Matangi’s Marbled-Beef Marvel: Mark Story Throws a Tomahawk over Fire
Matangi Butchery in Hawke’s Bay showcases a premium Black Angus ribeye tomahawk, dry‑aged up to 21 days and priced at NZ$116.84 (≈US$70). The farm credits genetics, pasture‑based farming and careful ageing for the beef’s high marbling, likening its terroir to that of regional wine. Owner Robert Haselsteiner and business manager Nicky Gaddum note a consumer shift toward appreciating intramuscular fat and eating quality over sheer weight. The piece suggests that such quality‑focused beef could move from niche to broader New Zealand market.
Frosted Flakes Costs Almost $2 More for About 2 Ounces Less
Shrinkflation is hitting everyday staples as manufacturers raise prices and reduce package sizes. A 24‑ounce box of Frosted Flakes now costs $5.48 for only 21.7 ounces, a $1.50 increase for 2.3 ounces less. InvestorsObserver estimates the practice could add roughly...
Publix Intensifies Its Battle with Kroger in Kentucky
Publix announced three new 55,000‑sq‑ft stores in Richmond, Versailles and Bowling Green, bringing its Kentucky footprint to about a dozen locations by year‑end. The expansion deepens its incursion into Kroger‑dominated territory. Publix reported fiscal‑year sales of $62.7 billion, up 5 % YoY, and...
A Nationwide Candy Recall Just Landed in the FDA’s Highest-Risk Category
The FDA has issued a Class I recall—the agency’s highest‑risk level—for Nuts.com’s Espresso Malted Milk Balls after testing revealed undeclared wheat and soy allergens. The recall covers roughly 10,190 pounds of product sold in both one‑pound sealed pouches and 20‑pound bulk...
Menu Prices Continue to Outpace Surging Inflation
Consumer prices jumped 0.9% month‑over‑month in March, the strongest rise since June 2022, while the Core CPI rose 0.2%. Restaurant menu prices edged up only 0.2% MoM, marking a 3.8% year‑over‑year increase that remains well above the overall inflation rate but...
Grocery Prices Drop for the First Time Since Government Shutdown
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that grocery prices fell 0.2% month‑over‑month in March, marking the first decline since the government shutdown. Four of six major grocery‑store food‑group indexes dropped, led by meats, poultry, fish and eggs, cereals and...
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Value Menus Are the Top Driver of Frequency for QSR Diners
Two‑thirds of Americans visit a quick‑service restaurant at least monthly, and 30% dine weekly, driven primarily by value menus. A YouGov study shows 66% of weekly QSR diners cite value or discount menus as the top motivator, outpacing clean dining...
KFC’s Saucy Is Expanding to Texas
KFC’s Saucy concept, launched in Orlando in December 2024, is expanding beyond Florida with its first Texas location in Frisco slated for later this year. The brand now operates ten Florida sites and has five additional openings planned, while Yum Brands recently...
Op-Ed: Is MSC Certifying Sustainability or Endorsing Risk?
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has recertified the Antarctic krill fishery as sustainable, even though the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) shut the season three months early after reaching its 620,000‑ton catch limit. Scientists warn...
Aquaculture Representative Group Drops Lawsuit Against Washington Net-Pen Ban
The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) has withdrawn its lawsuit challenging Washington State’s ban on commercial net‑pen aquaculture. The ban, finalized in January 2025 after a rulemaking process by the State Board of Natural Resources, follows a decade of litigation sparked by...
The Hot New Restaurant Tech Trend: AI Agents
Two major restaurant‑tech vendors, PAR Technology and Square, launched AI‑driven agents that can autonomously surface insights, run marketing campaigns, schedule staff and manage inventory. PAR’s "PAR Intelligence" bundles an Insights Agent, Offers Agent and Developer Assist Agent, while Square’s Managerbot...
Protein Soda: Why the New Craze Is Going From Strength to Strength
Protein sodas are emerging as a functional beverage, packing roughly 10 g of protein in a standard 12‑oz can while retaining the familiar soda format. The category targets everyday health‑conscious consumers rather than gym‑focused macro‑trackers, positioning itself as a low‑calorie, low‑sugar...
