Pokemon Pop-Tarts Return After 25 Years for Limited Time at Target
Target announced an exclusive Pokémon 30th‑anniversary collection, featuring the long‑awaited return of Pokémon Pop‑Tarts. The 12‑count frosted vanilla cupcake pastries are priced at $3.99 and will hit stores on May 2 and online on May 3, with a second wave on June 6. The broader lineup includes over 100 items across apparel, accessories, and home goods, many priced under $20. This marks the first Pokémon‑branded snack release in roughly 25 years, targeting nostalgic millennials and collectors alike.
Cava Adds Glazed Salmon to Menu
Cava announced it will add a pomegranate‑glazed salmon to its menu on April 20, marking the fast‑casual chain’s first seafood offering. The salmon can be added to custom bowls or enjoyed in two seasonal Chef Curations – the Salmon + Strawberry Sesame Bowl...
Why TikTok Is the New Battleground for FMCG Sales
TikTok Shop is emerging as a dedicated social‑commerce channel for fast‑moving consumer goods, leveraging its discovery‑led format to turn viral videos into purchases. Ninety‑three percent of users engage with the shop feature and 88 % discover new brands, while a two‑click...
Vidya Launches US Probiotic Facility Targeting Strain Stability with Split Production Model
Vidya has opened a 48,000‑square‑foot U.S. facility that merges manufacturing, research and development with its headquarters. The campus uniquely separates spore‑forming and non‑spore‑forming probiotic production into distinct buildings, a first in North America. The layout supports pilot, clinical and commercial...
Albertsons Looks to Store Remodels and Technology to Juice Growth
Albertsons announced a $1.8 billion capital‑expenditure outlay for fiscal 2025 and plans to raise that to $2 billion‑$2.2 billion in fiscal 2026. The retailer remodeled 94 stores, opened nine new locations last year, and expects store openings to increase 50% next year. It is also...
AG1 Reports Short‑term Micronutrient Gains, Targeted Microbiome Effects
A 2026 Frontiers in Nutrition study found that daily AG1 supplementation markedly improved micronutrient adequacy in trained adults, closing gaps in vitamins A, C and E without altering calorie intake. The formula also produced modest, targeted shifts in gut microbiota,...
Inside Giant Food’s Strategy for Linking Healthy Eating with Affordability
Giant Food, an Ahold Delhaize subsidiary, has launched a weekly 10‑minute podcast called “This Week at Giant” that blends nutrition advice with the chain’s current promotions. The audio shows, hosted by the retailer’s Healthy Living team, highlight discounted items and demonstrate...
The Placer.ai Dining Index: March 2026 Recap – Placer.ai Blog
The Placer.ai Dining Index shows fast‑casual restaurants leading Q1 2026 with a 3.3% year‑over‑year rise in visits, while quick‑service (QSR) traffic held steady and full‑service locations slipped 2.4%. Growth was driven primarily by weekday traffic, where fast‑casual saw a 4.7% increase,...
How AI Is Changing Food Supply Chains
The pandemic disrupted food supply chains, making logistics resilience critical. Because food is perishable, companies like CookUnity must guarantee precise, temperature‑controlled deliveries. AI platforms such as Blue Yonder now act as a “copilot,” boosting demand forecasts from 50‑60% to 80‑90%...
First Look At New Aldi Format Set To Rollout Across The U.S.
Aldi is piloting a new modular store format in Aventura, Florida, the first U.S. test of a design developed with Australian firm Landini Associates after a 14‑year partnership. The flexible layout can adapt to both suburban supermarkets and compact urban...
The Chefs Behind Two Hommés Merge Afrocentric Flavors with L.A. Flair
Two Hommés, a bootstrapped Inglewood restaurant co‑founded by chefs Marcus “Mando” Johnson and Abdoulaye “AB” Balde, blends Ghanaian, Senegalese and broader African flavors with Los Angeles street‑food sensibilities. After launching pandemic pop‑ups featuring jollof rice, honey berbere chicken bites and za’atar...
How Chobani’s Protein Push Is Reshaping Its Dairy Empire
Chobani is leveraging a $650 million capital raise to accelerate its push into protein‑rich dairy and adjacent categories. The company plans to grow through both internal innovation and acquisitions, having already added coffee brand La Colombe and frozen‑food maker Daily Harvest to its...
