Libertario Coffee Eyes Rs 100 Cr in FY28; India Emerges as Highest-Performing Market Globally
Libertario Coffee Co. & Roasters, a Colombian specialty coffee brand, aims to surpass Rs 100 crore (≈$12 million) in revenue by FY 28 as it expands its Indian footprint. The company plans to grow from a single café in FY 26 to at least eight locations by March 2027, targeting a total of ten stores nationwide. Indian outlets generate double‑digit revenue multiples per store, with average ticket sizes over Rs 1,000 (≈$12), roughly twice those in Western markets. Profitability is achieved from day one, with a payback period under 1.5 years and capex of Rs 1.5‑3 crore per store (≈$180‑$360 k).
Mangosteen Prices Surpass Durian in Malaysia Amid Farming Shift
In Malaysia, mangosteen prices have risen to about RM20 ($4.40) per kilogram, overtaking the Musang King durian, which fell to RM16.80 ($3.70) per kilogram. The shift is driven by expanding durian plantations—up from 163,000 acres in 2016 to over 227,000...
Hunger Inc. Reshapes Mumbai's Dining Tastes
Hunger Inc., a fast‑growing hospitality group, has launched a series of concept‑driven restaurants across Mumbai, blending global culinary techniques with local flavors. The company’s emphasis on hyper‑personalized service and data‑driven menu design has drawn crowds away from traditional eateries. Within...
The Best Store-Brand Milk Isn't From Costco, Walmart, Or Trader Joe's
Chowhound evaluated seven store‑brand whole milks and crowned Lucerne, the Safeway/Albertsons private label, as the top performer. The test focused exclusively on whole milk to ensure a level playing field, judging flavor, texture, and overall richness. Walmart’s Great Value whole...
The Beer Brand That Released A Brew So Strong, It's Banned In Some States
Boston Beer Company’s Samuel Adams Utopias has pushed the limits of brewing, reaching a staggering 30% alcohol by volume, the highest ABV for any beer worldwide. The ultra‑premium brew is aged in charred whiskey, Amarone, and port barrels for up to three...
Starbucks Tests AI-Driven Drink Discovery Through ChatGPT Integration
Starbucks has launched a beta feature that plugs ChatGPT into its mobile app, letting customers describe a mood or craving and receive personalized drink recommendations. The AI layer sits in front of the existing ordering system, acting as a discovery...
Hong Kong Watchdog Monitoring Potential Merger of City’s Top 2 Supermarket Chains
Hong Kong’s competition regulator is scrutinising talks between Jardine Matheson and CK Hutchison to combine the city’s two biggest grocery retailers, Wellcome and ParknShop. The potential megadeal comes as overall supermarket sales have fallen each year since 2020, pressuring margins....
Why Texas Roadhouse's Mexican Menu Was Dropped After Just 2 Weeks
Texas Roadhouse briefly added a Mexican‑style menu in early 2025, only to pull it after two weeks. Founder Kent Taylor blamed the decision on poor execution and virtually no sales, noting the kitchen wasn’t equipped for the cuisine. The idea...
Building Circularity at Scale: How Beverage Bottlers Are Powering India’s Recycling Ecosystem
India’s non‑alcoholic beverage market, worth about $15 billion in 2024, is set to grow at a 7.36 % CAGR through 2030, driving consumption of 250‑300 million plastic bottles daily. The government’s updated Plastic Waste Management Rules impose Extended Producer Responsibility and a 40 %...
Grain Economics of Whisky: How Barley, Water and Volatility Are Reshaping India’s Single Malt Playbook
India’s single‑malt whisky sector is moving beyond novelty by leveraging its native six‑row barley and diverse mineral water sources. The high diastatic power of six‑row barley ensures stable starch conversion even under climate‑driven crop variability, while contract‑farming partnerships improve kernel...
Austria Recalls Baby Food Jars in Health Scare
HiPP, a leading baby‑food supplier in Austria, has recalled its entire line of 190‑gram carrot‑potato baby food jars sold at SPAR after authorities could not rule out tampering with a lethal substance. The recall is identified by a white label...
