The Big Interview: Helen Medina on Leading the WSA
Helen Medina, the inaugural CEO of the World Spirits Alliance (WSA), is steering the trade group’s global push to reshape alcohol policy through data‑driven advocacy, fair taxation and consumer education. The WSA, launched in 2019, now unites 13 major spirits producers and 21 national or regional associations, representing a sector that contributed $730 billion to global GDP and supports 36 million jobs in 2022. Medina highlights declining per‑capita alcohol consumption—down 12% since 2010—and warns that illicit spirits, costing the EU roughly $3.2 billion annually, threaten health, safety and tax revenues. The alliance’s “Measure What Matters” campaign seeks to shift labeling from ABV to standard drink units to improve public understanding and responsible drinking.
Chef Dave Pynt to Sit at the Helm of People People Brewing Co
Chef Dave Pynt, founder of Burnt Ends Hospitality Group, will head the newly announced People People Brewing Co in Singapore. The 9,000‑square‑foot venue, located at Resorts World Sentosa, brings together culinary, hospitality, brand‑building and consumer‑strategy expertise from co‑founders Loh Lik...
‘Sweet Treat People’: 7 Ways Gen Z Is Driving America’s Sugar Boom
Research by Talker Research for HI‑CHEW shows Gen Z is the most frequent sweet‑treat consumer, with 72 % eating one to six treats daily, surpassing millennials, Gen X and baby boomers. A striking 86 % of Gen Z label themselves “sweet treat people,” tying these...
China Focus: TaoKaeNoi X Chen Zheyuan Collab, Processed Foods Debate, Gut Health Trends in China, and More
Thailand’s snack maker TaoKaeNoi has appointed Chinese actor Chen Zheyuan as its global ambassador, aiming to accelerate seaweed snack sales and reposition the brand as a health‑focused lifestyle label. In parallel, Chinese food‑science leaders are urging a more science‑based view...
Winners and Losers of the UPF Backlash
A global backlash against ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) is reshaping consumer buying patterns. About half of shoppers now avoid products they perceive as UPFs, driving growth for whole‑milk dairy, traditional plant proteins like tofu, and other natural‑label foods. Conversely, plant‑based meat,...
10 Iconic Food and Drink Brands that Flopped Worldwide
The article lists ten once‑high‑profile food and drink brands that vanished, from New Coke to Dasani UK, illustrating how even giants can misread consumer demand. It notes that global F&B advertising spend is set to rise from $72.5 bn in 2022...
Kerry Expands Ireland Facility for Lactose Free Dairy Growth
Kerry has expanded its biotechnology manufacturing facility in Carrigaline, Ireland, boosting lactase enzyme capacity to meet surging demand for lactose‑free and sugar‑reduced dairy. The upgrade tightly couples advanced enzyme engineering and strain development with large‑scale production, linking the Global Innovation...
Tiny Scottish Island Gets Go-Ahead for New Brewery
Local authorities have granted permission for a new brewery on Scotland’s Isle of Gigha after the Lannigan couple submitted revised plans last year. The approval covers conversion of an existing stone building and installation of brewing equipment, but excludes the...
Flashy and Sweet: Brands Tap Health Trends in Artificial Sweetener Push
Chinese additive firms are marketing non‑nutritive sweeteners (NNS) as wellness ingredients as they expand globally, echoing a broader industry shift toward sugar‑reduction. Brands such as Coca‑Cola, Pepsi, Mixue, Haribo and Mars Wrigley are swapping aspartame for sucralose, isomalt or allulose to...
Gut Health, Clean Label Foods Surge in China Market
Chinese ingredient firms are racing to meet a booming demand for gut‑health and clean‑label foods. Joywin Natural Products is scaling inulin fiber from Jerusalem artichoke, touting low‑GI and satiety benefits, while ZNatural expands natural plant pigments for colour‑cleaning. Consumers increasingly...
Aldi Invests £40M Into New Stores
Aldi is spending roughly $51 million (£40 million) to launch eight new stores across London this year, adding about 200 jobs and extending its footprint into neighborhoods that currently rely on higher‑priced supermarkets. The retailer, named the UK’s cheapest supermarket by Which?...
