RFK Jr. Says He Would Support a Potential Ban on Junk Food TV Ads
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would support a potential ban on junk‑food television advertisements, though he prefers a voluntary approach for food companies. The proposal follows similar arguments used to curb tobacco advertising and comes amid growing scrutiny of the $14 billion spent annually on unhealthy food ads. Industry groups are expected to push back, citing revenue impacts, while the White House’s “Make America Healthy Again” plan already targets marketing to children. Kennedy’s comments were made during a HELP Committee hearing, where Surgeon General nominee Casey Means also voiced support for restrictions.
Food Affordability Among Many Pressing Concerns For CT Grocery Industry
Connecticut’s grocery sector is grappling with rising food costs that outpace stagnant wages, leaving one in ten residents food‑insecure and 100,000 children without reliable nutrition. Governor Ned Lamont has earmarked $1.55 million for the Local Food Purchase and Assistance Grant program,...
Soil Capital’s Latest Deal with Nestlé Highlights Regen Ag’s Role in Building a More Resilient Food System
Nestlé has signed a four‑year partnership with Soil Capital to accelerate regenerative agriculture among European farmers. The program builds on a 2023 wheat and corn pilot in France and now covers the UK and Belgium, supporting about 230 farmers across...
Toast Rolls Out Unified Drive-Thru Platform
Toast has launched Toast Drive‑Thru, an enterprise‑grade platform that consolidates point‑of‑sale, kitchen display, digital menu boards, and AI voice ordering for quick‑service restaurants. The solution targets more than 140,000 U.S. drive‑thru locations grappling with labor shortages and the need for...
Domino Sugar Rings in America's 250th Anniversary with Commemorative Packaging
Domino Sugar is rolling out limited‑edition commemorative packaging to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence. The new designs appear on the 4 lb Premium Pure Cane Granulated Sugar bag and a series of six collectible single‑serve packets, each featuring...
Texas Roadhouse's 1990s Restaurants Looked So Different From Today's
Texas Roadhouse began as a single mall restaurant in Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993, featuring free rolls, a two‑week Mexican menu, live‑band stage, and peanut‑shell‑covered floors. Over the past three decades the chain rebranded with a Western‑lodge exterior, added a cowboy‑hat...
This Fast-Food Chain Just Hired a ‘Chief MAHA Officer’
Steak ’n Shake, the 391‑location fast‑casual chain owned by Biglari Holdings, announced the creation of a new executive position, Chief MAHA Officer, to champion the Make America Healthy Again agenda. The role will be filled by Michael Boes, a former...
Four Roses Is Dropping a Trio of New Bourbons in Its Popular Single-Barrel Lineup
Four Roses, now owned by E.J. Gallo, has unveiled the second annual trio of single‑barrel bourbons—OESQ, OESF and OBSK—each aged seven to nine years, bottled at 100 proof and priced at $50. The releases employ distinct mashbills and yeast strains,...
Major Livestock and Animal Agriculture Companies Are Making Climate Promises They Aren’t Keeping
A new PLOS Climate study reviewed over 1,200 climate claims from the world’s largest meat and dairy firms and found 98% to be greenwashing. The research highlighted that livestock accounts for at least 16.5% of global greenhouse‑gas emissions, yet most...
Blackberries Now Among Produce with Highest Traces of Pesticides
The Environmental Working Group added blackberries to its Dirty Dozen list, ranking them at No. 9 for pesticide residues. The annual USDA‑based analysis found that 75 % of non‑organic produce samples contain pesticide traces, with PFAS chemicals leading the detections. Fludioxonil, a...
Anheuser-Busch Doubles US Manufacturing Investment to $600M
Anheuser‑Busch announced it is doubling its U.S. manufacturing investment to $600 million, adding $300 million to its Brewing Futures program launched last year. The expanded spend will fund upgrades at its nine flagship breweries, new technical‑skills training centers, and veteran hiring initiatives....
98 per Cent of Meat and Dairy Sustainability Pledges Are Greenwashing
Animal agriculture drives about 16.5% of global greenhouse‑gas emissions, prompting the sector’s biggest meat and dairy firms to issue a wave of sustainability pledges. Researchers from the University of Miami examined 33 leading companies' reports from 2021‑2024, cataloguing 1,233 environmental...