India’s Protein Revolution: Why Dairy Still Holds and Advantage over Alternatives
India’s protein market, worth $1.6 billion in 2026, is projected to exceed $2.2 billion by 2030 as rising incomes and health awareness drive demand. Despite this growth, roughly 73 % of the population remains protein‑deficient, creating a sizable consumption gap. Dairy retains a...
This Modern Egyptian Restaurant Is London’s Fieriest Opening of the Year
Super 8’s newest venture, Impala, has opened in Soho, delivering a 90‑cover restaurant centered on an open‑fire grill. Chef Meedu Saad, formerly of Kiln, spent five years developing the concept, drawing on Egyptian heritage, Japanese technique and British produce. The space blends...
Chain Stores and Restaurants Closing Locations in 2026
A wave of store and restaurant closures is reshaping the U.S. retail landscape in 2026, with major brands like Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go, Starbucks, and Wendy’s announcing hundreds of shutdowns. Foot Locker plans to close over 400 stores while rebranding 280...
After Matcha, Ube Takes The Lead
Ube, a purple yam native to the Philippines, is rapidly entering India’s premium café scene, appearing in lattes, milk teas and dessert‑style cold brews. Café operators see it as a high‑margin differentiator, especially since the tuber can be sourced locally....
Gategroup Marks 95 Years with Integrated Onboard Hospitality Showcase at WTCE 2026
gategroup marked its 95th anniversary at the 2026 WTCE expo in Hamburg with a comprehensive showcase that bundles culinary innovation, AI‑powered menu development, and automated production. The exhibit highlighted its Menu Development Platform built with Black Swan Data, a Smart...
‘The Perfect Kitchen Is Where There Is No Fear.’ Seven Global Chefs Share Their Tips for Running a Successful Restaurant
Recent revelations of abuse at Noma have intensified scrutiny of kitchen culture, prompting chefs worldwide to champion humane workplaces. Leaders from Baroo, Attica, Masala y Maíz, Kenji López‑Alt, and Asma Khan detail concrete measures—fair wages, capped hours, profit‑sharing, open‑book finances,...
Mediterranean Diet Linked to Reduced Dyspepsia in Elderly
A cross‑sectional study of older adults in geriatric outpatient clinics found that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was strongly linked to fewer and milder dyspeptic symptoms. Researchers used validated diet and symptom questionnaires and controlled for age, BMI, comorbidities,...
Heatwave Boon for Beverage Makers
Thai beverage makers are poised for a sales lift as the climate shifts toward El Niño, bringing hotter, drier weather that historically spikes demand. Analysts cite the 2023 El Niño period as a benchmark for expected volume growth this summer. However, rising...
DeSter Highlights “Care Fueled Journeys” Concept at WTCE
deSter presented its “Care Fueled Journeys” concept at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) in Hamburg, positioning thoughtful design and passenger wellbeing as a strategic differentiator in the inflight experience. The showcase highlighted three design lenses—Abundance, Ease...
Justice Department Preps Antitrust Lawsuit Against Egg Producers
The U.S. Justice Department is preparing a civil antitrust suit against several leading egg producers accused of coordinating prices through an industry‑wide benchmarking service. The move follows record egg prices that topped $6 per dozen in the spring of 2024‑25...
Justice Department Targets Leading US Egg Producers in Antitrust Case, WSJ Reports
The U.S. Justice Department is preparing an antitrust lawsuit against major egg producers Cal‑Maine Foods and privately held Versova, alleging they coordinated prices through an industry benchmarking service. The move follows a wave of class‑action suits accusing egg growers of...
This Week in Grocery News: Canadians Crown Dollarama Most Reputable, Great Value Rebrands
Dollarama was named the most reputable company in English Canada in Leger’s Reputation 2026 survey, overtaking Costco. Walmart announced the first full Great Value rebrand in over a decade, updating roughly 10,000 food and consumable items. 7‑Eleven plans to close 645...
Tops Markets Adds Compost Drop-Off Initiative In Hamburg, NY
Tops Friendly Markets has launched a pilot compost drop-off called “From Scraps to Soil” at its Hamburg, New York store, partnering with worker‑owned Farmer Pirates Compost. The initiative lets households deposit organic waste for a $10 monthly fee (first month...