Zydus Wellness Extends RiteBite Max Protein Into RTD Shakes, Ghee-Jaggery Bars and Korean Chips
Zydus Wellness is expanding its RiteBite Max Protein portfolio with ready‑to‑drink shakes, ghee‑jaggery protein bars and Korean‑flavoured protein chips. The new RTD shakes deliver 26 g of protein per 250 ml, while the bars offer 10 g protein and 4 g fibre, and the...
Ann Chin Popiah Brings Heritage Flavours to the Heartlands with Toa Payoh Hub Pop-Up Experience
Ann Chin Popiah will open a limited‑time pop‑up at Toa Payoh Hub in mid‑May 2026, taking over a long‑standing muah chee stall while keeping its original offering. The pop‑up will showcase the brand’s handmade popiah skins and kueh pie tee,...
Planetary Nets $28M to Scale Full-Stack Fermentation Platform for Sustainable Proteins
Swiss biotech startup Planetary secured CHF16 million ($20.4 million) in Series A financing and an additional CHF6 million ($7.6 million) credit facility, bringing total capital to roughly $41 million. The funds will expand its BioBlocks full‑stack fermentation platform, scale a global licensing business, and diversify its...
How the Future of Cutting and Slicing Will Take Shape
Cutting and slicing machines are a profit‑critical component for food manufacturers, with modern equipment delivering up to 2,000 cuts per minute and advanced features like ultrasonic blades and crust‑freezing. Companies such as Weber, GEA, Reiser UK and Multivac are integrating...
Four Pillars Releases Limited-Edition Gin Flavour for Mother’s Day
Australian craft distiller Four Pillars has introduced a limited‑edition Three Peach Gin, timed for Mother’s Day. The spirit draws on Bellini‑style brunch cocktails and incorporates three distinct peach elements through multi‑stage distillation and maceration. It will launch on April 28 with...
Esca Group Appoints Adam Wolfers as Aalia and Aalia Wine Room Executive Chef
Esca Group announced that Adam Wolfers will serve as executive chef of Aalia and Aalia Wine Room. Wolfers most recently led the culinary direction at Anyday Hospitality and has worked in top Australian venues as well as Spain’s three‑Michelin‑starred Quique...
Qu Introduces Edge-Based AI Platform to Combat Rising Restaurant Costs
Qu unveiled its Intelligent Commerce Platform, an edge‑based AI solution aimed at reducing cloud‑related expenses for quick‑service and fast‑casual restaurants. The system offers production forecasting, AI‑driven ordering, computer‑vision monitoring, and equipment analytics. Early adopters reported a 29% boost in drive‑thru...
White Castle to Bring Restaurant to St. Augustine, Florida
White Castle announced plans for its first Northeast Florida restaurant in St. Augustine, marking the brand's entry into the region. The 2,764‑square‑foot “neighborhood” prototype will feature a 270‑square‑foot patio and two drive‑thru lanes that deliver orders directly to vehicles. This...
Japan Wagyu Leader Outlines Fat Quality Shift and Free-Range Production Push
Shikishima Farm, Japan's largest integrated Wagyu operation, is pivoting from traditional marbling scores to a focus on lipid quality, especially monounsaturated fats. The company, which raises about 11,000 Japanese Black cattle, is trialing a next‑generation, fully free‑range production model in...
'Gen Z Walks Into A Bar...And Orders Water'
Global alcohol consumption is falling, with U.S. drinkers dropping to a 90‑year low of 54% and most of the top 20 markets reporting volume declines. Europe sees 71% of consumers cutting back, while India remains an outlier, posting roughly 7%...
This Marks & Spencer Greek Yoghurt Recalled over Hidden Gluten – Coeliac Shoppers Urged to Check Their Fridge
Marks & Spencer has recalled its 500 g vanilla Authentic Greek yoghurt after a labelling error left gluten undeclared. The recall applies only to tubs with a use‑by date of 12 May 2026 and product code 29308750, affecting both the UK and Ireland....
The Skills Crisis in Australian Meat Processing and Why Experience Alone Can’t Fix It
Australian red‑meat processors are confronting a deepening skills shortage that threatens plant efficiency and regional economies. While seasoned planners and floor staff remain vital, high turnover is exposing knowledge gaps that slow decision‑making and inflate costs. Industry leaders argue that...
Beloved 42-Year-Old BBQ Chain Is Closing Half of Its Locations
Dinosaur Bar‑B‑Que announced the closure of its Brooklyn outpost, cutting the chain’s footprint in half. The iconic location, a 15‑year staple in Gowanus, will shutter this spring as its lease expires and the building is slated for demolition. At its...
