AGNE Deploys GoSpotCheck to Noost Shelf Visibility
Associated Grocers of New England (AGNE) is rolling out Form’s GoSpotCheck mobile platform across its network of more than 630 independent supermarkets in the Northeast. The tool captures real‑time shelf data during field visits, feeding instant analytics on planogram compliance, promotions and out‑of‑stock items. By standardizing workflows and adding image‑recognition capabilities, AGNE aims to tighten the feedback loop between headquarters and store shelves. The deployment reflects a broader shift toward digitized retail execution among grocery cooperatives.
El Pollo Loco, Bread Zeppelin, Snooze Eatery
El Pollo Loco is rolling out new Loco Tenders in classic and spicy flavors on April 23, adding to a string of recent menu innovations that helped lift same‑store sales 2.1% in Q4. Bread Zeppelin, a Texas‑based bakery‑sandwich concept, is offering a free Zeppelin...
Stakeholders Say Codex Emergency Food Labeling Provisions Could Compromise Infant Formula Safety
At the 49th Codex Committee on Food Labeling in Ottawa, U.S.-led experts will review draft "Guidelines on the Application of Food Labeling Provisions in Emergencies." The proposals would allow temporary, risk‑based deviations from standard labeling for pre‑packed foods and non‑retail...
Sensient Invests $250M to Expand Natural Food Dye Production
Sensient Technologies announced up to $250 million in capital to expand its natural‑color production, adding 28,800 sq ft to its 500,000‑sq‑ft St. Louis plant. The company aims to capture a $1 billion sales opportunity in the fast‑growing natural‑color segment as food makers shift away from...
This Five-Star London Restaurant Has Been Named the Best in the World
Ikoyi, a 14‑course spice‑focused restaurant on London’s Strand, has been crowned the world’s best restaurant in Food & Wine’s 2026 Tastemakers Awards. The accolade places the venue ahead of nine other global contenders and underscores London’s culinary clout, now home...
Extortion in the Food Industry: Rat Poison in Baby Food Puts the Sector on High Alert
Authorities in Austria have confirmed that a 190‑gram jar of HiPP baby food tested positive for rat poison after a consumer alert. Police suspect the contamination is part of a targeted extortion scheme, an uncommon but potentially devastating tactic. HiPP...
Lidl to Open Its First Ever Pub, as Private Label Readies to Shake up Alcohol
Lidl is constructing its first‑ever pub in County Down, Northern Ireland, an 84 sqm venue that will serve 60 patrons and sell the retailer’s private‑label wines, beers, spirits and off‑trade alcohol. The project circumvents the region’s strict licensing rules after a High...
4 Tech Tools Food Brands Are Using to Enhance Inventory, Demand Planning
At the Food Manufacturing Summit, experts highlighted four tech tools reshaping inventory and demand planning for food brands: digital twins, RFID, cold‑chain solutions, and advanced planning systems. They stressed that data quality is the single biggest lever for supply‑chain performance,...
Jersey Mike’s Could Go Public
Jersey Mike’s Submarines is preparing for an initial public offering after filing a confidential S‑1 with the SEC. The sandwich chain expanded from 2,387 stores in early 2023 to 3,227 locations by early 2026, driven by a majority‑stake purchase by...
Is Microwave Popcorn Ready for Disruption? Opopop Thinks So
Opopop, a Colorado‑based popcorn startup founded in 2018, is moving from a direct‑to‑consumer model into mass retail with a Walmart rollout after a successful Target test. The company has reengineered its premium, flavor‑wrapped kernel kits into single‑use microwave bags that...
Zaxbys Puts ‘Giant’ Chicken Finger Wraps on the Menu
Zaxby's is rolling out Giant Chicken Finger Wraps in three flavors—Chicken Bacon Ranch, Buffalo Blue, and Asian Zensation—nationwide from April 27 through July 5. Each wrap packs three hand‑breaded chicken fingers, mixed greens, carrots, red cabbage, and a signature sauce, and can be ordered...
The Technomic Top 500: Another Tough Year for Chain Restaurants
Technomic’s 2026 Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report shows U.S. chain sales rose just 3% to $451.5 billion, lagging the 3.8% menu‑price inflation and marking the slowest growth since the Great Recession. Median sales growth was only 2.5%, translating to a 1.3% real‑dollar...