Huer Taps Swicy Trend With Chamoy Gummies
Huer Foods Inc. launched the Huer Cholula Chamoy Tropical Ring Mix, a sour gummy ring coated with Cholula Chamoy seasoning and flavored with watermelon, pineapple and mango. The product rides the accelerating "swicy" (sweet‑spicy) trend that is outpacing overall candy‑category...
Mondelēz Creates Chocolate Bars Using Celleste’s Cell-Cultured Cocoa Butter
Mondelēz International produced a dozen milk‑chocolate bars using cocoa butter cultivated in a lab by Israeli startup Celleste Bio. The partnership proves Celleste’s cell‑cultured cocoa butter can match traditional cocoa butter in texture and melt, and positions the startup to...
Popmenu Integrates With SpotOn to Streamline Restaurant Operations and Drive Revenue Growth
Popmenu and SpotOn announced a direct integration that links Popmenu’s digital marketing suite with SpotOn’s point‑of‑sale platform. The native connection synchronizes online orders, payments and guest data, giving restaurants a single view of marketing performance and in‑store sales. By eliminating...
5 Charts Showing the Changing Energy Drink Landscape
Energy drinks captured $24.8 billion in U.S. non‑alcoholic packaged‑beverage sales over the 52 weeks to March 7, posting a 14 % YoY rise and becoming the second‑largest category behind carbonated soft drinks. The growth outpaced low‑calorie sodas (11 %) while carbonated drinks, bottled water...
Wingstop Reveals 4/20 Hot Box Combo and It Comes with a Rolling Tray
Wingstop is reviving its Hot Box combo on April 17, 2026, featuring three tenders or eight Fiery Nacho wings, seasoned fries, a dip and a 20‑ounce drink. To celebrate 4/20, the chain will give away 420 limited‑edition rolling trays to the...
VitaCup Debuts Creatine Coffee Stick Packs
VitaCup has launched Creatine Coffee Stick Packs, a portable blend of 5 g creatine monohydrate, vitamin D + K, and premium coffee. The single‑serve sticks are sold exclusively through Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide. The format lets consumers ingest a clinically proven creatine...
How Mondelēz Is Engaging with ‘Mini Super Bowl Moments’ During World Cup
Mondelēz International, which generated roughly $38.5 billion in revenue last year, is leveraging the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a "Summer of Soccer" campaign that treats high‑profile matches as "mini Super Bowl moments." The initiative pairs snack brands such as Chips...
Iceland, Lidl Fall Foul of New UK ‘Junk Food’ Rules
UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld complaints that Iceland Foods and Lidl breached the country’s new junk‑food advertising rules. Both retailers ran promotions for high‑fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products—Iceland via banner ads on the Daily Mail site and...
AI Can Now Help You Pick Your Starbucks Drink
Starbucks has begun testing a ChatGPT‑based app that recommends drinks based on a user’s mood, weather, outfit or photo. Customers can chat with an @starbucks AI agent, customize a beverage, select a location and then complete checkout in the regular...
2026 Drinks Report
Food Manufacture’s 2026 Drinks Report examines how the UK beverage sector navigated a perfect storm of economic and regulatory pressures over the past year. It highlights the impact of the cost‑of‑living crisis, persistent inflation, tighter government legislation, and geopolitical volatility...
Walmart Is Refreshing Its Look As It Tries to Attract More Walmart+ Subscribers
Walmart has launched the most extensive redesign of its Great Value private‑label brand, updating the packaging of roughly 10,000 food and consumable items while keeping product formulas and low prices intact. The rollout begins with salty‑snack products and will extend...
Graeter’s Ice Cream Partners with Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby LTO Flavor
Graeter's Ice Cream has introduced a limited‑edition Backstretch Bourbon Cherry flavor in partnership with Churchill Downs, positioning it as the official ice‑cream of the Kentucky Derby. The bourbon‑infused, cherry‑and‑praline blend is available in Graeter's scoop shops, online, and at select...