Tilapia Imports From Vietnam Surpass Brazilian Export Totals for the First Time, Alarming Local Industry
Brazil’s February imports of Vietnamese tilapia fillets topped 1,300 metric tons, outpacing the country’s own exports for the first time. The imports, valued at roughly $8 million, represent about 56% of Vietnam’s monthly tilapia revenue and are driven by a preferential trade...
Bacteria From Bumblebees Can Produce Vitamin B₂ in Soya Drinks
Researchers at Denmark's Technical University (DTU) used a droplet microfluidics platform to screen the bumblebee gut microbiome, identifying a Lactococcus lactis strain that ferments soy drinks while producing vitamin B₂. The transparent soy medium and fluorescence‑based detection cut screening time from...
Gut-Friendly, Prebiotic or High Fibre? Navigating the Terminology
Poppi, the gut‑health soda, launched in the UK in February offering 3 g of fibre per can but cannot label itself as prebiotic due to strict local regulations. The UK’s health‑claim register limits wording, requiring at least 6 g of fibre per...
Better-for-You Becomes Bread Industry's Priority
Bread manufacturers are pivoting toward "better‑for‑you" products as traditional packaged loaf sales continue to slip, with center‑store bread revenues down 2.4% to $11.5 billion in the 52‑week period ending Feb. 22, 2026. Companies like Flowers Foods and Grupo Bimbo are launching high‑protein,...
How to View the Meat Case Through the Eyes of the Consumer
Danette Amstein of Midan Marketing defines value‑based meat as products that solve specific consumer problems, blending price with convenience, nutrition, and trust. For the 17% of shoppers identified as “Convenience Cravers,” time‑saving features like oven‑ready or pre‑marinated items justify higher...
FDA Exempts Tagatose From Added Sugar Labeling
The U.S. FDA has issued an enforcement‑discretion letter exempting low‑calorie sweetener tagatose from the "added sugar" line on Nutrition Facts panels. The change follows a successful lawsuit by Virginia startup Bonumose, which argued the agency’s prior denial was arbitrary and...
Brits Ditching Certain Foods as They Face £6K Annual Grocery Bill
British households are now spending about $149 a week – roughly $7,500 a year – on groceries as food inflation is projected to reach 9% by year‑end, double the earlier 3% forecast. The surge, driven largely by the Iran war’s...
Coffee Prices: Why 2026 Is Set to Be a Roller-Coaster Ride
Coffee prices, after hitting record highs, have begun to recede but remain well above historical norms. A stronger 2026‑27 Brazil harvest, projected to rise 17% year‑on‑year, could increase supply, while Vietnam’s market volatility and new EU deforestation rules keep the...
Grocery Price Growth Cools as Overall Inflation Surges
U.S. grocery price growth decelerated in March, with food‑at‑home inflation easing to a 1.9% year‑over‑year increase, down from 2.4% in February. The broader consumer price index, however, jumped to 3.3% as gasoline surged more than 21%, driving overall inflation higher....
Starbucks’s Retail Arm Gets £13.7m Tax Credit Even as Sales Increase
Starbucks UK’s retail division secured a £13.7 million (≈$17 million) corporation‑tax credit even as its full‑year loss widened to £41.3 million (≈$52 million). Sales grew 6% to £556.3 million (≈$695 million) and the chain added 92 new outlets, taking the total to 1,304 stores. ...
Defra’s Powell Takes Helm at British Meat Processors
John Powell, formerly head of Defra’s agricultural sectors team, will assume the chief executive role at the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) on 13 April 2026, succeeding Nick Allen. Allen steps down after nine years at the helm, a period that saw...
Trident Seafoods Introduces New Smoked Salmon Products
In 2026 Trident Seafoods announced a bold expansion of its smoked‑salmon portfolio, debuting a premium King Smoked Salmon, bite‑size smoked salmon pieces, and skin‑packed smoked Sockeye boards. The new line builds on the brand’s cult‑favorite Alaska Salmon Burgers and versatile...
Food Exec Brief: Stagflation Signals Return, Food Fraud Surges, and AI Moves Off the Pilot Floor
Stagflation risk is resurfacing as Brent crude climbs above $90 a barrel, squeezing food manufacturers with higher input costs and waning consumer demand. Volume declines mark a fourth consecutive year for North‑American F&B sales, leaving price hikes as the sole...