Fresh Fizz Organic Soda Doubles Its Retail Footprint As It Enters National Distribution With Sprouts Farmers Market
Fresh Fizz, an organic soda brand founded by Yoni and Rebecca Schwartz, has secured its first national retail account with Sprouts Farmers Market, placing its products on roughly 500 Sprouts shelves. The launch includes a range of artisanal flavors—such as...
‘We’re Not Nespresso’: Inside Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ New Campaign
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, part of Keurig Dr Pepper, launched the "That's Green Mountain Good" campaign on April 20, featuring a new mascot—a green mountain goat named Bruce—to highlight farm‑grown coffee origins. Developed by a Publicis Groupe‑led team, the 30‑second spot...
Singapore Food Agency Publishes List of Approved Novel Foods
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) released a comprehensive list of 14 novel foods approved for sale through October 2025, reinforcing its role as a regulatory pioneer in sustainable protein. The list features four cultivated‑meat products—including Eat Just’s serum‑free chicken, Vow’s cultured quail,...
Prego Has a Dinner-Conversation-Recording Device, Capisce?
Prego has teamed with nonprofit StoryCorps to launch the Connection Keeper, a round puck that records family dinner conversations onto a 16 GB microSD card. The device, which has no Wi‑Fi or AI features, is limited to fewer than 100 units...
The Farmer's Dog Reinvented Dog Food. Walmart Takes It Mainstream
The Farmer's Dog, a fresh, human‑grade dog food startup, is launching a personalized meal‑plan service on Walmart.com, moving beyond its direct‑to‑consumer model. Founded by Jonathan Regev and Brett Podolsky after a home‑cooked rescue of a sick dog, the company now...
China Produces the World’s Tea, but Brands Lag Behind
China remains the world’s largest tea producer, outputting 3.92 million metric tons in 2025 and exporting 418,800 tons worth about $1.6 billion. Despite the volume, Chinese tea commands an average price of $4‑5 per kilogram, far lower than Sri Lankan black tea ($6‑8)...
Rival Foods Partners with THIS for Plant-Based Steak Launch in UK
Rival Foods has teamed with UK plant‑based brand THIS to launch a new plant‑based steak in Britain’s major supermarkets. The steak is built from fibers created with Rival’s patented Shear Cell technology, delivering a texture that mimics real beef. At...
Soules Kitchen Offering Two Styles of Refrigerated Meals
Soules Kitchen, the ready‑meal arm of Soules Food Group, launched two refrigerated meal lines—Classic and Premium—targeting grocery shelves across the United States. The Classic line offers budget‑friendly, 6‑8‑ounce portions with familiar comfort‑food flavors, while the Premium line features chef‑crafted, high‑protein...
Canary Tomato PGI Aims to Support Gran Canaria Producers
The Canary Islands Institute of Agri‑Food Quality (ICCA) has awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status to the “Canary Tomato,” creating legal protection for the product. Backed by exporters’ association FEDEX, the move seeks to reposition the tomato in the European...
Loopworm Says Its Silkworm-Based Feed Ingredients Are Now Carbon Negative
Loopworm announced that its silkworm‑derived feed ingredients, LoopMeal and LoopOil, are carbon‑negative, removing 2.56 kg CO₂e per kilogram produced. An independent life‑cycle assessment by PwC India, conducted to ISO 14040/44 standards, benchmarked the products against soy and fish meals across 18 impact...
Analysis | 2026 Is the New 2016: Why Avocados Are Still Winning the Cart
Mission Produce highlights that avocados have moved from a occasional treat in 2016 to a weekly staple in 2026, propelled by omnichannel shopping. USDA data shows 21% of U.S. households now shop both online and in‑store, with avocado repeat purchases...
Clan Campbell Smooth Shot Vanilla Targets High-Energy Moments
Stock Spirits Group is introducing Clan Campbell Smooth Shot Vanilla, a blended Scotch whisky liqueur flavored with vanilla and bottled at 25% ABV. The 700 ml bottle will debut in France at a recommended retail price of €13.40 (about $16) and...
Allana Group Forms JV with Captain Fresh to Retail Animal Protein Products
Allana Group and global seafood firm Captain Fresh have launched Indian Retail Alliance Private Limited, a joint venture in which Allana holds a 51% stake and Captain Fresh 49%. The JV will create an organised, pan‑India fresh‑protein retail ecosystem covering...