Natural Grocers Introduces Private-Label Seafood
Natural Grocers unveiled two private‑label smoked salmon varieties—sockeye and coho—packaged in 3‑ounce trays at $8.99 each. The fish is wild‑caught in Alaska, MSC‑certified, non‑GMO, kosher, and free of artificial additives. The launch expands the retailer’s private‑label portfolio, now exceeding 900...
Aldi Eliminating an Additional 44 Ingredients From Private Label Food Assortment by End of 2027
Aldi announced it will eliminate an additional 44 ingredients from its private‑label food, vitamin and supplement lines by December 2027, bringing the total banned substances to 57. The purge focuses on artificial preservatives, colors, flavors and sweeteners, extending a decade‑long...
Why Old School Pizza Delivery Won’t Disappear, Despite Third-Party Dominance
Third‑party aggregators like DoorDash and Uber Eats dominate pizza delivery volumes, but major chains such as Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Papa John’s continue to operate their own driver fleets for orders placed through proprietary apps. The hybrid approach lets brands capture the...
Margin Pressure Is Driving Food Retailers Toward Retail Media, Health, and AI
European food retailers are feeling margin pressure from rising costs and cautious shoppers. Sales in 2025 grew 3.4% driven by price inflation, while volumes rose only 0.6%, marking the second year of real growth. Private‑label share hit 40% and online...
Scary Mommy 2026 Readers' Choice Awards Best Specialty Coffee Brand
Scary Mommy has launched its 2026 Readers' Choice Awards for Best Specialty Coffee Brand, inviting parents to vote for their favorite roasters. The shortlist features 15 brands, ranging from industry staples like Blue Bottle and Stumptown to newer players such...
FASCANO Closes $10 Million Round to Enhance F&B Operations Across the Region
Oman‑based food‑tech firm FASCANO closed its third investment round, securing $10 million. The round featured His Highness Sayyid Dr. Kamel bin Fahd Al Said, Cyfr Capital, and the Future Fund Oman under the Oman Investment Authority. Founded in 2021, FASCANO delivers...
![[Interview] “World Foods Are an Attractive Category for Retailers” (Kaisa Lipponen, Paulig)](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/www.retaildetail.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Kaisa-Lipponen-Paulig.jpg)
[Interview] “World Foods Are an Attractive Category for Retailers” (Kaisa Lipponen, Paulig)
Paulig, a Finnish‑origin FMCG group, posted €1.39 bn (≈$1.5 bn) revenue, with food accounting for over €1 bn (≈$1.1 bn). The company operates in 13 European countries, sells in about 80 markets worldwide, and runs 14 production sites employing 2,700 staff. Leveraging recent acquisitions,...
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Names Former Ben & Jerry's Exec as New CEO
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams announced David Stever, the former CEO and CMO of Ben & Jerry’s, as its new chief executive officer. Stever brings more than 25 years of consumer‑packaged‑goods leadership, having overseen Ben & Jerry’s transformative growth and global...
Capital Q Ventures Funds Nutrition Brand Nur to ‘Redefine’ Protein Category
Capital Q Ventures, through its accelerator Capital Q Velocity, is backing nutrition startup Nur to scale its hydration‑based protein platform that uses fermented beta‑lactoglobulin (BLG). The undisclosed investment will secure co‑investors for current and future rounds, enabling Nur to commercialize...
The Coconut Collab Adds Dairy-Free Natural Kefir to Its Gut Health Range
London‑based The Coconut Collab has introduced a dairy‑free Natural Kefir, expanding its gut‑health lineup. The 500 ml drink, priced at £3.45 (about $4.31), is now available at Sainsbury’s and Ocado, with more retailers slated for May‑June. Made by fermenting coconut water...
Duvel Moortgat Acquires American Craft Beer Pioneer
Duvel Moortgat, via its U.S. arm Firestone Walker, is buying Stone Brewing from Japan’s Sapporo, adding the iconic craft label to its portfolio. The deal follows Duvel’s recent purchase of the Trumer pilsner brand, expanding its presence in the American...
Alaska Bill Would Exempt Small-Scale Fishers From some Health and Safety Standards
Alaska State Rep. Sarah Vance introduced the Alaska Coastal Micro‑Fisheries Act (HB 356) to ease health, sanitary and fee regulations for small‑scale commercial fishers. The bill exempts low‑risk species from certain permits, allows limited onboard packaging and freezing, and caps annual...
