No Buffet, No Karaoke: Filipino Food Gets Elevated at Bananas
John Zinampan opened Bananas, a 46‑seat Filipino bistro in Shinjuku, Tokyo, to give the cuisine a polished, sit‑down experience. The menu features classic dishes like adobo, lumpia, sisig and kare‑kare, priced between ¥1,250 ($8) and ¥4,200 ($28). Ingredients are sourced locally when possible, with imported tropical produce used sparingly, and some recipes are tweaked for Japanese tastes. Bananas is attracting Japanese diners alongside the Filipino expatriate community and plans quarterly menu refreshes with regional specialties.
Nordic Aqua Partners Increased Revenue in FY 2025 as Company Anticipates Full Run-Rate by H2 2026
Nordic Aqua Partners reported FY 2025 revenue of €12.9 million ($15.2 million), more than double the $7.6 million earned in FY 2024, as the land‑based salmon farm in Ningbo, China, moved past a geosmin‑related disruption. The company harvested 2,026 metric tons of Atlantic salmon and is...
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Projects Lower Salmon Harvest Totals This Year
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s draft forecast projects a 125.5 million salmon harvest for 2026, a sharp drop from the 194.8 million caught in 2025. Sockeye and coho numbers remain near last year’s levels, but pink salmon are expected to...
Persistent, Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Strain Is Growing Cause of Poultry Contamination, Human Infections
A multidrug‑resistant Salmonella Infantis strain, REPJFX01, has surged in U.S. chicken and human cases since 2016, reaching 97% of poultry isolates in 2023. The strain carries a pESI‑like plasmid that confers resistance to key antibiotics and enhances environmental persistence. Hospitalization...
Meatball-Flavoured Chupa Chups Move From Prank to Reality
Ingka Group and Chupa Chups are launching a meatball‑flavoured lollipop in IKEA stores worldwide this June. The concept, which began as an April Fools’ joke, attracted strong consumer interest and was turned into a limited‑edition product. One million lollipops will be produced...
Iran War Pushes Global Food Markets Toward Crisis Mode
The Iran‑Israel conflict is tightening the Strait of Hormuz, choking a key route for oil and agricultural inputs. The IMF and OECD warn that the resulting energy shock could push global inflation above 7% and shrink growth to around 2%,...
Indonesian Food Makers Must Apply Colour-Graded Sugar, Fat Content Labels
Indonesia’s health ministry will mandate a traffic‑light “nutri‑level” label for foods high in salt, sugar or fat, with red stickers for unhealthy products and green for healthier options. Companies must affix the colour‑coded stickers themselves after testing in government labs,...
Carrefour Is Now Launching in Guinea and Nigeria
Carrefour opened its first supermarket in Conakry, Guinea, on April 15, 2026, partnering with the local Imperial group to convert seven existing stores to the Carrefour format. The retailer will launch its inaugural Nigerian store in September, working with Hypercity to rebrand...
Lidl and Iceland Battered in First Crackdown on LHF Ads
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued its first rulings under the new Less Healthy Food (LHF) restrictions, targeting food and drink ads that exceed fat, salt or sugar thresholds. Lidl’s Instagram post featuring Pain Suisse sweet bread and...
Toast-Time Trade-Off Eases as Gene-Edited Wheat Cuts Acrylamide Risk by 93%
Scientists at Rothamsted Research used CRISPR to edit wheat genes, slashing free asparagine levels by up to 93% and thereby reducing acrylamide formation in baked and fried foods. Field trials over two years showed the edited lines retained normal grain...
One in Ten 25-34 Year Olds ‘NEED’ Energy Drinks to Get Them Through the Workday
New research by Haypp shows that caffeine has become a crutch for many burnt‑out workers, with one in three UK millennials turning to coffee or energy drinks to stay productive. The reliance spikes among 25‑34‑year‑olds, where 33% use caffeine to...
The Data Is In. Gen Z Isn’t Ruining Bar Culture. It’s Reshaping It.
Questex and Datassential’s On‑Premise Consumer Habits Report shows Gen Z is not eroding bar culture but reshaping it. The survey of 1,500 U.S. adults finds younger drinkers order higher‑quality cocktails, spend more per visit, and switch between alcoholic and non‑alcoholic drinks...