Jameson Signs Alan Curbishley for Drinkaware Campaign
Jameson has relaunched its Know Your Score initiative for a second year, teaming up again with UK alcohol charity Drinkaware and featuring former EFL manager Alan Curbishley as the face of the campaign. The program offers a free three‑minute online...
Probiotic-Fortified Functional Foods: Integrating Nutrient Delivery and Gut Health Benefits
Probiotic‑fortified functional foods are rapidly emerging at the intersection of food technology, microbiome science, and nutrition. By embedding live, strain‑specific microbes into everyday matrices, manufacturers achieve higher stability, bioavailability, and synergistic nutrient delivery compared with traditional supplements. Clinical evidence links...
Synergistic Enrichment and Catalytic Sensing Platform Based on ZIF-8-NH₂/Dynamic Schiff Base Hydrogel for Ultrasensitive Detection of Hydroquinone
Researchers have created a dynamic Schiff‑base hydrogel integrated with amino‑functionalized ZIF‑8 (ZIF‑8‑NH₂) that covalently anchors to an oxidized sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan matrix. The resulting OCZN‑30 sensor delivers ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of hydroquinone, achieving a limit of detection of 0.0167 µM and...
Glengoyne Creates Signature Whisky for Supermarkets
Ian Macleod Distillers has introduced Glengoyne Signature, a grocery‑exclusive single malt, debuting in Tesco stores and online across the UK on 20 April 2026 for a three‑month run. The 700 ml, 40% ABV whisky is a flavour‑forward, non‑age‑statement expression highlighting Glengoyne’s fruity profile...
Kweichow Moutai Sees First Fall in Revenue, Profit Amid Corruption Crusade
Kweichow Moutai reported its first simultaneous decline in revenue and net profit since its 2001 IPO, with 2025 revenue down 1.2% to RMB 168.83 bn (≈$24.7 bn) and profit falling 4.5% to RMB 82.32 bn (≈$12.1 bn). The drop reflects reduced demand from official banquets amid...
Nyetimber Appoints Steven Edwards as Executive Chef
English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber has named MasterChef: The Professionals champion Steven Edwards as its executive chef, coinciding with the launch of a series of paired dining experiences at the estate. The four‑course events, featuring Nyetimber’s flagship 1086 cuvée, are...
AI Will Help Wine Sales in Hospitality but Won’t Replace Humans
Artificial intelligence is reshaping wine service in hospitality by delivering real‑time, personalized recommendations that match guests with the right glass. At a Preferabli‑hosted webinar, Napa Valley Marriott GM Rachel Wilson explained how AI tools boost revenue, extend dwell time, and...
Across the Nutraverse: Algae Pioneer, Probiotics for Nanoplastic Elimination, Everyday Nutrition
Algae pioneer Dr. Bill Barclay received the GOED Lifetime Achievement Award for commercializing a fast‑growing microalgae strain that produces DHA‑rich oil, a plant‑based alternative to fish‑oil supplements. A new study from South Korea’s World Institute of Kimchi shows that a...
Concha Y Toro Launches New Subsidiary Focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot From Limarí
Viña Concha y Toro has spun off its Viña Amelia label into a new subsidiary dedicated exclusively to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Limarí Valley. The Quebrada Seca vineyard, located near the Pacific and influenced by the Humboldt Current,...
WINCEE Launch: Women’s Health Research Top of the Agenda
At the NutraFood Poland event, WINCEE co‑chairs Ewa Hudson and Agnieszka Anielska highlighted the massive economic upside of closing the women’s health gap, estimating a $1 trillion annual boost to the global economy. They pointed out that women account for only...
Hospitality Faces Steepest Cost Surge as UK ‘Inflation Gap’ Widens
New research from payments provider Dojo shows UK small‑and‑medium enterprises are paying 11.75% more than consumer inflation, with hospitality bearing the steepest cost surge. Over the past decade, catering firms saw operating expenses rise 62% and material costs more than...
Jersey Mike’s 'Confidentially' Files for IPO with $1B Target
Jersey Mike’s Subs has confidentially filed an S‑1 to pursue an initial public offering, targeting a $1 billion raise at a minimum $12 billion valuation. Backed by majority‑owner Blackstone, the company could debut as early as Q3 2026, positioning it among the top...