The Impacts of Ready-to-Eat-Cereals and Cereal Fibers on Gut Health, Body Weight, and Cardiometabolic Health
Ready‑to‑eat cereals (RTECs) are a major source of dietary fiber in North America, yet Americans consume only about half of the recommended daily intake. Recent systematic reviews show that wheat‑based RTECs and other high‑fiber cereals improve bowel function, enhance gut...
Here's How Often McDonald's Changes Its Frying Oil, According To Employees
McDonald’s changes its fryer oil roughly once a week, according to multiple employee accounts on Reddit. The restaurant’s fryers are equipped with digital alerts and filtration systems that signal when oil quality declines, prompting timely swaps even during peak hours....
Kerrygold Drives Profit Growth at Ornua
Ornua, the Irish dairy co‑op behind Kerrygold, posted a near‑50% jump in net profit to €34.1 million for FY2025, propelled by the brand’s first $1 billion in US retail sales. Group turnover rose 1.6% to €3.45 billion, with EBITDA and operating profit also...
Restaurant Brands Roll Out Promotions for 4/20
Restaurant chains are rolling out a wave of 4/20‑themed promotions as cannabis use climbs to roughly 20% of U.S. adults. From Cheba Hut’s $4.20 Nugs subs to KFC’s $4.20 pot‑pie combo and a $20 chicken bucket, brands are using low‑price,...
Widening the Appeal of Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Non‑alcoholic beverages are booming in major metros, with California alone accounting for $128 million in off‑premise sales and growing 20% year‑over‑year. The five leading states—California, Texas, Florida, Colorado and Massachusetts—represent 37% of U.S. non‑alcohol dollars, each posting double‑digit growth. Direct‑to‑consumer channels...
Vox AI Turns Drive-Thru Conversations Into Operational Intelligence
Vox AI, a conversational voice‑AI platform for drive‑thru quick‑service restaurants, launched Vox AI Insights, an analytics solution that converts every drive‑thru conversation into operational intelligence. The system hooks into existing audio equipment, captures full conversation context in real time, and...
Is Your Proteinmaxxing Hurting Your Gut?
Protein is a cornerstone of muscle maintenance and satiety, but for the roughly three million Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the equation is more nuanced. Chronic inflammation and malabsorption can raise protein requirements, yet excessive or poorly digested protein...
Trader Joe’s Is Opening 18 New Stores—Here’s the Full List of Locations
Trader Joe’s announced 18 new store openings across 12 states, expanding its footprint to over 600 U.S. locations. The rollout follows a 2025 surge of roughly 30 stores and eight additional sites announced earlier this year. Executives highlighted deliberate site selection...
How AI Is Reshaping Product Discovery in F&B
AI is creating a new "third shelf" where intelligent agents surface food‑and‑beverage products directly to consumers, bypassing traditional web searches. Brands are seeing a 30‑fold surge in ChatGPT‑driven traffic, signaling that shoppers are using generative AI as a purchasing tool....
Protein Is Hotter Than Ever. So Why Is the Owner of Quest and Atkins on a Cold Streak?
Simply Good Foods, owner of Quest and Atkins, reported a 9.4% decline in net sales for the quarter ended Feb. 28, driven by a 27% drop at Atkins and a 17% fall at Owyn, while Quest grew only 0.3%. The company...
If You Shop at Trader Joe's, It May Owe You $100
Trader Joe’s agreed to a $7.4 million class‑action settlement after receipts printed in 2019 displayed ten‑digit credit and debit card numbers, violating the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. The deal allocates $2.6 million for attorney fees and an additional $10,000 incentive, leaving...
Ranch Dressing’s Secret History Literally Includes a Hidden Valley
Ranch dressing, now America’s top-selling condiment, rose from a homemade mix at a 1950s dude ranch to a multimillion‑dollar industry. Founder Steve Henson first served the herb‑buttermilk blend to Alaska workers, then sold a dry‑mix at Hidden Valley Ranch, which...
Listen: Why Do People Crave Ultraprocessed Foods so Much?
Ultraprocessed foods—items like French fries, hot dogs, and flavored milkshakes—are heavily altered in factories and packed with additives, preservatives, and artificial flavors. University of Michigan psychology professor Ashley Gearhardt studies how these ingredients trigger addictive eating patterns. In a recent Michigan...
What’s the Outlook for Craft Beer in 2026?
