There Are ‘Credible Legal Questions as to Whether FDA Has the Legal Authority to Eliminate Self-GRAS,’ Say Legal Experts
The FDA is preparing a proposed rule that would require mandatory submission of GRAS notices, effectively ending the self‑affirmed GRAS pathway that currently allows companies to certify safety without FDA review. The rule, pending OMB approval, would create a public inventory of all GRAS submissions and clarify the agency's authority to deem substances non‑GRAS. Legal experts warn the agency may lack statutory authority under the FDCA, raising the prospect of court challenges. Industry groups are advised to strengthen documentation of existing GRAS determinations in anticipation of stricter oversight.
Daniella Senior Champions Cuban Hospitality with Growing Colada Shop Concept
Daniella Senior launched Colada Shop a decade ago as a Cuban‑inspired all‑day café that shifts from coffee to rum‑based cocktails across dayparts. The concept now spans seven locations, including a spot at Reagan National Airport, and is bolstered by a...
Mary Nguyen’s Quest to Make Chef-Driven Food Accessible Has Resonated Through Olive & Finch
Mary Nguyen, a former commodities trader, founded Olive & Finch in 2013, now operating nine locations with plans to add four more this year. The chef‑driven "fine‑casual" chain keeps every dish at $20 or less through a centralized production hub,...
Justin Rosenberg Combines Tech, Service, and Unique Food at Honeygrow
Justin Rosenberg founded Honeygrow in 2012 after a personal health wake‑up, creating a fast‑casual concept that serves cooked‑to‑order stir‑fried noodles and a customizable Honeybar dessert line. The chain now operates 74 locations across eight states, with three new openings in...
Review: Starbucks Mostly Nails Its Summery Mango Menu
On April 7 Starbucks rolled out eight mango‑centric beverages, making the line a permanent menu addition. The lineup spans three mango‑fruit refreshers, two Mango Dream variations, and two specialty iced drinks—Mango Cream Matcha and Mango Cream Chai—each with optional caffeine and...
Fresh Gourmet Rethinks Bacon Pieces Placement with Produce Rollout
Fresh Gourmet, the salad‑topping specialist, has introduced two new bacon‑piece products—one real and one uncured. Unlike its traditional placement in the center aisles, the company will stock the items alongside fresh vegetables in the produce department. The move is framed...
Cargill Tracks Strong Demand for Flavor-Forward, Authentic, Easy Cooking
Cargill reports a surge in demand for flavor‑forward, authentic, easy‑cook seasoning solutions, noting a double‑digit sales lift across its spice portfolio. The company attributes the growth to consumers seeking bold, restaurant‑like tastes without complex preparation. Cargill is expanding its product...
Inside Rounton Coffee: ‘Getting Beans to Britain Is Anything but Easy’
Rounton Coffee, a Yorkshire‑based roaster, captured eight Great Taste awards last year while sourcing beans from eight countries, from classic origins like Colombia to unconventional ones such as China and Yemen. Founder David Beattie makes bi‑annual trips to coffee farms,...
Dr. Will’s to Launch Olive Oil Mayo Into Tesco
Dr. Will’s is rolling out its Olive Oil Mayo to more than 600 Tesco stores across the UK starting 27 April, adding to an existing portfolio that already includes avocado oil mayo and several hot sauces. The new product is sold in...
Growing Hispanic Pork Demand Shapes National Pork Board Campaign
The National Pork Board launched the "Explora Todo El Gusto Del Pork" campaign to spark long‑term pork demand among Hispanic Gen Z and Millennial consumers, who make up 40% of the U.S. Hispanic population. The initiative highlights pork’s flavor, versatility and...
Gen Alpha and Beta: Functional Food and Beverage’s Next Big Bet
The global functional food and beverage market, now worth about $437 billion, is set to almost double to $983 billion by 2034, driven by a 10.65% CAGR. Brands are turning to the untapped Gen Alpha (born 2010‑2024) and Gen Beta (born 2025‑2039) cohorts, expanding...
Dietary Guidelines’ Protein Push Collides with Grocery Budgets
The 2025‑2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans push a protein‑heavy food pyramid, prompting Numerator’s analysis that full compliance would lift per‑person grocery spending by 32% to $106‑$139 per month, or roughly $1,012 annually. The new recommendations boost protein servings by 91%...
