Avocados From Mexico Reaches a Whole New Generation of Avocado Lovers
Avocados From Mexico highlighted a surge in U.S. avocado consumption driven by health trends and the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Sales in the South Atlantic region rose 21% between 2022 and 2025, and the area is expected to account for 38% of U.S. population growth by 2030. Mexico is on track for another strong export year, shipping a record 300 million pounds in the four weeks before the 2026 Super Bowl. The company urges retailers to tap the expanding younger consumer base.
Asahi Beverages Wins Headliner at Metcash Awards Night
Asahi Beverages captured the top honor at Metcash’s Food Supplier of the Year Awards on May 7, winning Supplier of the Year and also earning Impulse Supplier of the Year. Metcash CEO Grant Ramage praised the collective effort of its supplier...
FMCG Companies Bracing for Another Round of Price Increases Amid Inflation
India's top FMCG firms—including Dabur, Britannia, HUL, Pidilite and Varun Beverages—are gearing up for another round of price hikes as crude‑linked inflation, soaring fuel and packaging costs, and a weakening rupee squeeze margins. Companies have already lifted prices between 2%...
Protein in India: ITC Says Market Opportunities Plenty Despite More Competition
ITC Foods is expanding its presence in India’s fast‑growing protein market by adding protein‑rich versions of staple foods such as atta, oats, and snacks. The company’s recent launches—including Yoga Bar protein treats, Sunfeast Breakfast Smoothie, and the “Right Shift” line...
The Top Restaurant Trends in New York City for 2026
New York’s dining scene in 2026 is defined by hyper‑competitive reservation drops, mood‑setting dim lighting, and immersive bathroom experiences. Chefs are swapping traditional caviar for deep‑sea “status shrimp,” while soft‑serve and oversized desserts dominate dessert menus. Restaurants now text guests...
Farra Dining
Farra Dining launched in March 2026 inside the newly opened Hyde Perth hotel, offering a polished Greco‑inspired experience in Western Australia. Chef Aaron Moore, a Belfast‑born cook who cut his teeth in Athens tavernas, leads the kitchen with a menu...
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Higher Risk of Heart Disease and Early Death
A new European Heart Journal consensus statement links high consumption of ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) to significantly higher risks of heart disease and cardiovascular death. The analysis of existing studies finds up to a 19% increase in heart disease, 13% higher...
Vitafoods Europe 2026: From Starbucks Protein Foam to Bone Broth Coffee, Fortified Foods Go Mainstream
Vitafoods Europe 2026 highlighted a surge in fortified, indulgent foods as flavor houses entered nutraceuticals and dairy proteins reclaimed market share. Starbucks’ protein‑foam coffee and bone‑broth “broffee” demonstrated how functional ingredients are now marketed for taste rather than health claims....
The GLP-1 Formulation Challenge: Clean Sweetness, Higher Protein and Nutrient Density in Smaller Portions
The surge in GLP‑1 receptor agonist use is reshaping the food‑and‑beverage landscape. Consumers on these medications report heightened sweetness sensitivity, a preference for smaller, nutrient‑dense portions, and a demand for higher protein and fiber alongside reduced sugar. Major ingredient suppliers...
Foodchain ID: Consumer Demand and Supply Chain Risks Are Reshaping Traceability
FoodChain ID told Vitafoods Europe that traceability has shifted from a premium differentiator to a baseline requirement as consumers, regulators, and volatile supply chains demand greater transparency. The firm argues blockchain alone cannot scale across fragmented food networks, favoring integrated digital...
Emotive & Perfection Fresh Puts Broccolini Centre Stage In New Campaign
Perfection Fresh has launched an integrated campaign with Emotive to position its proprietary Broccolini as the premium choice in the fresh‑produce aisle. The creative centers the vegetable in romantic weeknight meals, using the ongoing Thomas and Olivia storyline to build...
How Mars Uses 4flow's AI Platform for Logistics Optimization
Mars partnered with 4flow to replace its traditional transportation control tower with an AI‑native, modular logistics platform. The new system enables predictive, capacity‑aware orchestration, allowing early assessment of decisions and preventing downstream disruptions. By breaking down planning and execution silos,...
America Faces Another Grocery-Price Shock
U.S. grocery prices are spiking again, led by a near‑25% jump in tomato costs over the past year. Analysts trace the surge to higher energy prices that ripple through every stage of the food‑supply chain, from farm to shelf. The...
