How GLP‑1 Drugs Are Reshaping Dairy Innovation
GLP‑1 agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy are reshaping dairy, prompting consumers to eat less but demand higher protein and nutrient density. Kerry’s research shows two‑thirds of users reduce overall intake, with 65% seeking high‑protein foods, driving reformulation toward smaller, lactose‑reduced, high‑protein formats. Companies are leveraging lactase enzyme technology, flavor‑masking, and clean‑label preservation to maintain taste, digestive comfort, and shelf‑life in single‑serve yogurts, RTD beverages, and cheese. The trend is fueling double‑digit growth in high‑protein dairy categories as manufacturers target precise nutrition and portion control.
People Are Willing to Pay More for Food with ‘FDA Healthy’ Label
The FDA revised its definition of “healthy” in 2024 and is vetting a new FDA‑healthy icon for food packaging. A joint Oregon State‑Tufts study of 267 Boston shoppers found that the FDA label significantly increased selection of healthier snacks and...
The Rise of Hastings’ Brave Brewery’s Tigermilk Ale
Brave Brewery’s Tigermilk IPA, the flagship product of the Hawke’s Bay‑based brewer, accounts for roughly 60% of its output, with an average of 2,600 litres brewed each week. The beer earned the 2025 Champion New Zealand IPA award and is celebrating its...
Sara Lee Parent Moves US Headquarters to Dallas
Bimbo Bakeries USA, the U.S. arm of Grupo Bimbo and owner of the Sara Lee brand, announced it will move its corporate headquarters from Horsham, Pennsylvania to Irving, Texas, a Dallas suburb. The relocation places the company in a more central...
What Would Hastings Look Like if Heinz Wattie’s Closed? - Nick Stewart
Hastings District Council, already carrying roughly $300 million USD in debt and a projected $420 million USD by 2030, has received no financial modelling for the imminent loss of its two biggest food manufacturers. McCain will shut its vegetable‑processing plant by January 2027,...
Equal Exchange Turns 40: Farmers, Food and Fair Trade
Equal Exchange marks its 40th anniversary, having launched in 1986 by importing fair‑trade coffee from Nicaragua despite a U.S. embargo. Today the cooperative ecosystem includes more than 120 worker owners and generates roughly $80 million in annual trade. It sources from...
London-Based Bakery Bread Ahead to Open on Upper East Side
London‑based bakery and baking school Bread Ahead announced its first U.S. location on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The 2,400‑sq‑ft ground‑floor shop at 1571 Second Avenue will open in Q3 2026 under a ten‑year lease at $180 per square foot. The...
Instacart Connects with AI Platform Claude
Anthropic’s Claude AI platform has added a native Instacart integration, allowing users to browse live product inventory and build grocery carts directly within a chat. The feature syncs with users’ existing Instacart accounts and can suggest the app based on...
Functionality and Hydration Fuel Growth at Danone
Danone reported a 2.7% like‑for‑like sales increase in Q1 FY26, driven by both price and volume growth. High‑protein dairy, gut‑health products and functional beverages emerged as the top performers, while medical nutrition remained resilient. The company highlighted its acquisition of...
Ventisqueros CCO: Sustainability Remains Integral Part of Company DNA
Ventisqueros, the Chilean salmon farmer owned by Germany’s Schörghuber Group, is deepening its sustainability agenda, highlighted by its E‑Site fish‑farming center that runs entirely on certified renewable energy. The firm reports cutting diesel use by more than 200,000 liters and...
Packaging Innovations: CVS Health Swaps Foam, PPG Coats Pet Food Cans
Packaging innovators are rolling out greener solutions across multiple sectors. CVS Health’s infusion subsidiary swapped expanded polystyrene for a recyclable, compostable fiber‑based insulation system in select U.S. pharmacies, improving temperature control and handling. PPG launched the first U.S. PVC‑NI, PFAS‑free...
USRSB Advances Sustainability at 2026 General Assembly
At its 2026 General Assembly in Tampa, the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) convened over 145 beef‑value‑chain stakeholders to discuss science‑based sustainability initiatives. The meeting featured main‑stage sessions, breakout discussions and tours focused on food waste, supply‑chain innovation, grazing‑land...