Edinburgh Gin Launches Latest RTD Innovation, the Edinburgh Gin Hugo Spritz
Edinburgh Gin has introduced the Hugo Spritz, a new ready‑to‑drink (RTD) cocktail, debuting in Sainsbury’s on 16 April and soon rolling out to Tesco, Morrisons and regional outlets. The 250 ml can offers a 5% ABV blend of floral elderflower, honeyed fruit...
Unilever Buys Grüns, Expanding U.S. Supplements Push
Unilever announced it will acquire Grüns, a rapidly expanding U.S. vitamins, minerals and supplements brand known for its gummy‑based greens products. Founded in 2023, Grüns has secured shelf space at major retailers such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club and...
McDonald’s Gundam Crossover Returns With White Base Crew
McDonald’s Japan has launched a limited‑time Gundam crossover, introducing three new Chicken Tatsuta burger variants, McFizz and McFloat citrus‑yogurt drinks, and Shaka Shaka fries. A 15‑second ad features White Base crew members showcasing the items, with the menu available from April 15, 2026. The...
From Tariffs to Iran War, Geopolitics Are Upending Packaging Supply Chains
A year after the “Liberation Day” tariffs imposed a 10% duty on most imports, packaging costs have surged, with some items jumping from $0.80 to $3 each. The Trump administration’s partial rollback on steel, aluminum and copper has left high...
BrewDog Bankrupt in Belgium and Germany Following Takeover
BrewDog's Belgian and German subsidiaries have filed for bankruptcy, forcing the closure of its flagship Brussels bar and Berlin locations. The insolvency stems from the recent partial acquisition of BrewDog's parent by U.S. cannabis‑beverage firm Tilray Brands, which excluded the...
FSSAI Directs States to Ramp up Surveillance, over 1.6 Lakh Samples Analysed
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed state food‑safety departments to intensify surveillance, resulting in 397,009 inspections and analysis of 165,747 samples in FY 26. About 17.16% of those samples were non‑conforming, prompting 23,580 adjudication cases, 1,756...
Milky Mist Beats FY26 Growth Estimates, IPO on Track, Says CEO
Milky Mist posted FY‑26 revenue of about ₹3,275 crore (~$395 million), achieving 34% top‑line growth, slightly above its 33% target. The growth was broad‑based across ice‑cream, beverages, paneer, cheese and a 100% surge in high‑protein products. The company secured SEBI approval for...
Mushroom Supplement Brand Hifas Da Terra Enters U.S. Market
Spanish biotech firm Hifas da Terra is launching its premium mushroom‑based supplements in the United States, shipping the first batches directly from its Galicia production hub. The company, operating in more than 20 countries, invests 62% of profits back into...
Ambrosia AI Platform Compresses Ingredient Development Timelines From Years to Hours
Applied Laboratory Technologies’ new Ambrosia AI platform translates years‑long ingredient research into hour‑long cycles, dramatically cutting development time. Co‑founders Dr. Paul Spagnuolo and Brian Johnston built the system on a decade‑long discovery workflow, integrating molecular target identification, pathway analysis and...
How Food Manufacturers Are Rethinking Product Assortments
Food manufacturers are trimming product assortments, cutting low‑velocity SKUs to focus on high‑margin items that drive growth. Large corporations are accelerating SKU reductions, while smaller firms remain cautious due to uncertainty about opportunity costs. Executives highlighted the distinction between "good"...
Dippin’ Dots Signature Beaded Ice Cream Enters the Freezer Aisle
Dippin’ Dots’ signature beaded ice cream is now available in grocery freezers nationwide in three flagship flavors—Cookies ’N Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Ultimate Brownie. After a slight reformulation that lets the beads stay stable at the typical 0 °F store freezer, J&J Snack Foods can offer multi‑pack...
Alianza Team Spends $36M to Open First US Plant
Colombian lipids manufacturer Alianza Team opened a $36.4 million processing facility in Goldsboro, North Carolina, its first U.S. plant. The 2024‑built plant blends refined fats and oils, aiming to produce over 13,120 metric tons annually by 2029 and serve the Northeastern market....
Hyped Bakery Jolene to Open First Central London Location
Jolene, the cult‑favorite north London bakery, is launching its first central London outpost in Soho on April 23. The new shop occupies the Aries flagship store on Bridle Lane, taking over the former in‑house coffee bar. Open daily from 8 am...
