The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend is a pioneering release that bridges Kentucky bourbon and Japanese whisky traditions.

Functional nutrition brand Mia has launched its flagship Fibre-First Shake, delivering twenty-two grams of prebiotic fibre and twenty-seven grams of plant protein to address dietary gaps caused by GLP-1 medications.

Kraft Heinz has introduced KD Mac and Cheesecake in Canada, marking the brand's first venture into the dessert category by leveraging nostalgic flavours and unexpected food mashups.

QSR brand Sonic has launched its 2026 summer menu, combining nostalgic tie-ins for the US 250th anniversary with premium burger innovations and gamified app rewards to boost transaction volume.

Restaurant brand Popeyes has launched its first at-home baking mixes at major US retailers including Walmart and Target, accelerating its CPG brand-extension strategy.

Homewares brand Thyme and Table has launched a fully automatic espresso machine exclusively at Walmart, bringing premium dual-boiler technology to the mass market at an aggressive price point.

Starbucks Japan has announced the national launch of its Banana Affogato Frappuccino. Debuting on 27 May 2026, at 700 yen for a tall size formulation with an environmental, social, and governance sourcing strategy.

Snack manufacturer Pladis has launched a limited-edition McVitie’s Digestives Jaffa Cakes crossover biscuit to capitalise on consumer nostalgia and drive incremental category sales.