The Unexpected Topping You'll Find On Costco's Pizza In China
Costco, the U.S. bulk‑goods retailer, has expanded to China with seven warehouses since its 2019 debut. Its Chinese food courts feature localized pizza toppings, notably a $10 whole seafood pizza topped with crayfish and a slice for $2. The menu...
What Sets French Bakeries Abroad Apart From Ones In The US?
French bakeries are governed by strict regulations that require on‑site bread production, limit ingredients to flour, water, yeast, and salt, and prohibit preservatives, resulting in daily‑fresh loaves. Their pastry offerings emphasize lighter textures, lower sugar, and richer butter, contrasting with...
5 Chain Restaurants Battering Their Onion Rings In-House
Several U.S. chain restaurants still batter onion rings in‑house, prioritizing freshness over frozen shortcuts. The article highlights five brands—Culver’s, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Firebirds Wood‑Fired Grill, BurgerFi and A&W—detailing their preparation methods and pricing. These chains use techniques ranging from overnight...
13 Pizza Chains That Prioritize High Quality Ingredients
A growing number of U.S. pizza chains are emphasizing premium, fresh ingredients to meet consumer demand for quality and transparency. Chains such as Papa Murphy’s, Marco’s Pizza, and Blaze Pizza highlight daily‑made dough, hand‑sliced produce, and nitrate‑free meats, while others...
‘Fibermaxxing’ Has Spurred the Launch of Fiber Sodas and Gummies. Is the Craze Going Too Far?
The "fibermaxxing" craze has turned dietary fiber into a viral lifestyle trend, prompting influencers to flood social media with high‑fiber recipes and endorsements. Major food companies such as PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and General Mills are responding by launching fiber‑infused sodas,...
‘Fibermaxxing’ Has Spurred the Launch of Fiber Sodas and Gummies. Is the ...
The surge in “fibermaxxing” has prompted major food manufacturers such as Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo to launch fiber‑infused sodas, popcorn, and candy bars. Influencer hype and social‑media recipes have turned fiber into a functional‑snacking trend. Companies are either reformulating existing...
Health Advocates Warn Government’s Claims of Baby Formula Safety Contradict Data
The Biden‑HHS administration announced that a new FDA "Operation Stork Speed" test of 300 baby‑formula samples met a high safety standard, yet independent scientists say most products were tainted with PFAS, phthalates, lead and even chlorpyrifos. The review highlighted data...
Omakase Is Taking Over London’s Mayfair Neighborhood. Here Are the Hottest Seats in Town.
London’s Mayfair is witnessing a rapid rise in high‑end omakase, with three Japanese chefs establishing ultra‑intimate counters. Masayoshi Takayama opened Tobi Masa at The Chancery Rosewood, offering a $350 seven‑seat experience that blends relaxed elegance with Michelin‑star pedigree. Endo Kazutoshi’s $330...
From Fizzy Soda to Healthy Shakes, Brands Are High on a Zero-Sugar Rush
The Indian beverage market is witnessing a rapid surge in zero‑sugar and low‑sugar products, from carbonated drinks to protein shakes. New entrants like Karan Aujla’s Zyro and Beannery Foods’ Zumi are joining established giants such as PepsiCo and Coca‑Cola, which...
Regrettable Substitution: Structural Gaps in Food Additive Regulation
A recent BMJ cohort study links several common food‑preservative additives to higher cancer incidence, highlighting gaps in how regulators assess safety. The authors argue that focusing on individual compounds ignores two systemic flaws: "regrettable substitution," where banned chemicals are replaced...
Is Chick-Fil-A's Tea Actually Brewed In-Store?
Chick‑fil‑A confirms that its sweet tea is brewed in‑store each day using Wilbur Curtis commercial machines programmed for consistent batches. The chain relies on a proprietary Tetley blend developed 30 years ago, which is taste‑tested daily for color and flavor....
The World’s Best Single Malt—According To The 2026 London Spirits Competition
The Donn Single Malt Irish Whiskey earned a 96‑point score to claim the 2026 Best Single Malt award at the London Spirits Competition. Produced by The Craft Irish Whiskey Company, the 46.15% ABV spirit will retail for about $300, a...