Brands for a Better World: Coffee with Benefits with Holly Xing of Eightbillion
Holly Xing, a nutritional scientist and formulating chemist, launched JostArriba—an instant coffee infused with nootropic and adaptogen ingredients such as Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Ashwagandha, and L-Theanine. The blend aims to counter typical coffee side effects while enhancing cognition, focus, stress...
Why Non‑UPF Verification Is Emerging as a Strategic Advantage for Startups
Non‑UPF verification is emerging as a strategic tool for early‑stage food brands as consumer demand to avoid ultra‑processed foods spikes. Surveys reveal 72 % of Americans want to steer clear of such products, yet most lack clear guidance, creating a trust...
Questions Cloud Latest Danone Link to Mead Johnson
Danone has engaged Centerview Partners to assess a possible acquisition of Mead Johnson, the infant‑formula business Reckitt Benckiser labeled non‑core after buying it for roughly $17.9 bn in 2017. The move revives interest first reported in 2009 and follows a series...
RFK Jr Asks Hospitals to Prioritise Non-UPF Proteins, Including Plant-Based Options
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., via a CMS memo, warned hospitals that continued Medicare and Medicaid funding hinges on aligning food purchases with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The directive emphasizes eliminating ultra‑processed foods and prioritizing minimally processed...
Simply Good Foods Slashes Outlook, Slips to Second-Quarter Loss
Simply Good Foods announced a sharp downgrade of its fiscal 2026 outlook, projecting adjusted EBITDA 19%‑22% lower at $217‑$225 million and net sales down 7%‑10% to $1.31‑$1.35 billion. Gross margins are expected to shrink by 300‑350 basis points, and the company posted...
Hungry Howie's Offers National Pet Day Secret Menu
Hungry Howie's has teamed with pet‑treat brand Happy Howie's to launch a limited‑time secret menu for National Pet Day, beginning April 11. The menu features three online‑only combos—Pup & Roll, Bone Appétit Pack Party, and Bark‑Back Add‑On—pairing pizza or rolls with...
Costa Coffee Strengthens London Footprint with Pipeline of New Stores and Site Upgrades
Costa Coffee is allocating up to £3.5 million (about $4.5 million) to expand and upgrade its London estate. The chain plans to open up to seven new stores in 2026 and refurbish more than 10 existing locations, targeting high‑footfall commuter hubs. The...
St Pierre Launches Category-First Croissant Loaf
St Pierre is launching the UK’s first croissant‑loaf, a hybrid bakery product that combines a sliced loaf’s convenience with the flaky texture of a croissant. The Croissant Loaf, priced at £2.85 (≈$3.60), will hit Sainsbury’s now and roll out to Tesco...
Culture Pop Soda Delivers Nostalgic Taste with Better-for-You Benefits
Culture Pop Soda, founded in 2020 in Watertown, Massachusetts, is positioning itself as a healthier alternative in the carbonated soft drink market by offering probiotic, prebiotic beverages made with organic fruit juice and no refined sugars or artificial sweeteners. The...
Chile Promotes Research to Improve the Quality of Hass Avocados and Reduce Black Spots
Chile’s leading avocado producers are funding a four‑year research program to curb black‑spot disorder in Hass fruit, a cosmetic defect that currently forces the rejection of 10‑20% of exported shipments. The project, led by Prof. Romina Pedreschi at PUCV, focuses on...
ABD Maestro Launches ZOYA Pink Mix Berries Gin at ₹2,500 in Maharashtra
Allied Blenders & Distillers' premium arm ABD Maestro launched ZOYA Pink Mix Berries Gin in Maharashtra, pricing it at ₹2,500 (≈$30). The gin blends a classic juniper base with strawberry, cranberry, blackberry and raspberry, and is produced in small batches...
Lidl Begins Building Its First Ever Pub
UK discount grocer Lidl has started construction on its first dedicated pub adjacent to its Dundonald store in east Belfast. The move circumvents Northern Ireland’s strict off‑sales licensing regime, as a court ruling in January 2025 cleared a High Court...