Conagra Brands Incoming CEO on Knife Edge
Conagra Brands named former JM Smucker COO John Brase as its president and CEO, effective June 1, after Sean Connolly’s departure. The announcement triggered a 4.4% drop in the stock, adding to an 18% decline year‑to‑date and a 62% slide over five...
UK: Cavolo Nero Kale Sales up 12% as Demand Continues to Build
A.H. Worth reported a 12% increase in cavolo nero kale sales value and a 17% rise in volume year‑on‑year across UK retail. The growth is driven by rising consumer interest in fibre‑rich, scratch‑cooked meals and globally inspired dishes. The company’s...
"We're Excited to Bring the Farm Closer to Our Customers"
Swegreen’s Saga in‑store farming system will be installed at ICA Kvantum Brunnshög in Lund, opening in the first half of 2026. The vertical farm will grow fresh herbs and leafy greens on‑site, delivering pesticide‑free produce year‑round. By producing directly in...
Spain Expands Access to China with Agreements to Export Pistachios and Dried Figs
Spain and China have signed six new agreements, including five collaboration protocols and a memorandum of understanding on denominations of origin, to open the Chinese market to Spanish pistachios and dried figs. The deals build on a 2023 almond export...
Death Wish Expands RTD Line With Caramel
Death Wish Coffee Co. has introduced a Caramel Cold Brew Latte, expanding its ready‑to‑drink (RTD) portfolio that already includes Mocha, Vanilla and Classic lattes. The 11‑oz slim can delivers up to 120 mg of natural caffeine and is made with 100 %...
Golden Chick Secures Exclusive Branding Rights on Crew Gear in Texas Rangers Extension
Golden Chick is expanding its partnership with the Texas Rangers by securing exclusive rights to display the 2026 City Connect primary logo on its employee uniforms. The agreement, part of a five‑year extension, makes Golden Chick the only sponsor featuring...
Italmark Teams up with Amazon for Grocery Delivery
Italian regional retailer Italmark has partnered with Amazon to launch a grocery‑delivery service in Brescia, covering fresh meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, Consilia private‑label items and specialty ranges such as vegan, gluten‑free and lactose‑free products. The collaboration gives Italmark instant access...
HTeaO Reports Q1 Growth with New Stores in 4 States, Leadership Hires
HTeaO reported a robust first quarter, opening seven new stores in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee, bringing its total footprint to 150 locations. The franchise also announced three senior‑level hires, including CFO Chris Phillips, VP of store development Jerry McClain...
Iain McPherson Unveils New Cocktail-Making Technique
Iain McPherson, founder of Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons, has launched a new cocktail‑making method called “densing.” The process uses vacuum blending to bring liquids and oils to the same temperature, fully liquefying the oils and creating a stable, uniform mixture....
Isle of Barra Prepares for US Debut
Isle of Barra Distillers, Scotland's westernmost whisky producer, has secured a distribution deal with Total Wine & More to introduce its gin, vodka and Island Dark Rum to the U.S. market. The launch will roll out in June across more...
I Tried Nutella Peanut — Here’s How It Really Compares to the Original
Ferrero launched Nutella Peanut, its first new Nutella flavor since 1964, exclusively for the North American market. The spread mixes roasted peanuts with the classic hazelnut‑cocoa base, keeping sugar as the top ingredient while offering a slightly thicker texture. Nutritionally...
Discover the Newcomer Seeking to Redefine the Wine Fair Experience
Real Italian Wine & Food Experience, branded as Wines Experience London, launches its inaugural UK fair on 26‑27 April at ExCel Centre. Organisers reshaped the format after trade‑led roundtables, swapping traditional booths for producer lounges, a matchmaking app, and blind‑tasting...
Wine Society Rolls Out ‘High Intention’ Wine Collection
The Wine Society is launching a curated range of 60 wines under the "Society's Pioneers" banner, debuting on 20 April. Each wine must hold a recognized third‑party sustainability certification, offer full grape traceability, use bottles under 420 g, and score highly on...
818 Tequila Dominates Coachella’s First Weekend
Creator marketing platform Traackr analyzed 1,408 Coachella‑tagged posts from 239,800 creators and found Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila led social buzz, with 290 creators generating 536 posts, 2.2 million engagements and a Brand Vitality Score of 7,110. The brand’s post volume jumped 93%...
