Café Del Mar Spirits Eyes European Expansion
Balearic Drinks will roll out its Café del Mar Spirits line across six European countries in 2026, focusing on Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy and Portugal. The brand previously spent three years establishing a foothold in the UK, Ibiza and Luxembourg, producing over 45,000 bottles and securing retail and hospitality partnerships. Trade Winds Agency will manage the export rollout with country‑specific activation teams. The portfolio, featuring a Signature Gin, Vodka and an artisan Hierbas liqueur, aims to fuse Ibiza’s sunset bar vibe with premium mixology.
Global Pressures Reshape UK Drinking Habits on the High Street
Geopolitical instability and volatile energy prices are tightening UK consumers' wallets, prompting a modest 0.4% drop in retail sales in February and a dip in consumer confidence. Hospitality venues are seeing a "steady recalibration" rather than a sharp decline, with...
EFSA Announces Third WGS Food Safety Conference
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Inter‑European Union Reference Laboratories will host the third Science Meets Policy conference on September 2‑3, 2026 in Rome. The event, themed “From Regulation to Practice—Turning WGS into Action for Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation,” will...
Walmart Sued for $5M Over ‘Conspicuous Labelling’ of Additives in Bettergoods Plant-Based Milk Line
Walmart’s private‑label Bettergoods line faces a class‑action lawsuit alleging that its “plant‑based” milks contain inorganic and animal‑derived additives, misleading consumers. The complaint cites calcium carbonate, dipotassium phosphate and vitamin A palmitate as examples that do not originate from plants. Plaintiff...
UK Seeking Proposals for GBP 132 Million in Funding for Fishing and Seafood Industry
The UK government has announced GBP 132 million (about $178.5 million) in new funding under the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) to support projects across the seafood and coastal sectors over the next five years. The allocation includes roughly GBP 6 million for small‑scale coastal...
Despite Differences in Processed Food Categorization Systems, Consistent Health, Nutrition Associations Emerge
A Johns Hopkins study compared four major food‑processing classification systems—NOVA, WHO IARC, IFIC, and UNC—using 2017‑18 NHANES data on 4,605 items. While the systems diverged in how many foods they labeled highly processed, they consistently linked higher consumption of highly...
Royal Swinkels Sees Modest Growth Despite a Sluggish Beer Market
Royal Swinkels, the family‑owned brewer behind Cornet and Bavaria, posted modest revenue growth in 2025, with sales climbing €5 million to €1.118 billion (about $5.5 million to $1.23 billion). Operating profit rose to €70.2 million (~$77 million) thanks to tight cost control and strategic choices. The...
Private Label Is Once Again Growing Faster than Manufacturer Brands, but Not Everywhere
Rising grocery costs are pushing European shoppers toward private‑label products. In 2025, store brands grew faster than the overall food market in 17 European countries, both in value and volume. Switzerland led the trend, with private‑label sales up 4.1% versus...
CEO Churn Exposes Growing Cracks in Big Food’s Growth Model
Over the past year, roughly 15 of the 50 largest consumer‑product companies changed CEOs—a 30% turnover rate that far exceeds broader market norms. Boards are moving faster, often appointing outsiders with turnaround experience, as growth slows and pricing power wanes....
Is Coffee Ready for the EUDR?
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will take effect on 30 December 2026, forcing coffee exporters to prove that their beans are free of recent deforestation. Over the past two years, the sector has accelerated geo‑referencing, farm mapping and traceability investments, with Rainforest...
Colruyt Group Plans to Expand the Bon Lunch Chain Through Franchising
Bon, the lunch chain majority‑owned by Colruyt Group, plans to double its footprint to 32 sites by 2030. Expansion will be driven by opening two to four new restaurants each year, including franchised locations in train stations, shopping centers and...
Food Companies Are Finally Cutting Prices. PepsiCo Shows It’s Worth It
PepsiCo slashed U.S. snack prices up to 15% in February, prompting a rebound in sales. The price cuts helped lift first‑quarter 2026 revenue 8.5% to $19.4 billion, driven by a strong North American snacks segment. The move mirrors similar reductions by...
