – the Five-Star Establishment Will Take over an...
London’s iconic Wolseley restaurant group is converting a former NatWest bank on Piccadilly into its first hotel, the WestDill Mayfair Hotel. The six‑storey, Grade II listed building will feature 50 luxury rooms, a new restaurant and bar, and is slated to...
Donohue’s Steak House Will Close in June
Donohue’s Steak House, the Upper East Side’s 1950‑era dining icon, will close in June as its lease expires, despite the landlord’s rent‑reduction offer. Owner Maureen Donohue‑Peters says she wants a better quality of life and is ready to end the...
Typhoo and SlimFast Owner Strikes Deal to Produce and Distribute Carabao’s Drinks in the UK
Thai energy drink brand Caraboo has signed a licensing agreement with Supreme PLC, the owner of Typhoo Tea and SlimFast, to produce and distribute its energy and isotonic beverages in the UK. The partnership will see Caraboo’s drinks manufactured at...
Tomintoul Restarts Tours for 2026
Tomintoul Distillery, owned by Angus Dundee, has reopened its visitor tours for spring 2026, running through 1 November. The relaunch coincides with the 27th Spirit of Speyside festival and includes two visitor‑only whiskies – an 11‑year‑old priced at £79 (≈US$106) and...
Hayman’s Offers a Trip to London
Family-owned Hayman's Gin has launched an on‑pack competition that lets shoppers in eight markets win an all‑expenses‑paid trip to London worth about £7,000 (US$9,443). Consumers enter by scanning a QR code on the neck tag of a 70 cl bottle, which...
Map Reveals Cheapest Pints of Guinness in the UK
An AI‑powered bot called “Rachel” called 6,500 UK pubs over the Easter weekend to record the price of a pint of Guinness, producing the “Guinndex” map. Prices range from £2.50 at a Sittingbourne Wetherspoons to £10 in Maldon, with an...
The Butter Price Crash: Winners, Losers and What Comes Next
Butter prices have slumped about 22% year‑on‑year, with the EU down 35.2%, the US down 20% and Oceania down 10.2%, as record milk output floods the market. Bakers are capitalising on the dip, locking in low‑cost butter through 2027 and...
Maryland Set to Ban Surveillance Pricing at Grocery Stores: Are Other States Next?
Maryland’s legislature passed the Protection From Predatory Pricing Act, making the state the first to ban surveillance‑based pricing in grocery stores. The law, introduced by Gov. Wes Moore, prohibits retailers and third‑party delivery apps from using personal data to adjust...
Beer Hour: Mark Wingfield Digby
Mark Wingfield Digby, off‑trade director for Budweiser Brewing Group in the UK, has spent his entire career at AB InBev since 2005, shaping a culture of authenticity and rapid decision‑making. He highlights the sector’s resilience through the pandemic, cost‑inflation pressures,...
Tasmanian Whites Woo South Korea
Australian winery Josef Chromy Wines has teamed up with South Korean importer Choix Trading to introduce a six‑wine portfolio to the country’s on‑trade sector. The collection, featuring Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling cuvée, sparkling rosé and Zdar Chardonnay, targets premium...
Co-Op Renews Pledge to Exclusively Sell British-Grown Strawberries
Co‑op has renewed its pledge to sell 100% British‑grown strawberries throughout the year, extending the season beyond the traditional May‑September window. The retailer is using heated polytunnels, biomass boilers, heat‑exchange pumps and anaerobic digestion to keep crops viable in colder...
Researchers Analyzed 450k Diets — This Eating Habit Stood Out For Cancer Prevention
A new JAMA Network Open study of over 450,000 participants found that strict adherence to the Mediterranean diet significantly lowers the risk of obesity‑related cancers. The protective effect was observed even after accounting for body weight and fat distribution, suggesting...
