AGP Executive Report

Trade Shock for Food & Drink: The U.S. is moving ahead with import bans on select Canadian products, including most alcohol, non-alcoholic beer, some dairy and motorcycles—aimed at “leveling the playing field,” while Canada warns of retaliation and exporters face uncertainty. California Wine Retail: California signed SB 917 to loosen rules so more small wineries can offer tastings at certified farmers’ markets starting Jan. 1, 2027, including allowing non-estate-grown grapes and expanding instructional tasting limits. RTD Gin Goes Viral Again: New Zealand’s Scapegrace Black is launching as a ready-to-drink canned product in a color-changing can, building on its 2018 internet breakout. Tourism & Dining Demand: New Zealand forecasts 3.9m international arrivals and AUD 14.4b spend by June 2027, with visitor spending flowing to restaurants and regional operators. Local Expansion Loans: Puerto Rico’s development bank approved a $360,000 loan for VIP Food Dorado to open a new Ichiban Japanese Steak House, targeting 25 jobs. Matcha Mainstreaming: A look at how matcha culture spread in the U.S., driven by social media and wellness trends. Foodservice Real Estate: Operators are increasingly converting “second-generation” restaurant spaces to cut costs and open faster, though inherited layouts can still derail plans. Convenience Food Growth: Casey’s reported inside same-store sales up 3.2%, with prepared food and dispensed beverage leading.

Restaurant Openings & Foodservice Trade: Philadelphia-area diners get a fall lineup of about 60 new openings, from Vietnamese and Lebanese to wine bars and cocktail rooms, plus a spotlight on a new Modern Vietnamese spot. Beer & Beverage Launches: Tennent’s revives stout with a new tap and limited venues, while Maki & Ramen sets a Braehead opening date and a £5 ramen promo. Retail Expansion: Caliwater ramps cactus-water distribution with major new retail points, citing strong velocity and multi-outlet momentum. Corporate Moves in Food Retail: Albertsons appoints Meg Whitman as Executive Chair, signaling board-level push for transformation. Hospitality & Game-Day F&B: Aramark rolls out new NFL premium menu and experiences across eight venues. Packaging & Compliance: EU clarifies that sealed aluminium foil lids on plastic beverage containers are excluded from tethering rules, easing a compliance question for mixed closures. Policy & Industry Costs: UK sushi chain Itsu posts another loss, blaming inflation and Labour employment tax hikes.

Functional Hydration Push: Suntory Oceania is launching Hydro Lock in Australia, betting on everyday “functional hydration” with Mango and Lychee 600ml cans plus Vitamin B3 and a broad retail marketing push. Trade War Shockwaves: The US is banning Canadian dairy, most alcohol and motorcycles, with the move tied to escalating tariff retaliation and potential knock-on effects for food and beverage supply chains. Food Inflation Watch: UK industry groups warn grocery inflation could hit nearly 4% by Christmas and peak at 6.4% next July, blaming conflict, extreme weather and added packaging/recycling costs. Health Policy at the Table: Israel’s Health Ministry is advancing rules to iodine-enrich household table salt to tackle widespread deficiency, while exempting salt used by the food industry. Halal Tourism Gap: Macau’s new Halal Industry Development Association will prioritize getting hotels halal-certified to better serve Muslim travelers and help local food and hospitality firms capture demand. On-Premise & Stadium Menus: US venues keep upgrading menus—Denver’s Empower Field adds 11 new vendors and 120+ items, while Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium rolls out seafood towers, walking tacos and new dessert concepts. Industry Events: Australia’s Fine Food Australia 2026 wrapped as the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest food and hospitality trade show, highlighting bakery, beverages, dairy and meat with major competitions and thousands of exhibitors.