Nestlé Backs Filtered Brews as Next Major Coffee Trend
Nestlé is betting on the rising filtered‑coffee craze by unveiling the NESCAFÉ Fusion 3, a commercial‑grade machine that delivers gravity‑extracted filter brews in under a minute. The trend, which began in Japan, is spreading rapidly throughout Asia‑Pacific as consumers seek clearer...
Bang Lime Pop Drop
Bang Energy introduced Lime Pop Drop, a neon‑green, zero‑sugar energy drink that blends sharp lime candy flavor with its signature high‑performance formula. Each can delivers 300 mg of caffeine, positioning it alongside the brand’s flagship offerings. The product is now available nationwide through...
India Focus: Alcohol Trends, Beer Consumption Growth and GLP-1
India’s beverage alcohol sector is accelerating, with total volume up 7% year‑on‑year in the first half of 2025, positioning it among the world’s fastest‑growing markets. Strong urbanisation and rising disposable incomes are fueling a 14.6% surge in Indian beer consumption,...
Papa John’s Comeback Play: Rs 100 Cr in Year 2, 650-Store Ambition
Papa John’s is relaunching in India with a goal of $12 million revenue in its second year and a 10‑year plan to open 650 stores. The brand, now fully owned and operated by Pulsar Capital, is using a company‑owned, company‑operated (CoCo)...
Homegrown Ventures Closes $22.8 Million Fund I to Back MENA Consumer Brands
UAE‑based Homegrown Ventures announced the final close of its debut Fund I at $22.8 million, topping its $20 million target. The fund is dedicated to early‑stage, “better‑for‑you” consumer packaged goods and fast‑moving consumer goods startups across the Middle East, North Africa, South...
This Nostalgic American Cereal Needed A Recipe Makeover Before It Could Make Its European Debut
Kellogg’s iconic Froot Loops had to be reformulated for European shelves because several artificial dyes used in the U.S. version are restricted or banned across the continent. The new EU product replaces synthetic colors with natural fruit extracts, resulting in duller‑looking...
Djazagro 2026: What’s Driving Innovation in North Africa’s F&B Industry?
Djazagro 2026 in Algiers showcased how North Africa’s food‑and‑beverage sector is pivoting toward healthier, affordable products. Major ingredient suppliers Döhler, IFF, Ingredion and Lallemand demonstrated sugar‑reduction systems, functional‑beverage platforms and bioprotective dairy cultures tailored to regional tastes and cost constraints. The...
Barfresh Food Group Inc (BRFH) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Barfresh Food Group Inc. reported a 31.1% year‑over‑year increase in packaged coffee sales, driven by a 22% rise in unit volume and a 60‑basis‑point gain in bagged‑coffee market share. Retail distribution breadth expanded to 54.9% ACV, nearly tripling grocery shelf...
A New York Bagel Fest Rolls Into L.A. to Show the Best of West Coast Innovation
BagelFest founder Sam Silverman expanded his New York‑originated bagel celebration to Los Angeles, drawing over 1,000 attendees to a sold‑out event at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple. The inaugural BagelFest West showcased innovative, culturally‑infused bagel creations from West Coast bakers, with only 16% of...
Milk Prices up 5.5% Across Canada: Field Agent
Field Agent Canada’s 2026 Canadian Fluid Milk Report, based on audits of 185 stores in 20 cities, shows milk prices have risen 5.5% since June 2024. The increase follows a 2.3% farm‑gate price hike imposed by the Canadian Dairy Commission...
En Route Unveils Regional Product Ranges, Insight Report at WTCE
En Route International showcased new regionally adaptable product ranges and a proprietary passenger‑preference report at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo. The launch features globally inspired breads, a premium sandwich called “The Club,” and an ice‑cream sundae concept...
Health Food Brand Nut Bar to Open First U.S. Location at NYC’s 28 Greenwich Avenue
Toronto‑based health‑food chain Nut Bar announced its first U.S. store will open this fall in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The brand signed a 10‑year lease for 2,500 sq ft at 28 Greenwich Avenue, paying roughly $25,000 per month. The space, split between a...