9 Best Omega 3 Supplement Brands (2026 Review)
Omega‑3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that the body cannot produce, prompting many Americans to turn to supplements. A new 2026 review ranks nine omega‑3 products, highlighting Viva Naturals as the best overall choice and noting alternatives for vegans, children, and...
Chipotle Who? Your Newest Build-Your-Own-Bowl Obsession Just Opened in Carson
Urban Comfort Foods Kitchen opened in Carson, offering a build‑your‑own bowl concept that spotlights African diaspora flavors. Patrons choose from six bases—most popular is jollof rice—and up to 20 toppings, including suya‑spiced beef, jerk chicken, and bourbon sweet potatoes. Founder...
4 Places Where Your Catering Program Is Leaking Revenue
Catering can be a high‑margin growth engine for restaurants, but many programs lose money because they treat orders as one‑off transactions. Kelly Grogan outlines four revenue‑leak points—team alignment, customer follow‑up, product suitability, and partner reliability—and shows how a culture of...
Baby Food Recalled in Austria After Jar Tests Positive for Rat Poison
HiPP, the world’s leading organic baby‑food brand, has recalled all its products sold in Austrian SPAR stores after police detected rat poison in a tampered jar of carrots and potatoes. The company stresses the contamination stems from criminal sabotage, not...
What It Actually Means To “Live Mediterranean,” According To A Large Study
A new international study of 4,010 adults across ten countries used the MedLife Index to measure adherence to a Mediterranean‑style lifestyle, not just diet. Spain emerged as the top performer, scoring high on diet, sleep quality, physical activity, and social...
Kontali: Salmon Sector in Slowdown as Supply Tightens, Trade and Demand Dynamics Shift, and Tensions Rise in Middle East
Kontali analysts warn that the Atlantic salmon industry is entering a supply-constrained phase as harvest‑ready biomass declines in Norway, Chile and Scotland. At the same time, demand is becoming more price‑sensitive, pushing producers toward product innovation and promotions. Europe’s market...
45% of Brits Cutting Back Amidst Health Trends and GLP-1s
Around 45% of British consumers are reducing restaurant spending as health‑focused trends gain traction. Awareness of GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs jumped to 75% in January 2026, prompting eateries to roll out protein‑rich, lower‑calorie menus. Despite a modest 1.4% dip in per‑capita visits,...
US Restaurants Rolling Out Seafood Specials as Part of Updated Spring Menus
U.S. restaurant chains and even furniture retailer IKEA are adding seafood specials to their spring menus. Cava, operating 450 locations, debuted its first seafood item—a pomegranate‑glazed salmon—on April 20, while Logan’s Roadhouse introduced Sweet Chili Lime Salmon and Coconut Shrimp, and...
What Restaurants Are Doing Differently on TikTok and Why It’s Driving Visits
TikTok has become the top platform influencing U.S. dining choices, with over 200 million monthly active users and 75% of diners saying it shapes where they eat. The platform’s blend of authentic, creator‑driven videos and paid formats like Spark Ads and...
Why Restaurants Are Using Spice to Drive Flavor—And Repeat Traffic
Spice is now a staple on roughly 95% of U.S. restaurant menus, driven by the 65% of Americans who enjoy hot flavors. Operators are shifting from extreme heat to approachable, mid‑level heat that blends sweet, savory and global influences. Brands...
Recall Rodeo: Roping in Risk with Precision, Not Panic
By September 2025 the USDA and FDA logged a combined 445 food recalls—the highest level since 2020—while 93 % of U.S. adults express concern over recall frequency. Retailers face a chaotic “recall rodeo” on the shop floor as opened cases mingle, erasing...
How H&H Bagels Managed 900 Orders on Opening Day without Selling Out
H&H Bagels opened its first Miami location in Pinecrest, processing over 900 orders in a ten‑hour launch without any menu sell‑outs. The 13‑person team leveraged targeted staffing, ultra‑efficient station layouts, and real‑time wait‑time communication to keep lines moving. Rigorous inventory...
ICFA to Host Panel on Protecting Biodiversity and Seafood Production at 2026 Seafood Expo Global
The International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) will host a panel titled “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and Global Food Security” at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona on April 21. The discussion will examine how biodiversity conservation and sustainable...