Vallarta Supermarkets Basks in Success of AI Tech for Fresh Food
Vallarta Supermarkets, a Southern California grocery chain, deployed an AI‑driven inventory platform to streamline fresh‑food operations. The system unified production planning, recipe management and stock tracking, allowing the retailer to forecast demand more accurately. Over three years the initiative delivered...
How Big a Problem Are Microplastics?
A new Earth Action and rePurpose Global study estimates that packaging releases roughly 1,000 tons of micro‑ and nanoplastics into food and drinks each year, translating to about 130 mg per person annually and over 1 g for heavy users. PET bottles alone...
Food Exec Brief: Nestlé’s 16,000-Job Reset, a May 31 Packaging Deadline, and AI’s Readiness Gap
Nestlé’s new CEO unveiled a five‑point turnaround that trims 16,000 jobs – about 6% of its workforce – and plans to divest ice‑cream and water businesses while targeting roughly $3.3 bn in cost savings by 2027. New York’s Food Safety and...
Grocers Need to Promote Health and Make Sure AI Is Loyal to Them
At the 2026 Food Industry Summit, leaders warned that new health regulations, SNAP soda restrictions, and the rise of GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs are forcing grocers to overhaul product mixes and promotional spend. Consumers, especially younger shoppers, are demanding transparent, low‑additive...
How 9 Grocers Are Dialing up Their Health and Wellness Moves
Grocery retailers are intensifying health‑and‑wellness initiatives as consumers demand affordable, nutrition‑focused options. Kroger introduced a SNAP/WIC discount program, while Hy‑Vee added a 100‑point nutrition rating to its online platform. Target expanded its wellness assortment by 30%, and Save A Lot pledged to...
US (NE): Omaha Restaurant Using Hydroponics to Grow Ingredients
A restaurant in Omaha has installed a LED‑lit hydroponic system to grow leafy greens and herbs directly on its premises. The move is part of a broader surge in vertical‑farm adoption, highlighted by industry announcements such as Premier Tech’s Controlled...
The Friday Checkout: Is Agentic AI the Next Frontier for Grocers?
Agentic AI, which enables autonomous actions within a chat interface, is emerging as the latest frontier for grocery retailers. Instacart announced integration with Anthropic’s Claude, allowing shoppers to build carts directly in a chatbot conversation. A FMI‑NielsenIQ report shows only...
Research Supports OmniActive’s Capsimax as a GLP-1 ‘Booster’
OmniActive’s Capsimax, a 2% capsaicinoid chili extract, boosted plasma GLP‑1 levels by 13% after a seven‑day regimen in a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled crossover study of 40 resistance‑trained men. The same trial reported significant improvements in peak force, power output, muscular...
NOW Foods Enters Popular Gummy Market with Vitamin Offerings
NOW Foods has introduced vitamin C and D3 gummies after a six‑year development effort, delivering 250 mg of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 per gummy in gelatin‑free formats for ages four and up. The launch aligns with gummies capturing...
Bevi and Vogo Launch New RTDs as Category Innovation Hots Up
Bevi and Vogo announced a joint launch of a new ready‑to‑drink (RTD) line that merges Bevi’s carbonated‑water dispenser technology with Vogo’s flavored syrups. The initial offering includes three 12‑oz recyclable cans—citrus, berry, and cucumber‑mint—priced at $2.49 each and rolling out...
BAK Food Equipment Boasts New Features of Vacuum Tumblers
BAK Food Equipment introduced its Mixing‑Tilting Vacuum Tumbler with drum volumes up to 1,000 liters and a maximum load of 1,300 lb. The machine features asymmetrical fins and a mechanical positioning system that allows a 120‑degree tilt for greater processing flexibility. A...
Liv-Ex: Buying en Primeur Must Become a Pleasure Again
Liv‑ex’s latest Bordeaux en primeur report warns that buyer confidence has eroded, leaving long‑time collectors feeling like “the butt of a joke.” The analysis highlights that price drops alone won’t restore trust, especially after years of pricing missteps and overlooked...