Women’s Health Brand Valerie Abandons ‘Perimenopause’ Label to Expand Audience
Valerie, a female hormone health brand for women over 35, is dropping the ‘perimenopause’ label to broaden its reach. Co‑founder Wizz Selvey says the change removes a psychological barrier and aligns with feedback that many women feel the term is...
Can Max & Helen's Ever Be a Laidback Diner? Do We Care when the Waffle Is so Good?
Max & Helen’s, a new‑era diner in Larchmont, opened six months ago under the stewardship of TV personality Phil Rosenthal and chef Nancy Silverton. The venue quickly attracted legendary wait times—up to eight hours—though weekday lunches now average about 45 minutes. Its...
Altos Las Hormigas Brings Mendoza Malbec to Indonesia
Argentine winery Altos Las Hormigas has entered the Indonesian market, targeting Jakarta and Bali through a partnership with leading importer Primavine. The launch focuses on education, on‑trade activations, and a portfolio that includes organic and terroir‑driven Malbec expressions. Altos, a...
UK Alcohol Duty Stalls as Treasury Intake Plateaus
HM Revenue & Customs reports that UK alcohol duty receipts have steadied at £12.4 bn (about $15.8 bn) in fiscal year 2025‑26, marking a plateau after years of modest growth. Wine and spirits continue to supply roughly 70% of the total duty,...
Amy’s Kitchen Moves President to CEO Role
Amy’s Kitchen has promoted president Paul Schiefer to CEO, while co‑founder Andy Berliner shifts to executive chairman. Schiefer, a 20‑year veteran, led the company to its strongest gross‑margin performance in a decade and boosted profitability by 60% as president. The...
Mangrove Takes on Arette Tequila in UK
Mangrove Global has secured exclusive distribution rights for the fifth‑generation, family‑run Arette Tequila brand in the United Kingdom. Arette’s portfolio includes the 38% ABV Clasico Blanco, a twice‑distilled 100% agave expression, alongside several reposado and añejo variants. The partnership arrives...
Peddlers Gin Partners with Starbucks Bars in China
Peddlers Gin, a Shanghai‑based craft gin, has partnered with Starbucks Reserve Bar Mixato to launch a limited‑time cocktail program across China. The menu, featuring the brand’s Rare Eastern, Salted Plum and Barrel‑aged gins plus a Year of the Horse bottling,...
Chinamaxxing Is Starting to Catch on, in China
An American influencer’s bite of Rongchang braised goose went viral on Chinese and global platforms, turning a centuries‑old regional specialty into a nationwide craze. Within weeks, goose eateries across southwest China reported a surge in foot traffic, with many locations...
Centre for Nutraceuticals Designing Clinical Trials for Active Women
The Centre for Nutraceuticals at the University of Westminster is rolling out gender‑specific clinical trial protocols to address the chronic under‑representation of women in nutraceutical research. Researchers highlighted how hormonal fluctuations across life stages alter nutrient absorption, gut microbiome composition,...
MGallery Collection and Chef Pam Reimagine the Art of Bar
MGallery Collection has teamed up with Michelin‑starred chef Pam Soontornyanakij to launch a global bar‑food collaboration across 16 boutique hotels. The program pairs bespoke cocktails with Chef Pam’s signature bite creations, such as beef tartare with caviar and golden crab...
The Best Restaurants in Barcelona Right Now
The guide curates Barcelona’s top dining spots, spanning tapas bars, Catalan kitchens, seafood havens, and trendy concepts. Highlights include Teatro Kitchen, the evolution of Albert Adrià’s legendary Tickets, and Cruix’s seasonal tasting menus. It also lists specialty venues such as...
Higher Temperatures, Fat Content May Increase Chemical Migration From Biodegradable Food Packaging
A multi‑university study examined migration of non‑intentionally added substances from biodegradable food‑contact films made of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid (PLA) and their blends. Migration was negligible at refrigeration (20 °C) and room‑temperature (40 °C) conditions but became measurable at 70 °C, though...
