The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Cornelius has launched the Automatic Crew-Serve Dispenser (ACSD), a fully integrated beverage automation system that reduces serve times by up to 34 seconds, targeting QSR labour shortages and drive-thru throughput.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is accelerating its presence in the £735 million UK alcohol RTD category with the launch of Absolut Vodka & Sprite Pineapple, a strategic expansion designed to capitalise on the dominance of flavour-led consumer choices.

Volvic has announced its entry into the functional hydration segment in the UK and Ireland with the launch of "Volvic Vitamin+," a range of magnesium and vitamin-enriched mineral waters designed to capture the "food-to-go" market.

Keurig Dr Pepper has acquired 96.22% of JDE Peet’s shares, initiating a strategic transformation that will culminate in a 2026 separation into two public entities: a North American refreshment leader and a global coffee giant.

Tetra Pak has initiated a 15,000-square-foot expansion of its Product Development and Customer Innovation Centres in Denton, Texas, introducing an integrated "one-stop-shop" model to support the full lifecycle of functional and plant-based beverages by Q1 2027.

Fanta has partnered with Xbox to celebrate the gaming brand's 25th anniversary, launching a limited-edition "Crimson Sour Cherry" flavor and a gamified "Wanta Fanta? Come Get It" challenge featuring iconic characters from Halo, Call of Duty, and Diablo IV.

EPL Limited and Indovida India have agreed to a merger, creating a $2 billion consumer packaging platform with $1 billion in annual revenue. The deal combines EPL’s laminated tube expertise with Indovida’s rigid PET capabilities to target high-growth emerging markets.

Carlsberg Britvic has extended its J2O portfolio with a new "Sparkling" range and a 330ml can format for its core still variants, targeting the high-growth alcohol-free social category and "on-the-go" consumption among younger demographics.