New Beverage Launch: Saint James Iced Tea debuts a certified organic, non-GMO Yerba Mate line in a 16-oz recyclable aluminum bottle, with 150mg natural caffeine and just 3–4g sugar, rolling out via Amazon and nationwide retail partners like Kroger and Albertsons. Sales & Processing Tech: Steric adds beverage-industry veteran Elliot Bonior as Director of Sales to support growing demand for its wine, spirits, RTD and juice processing technology. Food & Drink Innovation: Panda Express starts a limited-time regional test of Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken, a walk-and-eat snacking format with chili crisp aioli and a collectible pail tie-in. Industry Collaboration: Food and beverage brands keep leaning into partnerships to drive urgency and sales, with cross-category collaborations highlighted as a 2026 growth engine. Policy & Packaging: France drops mandatory nationwide plastic bottle deposit rules in favor of voluntary local schemes, citing uneven collection rates and local infrastructure investments. Food Safety Focus (India): India’s regulators are stepping up raids, shutdowns and warning-label pressure as hygiene and labeling concerns keep hitting headlines. Hospitality & Venues: Caviste wine bar opens in Livingston, while Glasgow’s POP gourmet popcorn shop readies a fresh, small-batch concept. Trade & Supply Chains: A new push in international trade risk management urges companies to verify not just direct partners but also who those partners depend on deeper in the chain.

Hospitality Talent: The Cayman Islands crowned Bradley McLaughlin (Young Chef), Gaby Christian (Young Waiter) and Julius Parsons (Young Mixologist) ahead of the YYY World Finals in March 2027. Food & Drink Security: UK police are hunting thieves who stole about 70,000 pints of Guinness from a depot near Liverpool, worth roughly £205,000 including trailers. Health & Nutrition Research: A new animal study reports kefir may protect juvenile rat testes from high-fructose corn syrup damage, adding to interest in fermented foods and fertility. Beverage Business & Regulation: Quebec’s revamped bottle deposit-refund system is now centralized into Consignaction sorting centres, with mixed feedback on convenience and access. Industry/Markets: Pernod Ricard India has reportedly lined up banks as advisors for a potential 2027 IPO of its India unit. Food Culture & Events: Ireland’s National Ploughing Championships 2026 spotlights local producers, including new limited-edition O’Donnells crisp flavours. Trade & Exports: El Salvador is pushing specialty coffee, honey, cocoa/chocolate and pisco at Turkey’s F İstanbul 2026 to win new buyers.

Pub Chain Shake-Up (UK): Whitbread is shutting all 89 Brewers Fayre restaurants across the UK today, with Beefeater’s 106 sites due to close on Sept. 10—part of a £250m cost-cutting plan that will convert some locations into Premier Inn rooms and put about 3,800 jobs at risk. Beverage Industry Leadership (Africa): Champion Breweries in Nigeria named Malolan Sampath as Managing Director/CEO effective Sept. 1, while Tanzania’s SBC Tanzania promoted Himanshu Shekhar to CEO as it expands capacity, including plans for a new Dodoma factory and more PET output. Food & Drink Innovation (Packaging): deltaH Innovation unveiled a self-cooling, recyclable beverage can (Cool>Can) that chills drinks via a button-triggered chemical reaction. Dairy Decarbonisation (Chocolate): Barry Callebaut and Arla Foods launched a three-year partnership to cut supply-chain emissions, starting with decarbonising skimmed milk powder. Alcohol Demand Watch: Brown–Forman flagged that weight-loss drugs like GLP-1 may be shifting alcohol consumption patterns, alongside tariff and export pressures. Food Safety/Operations (Ukraine): A Russian attack sparked a fire at a British American Tobacco cigarette factory in Chernihiv; no injuries reported.