Powerade Wants to Fuel All Athletes Ahead of the World Cup
Powerade, the official sports drink of FIFA World Cup 26, has unveiled the “Power Your Fate” campaign. The global rollout, created by WPP Open X, spotlights soccer stars Lamine Yamal and Rodrygo in a film that juxtaposes elite preparation with everyday players. Coca‑Cola’s VP...
Nestlé Weathers Formula Crisis to Deliver Strong Q1 Growth
Nestlé reported 3.5% organic growth in Q1 2026, buoyed by price hikes and strong performance in coffee and confectionery, despite a damaging infant formula contamination scandal that pulled the nutrition segment down 3.5% RIG. Real internal growth reached 1.2%, with...
Waitrose Unveils Rivals Themed Product Range
Waitrose is partnering with Disney+ to launch a limited‑edition ‘Noshtalgia’ product line that ties into the second season of Hulu Original series Rivals, premiering May 15. The range, arriving in stores on April 27, revives 1980s‑inspired flavours such as rhubarb‑custard...
UK Looked at Ways to ‘Open Doors’ to US Chlorinated Chicken, FoI Request Shows
British officials quietly examined how UK food law could be altered to permit chlorine‑washed chicken imports from the United States, a practice banned in the EU since 1997. The documents, released to campaign group 38 Degrees via a freedom‑of‑information request, show...
Heineken Enjoys Premium Boost in Q1 Sales: But Warns of Iran Impact
Heineken reported a modest rebound in Q1 2026, with total volume rising 1.2% and net revenue up 2.8%. Premium brands led the recovery, posting a 5.8% volume increase and the flagship Heineken label gaining 6.9%. The company reaffirmed its full‑year...
Aldi Commits £1.1bn to British Egg Suppliers in Five-Year Farming Push
Aldi announced a £1.1 billion (≈$1.4 billion) investment in British egg production over the next five years, backed by long‑term contracts with suppliers through 2030. The retailer currently sells more than 1,500 tonnes of UK eggs each week, roughly 2.5 million packs, and is...
RFK Jr Says Cultivated Meat Will ‘Have to Get Through A Lot of Scepticism’ From FDA
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voiced amplified concern that cultivated‑meat products will face rigorous FDA scrutiny, warning they must overcome significant safety scepticism. The comment came during a Senate Appropriations hearing, where he echoed long‑standing criticism of lab‑grown proteins. 2025 marked...
Kegstar’s Konvoy Acquisition Blocked by NZ Regulator
New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has blocked Kegstar’s proposed acquisition of Konvoy, the country’s only two pay‑per‑fill (PPF) keg services. The regulator found the merger would eliminate competition, with no viable rivals or likely new entrants to curb market power. The...
Calabria Unifies Domestic Distribution Under House of Fine Wine Banner
Calabria Family Wine Group has consolidated its domestic trading and distribution under the House of Fine Wine banner, following its February acquisition of House of Fine Wine and The Wine Company. The unified platform merges portfolios and teams from Calabria,...
Companies Explore Turning Invasive Species Like Carp Into Profitable Products
At Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, WWF, Mars and pet‑product maker Inversa discussed turning invasive species such as carp and Florida pythons into commercial goods. WWF’s research team is building databases to map invasive populations and help companies develop supply...
Carsoe Unveils New Heading and Gutting Machine at Seafood Processing Global, Announces New Partnership with Industrikulde
Carsoe unveiled its new combined heading and gutting machine, the CS3063, at the Seafood Processing Global expo in Barcelona. The equipment, built on the long‑standing Mark 7 platform, targets cod, pollock and haddock and promises precision cuts that reduce meat loss....
Kingfish Honing in Yellowtail RAS Production as It Works to Establish Product Recognition
The Kingfish Company, based in Zeeland, Netherlands, has expanded its land‑based yellowtail recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) to a peak capacity of 3,500 metric tons. The firm is now concentrating on improving efficiency and consistency, leveraging year‑round production to serve primarily...