Mumbai’s Koli Women Are Rewriting the Seafood Business One WhatsApp Order at a Time
Mumbai’s Koli women have transformed their informal fish‑stall trade into Daryavardi Producer Company Limited (DPCL), a community‑owned seafood enterprise launched in April 2023. The women‑run firm now boasts over 1,000 shareholders, modern packaging, centralized logistics and digital ordering via WhatsApp and...
Chinese Bubble Tea Chain with More Stores than McDonald’s Wants to Conquer the World
Chinese bubble‑tea chain Mixue, founded in 1997, now operates about 60,000 stores—more than McDonald’s—primarily in China but expanding globally. Its ultra‑low‑price model, driven by in‑house farms and a self‑sourced supply chain, lets it sell ice‑cream cones for under $0.30 and...
Hong Kong Pastry Star Mandy Siu: From Robuchon to Michelin to Her Own Finesse
Hong Kong pastry chef Mandy Siu, a former apprentice at Joël Robuchon and veteran of the Ritz‑Carlton, The Peninsula, and London’s Heston Blumenthal kitchens, has opened Finesse Patisserie. The tiny shop on Star Street serves French‑style pastries reimagined with Asian twists, such...
Japanese Cuisine Restaurant in Kyoto Awarded 3 Michelin Stars
Miyamaso, a Kyoto restaurant famed for its wild‑herb cuisine, has been awarded three Michelin stars in the 2026 Kyoto‑Osaka guide, marking the first three‑star rating in the region in six years. The promotion from two to three stars places Miyamaso...
Gourmet Mushroom Startup Finds Fertile Ground in Bangkok
American brothers Alex and Sam Turner have launched Earthling Mushroom Farm, an urban gourmet mushroom operation in Bangkok’s On Nut district. The warehouse‑style facility claims to be one of the world’s first city‑based farms dedicated to premium fungi, supplying top...
Costco Adds New Exclusive Dessert Tied to Viral Trend
Costco has introduced an exclusive line of Häagen‑Dazs Dubai‑style chocolate ice‑cream bars, sold in 20‑mini‑bar packs for roughly $15.50. The dessert draws on the viral Dubai chocolate trend, featuring pistachio ice cream, milk chocolate, and toasted kataifi crunch. Availability is...
PepsiCo Foods Launches Good Warrior Snack Brand
PepsiCo Foods is debuting Good Warrior, a new protein‑snack masterbrand, with its first offering—Good Warrior Beef Sticks—rolling out in March 2026 at select U.S. retailers. The sticks are made from grass‑fed, finished beef, delivering 10 grams of protein, zero sugar and...
The Evolution Of Gatorade Bottles Over The Years
Gatorade’s packaging has transformed from a simple lab beaker in the 1960s to today’s sleek Thirst Quencher bottle. Over six decades the brand experimented with glass, cans, tin‑box packs, and multiple plastic designs, each tied to marketing milestones such as...
Dialing in Uptime: A Practical Guide to Preventive Maintenance for Commercial Combi Ovens
Labor shortages, rising wages and volatile food costs are squeezing restaurant margins, prompting operators to adopt Rational's combination ovens that merge steam, convection and humidity control into a single, intelligent platform. The ovens boost productivity and consistency while reducing reliance...
One Type Of Olive Oil Could Help Protect Your Brain (M)
A recent peer‑reviewed study shows that high‑phenol extra‑virgin olive oil (EVOO) can markedly protect brain tissue, outperforming standard olive oil in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in rodents. The researchers fed the oil at roughly 20% of daily calories for...
Giada De Laurentiis' Concern About Pasta Made In The US Is Eye-Opening
Chef Giada De Laurentiis highlighted key differences between Italian and U.S. pasta extrusion methods, noting that U.S. manufacturers typically use plastic or Teflon‑coated dies while Italy favors bronze dies. She warned that the hotter dough required for fast plastic extrusion can...
Wendy’s Is Closing Hundreds of Stores: See an Updated List of Locations Where the Chain Is Shuttering the Most
Wendy’s is rapidly shrinking its U.S. footprint, closing roughly 200 restaurants since September 2025. The chain now lists 5,675 locations, down from 5,875 at the start of the fourth quarter when the turnaround plan was announced. The closures target underperforming...
