Japan Focus: Sodium Labelling Shift, Asahi Cyberattack, Silkworm Protein, and More
Japan has updated its nutrition label guidelines to emphasize sodium control, nudging manufacturers toward lower‑salt formulations. Asahi Group suffered a September 2025 ransomware attack, refusing the ransom and reporting a profit dip in the subsequent quarter. Energy shocks linked to the Iran conflict forced Yamayoshi Seika to suspend crisp production, highlighting supply‑chain fragility. Meanwhile, niche food innovators such as Morus (silkworm protein) and SAMBAZON (açaí) are capitalising on Japan’s health‑conscious consumers, while major players like Nestlé and McCormick pivot to alternative chocolate and strategic M&A activity.
Vietnam’s Food Safety Overhaul Moves Forward After Months of Delay
Vietnam postponed the enforcement of Decree 46, its new food‑safety regulations, after chaotic port delays and testing bottlenecks stalled shipments. The Vietnamese Food Administration released a revised draft of the Food Safety Law on March 26 and opened a brief public comment...
6 Key Food Innovation Trends Driven by Feel Good Indulgence
The TrendBites report identifies six food‑and‑beverage trends in APAC where consumers demand indulgence that also makes them feel good. Heritage flavours are being reimagined with modern twists, while texture is rivaling taste for 70% of shoppers. Lighter, herb‑infused treats, affordable...
Globus Spirits Enters Tequila Segment with TERAI, Targets Premium Growth
Globus Spirits Limited has entered India’s premium tequila market with TERAI Tequila, the first CRT‑certified tequila bottled domestically, priced at roughly $70 per bottle. The company projects sales of about 5,000 cases in the first six months and aims to...
Viral Ube Coconut Dinner Rolls On Grocery Shelves
King's Hawaiian has introduced its first limited‑time flavor to grocery shelves: Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls. The new rolls combine the brand’s signature soft texture with real ube and coconut milk, delivering a lavender‑hued, island‑inspired treat. After an overwhelmingly successful online...
Australia’s Revised Food & Grocery Code of Conduct Now In Force
Australia’s revised Food and Grocery Code of Conduct has taken effect, binding major retailers such as ALDI, Coles, Metcash and Woolworths to new transparency and negotiation rules. The code obliges these grocers to disclose any unilateral variation, payment or set‑off...
Meat-Free Restaurant Chain Clover Food Lab Seeks New Buyer to Avoid Closure
Clover Food Lab, a Boston‑based fast‑casual vegan chain, filed a WARN notice that could affect 182 employees unless a buyer is secured by the end of May. The company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2024 after shedding 20...
Kura Sushi USA Inc (KRUS) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Kura Sushi USA reported Q1 2026 total sales of $73.5 million, a 13% year‑over‑year increase, while comparable restaurant sales slipped 2.5%. A 3.5% menu price hike took effect in November, but tariff‑driven food and beverage costs rose to 29.9% of sales,...
The Post-Synthetic Shift: How US Regulation Is Rewriting the Food Color Playbook
U.S. regulators are accelerating a phase‑out of petroleum‑based synthetic food dyes, with deadlines extending to 2027‑28. The move is prompting major food‑color manufacturers, led by Sensient Food Colors, to pour up to $250 million into expanding natural‑color production capacity. Leading brands...
Less Salt, Same Saltiness: Inside Landa Labs’ Novel Approach to Sodium Reduction
Landa Labs has introduced LOT technology, reshaping ordinary salt into ultra‑thin, fast‑dissolving flakes that deliver the same salty perception with less sodium. The approach sidesteps traditional substitutes by improving salt efficiency, making it a clean‑label solution for dry‑food applications such...
Less Salt, Same Saltiness: Inside Landa Labs’ Novel Approach to Sodium Reduction
Landa Labs’ LOT technology reshapes ordinary salt into ultra‑thin, high‑aspect‑ratio flakes that dissolve instantly, delivering the same salty perception with less sodium. The approach targets dry applications such as savory snacks, where rapid dissolution drives flavor, allowing manufacturers to cut...