Maharaja Drinks Launches Indian Heritage Spirits Collection
Maharaja Drinks, the UK‑based specialist in Indian alcoholic beverages, has launched an Indian Heritage Spirits line featuring four products – cashew Feni, coconut Feni, spiced Ouro Feni and Desmondji Mahua. The spirits are produced by family‑run distilleries in Goa and...
Why Wine Lovers Should Note Malbec’s Location and Altitude
Terrazas de Los Andes, one of Argentina’s oldest Malbec producers, has been elevating its vineyards to higher altitudes in the Uco Valley to enhance freshness and minerality. By pioneering drip‑irrigation and planting at up to 1,720 m, the winery forces vines...
Field Blends Make a Comeback, but This Time as the Protagonist
Chilean winemaker Teresita Ovalle says field blends are shifting from a historic survival tactic to a deliberate stylistic choice, offering complexity and balance that single‑varietal wines often lack. Producers are planting new inter‑varietal vineyards, not just using legacy plots, to...
OLLY’S Launches Chilled Olive Pots in Tesco & Sainsbury’s
Snack brand OLLY’S is launching a new 200 g chilled olive pot range in Tesco and Sainsbury’s this April, marking its first foray into the refrigerated aisle. The line features three flavours per retailer, with Piri Piri exclusive to Tesco and Smoky...
Amul Hits ₹1 Lakh Crore in Sales; MD Says India Could Be Dairy to the World Within a Decade
Amul, India’s flagship dairy cooperative, posted annual sales of ₹1 lakh crore—about $12 billion—last year, underscoring its massive domestic footprint and growing export reach. The cooperative now serves 28 lakh retail outlets, operates 120 plants and sells 1,200 SKUs, while India supplies roughly 25%...
WineGB Appoints Head of Partnerships to Drive Growth
WineGB has created a new Head of Partnerships role, appointing Neil Walker to drive commercial growth for its members. The English and Welsh wine sector is expanding rapidly, with production reaching 16.5 million bottles in 2025—a 39% increase over 2024—and export...
Your Hong Kong Weekend Drinks Guide for April 17-19
Hong Kong’s weekend bar scene buzzed with new menus and celebrations. Artifact marked its third anniversary with the experimental Summer Games cocktail, blending bourbon, pepper jack, caramelised onion, watermelon and arugula. Peridot unveiled "Terroir No 2: Oaxaca," a mezcal‑centric menu highlighting...
The 177% Lift: How Condado Tacos Used Mystery, Gamification to Redefine the LTO
Condado Tacos turned a standard margarita promotion into a mystery‑flavored, gamified limited‑time offer called the *Mystery Marg*. Guests guessed the flavor via the brand’s app, generating nearly 2,000 entries and a year‑long free‑taco prize for five winners. The campaign delivered...
Why Americans Are Suddenly Going Out to Eat Again
Tax refunds this season, averaging $3,462, sparked a sharp rebound in dining‑out spending. Chime data shows overall consumer outlays rose 85% in the two weeks after refunds, with restaurant spending up 53% and full‑service chains such as Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse...
Bordeaux’s Price Performance and the Scale of the Task Ahead
Wine Lister’s 2026 Bordeaux study, its tenth edition, surveyed 74 senior wine‑trade executives representing over a third of global fine‑wine revenue. Trade confidence improved to an average 6.4, up from 5.9 last year, while confidence rose for 117 of 134...
Representative Group Hopeful EU’s Vision 2040 Can Serve as “Turning Point” For European Aquaculture
The European Commission has launched its Vision 2040 framework to reshape EU fisheries and aquaculture, prompting the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) to call for binding finfish production targets and faster permitting. FEAP argues that the EU’s fragmented environmental regulations...
Lean Kitchen Network Launches New Food Brand HIDE at Tesco, Backed by Dr Rupy Aujla, Flight Studios and Samworth Brothers
Lean Kitchen Network has introduced HIDE, a new ready‑meal brand launching exclusively in Tesco stores and online on 13 April 2026. The line features ten products—six chilled meals, two grain bowls and two snack bites—each delivering at least 25 g protein, 8 g fibre...