The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Banza has announced its first expansion beyond the gluten-free segment with the launch of Wheat Protein Pasta and Mac & Cheese, a semolina-chickpea blend delivering 22g of protein per serving while targeting traditional "wheat aisle" consumers.

Oceania Cruises has unveiled "The Floating Pastry Academy," a first-of-its-kind three-year training program for 200+ onboard chefs developed in partnership with The Butter Book, French pastry excellence across its fleet.

Ghirardelli has expanded its premium baking portfolio with the debut of its first Milk Chocolate Chip Brownie Mix, targeting a $4.25 price point and leveraging its "professional" grade chocolate chips to capture a broader segment of the at-home baking market.

Papa Johns has officially entered the sandwich category with a new "Oven-Toasted" line, utilising a premium ciabatta-style bread and signature sauce architecture to drive category diversification and higher transaction frequency.

UK-based Higgidy has launched two new product lines, Protein-Boosted Scone Bites and Savoury Potato Frittatas, to capture growing consumer demand for high-protein, on-the-go savoury snacks.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally cleared the ABF-Hovis merger in Great Britain while identifying localised competition concerns in Northern Ireland that may require a divestment.

Pop-Tarts is expanding its portfolio with the Super Stuffed range, featuring 50% more filling across three flavours to meet consumer demand for indulgent, bakery-style snacking formats.

Le Duff Group has completed its largest acquisition to date with the purchase of Spain's Panamar Bakery Group, a move that brings 600 million euros in annual revenue and 10 production sites into the Bridor network.