Domino’s Turns up the Indulgence with Big Big 6-in-1 Cheese Burst Pizza
Domino’s Pizza India launched the Big Big 6‑in‑1 Cheese Burst Pizza, a massive 24‑slice square pie that packs six distinct flavors in a single offering. The new version adds the Cheese Burst option, coating each slice with a rich, gooey cheese layer...
CFIA Announces Recalls for Salads, Cheeses and Meal Kits over Listeria Concerns
Canada’s Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued recalls for several food items due to possible listeria contamination. The recall includes Co‑Op creamy garlic and spinach salads sold in western provinces, multiple national cheese products such as Bothwell three‑cheese blend, Goldstream...
No Frills to Open New Location in Winnipeg
Loblaw Companies’ discount banner No Frills will launch a 23,413‑square‑foot store at 1375 McPhillips Street in Winnipeg. The outlet anchors the Moore Centre, a new retail development owned by real‑estate firm Shindico. The centre will also host Dollar Tree and Sabzi...
Meister Breaks Ground on Nex-Gen Cheese Expansion Project
Meister, a century‑old Wisconsin dairy, broke ground on the next phase of its Nex‑Gen expansion, a state‑of‑the‑art cheese and whey processing complex. The project follows the completion of a new intake facility and cold‑storage addition, and aims to boost cheesemaking...
Discount Is the New Name of the Game. What Does that Mean for Conventional Stores?
Canadian grocery retailers have shifted toward discount formats over the past three years as high food inflation drove shoppers to seek lower prices. Discount chains now number about 1,200, up from 1,000 in 2019, while conventional supermarkets have fallen to...
Huey Magoo's Signs 15-Unit Franchise Deal in Texas
Huey Magoo's, the fast‑casual chicken‑tender chain, announced a 15‑unit franchise agreement in Texas covering Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston and Montgomery counties. The deal is with SMR Capital Group, a diversified operator that runs a T‑Mobile franchise and a construction...
Huey Magoo's Signs 15&Unit Development Deal in Texas
Huey Magoo's has inked a development agreement with SMR Capital Group to launch 15 new restaurants across five Texas counties. The chain leverages a 1,500‑square‑foot prototype introduced in 2025 that lowers construction costs and fits smaller real‑estate parcels. Alongside the...
Noble 33 to Launch Japanese Steakhouse and Izakaya at Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills in 2027
Noble 33 will open a Japanese steakhouse and an izakaya at Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills in 2027, occupying nearly 12,000 sq ft on the ground floor. The concepts mark the group’s first foray into Japanese‑inspired dining, joining its existing portfolio of Toca Madera, Medüza Mediterranea,...
Quinlan Brothers Announces USD 5 Million Fish Waste Project
Quinlan Brothers of Canada has teamed with Norway’s NutriShell on a $5 million project to convert fish processing waste into marketable products. The joint venture will build a waste‑processing plant near Quinlan’s Eastern Newfoundland facility, targeting up to 3,000 metric tons of...
China Rapidly Accelerating Offshore Aquaculture Push, Exceeding 100 Installations
China has surpassed 100 offshore aquaculture platforms and vessels, marking a rapid expansion driven by stricter near‑shore regulations and a new fisheries law emphasizing intensive, environmentally friendly practices. The government has elevated deep‑sea aquaculture to a strategic growth area, encouraging...
How to Grow Your Restaurant Using a Simple and Proven Formula
Restaurant operators are feeling a squeeze as average weekly spend dropped to $90, down from $115 in June 2025, and 68% of diners report cutting back. A Popmenu study of thousands of U.S. restaurants identified a simple growth formula: increase...
MSC, MarinTrust Seek Feedback on Revisions to Chain of Custody Standards
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has launched a 60‑day public consultation, running until 30 May 2026, to revise its Chain of Custody Standard. The overhaul will merge the three existing versions into a single, clearer document, tighten audit consistency, and introduce mandatory...
Strictly From Scratch Rolls Out New Sweet Pastry Lineup For Wholesale
Phoenix‑based commercial bakery Strictly From Scratch has introduced a new sweet pastry lineup for its national wholesale customers in 2026. The range includes Croissant Danish Muffins in five fruit‑cheese varieties, Ube‑flavored Danish and muffin, a Carrot Cake Cinnamon Roll, an...