Baker Boy’s Brioche Ring Donut Is Elevating the Donut Case
Baker Boy, a North Dakota bakery manufacturer, launched a Ready‑to‑Ice Brioche Ring Donut this spring, targeting in‑store bakeries with a premium‑taste, pre‑fried product. The donut uses buttery brioche dough for a softer bite and positions itself as a higher‑end alternative...
SNAP Food Restriction Waivers Impacting Soft Drink Sales
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia barred SNAP benefits from purchasing carbonated soft drinks, with Idaho, Louisiana, Virginia, Florida and Texas following. Ibotta’s data shows SNAP‑eligible soda purchases fell 15% in the new‑restriction states versus a 7.5% decline...
Victoria Racing Club Announces Long-Term Partnership with Asahi Beverages
The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has sealed a seven‑year partnership with Asahi Beverages, naming the Japanese‑owned firm the official beer and cider provider at Flemington. The deal brings brands such as Carlton Draught, Asahi Super Dry, Balter XPA and Somersby cider...
Coles Announces $1m Relief Package for Farmers in Supply Chain
Coles announced a AU$1 million (≈US$660,000) one‑off relief package for its direct‑sourcing dairy farmers, adding roughly 5 cents per litre to the farmgate price. The move follows sharp increases in diesel and fertilizer costs triggered by the Strait of Hormuz closure and...
TRP Wins Butter Brand Lard Ass, Launches New Campaign
Australian premium butter maker Lard Ass has appointed independent agency TRP as its creative agency of record, launching the brand’s first major advertising campaign. The campaign, rolling out across out‑of‑home and social channels, spotlights the brand’s hand‑crafted, cultured butter and its...
Japan Focus: Functional Protein, Female Consumers’ Priorities and More
Functional protein is rapidly becoming a core ingredient in Japanese consumer‑packaged goods, mirroring a broader Asian surge from India to Japan. At the Growth Asia Summit 2026, Morinaga Milk Industry will present new gut‑health research shaping infant and child nutrition...
Nestlé and NTU Singapore to Establish Research Lab Focusing on Longevity, Women’s Health
Nestlé and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University have signed a multi‑year agreement to create a joint research lab focused on nutrition‑driven healthy longevity. The partnership will combine Nestlé’s global R&D capabilities with NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine expertise and...
TaoKaeNoi Taps Chinese Celebrity Star Power to Boost Seaweed Snack Growth
TaoKaeNoi, the Taiwanese seaweed snack brand, has signed Chinese celebrity Chen Zheyuan to accelerate its evolution into a global lifestyle brand. The partnership combines hyper‑localisation of product flavors for Chinese tastes with cultural synergy through a star whose image matches...
Pinnacle Food Group Develops Breakthrough Process for Recombinant Breast Milk Protein at Hong Kong Lab
Canadian biotech Pinnacle Food Group announced a methanol‑free precision‑fermentation process that produces recombinant human lactoferrin using a patented Pichia yeast strain at its Hong Kong lab. The new method eliminates toxic methanol, reducing capital and operating expenses while delivering a...
FMCG Sector Set for Steady Q4 on Rural Demand and Volume Growth
The fast‑moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector is projected to deliver steady March‑quarter performance, buoyed by stable rural demand and modest urban recovery. Volume growth is expected across categories, while pricing remains subdued in many segments. Companies such as Hindustan Unilever,...
Cargill Upgrades Hydrocolloids Site to Cut Emissions and Improve Efficiency
Cargill is investing €25 million (US$29.5 million) to modernise its Baupte, France, hydrocolloids plant with Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) technology. The upgrade is projected to slash site emissions by roughly 45 % – about 13,700 tons of CO₂ each year – while preserving production...
African Flavors: How ADM Localizes R&D to Strengthen Regional F&B Innovation
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) opened a full‑scale flavor‑creation lab in Johannesburg, embedding R&D directly within African markets. The facility can prototype, test, and deliver a new flavor to a client within a week, dramatically shortening development cycles. By leveraging indigenous...
Restaurant of the Year Nominee Onzieme Closes as ACT’s Dining Scene Struggles
Onzieme, a five‑year‑old Canberra brasserie and 2025 Restaurant of the Year nominee, will serve its final meal on May 30 after owner Louis Couttoupes cited relentless staff poaching and wage gaps that forced him to shoulder training costs. The closure mirrors...