Paper‑based Bottles at Scale Are Drawing Closer
A coalition of PulPac, PA Consulting and Diageo launched the Bottle Collective to develop fibre‑based drink containers that can replace single‑use plastic and glass. Using PulPac’s dry‑molded fibre technology, the group produced prototypes that require only a thin plastic liner,...
How Temu Gave a Quokka Coffee the Boost It Needed
Quokka Coffee, a two‑person UK coffee startup, listed its products on Temu in August 2025 and quickly saw the platform become a vital sales channel. Within five months Temu accounts for roughly 15% of the company’s orders—about 20 weekly shipments—and...
Brasserie Zedel Has a Rival in New London Restaurant Offering Three (Amazing) Courses for £30
Jeremy King, famed restaurateur behind Brasserie Zedel, has launched Romano’s on the Strand, offering a three‑course set menu for £24.95‑£29.75. The new venue mirrors Zedel’s affordable‑luxury concept but delivers stronger British‑centric dishes, including a heritage courgette tart, pork faggots and...
French Food Giant LDC to Beat Sales, Earnings Targets
French poultry and prepared‑foods group LDC reported full‑year revenue of €7.28 billion, a 15% increase year‑over‑year (about $8.5 billion) and a 7.6% rise on a like‑for‑like basis. The company’s fourth‑quarter sales jumped 12.5% to €1.98 billion ($2.31 billion), driven by strong poultry consumption, price...
SEADLING Founder Simon Davis on Bringing Long-Term Economic Benefit to SEA’s Seaweed Farmers
Biotech startup SEADLING, founded by Simon Davis, supplies Elkhorn sea moss seedlings to smallholder farmers in Malaysian Borneo and processes the harvest into fermented, functional ingredients. In 2025 the company closed a $1 million seed round and opened a second processing...
A Great North London Pub Is Set to Reopen After Two Years’ Closure
After more than two years of shuttered doors, the Mother Red Cap, a historic Irish pub in Holloway, is set to reopen within the next month. The closure followed the retirement of its publican in 2024, during a period when...
This Shoreditch Wine Bar Will Soon Serve Britain’s Greatest Toasties
Shoreditch’s Nekter Deli, a wine‑focused bar launched in summer 2025, is adding a line of high‑end toasties. The inaugural sandwich, called “The Ynyshir”, is a milk‑roll filled with Fat Cow cheese, black truffle and shiitake ketchup, priced at £20 (about...
Fermentation Waste Could Be Food Industry Goldmine
Emerging research shows that the biomass waste generated by large‑scale fermentation contains microbial fibre that can be extracted and used as a functional food ingredient. Western consumers currently consume only 12‑14 g of fibre daily, well below the 28‑42 g recommended for...
Solnul Expands European Presence with Lehvoss Distribution Deal
Solnul, MSP's potato‑derived resistant starch, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Hamburg‑based Lehvoss Group to broaden its European reach beyond the single client Sunday Natural. The partnership targets ready‑to‑mix fiber powders and meal‑replacement formulas, with the strongest inquiries coming...
New Dietary Recommendations in the Netherlands: Less Meat, More Legumes
The Dutch Nutrition Center has revised its “Wheel of Five” to curb meat and cheese consumption while boosting legumes. Adults 18‑50 should limit meat to 300 g per week (no more than 100 g red) and cheese to 20 g daily, and increase...
The Co-Op Plans Full Takeover of Struggling Southern Co-Op
The Co‑op has proposed a full takeover of the struggling Southern Co‑op, which would bring roughly 300,000 Southern members into The Co‑op’s seven‑million‑member base. The deal would add about 300 food, funeral and Starbucks outlets plus three crematoria to The...
Flavour Trends in 2026: What’s up and What’s Down?
In 2026 consumers are gravitating toward bold, intense flavours, sweet‑savory fusions and comfort‑oriented profiles. Matcha’s base popularity jumped 87% globally, with fusion variants such as banana‑matcha soaring 594% year‑over‑year. Savoury indulgence is resurging, driven by beef tallow (+106%), hot honey...
Blended Proteins 4% Cheaper Than Meat As Supermarkets Drive Category in Netherlands
Netherlands leads blended protein market, with supermarkets launching 115 private‑label products that combine animal meat with plant ingredients. The hybrid offerings are on average 4.4% cheaper than conventional meat and dairy, translating to roughly $1.38 per kilogram, and often deliver...