Craft beer volumes fell 5% in 2025, mirroring a 5.7% drop across the broader beer category. Despite the decline, craft brewers nudged their market share up to 13.3% and held 24.6% of total beer retail dollar sales. Value sales slipped...
Chef Robotics Escaped the Robot Cooking Graveyard and Says It’s Thriving — Here’s Why
Chef Robotics announced it has processed 100 million robot‑deposited servings, marking a key milestone in its pivot from fast‑casual restaurant automation to large‑scale food manufacturing. The company now serves enterprise clients such as Amy’s Kitchen, Chef Bombay, and a major school‑lunch...
With 'The Mandalorian & Grogu,' Archer Meats Finds Its Big-Deal Moment
Archer Meat Snacks, a fast‑growing clean‑ingredient beef and turkey stick brand, has secured a 360‑degree partnership with Disney for the upcoming *Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu* theatrical release on May 22. The deal includes co‑branded packaging, a Disney+ ad hub, placements...
Aquabench Launches Digital Platform for Sorting Chilean Salmon Data
Chile‑based aquaculture consultancy Aquabench has unveiled Salmobench Digital, a web‑based platform that transforms its traditional PDF and Excel reports into interactive dashboards. The tool offers filtering, visualization, and direct data export, covering production cycles from the saltwater grow‑out phase for...
Newfoundland Harvesters, Processors Reach Snow Crab Pricing Agreement
The Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) and the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) have reached a pricing agreement for the 2026 Newfoundland snow‑crab season, ending a multi‑week standoff. Harvesters will be paid CAD 6.00 (≈ $4.38) per pound through April 18,...
The Highest-Quality Fast Food Chain Is This Southern Gem, According To Report
YouGov’s QSR CategoryView survey of over 40,000 U.S. consumers ranked Chick‑fil‑A as the highest‑quality fast‑food chain, citing its superior food, customer service, and hospitality. The study weighted respondents by visit frequency, gender and age to reflect regular diners. While the...
Dairy Queen Is Putting an AI Chatbot in Its Drive-Thrus
Fast‑food chain Dairy Queen is deploying an AI‑powered chatbot developed by Presto across dozens of drive‑thrus in the United States and Canada. The system, which correctly took orders about 90 percent of the time in pilot testing, is intended to accelerate...
Meijer Introduces 300 Products To Meet Fiber, Protein Consumer Goals
Meijer is rolling out more than 300 new private‑label items aimed at boosting customers' fiber and protein intake, reflecting a 2026 trend that places fiber ahead of protein as the top nutrition priority. Over 120 of the launches contain at...
El Pollo Loco Debuts New Loco Tenders
El Pollo Loco introduced Loco Tenders, a Mexican‑spiced chicken tender available in classic and spicy versions, at the Revolve Festival and will roll out system‑wide on April 23. The launch follows a series of menu innovations under CEO Liz Williams, including Mango Habanero Fire‑Grilled...
Exclusive: David Protein Scales Alt-Fat EPG Capacity, Eyes CPG Deals as CEO Targets $300m Revenues in 2026
David Protein, founded by RXBAR creator Peter Rahal, has quintupled production of its low‑calorie fat replacer EPG after acquiring Epogee. The company aims to generate more than $300 million in revenue by 2026 and is courting major CPG partners while expanding...
Rawcology Scales with AMI Partnership, Niagara Retail Debut
Toronto‑based functional snack brand Rawcology announced a joint venture with AM Ingredients (AMI) that gives it access to a 19,000‑square‑foot manufacturing plant and a 50,000‑square‑foot cross‑docking hub in Niagara‑on‑the‑Lake. The new infrastructure will enable coast‑to‑coast distribution, support a second Costco...
Warburtons Invests £100M and Acquires New Site
Warburtons is spending more than £100 million (about $125 million) to mark its 150th anniversary, acquiring the former Rathbones bakery in Wakefield and upgrading its gluten‑free plant, a new distribution centre, and three production lines. The purchase expands the company’s footprint to...
The Friday Checkout: Walmart’s Biggest Private Brand Is Finally Getting a Makeover. Grocers Should Pay Attention.
Walmart announced a comprehensive redesign of its Great Value private‑label line, the retailer’s largest store brand, marking the first visual overhaul in more than a decade. The update includes modern packaging, a refreshed logo, and a premium‑focused design to shift...