AGP Executive Report

Georgian Wine Push in Europe: Georgia’s National Wine Agency staged back-to-back wine presentations and tastings in Paris, including at a Michelin-starred restaurant, to boost export visibility for qvevri wines and deepen ties with HoReCa and media. Packaging & Drinks Manufacturing Tech: Shenzhen Hejia promoted its glass bottle screen-printing equipment as premium beverage and cosmetics brands keep upgrading packaging decoration. Drought and Fishing Access: Utah’s low-water conditions are stressing fish habitats by warming waters and reducing oxygen, with anglers urged to plan trips early and often. Food Safety & Operations: Boston’s Clover Food Lab says it will reopen select locations for lunch after a sudden closure, citing a new investor deal and a tighter focus on core communities. Consumer Health Debate: A report highlights how ultra-processed foods are linked to major health risks, drawing comparisons to Big Tobacco-style marketing tactics. Payment Practices Under Scrutiny: A viral Bangkok claim alleges a Chinese restaurant refused Thai baht and pushed renminbi payments, sparking questions about compliance. Beverage Industry Competition: Dutch Bros says it’s ready for intensifying coffee competition as new chains expand fast. Local Food Events: Burlington’s Wine & Food festival returns with tastings, seminars and local producers, while Corning’s Olive Festival car show registration opens for October.

Retail Food Expansion: Zellers is rebooting in Ontario with two new stores—Toronto (June 18) and Windsor (this July)—adding grocery plus grab-and-go drinks, snacks, and Italian items from Gigi. Functional Beverage Push: Coca-Cola-owned Bodyarmor launches Bodyarmor Fit, a sugar-free sparkling sports drink with electrolytes, caffeine, choline, and green tea extract. Sports & Hospitality Tie-Ins: Miami is going all-in on FIFA World Cup 2026 with major watch parties and food-and-drink programming, while Gulfstream Park’s Carousel Club hosts official match viewing events with beer, seltzer, and partner eateries. Food Costs & Competition: A new antitrust settlement bars Agri Stats from sharing sensitive data among meat processors, spotlighting consolidation links to higher grocery prices. Public Health Debate: Research finds Americans largely view ultraprocessed foods as addictive and harmful, with bipartisan support for stronger safeguards. Safety & Alcohol Oversight: Louisville suspends a Mexican restaurant’s liquor license after a fatal DUI crash tied to alcohol service. New Products & Awards: 15 Olives wins an Allrecipes Golden Cart Award for Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar.

Luxury Whisky & Hospitality: Johnnie Walker Blue Label is rolling out “The Blue Society” with immersive, food-and-cocktail dinners at Gemelli to reposition Blue as modern, social luxury rather than an “old man’s drink.” Private Equity & Packaging: Apollo has completed its sale of Japan’s Altemira aluminium packaging business to MBK Partners, highlighting recycling expansion and potential IPO plans. Foodservice & Tech: McDonald’s is testing voice-activated AI drive-thrus (“Archy”) across five locations as part of its “McDonald’s Next” strategy, while Shake Shack cut guidance on weaker sales and rising costs. Global Food Retail Footprint: BreadTalk’s Food Republic is closing its last Beijing outlet on June 15 after 26 years, shifting focus to remaining China stores and partnerships. Manufacturing Investment: Cargill is expanding in Belgium—edible oils bottling, gourmet chocolate capacity, and a new extrusion pilot plant—aimed at boosting innovation and supply reliability. Policy & Taxes: Pakistan’s food security minister calls for smarter, more nuanced beverage taxation tied to sugar and nutrition, not a one-size-fits-all duty. Wage Pressure: Australia’s Fair Work Commission lifted the National Minimum Wage by 4.75%, raising cost pressure for hotels and liquor retailers. Plant-Based Beverage Digitalization: Rockwell Automation is partnering with Spain’s Liquats Vegetals to improve process visibility, consistency, and energy transparency. Coffee Scene: Singapore’s National Coffee Championship returns July 15–17 alongside SIGEP Asia, spotlighting specialty barista talent.

Foodservice & retail buzz: Aroma Joe’s rolls out “Dirty Soda” across all 135 locations, leaning on customizable bases and four signature flavors. Coffee expansion: Ziggi’s Coffee adds a third southern Minnesota drive-thru in Redwood Falls, opening June 9. Local food safety: Abilene, Texas restaurant inspections show top scores at Dairy Queen (99) and Abilene Donuts (90), while Abuelos International (86) faced priority temperature-control and cross-contamination issues. Alcohol & hospitality policy: Several U.S. states are extending bar and restaurant hours for World Cup viewing, with late-night closing times in cities like Philadelphia. Global brand reshuffle: General Mills agrees to sell Häagen-Dazs shops in China’s mainland to an investor group including Ningji, while keeping other Häagen-Dazs operations. Packaging sustainability: Meadow targets hotels with its wall-mounted SleeveLock system for pre-filled recyclable aluminum canisters, aiming for pilots this year. Industry pressure point: A new U.S. lawsuit in San Francisco accuses major food and beverage makers of engineering a public health crisis tied to ultra-processed foods.