The Friday Checkout: Grocery Industry Hits Back at Electronic Shelf Label Controversy
The Food Industry Association (FMI) is pushing back against political criticism of electronic shelf labels (ESLs), arguing the technology eases labor shortages rather than eliminating jobs. FMI’s director Michael Green emphasized that banning ESLs would force grocers back to slower,...
Slideshow: Serving up Sandwich Innovation
Industry leaders announced a series of strategic moves that could reshape the U.S. food landscape. McCormick disclosed plans to acquire Unilever’s Foods business, expanding its spice and seasoning portfolio. Mars revealed a 600‑job hiring surge in Chicago, bolstering its manufacturing...
FMI Releases Statement on March CPI Food Price Numbers
The Food Industry Association (FMI) highlighted the March Consumer Price Index, showing a 0.2% month‑over‑month dip in food‑at‑home prices while overall grocery inflation remains 1.9% higher than a year ago. Core staples such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, cereal, bakery...
Chef Robotics Expands AI-Powered Automation Into Meatpacking
Chef Robotics, a San Francisco‑based food robotics firm, has extended its AI‑driven automation platform to tray assembly for meatpacking. The system can pick, orient and place raw, frozen and precooked proteins—such as pork loins, chicken breasts, steaks and sausage links—onto...
Coopérative U Is Expanding Its International Reach
French retailer Coopérative U entered the Democratic Republic of Congo through a partnership with Kin Marché, marking its latest overseas expansion. In Asia and Europe, retailers such as SPAR Sri Lanka opened new stores, Dagrofa Foodservice posted a 13% revenue rise...
Baltimore Mushroom Farm Turns Former Office Into Specialty Fungi Operation for Top Restaurants
Falls Road Mushroom Company transformed a vacant Hampden office into a high‑tech mushroom farm, producing lion’s‑mane, king oyster and other specialty fungi. Owner Jonathan Manekin left a two‑decade real‑estate career to run the operation, using controlled‑environment tents, fans and spinning...
Popmenu: 35% of Diners Are Cutting Back on Restaurant Tips
A Popmenu survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers shows 35% have cut back on restaurant tipping in 2026, driven by inflation‑induced price sensitivity and tip fatigue. The proportion of diners leaving 20% or larger tips slipped from 45% in September 2025...
Truly Hard Seltzer Unveils Believe, USA Contest
Truly Hard Seltzer, the official hard seltzer of U.S. Soccer, launched the "Believe, USA" campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The brand is running a nationwide contest to rename a town "Believe, USA" and will install branded signage, lampposts...
Woodford Reserve Unveils $5,000 Mint Julep Cup Program
Woodford Reserve launched its $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cup program to mark the United States' 250th anniversary and the 152nd Kentucky Derby. The collection comprises 152 hand‑crafted cups—76 polished pewter at $2,000 and 76 gold‑plated versions at $5,000—each featuring a...
Devion to Showcase Innovation at WTCE
Devion, a specialist in intelligent automation for airline catering, will debut its new Rivo platform at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE). The showcase highlights RivoLoad, a modular trolley‑loading system derived from a decade‑long partnership with KLM...
Leftovers: Liquid IV Turns Grillo’s Pickle Flavor Prank Into Reality | Mike’s Hard Lemonade Gives Dirty Soda a Shot
Liquid I.V., owned by Unilever, turned a 2024 social‑media tease into a real product, releasing a Grillo’s Pickles‑flavored electrolyte powder that promises the brand’s usual hydration benefits with a tangy dill profile. Mike’s Hard Lemonade is launching a "dirty" lemonade...
Starbucks Hires Chipotle’s Chief Development Officer
Starbucks announced the appointment of Stephen Piacentini, former chief development officer at Chipotle, as executive vice president and chief coffeehouse design and development officer. Piacentini will steer the company’s "Back to Starbucks" initiative, which aims to refurbish thousands of stores...