S6 Ep10: Wagyu Edge 26 – Australia’s Rise From Niche to Global Powerhouse
The Weekly Grill podcast visited Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane, where AWA President Laird Morgan and CEO Matt McDonagh discussed Australian Wagyu’s rapid ascent from a niche product to a global premium beef brand. They highlighted a 45% year‑over‑year export surge in...
New Beverage Launches: Patrón, Nestlé, Starbucks, Prebiotic Soda and More…
June 2024 saw a wave of premium beverage launches across coffee, spirits, soda and dairy. L'OR introduced recyclable coconut‑flavored iced coffee capsules in the UK at about $6, while Nestlé and Starbucks rolled out Starbucks Coffee Craft, a cold‑brew concentrate...
IGA Creates ‘Chief Chatty Officer’ Role to ‘Genuinely Make Someone’s Day’
IGA has launched a “chief chatty officer” role and a dedicated community check‑in lane at its Allambie Heights store to address loneliness, which affects about 40% of Australians. Shoppers are invited to slow down and converse with staff during a...
Nutella Announces First New Flavour in 60 Years
Ferrero has launched Nutella Peanut, the first new Nutella flavor in over 60 years, blending roasted peanuts with the classic cocoa‑hazelnut spread. The product debuts in the United States with in‑store placement and a coordinated promotional push. Ferrero frames the...
Haigh’s Chocolate Releases Its Mother’s Day Range
Haigh’s Chocolate has unveiled its Mother’s Day “Delight Mum” collection, drawing on Middle Eastern flavor profiles with fruit and floral notes. The flagship product is a limited‑edition Milk Pomegranate Fudge, a white‑chocolate centre studded with pomegranate pieces and enrobed in...
Resilience Is Top Priority for Food Supply Chain
Food and beverage firms are elevating supply‑chain resilience as tariffs, regulations and geopolitical shifts intensify volatility. A Lineage Cold Chain Insights Survey of 1,000 North‑American decision‑makers shows 73% expect tariffs to erode finances in 2026, while 72% report growing demand...
‘Every Bottle Will Cost You More’: Winemakers Fight Back Against WA Scheme
Western Australia will extend its Containers For Change deposit scheme to include wine bottles on July 1, 2026, adding a 14‑cent (≈$0.09 USD) fee per container. Winemakers, organized as Friends of WA Wine, warn the fee will cascade through the supply chain, inflating...
Consumers Can’t Stay Away From Convenience Stores, Data Shows
A GSTV survey reveals that 92% of shoppers enjoy browsing convenience stores, with 46% actually making purchases and 33% frequenting them for game‑day snacks. Impulse triggers such as mood (71%) and promotions (66%) dominate new‑product trials, while 58% of consumers...
Waterloo Banana Berry Bliss, Melon Medley and Lemon Italian Ice
Waterloo Sparkling Water unveiled two new flavors—Banana Berry Bliss and Melon Medley—while reinstating Lemon Italian Ice as a permanent offering. The brand describes Banana Berry Bliss as a creamy banana‑berry blend with a hint of orange, and Melon Medley as...
Goop Kitchen Expands Delivery Business with New York City Launch
Goop Kitchen, Gwyneth Paltrow’s health‑focused ghost‑kitchen brand, is launching three delivery‑only sites in Manhattan’s Flatiron, Upper West Side and Upper East Side starting April 20. The expansion follows a 60% year‑over‑year revenue jump in 2024 and a near‑doubling of the company’s...
Start-Up Spotlight: Plaquette, Vicky en France, Morus and More
The latest start‑up spotlight highlights a wave of sustainable food innovations, from Belgium’s Plaquette winning a Gulfood award for its waste‑free, bite‑sized candy‑butters to Singapore’s Vicky en France up‑cycling 35 kg of eggshell membranes into collagen. Japan’s Morus is commercialising silkworm‑derived...
Eating This ‘Dinosaur Egg’-Garnished Dessert Will Blow Your Mind in Five Different Ways
Melbourne’s Kumbira, a Filipino restaurant in Altona, showcases UNESCO-certified asin tibuok "dinosaur-egg" salt on its desserts, notably the tamarind four ways. Chef Jose Miguel Lontoc blends three decades of five-star experience with modern techniques, reimagining classics like lechon, adobo rillettes,...
