The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Foodtastic has secured an exclusive master franchising agreement with Inspire Brands to develop hundreds of Dunkin' locations across Canada, leveraging its 1,200-store operational footprint to re-enter the highly competitive Canadian coffee and bakery market starting in late 2026.

McDonald’s Canada is adding new beverages, including Strawberry popping pearls, freeze-dried dragonfruit, and silky cold foam, McCafé Crafted Sodas, Refreshers, and Cloud Iced Coffees

The launch of Midera marks Middleby’s strategic shift to a pure-play model, consolidating 30+ brands into a technology-driven company ready for standalone growth and total-line innovation.

Aurora Innovation and McLane Company have transitioned their autonomous trucking partnership into full driverless operations in Texas, utilising SAE Level 4 technology to move perishable food and restaurant supplies across the "middle mile" with 100 per cent on-time performance.

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.

Colorado Premium has successfully acquired Old Hickory Smokehouse, a move that merges traditional water-bath sous-vide expertise with artisanal smoking capabilities to create a high-capacity, value-added protein platform serving the foodservice, retail, and industrial sectors.

Papa Johns has entered its largest international collaboration to date with Disney and Pixar for the theatrical release of Toy Story 5, launching a co-branded menu and integrated digital experience across 42 global markets.

Sodexo has appointed industry veteran Ashton Sequeira as Chief Executive Officer of its U.S. Campus and Schools division, leveraging his 25 years of foodservice experience to navigate evolving challenges in the North American education sector.