Wetzel's Pretzels Opens in California Walmart
Wetzel's Pretzels launched its first bakery inside a Walmart in Porter Ranch, California, marking the brand’s latest foray into high‑traffic retail locations. The store‑within‑a‑store concept is operated by Chris Izaguirre, who opened his inaugural Wetzel’s site after six years with the...
Food Tech Faces Funding Reset as Investors Demand Profits over Promises
Food‑tech funding is shrinking; Q4 2025 VC investment fell 8.6% to $2.5 billion across 128 deals, down 16.3% from a year earlier and far below the 2021 peak. Exits also stalled, with only 85 transactions worth $287.7 million versus $12.8 billion in 2024....
Dunkin' To Leave India After 14 Years
Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. will terminate its franchise agreement with U.S. coffee‑and‑doughnut chain Dunkin' when the contract expires on Dec. 31, 2026. The exit follows a prolonged struggle to gain market traction, with Dunkin' accounting for just 0.61% of Jubilant’s total revenue and...
Where Producers’ EPR Money Is Going in Oregon
The Dalles became the first Oregon community to use producer‑funded Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) money, receiving $200,000 from Circular Action Alliance to purchase 5,000 new 96‑gallon recycling carts. Oregon’s packaging EPR program, the nation’s first, projects roughly $123 million in recycling...
Simply Good Foods CEO Sets Out Stall to Fix “Executional Challenges”
Simply Good Foods CEO Joe Scalzo, back on the helm since January, outlined a turnaround plan aimed at fixing the executional challenges that drove a Q2 loss and a full‑year outlook cut. He pledged renewed investment across the portfolio, pricing...
How Caviar Moved From Old Luxury To New Demand
Caviar is experiencing a resurgence as younger consumers embrace it beyond traditional ceremony, turning the product into a social‑media‑driven luxury. Aquaculture, especially Chinese farms, now supplies over 40% of global caviar, supporting higher production and price stability. The market is...
Lottie’s Meats Partners with a Grocery Delivery Service
Lottie’s Meats, a Denver‑based pork sausage brand, announced a partnership with grocery‑delivery service Misfits Market to sell its four premium sausage and ground‑pork lines nationwide. The collaboration lets customers order The Lottie, Bratwurst, Calabrian and Everyday products online, extending the...
Finsbury Food Group Celebrates Sweet Success as Its Caterpillar Cakes Dominate Which? Taste Test
Finsbury Food Group’s bakery arm dominated a Which? blind taste test of nine caterpillar cakes, with its products featuring in the top tier. The test, conducted by a 75‑person panel, judged flavor, texture, aroma and appearance without brand cues. Judges...
South Korea Goes Tropical: Global Mango Imports and E-Commerce Drive Demand
Mangoes are moving from exotic novelty to a staple in South Korean households, driven by expanding fresh and processed uses. Latin American exporters, led by Peru, are gaining market share alongside traditional Southeast Asian suppliers. The growth is underpinned by...
Trolli Expands Gummi Pop Line With Berry Flavor
Trolli has introduced Gummi Pop Very Berry, a new frozen candy that pairs its signature soft‑gummi texture with sour Berry Punch and Blue Raspberry flavors. The product joins the existing Gummi Pop line, which previously added Cherry Lemon and Grape...
Blaze Pizza, Farmer Boys, Mike's Red Tacos, HigherMe Experts Discuss Recruitment, Retention
At the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in San Diego, a panel of franchise leaders from Blaze Pizza, Farmer Boys, Mike’s Red Tacos, and Edible Brands discussed how people, not technology, drive profitability. They emphasized rapid candidate communication—responding within 24 hours—to win...
Campaign Trail: Cheetos Soundtracks a Heist with Megan Thee Stallion, Nickelback
PepsiCo revived its Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Cheetos as a permanent SKU after it became the fastest‑selling limited‑edition flavor in brand history. To celebrate the comeback, the company and agency Gut Miami produced a four‑minute music video titled “Pickle’s Back,”...
New Innovations in Fresh Snacking and Packaging
Mastronardi Produce will unveil two SUNSET® innovations at the 2026 Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention in Toronto. The SUNSET Tomato Branch offers vine‑grown micro‑grape tomatoes in a triangular paperboard package, while SUNSET Pop Its are 2‑inch snack cucumbers, the...