Swiggy Q4: Food Delivery Beats ‘LPG Crisis’ Fears But Instamart Cools Off
Swiggy reported Q4 FY26 food‑delivery revenue of about $278 million, up 23% YoY, with gross order value reaching roughly $1.08 billion despite the LPG supply shock that closed restaurants in key cities. The company kept contribution margin steady, improving to 7.8% and...
Trump Cuts Tariffs on Kentucky Bourbon Barrels Bound for Scotland
President Donald Trump announced the removal of tariffs and restrictions on Kentucky‑origin bourbon barrels destined for Scotland, effectively restoring duty‑free status for the wood‑product pipeline that underpins Scotch whisky aging. The policy shift follows King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s...
Food Tank’s Weekly News Roundup: Australia Cracks Down on Food Waste, COP31 Pushes Clean Energy, Ag Co-Ops Offer Hope
A new UN‑backed report shows Africa’s public spending on agriculture rose to $16 billion in 2022, yet financing gaps persist, especially in private credit. The COP31 presidency in Turkey has partnered with the IEA to accelerate clean‑energy transitions, focusing on clean...
IKEA Is Launching a Meatball Lollipop This Summer in Collaboration with Chupa Chups – and We're Curious to Try It
IKEA is teaming with Chupa Chups to release a limited‑edition Meatball Lollipop this June. The novelty candy mimics the flavor profile of IKEA’s iconic Swedish meatballs while being fully vegan. Available only in select IKEA stores, the product is marketed as...
Di Bruno Bros. Brings New Italian Snacks To ShopRite Shelves
Di Bruno Bros., the Philadelphia‑based specialty food purveyor, announced a new line of Italian‑inspired snacks debuting in ShopRite and other national supermarkets. The spring‑summer collection adds artisanal crostini, flavored taralli, mini breadsticks and imported Pecorino Romano and Provolone wedges. Developed...
Around 20 Metric Tonnes of Honey From Assam Exported to US
Assam’s Baksa district shipped roughly 20 metric tonnes of honey to the United States, marking the first ODOP‑designated honey export from an aspirational district. The consignment, flagged off by APEDA on May 9, was processed by Salt Range Foods Pvt. Ltd....
Flying Food Group Launches Service on LOT Polish Airlines SFO Route
Flying Food Group has begun providing in‑flight catering for LOT Polish Airlines’ new nonstop San Francisco‑Warsaw route, which launched on May 6. The service operates four times weekly, marking LOT’s first direct flight between the two cities and expanding Flying Food’s partnership...
Why Are Foreigners Flocking to Make Wine in England?
Foreign investors are rapidly expanding into England’s wine sector, with Dutch‑born Eric Heerema’s Nyetimber, South African groups, and California’s Jackson Family Wines backing both sparkling and still wines. The Crouch Valley in Essex has become a focal point, attracting Burgundy...
What’s Hot in Frozen Meals, Premium Desserts and Snacks
The Canadian frozen food market is set to surpass $14 billion by 2030, nearly doubling its 2023 size of $8.5 billion. Manufacturers are shifting from “emergency food” perception toward premium, health‑focused products, especially desserts that mirror restaurant quality. International and ethnic flavors...
AI Finally Solves the Food Tracking Problem Wearables Ignored
Polyverse’s CalCam app leverages Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model to turn a single meal photo into a detailed calorie and nutrient breakdown. By automating food identification, portion estimation, and macronutrient calculation, the app eliminates the manual data entry that drives...
Popular Fast-Casual Chain Cuts Jobs Amid Store Closures
Five Guys announced the permanent closure of four California locations, eliminating 55 jobs across Whittier, City of Industry, Merced and Hanford. The chain cites financial hardship stemming from soaring labor costs, rent increases and consumer resistance to higher menu prices....
Burger King's President Says the Chain Improved Its Whopper — and Calls From Customers Helped
Burger King President Tom Curtis said listening to 1,800 personal calls and over 70,000 inbound customer inquiries led to the "Elevated Whopper," featuring a glazed bun, creamier mayo and clamshell packaging. The redesign helped lift U.S. same‑store sales 5.8% year‑over‑year,...
B130bn Trade Target Set for Thaifex 2026 Food Exhibition
Thaifex‑Anuga Asia 2026 is targeting more than 130 billion baht in trade orders, roughly $3.6 billion, underscoring its status as a premier international food‑trade platform. The exhibition will feature about 3,600 exhibitors across 6,700 booths from 56 countries, covering nine food sectors. Organisers...