NPD: Match-Day Bites Built for Energy, Heat and Hype
Match‑day snacking is evolving from traditional indulgences to higher‑protein, functional options that support energy, recovery, and portion control. Brands are leveraging limited‑edition, sport‑themed packaging and bold flavours to tap into the growing overlap between fandom, fitness and feel‑good food. New...
USMEF: US Pork, Beef Exports Deliver Strong Per-Head Value
US pork exports delivered a per‑head value of over $67 in February, while beef reached nearly $423 per fed animal, according to USMEF data. Pork shipments increased 1% to 242,511 tonnes, with notable growth in Mexico and a 20% rebound in...
New Nielsen Product Brings More Details to Weekly Sales
Nielsen IQ unveiled Early Market Read, a U.S. market‑intelligence service delivering weekly sales figures as soon as two days after a week ends. The offering slashes the traditional nine‑day reporting lag, giving manufacturers, retailers and supply‑chain teams near‑real‑time visibility. Users...
Nielsen IQ Rolls Out New US Market Intelligence Product
Nielsen IQ introduced Early Market Read, a US market intelligence service delivering weekly sales data as soon as two days after the week closes, cutting the traditional nine‑day lag. The faster reporting enables CPG manufacturers, retailers and other market participants...
Concerns over Beetroot Red, Spirulina Safety Halt Food Color Progress
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has indefinitely delayed the effective dates for both beetroot red and spirulina food‑color approvals after receiving formal objections. Beetroot red, produced via a genetically‑engineered yeast fermentation process, was challenged for lacking an acceptable daily...
New York Butcher Shoppe Receives New Investment From The Foundry Group
New York Butcher Shoppe announced a strategic investment from The Foundry Group to fund its next growth phase. The partnership brings both capital and hands‑on operational expertise aimed at scaling the specialty meat and wine retailer through franchise expansion. The...
Metal Tariff Adjustments Aren’t a Win for Packaging, Trade Groups Say
The Trump administration revised Section 232 metal tariffs, keeping a 50% rate on products made almost entirely of aluminum, steel or copper while lowering the levy to 25% for derivative items substantially composed of those metals. Items containing 15% or less...
Triumph Foods to Begin $30 Million Expansion of Pork Processing Plant
Triumph Foods announced a $30 million expansion of its St. Joseph, Missouri pork processing plant, adding cold‑storage and shipping capacity along with new equipment. The upgrade is designed to support higher production volumes and modernize the facility. Triumph, the city’s second‑largest...
TC Transcontinental, Anchor Packaging, Inline Plastics Offer Unique Solutions
TC Transcontinental, Anchor Packaging, and Inline Plastics have joined forces to deliver integrated packaging solutions that mirror evolving consumer shopping habits. The partnership blends data‑driven design, recyclable flexible films, and high‑performance molded trays into a seamless offering. By synchronizing product...
Onions 52 Achieves Consistency with Vertical Integration
Onions 52 has completed full vertical integration, uniting growers, packers and shippers under one organization to guarantee consistent quality from seed to shelf. The company is rolling out advanced sorting equipment at its Utah facility and has expanded its footprint with...
Sysco To Acquire Restaurant Depot In $29.1 Billion Deal
Sysco announced a $29.1 billion cash‑and‑stock acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, creating a food‑service distribution platform with roughly $100 billion in annual revenue. Restaurant Depot adds 166 warehouses across 35 states and a cash‑and‑carry model that complements Sysco’s delivery network. Sysco plans...
Coca-Cola Says ‘I’d Like to Buy America a Coke’ in America250 Campaign
Coca‑Cola has launched a year‑long America250 partnership to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday, anchored by a three‑minute anthem video titled “Drink In America.” The campaign rolls out limited‑edition bottles and the brand’s first collectible mini‑cans, each showcasing state‑specific artwork...
PFMA Sets 2026 Annual Conference For May 12-13 In Bedford, PA
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) announced its 2026 Annual Conference will take place May 12‑13 at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania. The two‑day gathering will bring together more than 600 members—including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and solution...