Fresh Express Chopped Kits Named Among 2026 Best New Products by Progressive Grocer
Fresh Express, the market leader in value‑added salads, earned a spot on Progressive Grocer’s 2026 Editors’ Picks Best New Product list for its Chopped Salad Kit lineup. The award highlights four globally inspired kits—Farmhouse Ranch, Creamy Goddess, Orange Sesame, and...
Four Things to Know About Nostalgia
Consumers worldwide are gravitating toward familiar, comfort‑driven flavors, fueling a burgeoning nostalgia economy. Market research estimates the global nostalgia‑driven foods and beverages market at $18 billion in 2024, projected to exceed $30 billion by 2033. In Canada, millennials and Gen Z show the...
Vivici Sees 30% Boost in Titers, Yield, via Cell Productivity Tech From Enduro Genetics
Vivici, a precision‑fermentation startup producing whey beta‑lactoglobulin, integrated Enduro Genetics' Enduro Sense plug‑in into its production strain. Within five months the technology delivered a 30% lift in both titers and yields while using the same feedstock and bioreactor setup. The...
Food Prices Are Already High in Canada. Will the Iran War Make Them Worse?
Canada’s food prices are already 30% higher than a decade ago and have been outpacing overall inflation. The ongoing war in Iran threatens to push oil prices above $100 per barrel, which could raise transportation costs, particularly for fresh fruits...
Sheetz Targets Indiana with 100-Store Plan
Sheetz announced a ten‑year, 100‑store rollout in Indiana, backed by a near‑$1 billion investment that is expected to generate more than 3,000 long‑term jobs. The first locations will open in the greater Indianapolis area as early as next year, with site...
Ultra-Processed Foods May Be Damaging Your Muscles—Even Without Weight Gain
A study published in Radiology examined 615 adults, average age 60, who derived about 41% of their calories from ultra‑processed foods. MRI scans showed that higher consumption of these foods is associated with increased intramuscular fat in the thigh, independent...
P.F. Chang's Opens New Restaurant in Norman, Oklahoma
P.F. Chang's opened a new 5,893‑sq ft restaurant in Norman, Oklahoma, seating 189 guests. The venue offers dine‑in, takeout, and delivery, featuring modern Asian design and a custom mural by local artist Travis Brassfield. A grand opening on April 27 included city...
Cousins Maine Lobster Launches Food Truck in Savannah
Cousins Maine Lobster is launching its first Georgia food truck in Savannah, debuting on April 24. Franchisees Damon Cole and Mandy Ottesen, who previously opened a Jacksonville truck, will operate the mobile unit. The menu expands beyond classic lobster rolls to include tacos,...
Publix Expands NC Footprint With New Durham Store
Publix opened a 41,744‑square‑foot supermarket at 4628 Guess Road in Durham, North Carolina on April 11. The new store offers a full‑service pharmacy with a drive‑through, Instacart‑powered home delivery, and traditional grocery departments including a scratch bakery, deli, meat, and...
Walmart CFO Hints when Grocery Costs Could Go up Due to Rising Fuel Prices
Walmart CFO John David Rainey told the JP Morgan Retail Round‑Up that, even though diesel prices have surged 50% to roughly $5 per gallon, the retailer does not anticipate passing those costs to grocery shoppers in the near term. He emphasized...
One of America’s Biggest Whiskey Makers Is Pausing Production at Two of Its Kentucky Distilleries
MGP Ingredients, the Indiana‑based giant that both brands and contracts for other whiskey makers, announced it will idle production at its Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown and Limestone Branch in Lebanon starting May 1 for at least a year. The...
Beef Is Making a Comeback – Does It Fit Into a Healthy Diet?
The USDA’s 2026 dietary guidelines have moved beef to the centerpiece of the food pyramid, signaling a major policy shift after decades of urging Americans to limit red meat. Consumption of beef is climbing in the United States, buoyed by...
Why Is Alcohol Use Declining in Canada?
Canada’s per‑capita alcohol sales have dropped sharply, falling 18% from 8.3 L ethanol in 2020‑21 to 6.8 L (about 399 standard drinks) in 2024‑25, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline. The trend mirrors a similar downturn in the United States, suggesting...