New York Poised to Ban Certain Food Additives, Require GRAS Ingredient Transparency
New York’s Senate and Assembly have passed the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, banning red dye 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben in foods sold in the state. The bill also mandates that manufacturers disclose safety data for any GRAS (Generally...
Why Unilever’s $40bn Food Merger Is Raising Red Flags
Unilever announced a merger of its Foods division—excluding India—with spice leader McCormick, creating a transaction valued at over $40 bn (approximately $37 bn in euros). The announcement triggered a sharp sell‑off, with Unilever’s share price dropping about 18% to 4,199 GBX within 24 hours....
Non-GMO Project: Ultra-Processed Foods Are Harming the Planet, Not Just Our Health
The Non‑GMO Project is rolling out a Non‑UPF verification program to label foods that avoid ultra‑processing, arguing that such products harm the planet as much as they affect health. It points out that roughly 70% of U.S. arable land is...
Upcycled Food Association Launches Canada Hub to Unify, Scale Upcycled Food Sector
The Upcycled Food Association (UFA) announced a new Canadian hub to bring together producers, processors, and innovators in the emerging up‑cycled food sector. The hub follows 2025 research by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, funded by the Canadian government, which...
Sustainability at a Crossroads
The food and beverage sector is seeing a surge in sustainable sourcing, with up‑cycled products now a $109.3 million market in the U.S., up 30% year‑over‑year. Consumers are willing to pay premiums for eco‑friendly items, driving nearly 45% of category growth...
Whole Foods Market Debuts Line Of Robert Hall Wines, The First Domestic Regenerative Organic Certified Wines On Its Shelves
Whole Foods Market announced the national launch of Robert Hall Winery’s Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, the first domestically produced ROC‑certified wines on its shelves. The wines, priced at $29.99 per bottle after a strategic price...
Baby Formula Crisis and Iran Conflict Weigh on Danone’s Figures
Danone reported a 2.7% rise in first‑quarter FY2026 revenue, reaching €6.71 billion (about $7.3 billion). Growth was driven by a 1.5% volume mix improvement and 1.2% price increases, with the Asia‑Pacific region posting a 6% surge and the Americas 3.4%. In contrast,...
Why Hershey Is Making Big Changes to Its Sustainability Strategy
Hershey unveiled a revamped sustainability strategy that now covers its expanding salty‑snack portfolio, including brands like Dot’s, SkinnyPop and LesserEvil. The plan adds new ingredient‑sourcing goals, a pledge to protect 2.5 million acres with regenerative practices by 2035, and ambitious climate...
American Beverage Highlights 2026 Recycling Investments
American Beverage announced that its Every Bottle Back program will invest nearly $500 million in 2026 to upgrade recycling infrastructure across the United States. The association has already spent $34 million on 70 projects, delivering 55,000 carts in Providence, larger bins for...
Walmart Is the Clear Choice in the U.S. Supermarket Sector According to Conjointly Data
Conjointly’s Brand Tracker has added U.S. supermarket chains, revealing Walmart’s overwhelming lead across all core brand metrics – 86% aided awareness, 69% consideration, 70% six‑month purchase rate, and 31% preferred brand. ALDI, Costco and Target trail but still post strong...
How Mondelēz Is Using UK Innovation and Partnerships to Drive Its ESG Strategy
Mondelēz’s 2025 "Snacking Made Right" report spotlights its ESG progress in the UK and Ireland, driven by focused innovation, R&D and strategic partnerships. Collaborations with Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Cambridge aim to measure farm‑level emissions and translate...
The Curious Rise of Chinese Whisky
Chinese whisky is moving from curiosity to commercial reality as major spirits players pour capital into the market. Diageo has spent $120 million to build the YunTuo Distillery in Eryuan, a village in southwest China, featuring a 30‑metre‑tall tasting room and...
Ocado Retail Launches ‘Future of Food Edit’ Aisle This Earth Day to Support a More Sustainable Food System
Ocado Retail has introduced a curated "Future of Food Edit" aisle on Earth Day, showcasing brands that meet strict standards for nutrition, responsible sourcing, and waste reduction. The initiative partners with the not‑for‑profit Future of Food platform and verification firm...