Hormel Modernizes Supply Chain with AI Planning Platform
Hormel Foods has rolled out the o9 artificial‑intelligence planning platform across more than 70 of its facilities, linking demand, supply and inventory in a single system. The deployment, completed between March and December 2025, aims to shift the company from...
Starbucks Offers Baristas Bonuses, McDonald’s Raises the Value Bar, and Shake Shack Goes Full Tech
Starbucks introduced a new bonus program that can add up to $1,200 per year to barista earnings, aiming to boost retention amid union pressures. McDonald’s announced a $3 McValue menu featuring at least ten items, sharpening the fast‑food value war....
The Cheesecake Factory, Chick-Fil-A Leads AUVs Among Major Restaurant Chains
The 2025 average unit volume (AUV) rankings show The Cheesecake Factory at the top with $12.8 million, followed by Texas Roadhouse at $7.9 million and Chick‑fil‑A at $7.2 million. Raising Cane’s ($6.3 million) and Olive Garden ($5.8 million) complete the top five, highlighting strong performance...
Op-Ed | Dietary Guidelines for (Some) Americans: The Impact of Ignoring Health Equity in the DGA
The 2025‑2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) rejected 30 of the 56 recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) after labeling the committee’s health‑equity focus as biased. Instead, the administration relied on a newly commissioned “Scientific Foundation” report that...
Kraft Heinz Becomes NFL’s First Condiment Partner In Five-Year Global Deal
Kraft Heinz has secured a five‑year global partnership with the NFL, becoming the league’s first condiment partner. The agreement places flagship brands such as Heinz ketchup, Kraft cheese, Velveeta and Philadelphia cream cheese at the heart of high‑visibility NFL moments,...
Hannaford Unveils Redesigned Private Label Line
Hannaford, a banner of Ahold Delhaize USA, has launched a redesign of its private‑label packaging, swapping the previous graphics for a simpler look featuring bold red block lettering. The overhaul, which took roughly a year of consumer research, is being rolled out...
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IHOP Embraces Acronym Culture with BLT Trademark
IHOP has filed a trademark for the acronym BLTAF, standing for “Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato … And Fries,” to promote a new addition to its $6 Everyday Value Menu. The move reflects President Lawrence Kim’s “move at the speed of culture”...
Ginseng Adulteration Under the Microscope in New BAPP Bulletin
The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) released its latest bulletin highlighting widespread adulteration in the ginseng market, which generated roughly US $10.7 million in supplement sales in 2024. A scoping review cited in the bulletin estimates that about 25 % of commercial ginseng...
Thorne Targets Perimenopause and Libido Gaps with Latest Science-Led Campaign
Thorne announced two science‑led supplements—Perimenopause Complete and Women’s Libido Boost—to address fragmented women’s health categories. The launches respond to a 28.5% YoY surge in reproductive‑health supplement sales, while menopause products fell 2.5% over the same period. The formulations combine botanicals...
A Growing Problem: Lead Testing Uncovers ‘Deeply Concerning Issue’ in Spirulina Supply Chain
Cyanotech’s testing of 37 top‑selling spirulina and greens products found 18 samples—nearly half—exceed California’s Proposition 65 lead limits. Third‑party verification across multiple production lots confirmed the contamination is systemic, originating from offshore sourcing in the Asia‑Pacific region. The study also showed...
Gregorys Coffee Partners with Craveworthy to Perk Interest in Franchises
Gregorys Coffee has teamed with Craveworthy Brands to launch a franchise drive for its specialty coffee concept. The partnership will host a series of open‑house events from April 7 to April 9 in Washington, D.C., Old Bridge and Paramus, New Jersey,...
Playa Bowls Launches 1st Canadian Location
Playa Bowls, the superfruit bowl chain based in New Jersey, opened its first Canadian restaurant in downtown Toronto on April 6, 2026. The 1,700‑square‑foot store is located in The Well mixed‑use development at 486 Front St. West, under a master...
How International Restaurant Brands Are Reshaping the US Market
International restaurant brands from East Asia are accelerating their U.S. rollout, targeting fast‑growing beverage and dessert categories. Chains such as Mixue, Luckin Coffee and Gong cha are opening multiple locations at once, using franchise‑friendly models and digital‑first operations. Their focus on...