This Iconic NYC Steakhouse Beloved By Old Hollywood Stars Has Big Expansion Plans
Delmonico's, the legendary New York steakhouse founded in 1837, is preparing to open a second Manhattan location in Midtown. The new venue, slated for a 2027 debut, will span roughly 11,000 square feet and feature expanded private dining rooms for...
Chris Lucas Takes on Hong Kong at His Next Restaurant
Prolific Melbourne restaurateur Chris Lucas will launch Wishbone, his 13th venue and first on the city’s west side, in October 2026 inside the new 435 Bourke Street office tower—a $1 billion development (≈ $660 million USD). The three‑level restaurant reimagines Cantonese street food, offering dim...
Here's What Happens To Chipotle's Leftover Food
Chipotle is intensifying its sustainability drive by diverting leftover food through donation and composting, aiming to halve landfill waste. In 2020 the Harvest Program donated 455,766 lb of food and 29% of restaurants composted waste, while the chain also tests technologies...
The Olive Garden Sister Restaurant Known For Fresh, From-Scratch Food
Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, a sister brand to Olive Garden under Darden Restaurants, markets itself as a casual chain that prepares most dishes from scratch. The concept is reinforced by a menu where most entrees cost under $20 and includes a...
You Rarely See Canned Water In Stores — What's The Deal With That?
Canned water is gaining attention as a potential sustainable alternative to plastic bottled water, but its environmental advantages are mixed. While aluminum cans are more readily recyclable, a 16‑ounce can actually generates a larger carbon footprint than an equivalent plastic...
A Fruitas a Day: Lester Yu Adds Star Power to Fuel Growth
Fruitas Holdings Inc., the Philippines‑based food‑and‑beverage chain, announced a 20% sales growth target for 2026, backed by a $2.1 million capital‑expenditure plan to open 80‑100 new stores. The company secured actor Alden Richards as its latest brand endorser, hoping his boy‑next‑door...
Los Angeles Favourite BADMAASH Gets a New Brutalist-Inspired Hideaway in Venice
Los Angeles‑born BADMAASH opened its third location on Abbott Kinney in Venice, showcasing a brutalist‑inspired interior designed by Preen. The space blends concrete service tables, tie‑dye textiles, and art installations, creating a moody, upscale backdrop for the brand’s Indian‑fusion menu. New dishes...
11 Tasty Foods for Good Gut Health
A new GQ feature outlines eleven foods that support gut health, emphasizing high‑fiber plant items, fermented products, and omega‑3‑rich fish. Nutritionist Emily English stresses that a diet rich in diverse plant foods and live cultures feeds beneficial microbes, while low‑fiber,...
PIILK Debuts Clean-Label Protein Drinks
Armored Fresh’s PIILK brand entered the U.S. direct‑to‑consumer market with a clean‑label, yeast‑based protein drink line. The beverages contain only seven ingredients, eliminating carrageenan, emulsifiers, and artificial sweeteners, and use non‑GMO fermented yeast as the sole protein source with a...
Making a Splash: Demand for Raw and ‘Brewed’ Milk Growing in UK
Raw milk is gaining traction among younger UK consumers seeking less‑processed dairy, prompting producers to innovate. Modern Milkman introduced “brewed milk,” a low‑temperature pasteurised alternative priced at £2.80 (≈$3.50) per litre, while Fen Farm Dairy reported a 32% year‑on‑year rise...
6 Airlines With The World's Most Superior Business Class Dining In 2026
In 2026 business‑class airlines are using inflight dining as a key differentiator, moving beyond seats to restaurant‑quality meals. Emirates leverages scale to deliver consistent, premium menus across its global network, while ANA focuses on a kaiseki‑style, seasonal multi‑course experience. Singapore...
The Marketing Mistake That Makes Brands Lose Their Retail Placement
Landing a retail shelf is only the first step for CPG founders; the real test comes within the first 90 days when buyers scrutinize product velocity. Retailers monitor how quickly items sell and whether staff can actively promote them. Brands...
Starbucks Just Launched an AI Order-Picker on ChatGPT. Is It Genius or Insane?
Starbucks has launched a ChatGPT‑powered ordering assistant that lets users tag @Starbucks in the ChatGPT app, describe their mood or even upload a photo, and receive drink recommendations. The AI‑generated suggestions are then transferred to the Starbucks mobile app for...