Food Bank Pressure: UK charity Felix says demand for food banks has surged since the start of the Iran war, with 13% of partners seeing demand more than double and 32% warning they’d close without surplus food support. Beverage Safety & Lawsuits: A Texas wrongful-death case alleges an energy drink’s high caffeine contributed to a teen’s death, while the distributor denies responsibility—another reminder of the scrutiny facing caffeinated drinks. Coca-Cola Corporate Moves: Coca-Cola is exploring a potential IPO in India for Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings, aiming for a 2027 listing and possible partial stake sale as it faces intensifying local competition. Packaging Sustainability: Sweden’s Vätternrundan cycling event will use plastic-free paper beverage cups from Duni Group and trial composting solutions to cut waste and speed up on-site circular handling. Local Food Processing: Vermont Packinghouse in North Springfield changes hands to expand in-state beef and pork processing for New England farms, targeting a long-running capacity bottleneck. Market Expansion in Asia: WALOVI launched WALOVI Vietnam can and pushed its localized Southeast Asia growth strategy after rapid Vietnam growth since 2021. Health & Research: Nebraska researchers are studying how micro- and nanoplastics may shed from everyday beverage containers and end up in people.

Manufacturing Momentum: The US ISM Manufacturing PMI rose to 54 in May for a fifth straight month, with new orders and production expanding while supplier delivery performance slowed—good news for food and beverage supply chains. Food & Drink Confidence: In the UK, a Food and Drink Federation study says business confidence has fallen to -64% in Q1, pushing many firms toward retail price hikes amid inflation and war-related pressures. Beverage Production Expansion: SunOpta (Refresco) opened a $25m expanded fruit-snack line in Omak, boosting capacity by 25% to meet demand for “better-for-you” fruit snacks. Retail & Value Pressure: A QSR value-wars review found most major chains saw weaker customer retention since 2024’s aggressive discounting—traffic gains aren’t translating into loyalty. Hospitality & F&B Growth: Royalton Vessence Barbados officially opened with 17 food-and-beverage concepts, while Perak, Malaysia is positioning itself as a cruise tourism hub to spur local food and hospitality spending. Tourism Rules: Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward starts on-the-spot fines for littering (2,000 yen) from June 1, including penalties aimed at keeping food and beverage areas cleaner.

Food Safety & Fraud: A study warns “fake ghee” using carrot extract can slip past some quality tests, raising fresh concerns for India’s stubborn adulteration problem. Public Health: Research in The Lancet Planetary Health links climate change to rising antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella, with temperature and rainfall shifts helping resistance genes grow. Food Waste Tech: Canada’s $58B food-waste problem could be tackled with small sensors and camera-based systems to spot spoilage earlier than “best before” dates. Beverage & Retail Growth: South Korea’s online shopping hit a record April high, with food and beverage up single digits while cars, cosmetics and e-coupons surged. Industry Moves: Solos expands NoLo dealcoholization capacity in Switzerland via Rimuss & Strada, aiming to help wine producers meet demand for premium alcohol-removed products. Hospitality Demand: Netherlands Q1 turnover in accommodation and food services rose 2.2% year-on-year, with food & beverage outlets up 2.3%. Market Outlook: Oilseed demand for edible oils, feed and biofuels is driving growth, with analysts projecting a strong market expansion through 2033.

Food Fraud & Safety: The UK Food Standards Agency says DNA testing found 73 meat and fish products with undeclared species, including pizzas with turkey instead of the label, curries with 60–100% cow DNA, and goat meat actually containing mutton—another reminder that “what it says it is” still isn’t guaranteed. Local Hospitality & Community: Billericay’s High Street is getting a new café, Enchanted Cottage Café, expected to open in early June, while Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority is backing restaurant projects like Vinyl Room with $590,000 in incentives. Food Waste & Tech: Canada’s $58bn avoidable food waste problem is pushing interest in small sensors and camera-based monitoring to catch spoilage earlier than “best before” dates. Beverage Business Moves: Cal-Maine Foods is expanding prepared foods via the Van’s Foods acquisition, aiming to lift prepared sales about 10% and grow better-for-you frozen breakfast reach. Drink Culture: All Día launches real tequila canned cocktails at 2.5% ABV and 50–60 calories, riding the low- and no-alcohol shift. Market Watch: Khambatta Securities reiterates a BUY on Emami Limited, setting a Rs 525 target on expectations of margin recovery in FY27.