Food Safety & Standards: Control Union Sri Lanka and FSSC hosted “Food Safety Forward” in Colombo to help businesses prepare for evolving food safety expectations and strengthen global market trust. Agri-Tech Expansion: Hayleys Agriculture launched a new Grain and Food Processing Machinery business at ProFood/ProPack/AgBiz 2026, pitching equipment for drying, milling, hygiene and online process control. Innovation Under Cost Pressure: A foodpro expo discussion in Melbourne highlighted that the biggest hurdle for FSN and RTD drink innovation is turning ideas into viable products without heavy capital spend. Gelato Spotlight: Oh My Gelato! won Australia’s inaugural Australian Gelato Cup, with People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice also awarded to other finalists ahead of an Italy trip. Spirits Branding: Organic Bay Distillery rebranded with Peacock Bros., aiming for a more premium shelf presence while preserving its heritage labels. Dining Recognition: The Venetian Resort Las Vegas said four restaurants earned spots in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Southwest as it completes a $1.5B reinvestment. Regional Market Watch: IWSR forecasts Sub-Saharan Africa beverage alcohol growth, with RTDs and spirits leading momentum. Inflation Snapshot: GCC inflation is projected at 1.8% in 2025, staying under 2% for a second year, with food and beverages rising 1.2%. Seasonal Drinks Shift: McDonald’s is dropping the pumpkin spice latte for the first time in a decade, replacing it with caramel apple pie—signaling changing autumn flavor demand. Local Food Safety Push: Lagos State’s consumer protection agency is calling for participation in a Sept. 8 Lagos Food Safety Conference focused on “safe food everywhere.”

Food & Drink Careers: UK-based Telugu chef Kanthi Kiran Thamma named a finalist for “Chef of the Year” at the BIH Spotlight Awards 2026, highlighting South Indian cuisine promotion and a gin collaboration that earned a Great Taste Award star. Beverage Market Watch: Tasting Table ranks seven Bolthouse Farms smoothies, calling out which flavors hit a more balanced fruit-and-veg profile versus those that skew too sweet. Regional Inflation: GCC inflation held steady at 1.8% in 2025, with housing and miscellaneous goods/services driving most of the increase and food & beverages rising 1.2%. Policy & Industry Impact: Analysis of Washington state manufacturing finds tariffs haven’t boosted food-and-beverage jobs so far, with manufacturing employment down in 2025. Sugar Tax Debate: A PwC study for the Dutch food industry association says sugar-tax options are too complex to enforce and health gains are unclear, while revenue targets could be undermined. Regulatory Ruling: India’s FSSAI told the Bombay High Court Old Monk can’t be sold as “rum” due to neutral spirit plus artificial flavoring, with a next hearing set for Sept. 11. Agave Culture: Mexico City hosts the Pulque, Traditional Cuisine and Mezcal Festival featuring 100+ agave-based drinks and pairings. Hospitality & Community: Katara Hospitality extends its “Summer Your Way” campaign through Sept. 30, 2026, offering luxury staycation and family benefits across Qatar.

Food Safety Crackdown: Maharashtra’s FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe’s enforcement drive found cockroach infestations, expired products, rotten meat and poor storage across everything from five-star hotels to fast-food and canteens—raising the question of why such rigor isn’t standard nationwide. Agri-Deal Momentum: Malaysia’s MAHA 2026 MoUs hit RM12.6B, topping the RM8B target, with China pledging RM4B and NAFAS RM1.5B to boost fertiliser capacity. War Hits Supply Chains: Russian strikes damaged a food industry facility in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, with fires contained and no reported deaths; separate reports cite Coca-Cola Beverages Ukraine plant damage in Kyiv area. Hospitality & Training: Agege (Lagos) launched a three-month catering and chef training program, while universities are urged to shift toward 60% industry attachments to close skills gaps. Beverage & Retail Buzz: FiiZ Drinks plans a Liberty Hill specialty soda/energy concept opening; Aldi rolls out apple-focused fall items. Community Food Economy: Mérida Restaurant Week 2026 targets 150M pesos in economic impact with fixed-price menus and new tasting experiences. Bourbon for a Cause: Kentucky ABC auctions 70 confiscated bottles to fund alcohol responsibility programs.