Mountain Dew Introduces American Dew Bottle
Mountain Dew unveiled a limited‑edition American Dew bottle and wrapped can, rolling out nationwide this summer as part of the "An American Original – Tasting Great Since ’48" campaign. The promotion honors the brand’s 1948 Tennessee origins and coincides with the...
When It Comes to Convenient Food and Drink Options, Japan Is the King
Japan’s food‑centric vending machines have evolved into a nationwide convenience network, offering everything from hot bento to fresh fruit at prices as low as ¥100 ($1.03). The country now hosts under 4 million machines—still the world’s highest per‑capita ratio, roughly one...
Wakefern Food Corp. Welcomes Earth Month Challenge
Wakefern Food Corp., the cooperative behind ShopRite, launched the 2026 Greener Stores, Greener Communities Earth Month Challenge, a four‑week program urging its family‑owned stores to adopt practical sustainability actions. The initiative spotlights recycling, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, community...
Hershey Leans on Cocoa Sourcing Resilience to Blunt Price Shocks
Hershey is strengthening its cocoa supply chain by diversifying origins beyond the Ivory Coast and Ghana to include Ecuador and Brazil. The company is using sophisticated hedging contracts and a commodities‑governance framework to lock in prices amid recent cocoa price...
FRESH Act of 2026 Explained: FDA, GRAS Reform and Industry Pushback
The FDA Review and Evaluation for Safe, Healthy and Affordable Foods Act of 2026, known as the FRESH Act, would overhaul the agency’s food‑ingredient regime by creating a new “common food ingredients” category, mandating a public GRAS notification system, and...
UK Food Inflation Could Hit 7% – Bank of England Survey
Businesses surveyed by the Bank of England warn that UK food inflation could climb to 7% this year, higher than earlier forecasts. Official data showed food and non‑alcoholic drink prices rose 3.7% in March, up from 3.3% in February. The...
Burlap & Barrel Awaits Trade Court Ruling as Judges Weigh Limits on Presidential Tariff Power
Burlap & Barrel, backed by the nonprofit Liberty Justice Center, has taken the Trump administration’s Section 122 tariffs to the U.S. Court of International Trade, arguing the law’s narrow 1970s intent makes the tariffs illegal. The case, merged with a parallel...
Leftovers: Lay’s Flavors Go Global for World Cup | Taco Teas Look to Cure Homesickness
Lay’s is launching a 40‑flavor World Cup collection, with three U.S. limited‑edition chips inspired by Argentina, Brazil and France debuting in May on retail shelves and TikTok Shop. Remitly introduced a limited‑edition tea line that mimics comfort foods from Mexico,...
Crespel & Deiters Brings Pea Protein Extrudate to Plant-Based Formulation Market
Crespel & Deiters, a German ingredient specialist, has launched Lory Tex Granules, a pea‑protein extrudate aimed at plant‑based meat, fish, hybrid and convenience products. The granules deliver more than 65% protein and 5.6 g of fiber per 100 g, while offering a...
Restaurant Tycoons
The Age’s "Restaurant tycoons" series profiles ten influential figures shaping Melbourne’s dining landscape, from former student Tinee Suntivatana’s staff‑support venture to chef‑entrepreneur Daniel Andrews’ political foray. It chronicles high‑profile feuds, such as Shane Delia’s clash with George Calombaris, and personal setbacks, including...
GLP-1 ‘Halo Effect’ Reshapes Consumer Behavior
Acosta Group’s new research shows that users of GLP‑1 receptor agonists are creating a “halo effect” that reshapes purchasing across grocery, foodservice, health‑beauty and omnichannel retail. About 55% report buying more fresh produce and protein‑focused items, while indulgent snacks and...
Bill Reintroduced to Overhaul Front-of-Pack Food Labels, Ingredients Lists
The Food Labeling Modernization Act was reintroduced in the House by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, aiming to overhaul front‑of‑package nutrition labels and ingredient lists that haven’t been updated since the 1990s. The bill would require a...
Can 2 Cups Of Beans A Day Really Change Your Life? An Expert Weighs In
A social‑media trend dubbed "BeanTok" promotes eating two cups of beans daily for health benefits. Registered dietitian Angel Luk explains that beans are rich in fiber, protein, iron, and low in saturated fat, which can support heart health and digestion....