Quick Bites & Retail Buzz: McDonald’s UK is adding a Vanilla Matcha Frappé from June 2, joining other summer coolers. Food Safety & Consumer Trust: Tunisia’s watermelon scare after a Meknassi poisoning was blamed on social media; health authorities say watermelons aren’t the cause, but hygiene for cut fruit is key. Beverage Industry Watch: ASCI says digital ads are driving most violations, with sponsored social posts and offshore betting topping the list. Spirits & Awards: Augusto Tequila Joven won Master Medal “world’s best” Blanco/Joven at Global Spirits Masters. Sustainability & Packaging: Tetra Pak highlights recycling progress in India as beverage packaging innovation continues. Global Trade & Agriculture: Spain’s olive oil sector is pushing deeper into China via supermarket and restaurant promotions. Local Food Culture: Bulgaria is backing year-round tourism with Travel Fest, featuring food and beverage producers. Policy & Category Risk: Hemp Beverage Expo returns in Austin as operators brace for a looming Nov. 12 policy deadline.

Functional Foods & Health: A tomato-soy juice study reports reduced inflammation markers in adults with obesity after four weeks, with researchers now planning a pilot trial in pancreatitis. Food Prices & Access: Gluten-free bread is becoming “a luxury” in the UK, with branded loaves nearing £4 as shoppers warn medical diets are getting priced out. Dairy & Ice Cream Reformulation: Kwality Walls plans to shift its India portfolio to milk-based ice creams, moving away from palm-oil vegetable fat products by next year. Sustainability & Packaging Returns: TOMRA installed cup return machines at Freiburg Central Station in Germany, enabling automated, deposit-refund returns via RECUP. Reuse Policy Momentum: The New European Reuse Alliance named its first “Reuse Champions,” spotlighting reuse leadership across industry and cities. Hospitality & Beverage Trends: Thailand’s THAIFEX-Anuga Asia halal pavilion highlights 2026 shifts toward “conscious” halal, health-led products, inclusivity, and ready-to-eat convenience. Beverage Business Moves: Woworks hired a new chief growth officer to drive franchising expansion across its health-focused restaurant brands.

Food Safety Recall: FDA issued a highest-risk (Class I) warning tied to Wawa Beverage Company’s voluntary recall of four drinks over possible undeclared milk allergen, including Wawa Iced Tea Lemon and Diet Lemonade. Dairy Protest: German dairy groups plan a “milk devaluation” protest on World Milk Day (June 1), with tractors spraying milk in a field and a rally afterward. Sustainable Protein Research: Imperial College London opened labs for the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at White City, adding a Microbial Food Hub to speed applied research and scale-up. Dairy Industry Tech: Market reports project growth in microfiltered milk systems and print-and-apply labelers, pointing to continued investment in dairy processing and packaging traceability. Convenience Retail & Foodservice: CSP’s Foodservice Forum (June 10–12, Illinois) will spotlight how c-stores can win occasions with menu innovation and operational strategies. Brand Expansion: Earthbound Brands was named exclusive representative for BRIX Holdings’ portfolio, including Friendly’s, with plans to expand into more food and beverage categories. Franchise Growth: Mokas Coffee & Eatery signed a development deal to add nine units in the Kansas City metro, including six in Missouri.

Cultivated Seafood Goes Mainstream: José Andrés’ Barmini in Washington, DC will start serving Wildtype’s FDA-approved cultivated salmon from June 3, adding a high-profile chef spotlight to the still-controversial category. Food Retail Strategy: A new report argues prepared drinking water is becoming a more strategic retail category as shoppers seek reliable, high-frequency purchases amid margin and logistics pressure. Pricing Pressure in Japan: Japan expects June price hikes across 1,078 food and beverage items, with seasonings and processed foods hit hardest as supply costs ripple through. Plant-Based Backlash: Clover Food Lab is shutting down its remaining 11 locations, signaling the plant-based “fad” cooling after years of hype. Restaurant Awards & Expansion: New Orleans’ Dakar NOLA, Emeril’s and Acamaya were named to North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, with Dakar NOLA preparing a new location and tasting-menu refresh. Clean-Label Funding: India’s Anveshan raised Rs 121 crore to scale minimally processed, traditionally made foods across manufacturing and distribution. Beverage Trade Push: Binggrae will return to THAIFEX–ANUGA ASIA 2026 in Bangkok to expand Southeast Asia distribution, including Melona and Banana Flavored Milk.