Food prices & consumer pressure: Kerala’s multiplex snacks debate flares after a mayor said you’d “need a bank loan” for tea, popcorn and drinks, with legal experts warning price caps need new rules. Food safety at home: Experts flag common Labor Day cookout mistakes that drive barbecue-related illness, led by poor hand hygiene and unsafe handling. Local dining milestones: Tallahassee’s Sage Restaurant marks 20 years, highlighting how chef-led hospitality keeps regional food scenes thriving. Beverage innovation & trends: Costa reintroduces its Maple Hazel range with a new iced matcha latte, while Starbucks chai fans react to a reported formula shift. Alcohol & labeling enforcement: India’s regulator challenges Old Monk’s “rum” label, pushing it toward “rum-flavoured spirit” after scrutiny of neutral spirit + flavouring. Industry operations with AI: South Africa’s Pilot rolls out an AI POS layer letting restaurants query sales and costs in plain language to spot pricing anomalies. Trade & market access: The EU backs a two-year trade boost for Armenian exports, including duty-free access for most beverages and spirits. Global beverage business: Tilaknagar Industries invests $2.3M in Black Tiger Distilleries to expand India’s tequila market.

Food Safety & Tech: A new review in Current Research in Food Science says deep learning is moving food quality and safety from manual checks to smarter, data-driven inspection—spotting bruises, grading tea, and flagging contaminants like aflatoxins. Beverage Business Deal: Keurig Dr Pepper is selling its full equity stake in Chobani for $800 million and offloading its Allentown plant/warehouse for about $125 million, with Chobani taking over production and jobs as the transition closes in Q3 2026. Industry Funding: Michigan Craft Beverage Council will accept 2027 research and education grant proposals until Oct. 9, prioritizing Michigan agricultural inputs, regenerative practices, and quality/flavor analysis. Local Food & Hospitality: Kansas Turnpike’s Emporia Service Area redevelopment is progressing, with a new facility planned to open in Aug. 2027 and expand food and beverage options. Alcohol Safety Push: California’s ABC is reminding licensees to tighten ID checks and responsible service for Labor Day weekend amid higher alcohol-related crash risk. Food Culture: CHAGEE Malaysia launches a limited-edition Matcha Series in collaboration with The Little Prince, rolling out nationwide.

Disaster Relief & Local Food Supply: A Canadian friend helped keep an Asheville tea business alive after Hurricane Helene destroyed the factory, showing how cross-border food makers can back each other fast. Clean-Label Push in Asia: Prosur is spotlighting natural ingredient systems at FI Asia as Asia tightens rules on additives and contaminants, while Novonesis frames affordability as a manufacturing and yield challenge. Organic Produce Expansion: Edible Garden began shipping USDA Organic CEA-grown basil to Wakefern for ShopRite ahead of Labor Day, aiming to cut food miles and boost year-round consistency. Affordability vs. Workforce Costs: Singapore employers plan cautious wage growth as manpower costs and upskilling/reskilling expenses rise. Big Food Strategy Reset: A roundup highlights portfolio reviews, restructures, and leadership churn as cost volatility and private label reshape how major brands grow. Labor Day Deals: Major US chains are rolling out big weekend promos, from doughnuts to app-based freebies. Food Safety & Fraud Risk: India’s FDA crackdown seized products including Lay’s and Maggi items over alleged expiry/label fraud concerns. Beverage Innovation & Health: Research flags AI-identified plant proteins for meat substitutes and new studies linking coffee choices to stress and dementia risk. Travel Retail & Concessions: Guam airport duty-free and food & beverage contracts were conditionally awarded to Avolta, setting up a Dec. 21 handover.

Food Supply Resilience: Canada’s provinces are pitching big-budget food terminal plans—BC Food & Beverage is preparing a roughly $700M proposal while Manitoba weighs a $150M–$200M facility—as trade tensions push governments and industry to reduce reliance on north-south routes. Airport Retail & F&B: Guam’s airport authority has conditionally selected Swiss-based Dufry for both the main retail and master food-and-beverage concessions, setting up a 10-year deal with renewal options. Health & Drinks: New research links daily sugar-sweetened beverage intake to a more than 2x higher risk of gastric cancer, adding pressure on beverage makers and regulators. Protein Demand: A new report says nearly half of U.S. adults want more protein, with GLP-1 users driving especially strong demand. On-the-Ground Food & Beverage: AMC says food delivery at cinemas is up nearly 50% year over year, showing concessions are becoming a standalone business. Industry Operations: Stoelzle Glass USA temporarily laid off about 200 workers at its Monaca plant to support a $100M modernization aimed at premium spirits, food and beverage packaging.