FAO: Seafood Fraud Affecting up to 20 Percent of Global Trade
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reports that as much as 20% of the world’s seafood trade is fraudulent, outpacing fraud rates in meat (13.4%) and produce (10.4%). The sector, valued at roughly $195 billion annually, faces vulnerabilities from the sheer...
Big Soda Spotted It First: Why Ultrafiltered Milk Became a Billion‑dollar Bet
Coca‑Cola’s 2020 purchase of Fairlife for roughly $1 billion gave the soda giant control of the fast‑growing ultrafiltered milk segment, which offers 50% more protein and 50% less sugar than regular milk. The category now accounts for 7% of total milk...
GLP-1 Drugs Reshape Consumer Spending, Eating and Wellness Habits: Report
A new Acosta Group study of 2,117 U.S. adults, including 213 GLP‑1 users, finds the weight‑loss drugs are reshaping shopping, eating and wellness habits. Users are buying more fresh produce, protein foods and supplements while cutting sweets and sugary drinks....
How AI Search Is Reshaping Foodservice Marketing
Foodservice buyers now start supplier research with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI, bypassing traditional search and direct outreach. Recent data shows 86% of Gen Z professionals use AI daily for B2B purchasing, and AI citations are...
Atlantic Sapphire Posts Improved Harvests in Q1 2026
Atlantic Sapphire reported a 27% jump in Q1 2026 harvests, pulling in 1,504 metric tons of gutted‑weight salmon, up from 1,183 MT in Q4 2025 and 1,319 MT a year earlier. The average fish weight rose to 3.2 kg, the highest level this year, while...
Pabst Blue Ribbon, Grillo’s Pickles Debut New Pickle Beer
Pabst Blue Ribbon and Grillo’s Pickles have teamed up to release a limited‑edition PBR × Grillo’s Pickle Beer, a 4.7% ABV lager that blends the classic PBR malt base with a dill‑forward pickle flavor. The brew will hit U.S. retailers nationwide on...
Blue Apron Introduces ‘Family Style’ Meal Option for Larger Households
Blue Apron unveiled a new "Family Style" meal kit that caters to households of three to six people. The offering lets customers mix and match main dishes and sides, with pre‑portioned ingredients designed for preparation in under an hour. A...
Spotlight Interview: Stephen Klein, CEO and Co-Founder of Saivory
Saivory, founded by former Bain consultant Stephen Klein, offers AI‑powered tools that help restaurant chains reclaim first‑party digital sales. Its platform combines dynamic local landing pages with AI‑guided ordering flows to improve search visibility, reduce cart abandonment, and increase average...
CRN and Radicle Science Announce 2026 Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award Nominations
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and health‑tech firm Radicle Science have opened nominations for the 2026 Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award, recognizing leaders who advance scientific rigor, innovation, and advocacy in the dietary supplement and functional food sectors. Nominations close...
Chili’s Launches New Chicken Sandwiches with Another Jab at McDonald’s
Chili’s Grill & Bar rolled out a new Big Crispy chicken sandwich line, featuring a larger hand‑battered breast and six flavor variants. The sandwiches are sold through the $10.99 3‑for‑Me value combo, a core driver of the chain’s recent sales acceleration....
EXTRA Intros New SOURS by EXTRA Gum and Launches Cheworkout Sweepstakes with Dancer Hailey Bills
EXTRA Gum, a Mars brand, introduced SOURS by EXTRA, a new sweet‑and‑sour gum line available nationwide in Blue Raspberry and Strawberry. The launch is anchored by a social‑first partnership with TikTok dancer Hailey Bills, who fronts the #CheworkoutSweepstakes. Consumers can...
3 Growth Areas for CPG Packaging
Circana’s 2025 U.S. CPG growth leaders report identifies three key drivers of packaging demand: expanding pack‑size assortments, a surge in private‑label and smaller brand sales, and a higher share of revenue from new product launches. Pack‑size diversification lets manufacturers capture...
Rosé in Focus: Maison Mirabeau Collabs with Hong Kong Deli Chain
Maison Mirabeau has teamed with Hong Kong’s leading grocer and restaurant group Feather & Bone to roll out a multi‑channel activation of its Provence rosé portfolio. The partnership spans brick‑and‑mortar stores, online platforms, and on‑trade dining venues, featuring large‑format bottles, bespoke...