Food Safety Alerts: A salmonella-linked specialty beverage recall has expanded to 25 U.S. states, including Kentucky, with products distributed via cafes, restaurants and direct delivery. Innovation & R&D: Unilever plans a new Global Innovation Center in New Haven, Connecticut, opening by spring 2029 to accelerate beauty, wellbeing and personal care development. Better-for-You Reformulation: ADM says reformulation demand is surging and is expanding its Erlanger, Kentucky facility to boost capabilities by 40% as brands cut sugar and add nutrients. Corporate Moves: Husky Technologies appointed Mohammad Kanaan as CFO and Karen Stone as CHRO, effective June 8 and June 22. Market Pressure: UK food and drink manufacturer confidence fell to -64% in Q1 2026 as energy, packaging and transport costs bite. Sustainability & Packaging: Iraq’s plastic waste problem is worsening as recycling stays below 20%, with most plastic ending up in dumpsites. Local Food Culture: Tokyo’s strawberry picking season is drawing visitors to ABC Farm in Akishima, while Elgin’s downtown outdoor market returns June 5 with local produce and baked goods. Beverage & Dining Promotions: Chipotle’s Summer of Extras returns June 1–Aug. 31 with gamified loyalty engagement.

Plant-based shakeout: Clover Food Lab is closing its remaining 11 locations, blaming the fading plant-based boom after pandemic-era struggles and a 2023 bankruptcy. Menu strategy: Mad Greens is overhauling 80% of its menu with 20 new dishes, shifting from “healthy-only” to more craveable, flavor-led bowls and salads. Food prices watch: A new U.S. outlook warns grocery inflation could worsen as raw-material costs, weather, tariffs and geopolitical shocks (including Iran and possible El Niño) feed into higher prices. Water risk planning: Bluerisk released a step-by-step guide to help companies manage water scarcity risks across agricultural supply chains. Regenerative push: A coalition of major food and agriculture firms backed a framework to scale regenerative agriculture across ingredient supply chains. Dairy expansion: South Australia’s The Yoghurt Shop is growing in Thailand after strong demand at Foodland, with sales up sharply early in 2026. Food safety recalls: A growing salmonella recall has expanded beyond Aldi to include additional products sold at major retailers. Beverage retail recycling: Quebec opened a new Consignaction return site in Dollard-des-Ormeaux as it expands its deposit-refund system.

Airport Retail & Dining Expansion: Avolta won a 12-year deal with Norfolk International Airport for nine new retail and food & beverage outlets, including four “hybrid” dining-and-shopping concepts, extending its partnership to more than 40 years. Trade & Innovation: THAIFEX-ANUGA ASIA 2026 opened in Bangkok with buyers from 130+ countries, spotlighting emerging brands and innovations and targeting 130 billion baht in trade value. EU Food Regulation Update: EU member states agreed on “Omnibus X” to simplify pesticide rules and enable more targeted drone spraying while keeping EU food and feed safety standards. Litigation in Dairy Pricing: Organic Valley, Aurora Organic Dairy and Horizon Organic Dairy sued over the Federal Milk Marketing Orders system, arguing it constitutionally favors conventional producers. School Food Safety: South African experts urged tighter safeguards in school nutrition, warning hygiene and monitoring gaps can drive contamination risks. Sweetener Deal: Heartland Food Products agreed to buy Whole Earth Brands’ Americas sweetener business, including Equal, expanding low-calorie and sugar-reduction offerings. Brand Closures: Clover Food Lab will close all 11 restaurants and meal-box delivery in Greater Boston, citing inflation and thin margins. Functional Hydration Rebrand: PLEZi is rebranding its hydration line to focus on a premium sports-drink tier after dropping its original kids juice line. Upcycling Beer Byproducts: Protein Industries Canada backed a project to turn brewers’ spent grain into high-value ingredients via Terra Bioindustries and Great Western Brewing.

Sports-to-sips marketing: Wawa is leaning into playoff hype with a limited-edition “Gritty Smoothie” for Philadelphia-area stores, pairing mango, pineapple and tart cherry with a Gritty-themed cup—another reminder that convenience chains are treating beverages like fan merchandise. Franchise & food expansion: Genesis BBQ Group opened its first Ho Chi Minh City outlet, signaling a push from northern Vietnam into Southeast Asia with a menu built for delivery-heavy urban life. Policy and packaging pressure: A EU bottle-cap rule that kept caps attached is now being used as a cautionary tale about regulation—companies adapted where required, but kept detachable caps elsewhere, highlighting the uneven global standards fight. Climate resilience for food: India’s agri-food sector is being urged to accelerate adaptation as extreme heat, erratic monsoons and groundwater stress threaten supply chains. Local business squeeze: In San Diego’s North Park, a shop owner says new paid parking meters are already killing foot traffic—an everyday cost-of-doing-business story with direct food-and-drink impact.