The Fascinating Tale Of How Missouri Got Its Own Version Of Bourbon Legalized
Missouri enacted a state‑specific bourbon law on August 28 2019, defining “Missouri bourbon” as a spirit produced entirely within state borders using locally grown corn and Missouri‑made barrels. The legislation aligns with federal bourbon standards while adding a regional provenance requirement. Craft...
Bars Gearing up for Bumper Hong Kong Sevens Weekend
Bars and restaurants in Hong Kong are bracing for a 40% sales surge during the three‑day Hong Kong Sevens, despite a 40‑50% jump in airfares linked to the Middle East conflict. The 50th‑anniversary tournament expects more than 45,000 daily spectators,...
Review: Guinness X Van Leeuwen's Ice Cream Collab Really Is A Lovely Day
Guinness teamed up with artisanal ice‑cream maker Van Leeuwen to re‑launch the limited‑edition flavor “A Lovely Day for a Guinness” at Whole Foods in April 2026. The pint, first introduced in summer 2025 and sold out quickly, blends a French‑style ice‑cream base with...
Fueling The Cold Coffee Craze
Nestlé and Starbucks, through their Global Coffee Alliance, have introduced Starbucks Coffee Craft, a premium coffee concentrate made from high‑quality Arabica beans. The product launches this year in Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, with a broader rollout across...
This Is Where Heinz Ketchup Sources Its Tomatoes
Heinz ketchup’s tomatoes are grown on four continents, with U.S. bottles sourced primarily from California’s M Three Ranches. The company also purchases from Brazil, Spain, Egypt, and Canada to meet its annual production of 650 million bottles (≈175,000 metric tons). Heinz operates a...
How T&T’s Tina Lee Takes The Lead
T&T Supermarket CEO Tina Lee credits a people‑first philosophy and transparent communication for the chain’s rapid growth, including the recent Erin Mills store opening. She rose to the role at 34, earning respect by sharing vision, admitting insecurities, and surrounding herself...
Pepsi Says Price Cuts and Wellness Push Are Bringing Back Customers — and the Stock Surges
PepsiCo announced that its 15% snack‑price cuts and a wave of wellness‑focused products have helped lure price‑sensitive shoppers back to its brands. First‑quarter sales jumped 8.5% to $19.44 billion, with adjusted earnings per share rising 9% to $1.61, beating analyst forecasts....
Aero’s Devilishly Exciting Collab
Aero has introduced a Pistachio‑flavoured chocolate sharing bar in UK stores, pairing the nutty profile with its trademark bubbly aerated centre. The launch coincides with a high‑profile partnership with the upcoming film *The Devil Wears Prada 2*, offering consumers a chance...
Lidl’s Ambitious Expansion Plans Include 50 New Stores
Lidl GB announced a £600 million (≈$770 million) investment to open more than 50 new stores across the UK within the next 12 months. The rollout, the most ambitious standard‑store programme this year, targets sites such as Abbots Langley, Warrington and Thornbury and...
Beyond Meat Debuts Protein Drinks in NYC Retail with Big Geyser Partnership
Beyond Meat has launched its Beyond Immerse sparkling protein drinks in New York retail through a distribution agreement with Big Geyser, granting access to more than 26,000 outlets across the metro area. The line, previously sold only online, offers 10‑20...
Will ‘Product of the USA’ Give Cattle Ranchers a Boost?
On National Agriculture Day, USDA announced a revamped “Product of the USA” label that now requires meat, poultry and egg products to be raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. The change comes as U.S. cattle herds hit a...
Food Delivery Makes Up 22% of Global Foodservice Spending in 2025
In 2025 delivery services comprised 22% of global consumer foodservice spending, up from 9% in 2019, according to Euromonitor International. The overall foodservice market reached $3.36 trillion, growing 4% year‑on‑year despite cost‑of‑living pressures. Delivery fees rose to 14% of spend, reflecting...
Patagonia & Rodale Institute to Transition an Entire California County to Regenerative Agriculture
Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective is committing $1.55 million to the Rodale Institute’s Regenerate Ventura program, targeting a county‑wide shift to regenerative agriculture in Ventura County, California. The initiative already has 10,000 acres and 57 farms in the pipeline, with roughly 40% owned...