Food Safety & Packaging Innovation: Prevented Ocean Plastic is a Sustainability Awards 2026 finalist for recycling polypropylene to EU food-safe standards, tackling the hard problem of contamination and inconsistent feedstock. Beverage Market Moves: Charoen Pokphand Foods will buy into Thailand’s bottled-water maker Brew Factory, aiming to expand in drinks via a staged investment for a controlling stake. Consumer Culture & Alcohol Scrutiny: In Ghana, parents of child creator Adobea responded after backlash over a viral Smirnoff video, saying the bottle was a water prop tied to an educational content project. Retail & Hospitality: Brown-Forman takes over Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola RTD distribution in Great Britain, while Starbucks rolls out nine new UK menu items including the return of the pumpkin spiced latte. Local Food Access: Chicago launched a Neighborhood Market Grant Program to fund small food businesses and farmers market operators in priority areas. Global Trade & Agriculture: South Korea is using Malaysia’s MAHA 2026 as a “NEXT K-food” test bed, gathering direct consumer feedback before wider market launches. Dairy Fermentation Tech: Sensient introduced yeast-based fermentation solutions to boost dairy culture yields without new capital investment.

Beer Theft Alert: Pabst Blue Ribbon is offering a $20,000 reward after a heist stole about 40,000 pounds of beer from a Southern California distribution center, with police describing a two-stage operation using fraudulent pickup paperwork. Nonalcoholic Drinks: A new report highlights how nonalcoholic beer and mocktails are booming as more people cut back or stay sober, but experts warn they’re not a perfect fit for everyone. Food Safety & Policy: Industry groups in Bulgaria challenge a proposed “fair value” methodology for staple foods, arguing it relies on flawed category averages and missing price data. Wine Sustainability: New Zealand’s Marlborough Circular Wine Programme aims to turn winery lees into vineyard soil amendments, diverting thousands of tonnes from waste streams. Restaurant & Retail Moves: Domino’s rolls out a personal-size rectangular pizza concept to reduce “compromise” at family pizza night, while a new Target in Liberty Hill is set to open Oct. 11 with groceries and an expanded beverage offering. Hospitality Expansion: Melbourne’s Kudo Bakery founders launch Itera, a dine-in venue built around seasonal produce and Vietnamese-influenced dishes.

Chobani Expansion: Chobani plans a ~$1.2bn, five-year buildout of a 1.5m sq-ft Allentown, Pennsylvania campus, targeting up to 10 production lines and more than 900 jobs, with production expected to start in 2027 and the site set to process over 3 billion pounds of Pennsylvania milk annually. Food Safety Infrastructure: Geo-Chem India (Cotecna Group) inaugurated a new state-of-the-art food safety laboratory in Mumbai to help exporters, importers and regulators meet tougher compliance demands. Retail Food Security: Stop & Shop launched its annual School Food Pantry Campaign, running Sept. 4–Oct. 30, with customers rounding up purchases or donating at checkout to support pantries across five states. Regulatory Labeling Debate (India): India’s proposed front-of-pack warning labels for sugar, salt and fat are drawing pushback from both health groups (too lenient) and industry (too strict), with FSSAI weighing thresholds and serving-size rules. Hospitality & Beverages: Taco Cabana turns 48 with a month of promos, including the new Dragonada drink and returns of fan favorites like Double Crunch Pizza. Food & Beverage Assets Market: AssetBuilt announced major auctions of large-scale brewery and citrus processing equipment in New Jersey and Florida.