The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Heineken enters the functional beer category with Outdoor Brewing Co, an alcohol-free lager fortified with electrolytes and magnesium for post-activity recovery.

STORM has officially entered the nationwide retail market as a premium wellness energy drink, utilising a zero-sugar, 200mg caffeine formulation enriched with immunity and nutricosmetic benefits to target the "intentional" and active lifestyle demographics.

Slice Soda, owned by Suja Life, has launched the first ready-to-drink (RTD) "Dirty Soda" range, utilising coconut-derived MCT oil to replicate the indulgent mouthfeel of the viral DIY beverage trend while maintaining a low-sugar, functional gut-health profile.

General Mills is leveraging high-velocity social media trends and the "swicy" flavour movement to transition its fruit snack portfolio into the confectionery aisle, utilising high-intensity sensory profiles and clean-label formulations to capture the "kidult" and experimental snacking demographics.

Subway has officially integrated Poppi prebiotic sodas into its nationwide beverage lineup, marking a significant strategic pivot for the QSR sector as functional, low-sugar "Soda 2.0" brands begin to challenge the historical dominance of legacy carbonated soft drink giants in high-volume foodservice environments.

The Marzetti Company has successfully acquired Japanese Barbecue Sauce brand Bachan’s for 400 million dollars, integrating a high-growth, clean-label product into its extensive retail and foodservice distribution network.