Nestlé Sales Rise as Coffee and Snacks Outweigh Recall Hit
Nestlé SA reported a 3.5% rise in organic revenue for the first quarter of 2026, driven primarily by strong coffee and snack sales. The growth outpaced analyst expectations and helped cushion the financial impact of the company’s largest‑ever infant‑formula recall,...
How Tequila Took Over the UK Bar Cart
Tequila has overtaken gin as the United Kingdom’s best‑selling spirit this summer, a shift confirmed by Guardian data and echoed by North American market analysis. The surge is driven primarily by the resurgence of simple, agave‑based cocktails such as the...
US Seafood Sector Raises Issues with EU CATCH Requirements
Alaska’s commercial fishing sector warns that the EU’s digital CATCH traceability system, slated for full enforcement in July 2026, could effectively block salmon exports to Europe. The regulation requires vessel‑level signatures, gear details and end‑use data for every catch, a...
GHOST 7up Energy Drink
Ghost Beverage launched GHOST Energy x 7UP Lemon Lime, a limited‑time energy drink created with Keurig Dr Pepper. The collaboration brings the iconic 7UP lemon‑lime flavor into an energy and focus formula, featuring a metallic‑can design that nods to classic soda packaging. The product...
Coffee Companies Launch Satellite-Based Program to Track Deforestation
Coffee giants including JDE Peet’s, Tchibo and major traders have launched the Coffee Canopy Partnership, a satellite‑based system that uses Airbus imagery and AI to map coffee farms and detect nearby forest loss. The pilot will focus on East Africa’s coffee‑growing...
Eateries Face Rising Costs, Weak Outlook
Thai restaurant associations have signed a memorandum of understanding to pool purchasing power, secure fair‑price raw materials and deploy smart logistics, aiming to offset surging energy, ingredient and packaging costs. Vegetable prices have risen 10‑20%, while disposable plastic containers now...
Bites CEO Calls 3PD ‘Broken,’ Says AI Will Fix It
Bites, a San Francisco food‑ordering startup founded by Bala Subramaniam and Deepak Tirumalasetty, argues that the current third‑party delivery (3PD) model is broken due to high commissions and data control. The company operates on a $1 flat fee per order,...
'I Live in Vegas': Canadian Ag Producers Take Gamble with High Fuel, Fertilizer Costs
Canadian grain producers are confronting a sharp surge in diesel and fertilizer prices, which have nearly doubled since the Middle‑East conflict disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Farmers such as Bruce Bird and Dave Reid pre‑purchased fuel and...
"Long-Term Agency Partnerships Deliver the Magic": ITC’s Shuvadip Banerjee
ITC, a Rs 73,000 crore (≈ $8.8 bn) conglomerate, is accelerating its digital‑first agenda across its FMCG arm, which now generates roughly Rs 22,000 crore (≈ $2.6 bn) in revenue from brands like Aashirvaad, Sunfeast and Bingo. The company relies on an internal AI‑driven engine called "Sixth Sense"...
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Southwest Partners with Siete Foods to Introduce Onboard Snack Option
Southwest Airlines is partnering with Texas‑based Siete Foods to add a healthier snack option for passengers in Extra Leg Room seats. The collaboration introduces Siete Mini Grain‑Free Mexican Wedding Cookies, which are gluten‑free, dairy‑free and made with almond flour, pecans,...
Think Turkey Teams with AJ Lawson for 'You Turkey' Campaign
Think Turkey has teamed up with professional basketball player AJ Lawson for its "You Turkey" campaign, launching a 15‑second television spot that debuted during the U.S. college basketball championships. The ad will run through the professional basketball championship series and be...
Avocados From Mexico Signs Key Step Against Deforestation with New “Zero Deforestation Agreement”
The Association of Avocado Producers and Export Packers of Mexico (APEAM) signed a voluntary Zero Deforestation Agreement on April 15, 2026 with Mexico’s environment ministry (SEMARNAT) and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA). The pact aims to tighten traceability, enforce forestry...