Mondelēz International Cuts Emissions by a Fifth in 2025
Mondelēz International announced that it reduced greenhouse‑gas emissions across its value chain by just over a fifth in 2025 compared with its 2018 baseline. The cut, roughly 21%, was achieved alongside progress on water stewardship, food‑waste reduction and a shift...
Laird Superfood Buys US Peer Terrasoul
Laird Superfood used fresh private‑equity capital to acquire Texas‑based Terrasoul Superfoods, expanding its portfolio of nuts, seeds, and baking ingredients. The deal, funded by Nexus Capital Management, lifted the firm’s ownership to roughly 71.7% after an additional $60 million equity infusion,...
Loyalty Transactions Surge 28% as QSR Habits Shift; Kiosks Rising in Popularity
PAR Technology’s 2026 Quick Service Restaurant Operational Index shows loyalty program members now out‑spend anonymous guests, with loyalty transactions rising 28.5% year‑over‑year. Digital kiosks are the fastest‑growing ordering channel, up 35% YoY, while delivery continues to command premium check sizes,...
White Castle to Expand Slider Reach with 1K Automated Kiosks
White Castle is rolling out 1,000 "Crave & Go" automated kiosks in partnership with Automated Retail Technologies. The kiosks, powered by ART’s Just Baked platform, will appear in hospitals, corporate campuses, transit hubs and other high‑traffic sites where the chain has no...
Britannia 5050 Expands Premium Range with Caramel Variant
Britannia Industries has launched a caramel‑dipped version of its 5050 premium layered sandwich range, adding a sweet coating to the existing crunchy biscuit format. The new snack delivers a dual texture of crunch and melt, targeting consumers seeking indulgent, texture‑rich...
Alden’s Launches Banana Cookie Crumble Ice Cream
Alden’s Organic announced the launch of Banana Cookie Crumble, a 48‑ounce organic ice‑cream that mixes banana‑flavored base with crunchy cookie crumbles. The new flavor, priced between $9.99 and $15, is available online and at select natural‑food retailers such as Sprouts,...
How Nestlé’s US CMO Keeps Tabs on Changing Consumer Tastes
Nestlé USA’s chief marketing and innovation officer Vicki Felker is steering the food giant into new at‑home categories, debuting Minor’s Kitchen sauces for pantry use and expanding frozen‑food offerings. The company is leveraging AI‑powered consumer segmentation and rapid‑testing tools to...
Mars Plans to Close Pet-Food Factory in Germany
Mars Pet Nutrition announced plans to shut its Minden, Germany dry‑pet‑food plant, affecting roughly 110 workers. Production would cease by late 2026, with output redirected to other European facilities. The closure comes as Mars rolls out a €1 bn ($1.18 bn) investment program...
5 Big Food Trends in Sweden
Swedish consumers are putting price first, driving a surge in private‑label products that mimic premium quality while staying affordable. Sustainability remains a key secondary concern, with brands emphasizing local sourcing and recyclable packaging to meet consumer expectations. High‑protein foods have...
More Cream, Less Air: What Makes Ice Cream ‘Super-Premium’?
Clover Sonoma has entered the emerging super‑premium ice‑cream tier with a four‑flavor line priced at $9.99 per 32‑oz quart. The brand touts 14% butterfat and a low 30% overrun, delivering more cream and less air per scoop. This formulation promises...
Dinnerly Meal Kit Review (2026): Hearty Meals on a Budget
Dinnerly, the budget arm of Martha Stewart‑endorsed Marley Spoon, now offers more international dishes while keeping portions generous. Prices range from $6 to $10 per serving, dropping to $6 for large family plans, positioning it between cheap kits like EveryPlate...
Ajinomoto Creates New Tech to Replace One of Cultivated Meat’s Most Expensive Components
Japanese food conglomerate Ajinomoto has engineered a plant‑derived hinokitiol compound to replace transferrin, the most expensive ingredient in cultivated‑meat culture media. Transferrin accounts for roughly 95% of media costs, so the new iron‑binding molecule could slash production expenses dramatically. Hinokitiol...
Fermented Dairy Alternatives Show Enhanced Biofunctionality
Researchers in Greece and Ireland found that fermenting oat‑ and soy‑based dairy alternatives markedly boosts their biofunctional properties. Fermented soy yogurt‑type products displayed stronger antiplatelet and anti‑inflammatory effects, while fermented oat yogurt‑type products showed superior antioxidant activity. The study also...