More than a Rough Patch: Recent Restaurant Closures Signal Market Correction
Recent closures of Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box and other chains highlight a market correction driven by sustained traffic declines and rising cost pressures. Analysts point to soaring food, labor, insurance and rent expenses that are eroding margins,...
Julienne Bruno Returns to Ocado and Foodservice Under Harvey & Brockless Ownership
Julienne Bruno, the UK plant‑based cheese label, is relaunching its Collection 01 range on Ocado and through Harvey & Brockless’s foodservice network after being acquired by The Compleat Food Group in November 2025. Three 150‑gram SKUs – Crematta, Superstraccia and Burrella –...
Congress to Hold Legislative Hearing on 28 Active Bills Related to Food Safety, FDA
On April 29, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing to examine 28 active bills addressing food‑safety oversight and FDA authority. The legislation spans issues such as GRAS determinations, modernizing food labeling, infant formula safety, dietary supplement...
How Are Food Processors Faring in 2026?
Food processors are proceeding with equipment upgrades in early 2026 despite economic headwinds, driven by protein and health‑focused consumer trends. Flexibility and modularity now outweigh large fixed‑line commitments as firms seek to stay competitive. Automation and AI adoption are accelerating...
More than a Post: Turning Influencers Into Content Engines for Your Restaurant
At the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, a panel of restaurant CMOs argued that influencer marketing is evolving from a peripheral tactic to a core content engine. They cited a $5,000 influencer video that outperformed traditional Meta ads and highlighted...
Cinnabon to Release Harry Potter-Inspired Butterbeer Treats for Limited Time
Cinnabon, a GoTo Foods brand, is teaming with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to launch two Harry Potter‑inspired Butterbeer menu items—a Classic Roll and a Chillatta—available May 4‑17. The treats will be sold in special packaging at Cinnabon and Schlotzsky’s Deli locations...
Campaign Trail: 1664 Taps Multiple Robert Pattinsons to Examine Good Taste
Carlsberg’s 1664 Blanc brand launched “A Question of Good Taste,” a 60‑second spot starring Robert Pattinson playing multiple Parisian neighbours. The ad, created by Fold7 with director Brady Corbet, uses contrasting characters to illustrate that taste is subjective, while all agree on a...
Totis Launches Kettle Cooked Plantain Chips
Vilore Foods is rolling out Totis Kettle Cooked Plantain Chips nationwide, adding three globally inspired flavors—Chile Lime, Cinnamon Churro, and Sea Salt. The snack is positioned as a better‑for‑you alternative, being gluten‑free, vegan, and non‑GMO. By leveraging its national distribution...
Senators Push Forward to Make Hot Rotisserie Chicken Available to SNAP Recipients
A bipartisan group of senators introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken. The bill adds “hot rotisserie chicken” to the definition of eligible food,...
UK Deposit Return Scheme to Apply Flat 20p Levy for All Materials
The UK Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will impose a flat 20 p (≈$0.25) levy on all eligible single‑use drink containers made of PET plastic, steel or aluminium. The uniform charge takes effect in October 2027 across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. By...
Elia Viramontes on Júrame Mezcal, Women and Community
Júrame Mezcal, co‑founded by Elia Viramontes, has entered the UK market, bringing a mezcal made from wild Salmiana agave harvested in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The brand emphasizes a community‑first model, employing local women in all stages of production and...
The Daily Dirt: Mamdani’s Socialist Supermarkets
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a city‑owned, rent‑free site in East Harlem for a "socialist" supermarket that will sell a core basket of staples at below‑market prices. The plan pairs a private operator with city‑set standards on pricing, union‑level wages, and...
JUBEL, the Pioneering Fruit Lager Brand, Lands Exclusively in Tesco
JUBEL, the Alpine‑born fruit lager pioneer, is debuting a lime‑flavored brew exclusively at Tesco. The new lime variant becomes the sixth flavor in JUBEL’s portfolio, joining peach, grapefruit, mango, lemon and blood orange. Tesco highlighted a 300% surge in demand...