Sigri Indian BBQ Signs Franchise Agreement for Gainesville, Florida Location
Sigri Indian BBQ, a Craveworthy Brands concept, has signed a franchise agreement to launch its first Florida restaurant in Gainesville. The outlet will be owned and operated by husband‑and‑wife team Ravin and Heali Mehta, who bring fast‑casual franchising experience. The...
Freddy's Launches Location Inside Fort Lee Commissary
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is opening its first restaurant on a U.S. military base inside the Fort Lee Army commissary, with doors slated for April 15, 2026. The site features a streamlined kitchen and a pared‑down menu to fit the smaller...
Broken Yolk Cafe Signs Multi&Unit Agreement for Indiana Locations
Broken Yolk Cafe has signed a multi‑unit development agreement with franchisee Marc Clapper to open two restaurants in Lafayette, Indiana, with the first slated for fall 2026. The deal marks the chain’s entry into its sixth state and its first foothold...
New National Restaurant Association Report Provides a Demographic Profile of Restaurant Owners
The National Restaurant Association’s latest data brief reveals that 49% of U.S. restaurant firms are minority‑owned, outpacing the 38% share in the broader private sector. Women hold at least 50% ownership in half of all restaurant businesses, with 41% majority‑owned...
Buffalo Trace's Single Oak Experiment Is A Big Win For Whiskey Lovers' Wallets
Buffalo Trace has added its Single Oak experiment to the permanent lineup, featuring barrel 80—a rye whiskey chosen from 1,396 entries. The spirit is crafted from the bottom half of a single 1999 Ozark oak, aged eight years in a concrete...
Doug Ford Nixes Idea of Grocery Surveillance Pricing Ban in Ontario
Ontario Premier Doug Ford dismissed a proposal to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores, calling the idea "socialist" and "crazy." He argued that competition, not government price controls, is the best way to lower costs, and blamed high gas prices...
Noble 33 Appoints Lee Bennett As Vice President of Culinary
Noble 33 has appointed Chef Lee Bennett as Vice President of Culinary, tasking him with overseeing menu strategy and operations across its global restaurant portfolio. Bennett, a former Michelin‑starred chef and executive at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Caesars Entertainment, and MGM...
Podcast: Weigel’s Winning Strategy
Weigel’s Director of Marketing & Merchandising, Nick Triantafellou, discussed the chain’s integrated foodservice and commissary program, its pioneering Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) initiative, a revamped loyalty platform, and a retail‑media network on the CStore Decisions podcast. The conversation highlighted how...
12 Instant Espresso Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best
Former Starbucks barista Dani Zoeller tested 12 instant espresso brands, ranking them from worst to best. Nescafé Gold earned the top spot for its crema and coffeehouse‑like flavor, while G7 and Ferrara anchored the bottom due to burnt aromas and...
Leaked: Trader Joe's Is Quietly Making a Major Change to All Products Starting “
Trader Joe’s is eliminating “Sell By” dates from most of its products, replacing them with “Best If Used By” for peak quality and “Use By” for safety. The shift follows California Assembly Bill 660, which mandates these specific date formats and requires compliance by July 1 2026 in the...
Albertsons Is the New Walmart when It Comes to Tech Dominance
Albertsons is accelerating its tech agenda, deploying AI across merchandising, pricing, inventory and supply‑chain functions. The retailer reported that AI‑driven personalization is boosting conversion rates, basket sizes and loyalty, while generative‑AI scheduling and computer‑vision tools are sharpening demand forecasts and...
Viral “6-7” Trend Becomes Real with New Chicken Nugget Release
Perdue is capitalizing on the viral “6‑7” meme by releasing a limited‑edition “Six Seven Chicken Nuggets” product shaped like the numbers 6 and 7. The nuggets, made from 100% all‑natural, antibiotic‑free chicken and coated in panko, will debut exclusively at Walmart...
AgriFood Signals: Nestlé & Soil Capital Regen Partnership, Unilever Buys Grüns, John Deere Lawsuit
Nestlé announced a partnership with Soil Capital to embed regenerative farming practices across its European sourcing, while Unilever acquired U.S. greens‑supplement brand Grüns to broaden its wellness portfolio. In a separate legal development, John Deere settled a right‑to‑repair lawsuit for...