AGP Executive Report

Regulation Shake-Up (India): India’s food regulator FSSAI ordered beverage makers to drop “energy drink” and similar label terms, giving companies 90 days to comply and flagging potentially misleading marketing claims—prompting production pauses and inventory cleanups. Food Safety Scrutiny (U.S.): A new report-style look at recalls and contamination scares asks whether the food supply is getting less safe, noting it’s hard to measure in real time even as experts warn federal guardrails could weaken. Beverage Business Moves (U.S.): Westrock Coffee reported Q2 net sales of $305.7M (+8.8%), with Beverage Solutions up 16.8% as losses narrowed and it reaffirmed 2026 EBITDA guidance. Local F&B Expansion (Louisiana): A former CVS in Mid City is being rebuilt into a multi-tenant dining hub, with PJ’s Coffee (drive-thru), Wingstop, Donuts & Burgers, and expected additional tenants. Hospitality & Dining (Los Angeles): The Sun Rose West Hollywood is launching two rooftop concepts with SAGA Hospitality: Yuhi (12-seat omakase) and Oleander (coastal Pacific-inspired). Supply Chain Risk (Cargo): Verisk CargoNet says Q2 theft incidents fell 26% but estimated losses jumped to $304.6M, with metals and enterprise tech driving the biggest hits. Seasonal Retail (Krispy Kreme): Krispy Kreme rolls out a fall lineup starting Aug. 11, including pumpkin spice and new latte options.

Earnings Shock in Energy Drinks: Celsius shares slid more than 18% after Q2 results missed targets, with investors pointing to integration headaches as PepsiCo distribution absorbs Alani Nu and Rockstar. EU Merger Watch: Brussels cleared Mars’ $36bn Kellanova deal, but said brand strength alone won’t sway retailer bargaining power—real-world delisting and consumer behavior mattered more. India Labeling Fight: Dabur moved to Delhi High Court after FSSAI restricted “100%” claims on products including honey, ghee, vinegar and oils, arguing natural-justice and process issues. Nutrition & Claims Under Scrutiny: FSSAI also penalized AWL Agri Business for substandard fortified Fortune sunflower oil after Vitamin D levels fell below required ranges. Non-Alcoholic Beverage Trends: ADM says NA drinks are shifting from “refreshment” to occasion-based “need states,” pushing brands to design for specific moments. Ingredient Science Push: Ireland’s zolvia published independent human trial results showing its z-curcumin absorbed far better than standard curcumin, ahead of global rollout. Packaging Regulation Ahead: Schneider Electric flags EU PPWR compliance starting Aug. 12, with PFAS tracking for food-contact packaging adding major cost pressure.

Beverage Trends: Soft serve is having a major moment this summer, with Yelp searches hitting an all-time high and viral spins like black sesame and “soft serve Margarita” pushing operators to add new flavors and formats. Food Safety Watch: The FDA is investigating 11 active foodborne illness outbreaks, including cases tied to eggs, frozen blueberries, iceberg lettuce, and powdered infant formula, as recalls and safety notices continue to roll out. Industry & Policy: Canada’s convenience-store channel is stepping up advocacy with a new public affairs and partnerships leader at the Convenience Industry Council of Canada, as deregulation and shifting rules reshape day-to-day operations. Global Coffee Trade: India says coffee exports reached more than 140 countries in FY2025–26, with growth in emerging markets and new destinations. Local F&B Economy: Portillo’s is cutting 18% of corporate staff as it resets strategy amid declining traffic and sales, while Greenville plans a new JW Marriott tied to the Bowater Building redevelopment.

Beer’s Big Moment: AB InBev is rolling out “Cheers to Beer” ahead of International Beer Day, leaning on research that beer still dominates alcohol choices and is adapting to moderation, premium tastes, and affordability. Corporate Earnings Watch: San Miguel Food and Beverage reported a 4% drop in first-half net income as inflation and slower growth squeezed consumers, though food sales stayed resilient and revenue rose. New Bar, New Drinking Culture: Aenza opens in Darlinghurst as a Japanese-focused wine bar with a serious drinks program (120-bottle list, sake and highballs) and small-plate menu built for pairing. Education Meets Food Skills: New Zealand announced nine industry-led secondary subjects for 2029, including “Hospitality: Food and Beverage” and “Food and fibre systems,” aiming to align school pathways with workforce needs. Bubble Tea Deal: Bain Capital is buying Gong cha from TA Associates, targeting growth to 1,000 U.S. units with direct franchising and faster drink-making tech. Workplace Heat Response: South Korea is extending rest breaks and cooling access as heat risks rise, after a landmark heatstroke death conviction raised pressure on employers. Market Signals: Malaysia’s services inflation accelerated in Q2, with accommodation and food & beverage services the biggest mover.

Retail & Supply Chain: Grocery inventory is getting tougher as stores juggle tens of thousands of SKUs, thin margins, and fast-moving perishables—making visibility a key lever for forecasting and waste reduction. Plant-Based Beverages: A new report forecasts the rice milk market growing from about $1.4B (2026) to $2.5B by 2033, fueled by dairy alternatives and lactose-free demand. Snacking Habits: Consumers are blurring meal lines, leaning on snacks more often and seeking “fun, fuel and function” that balances taste with protein, fiber, and wellness benefits. CPG Retail Competition: Amazon is gaining ground in U.S. food and beverage CPG share, driven by more households and more frequent trips, while Costco keeps widening its lead. Foodservice & Events: The 2026 U.S. Open’s hospitality partner Levy is rolling out a major culinary lineup across restaurants, concessions, and carts. Beverage Launches: Dunkin’ is bringing back 48-oz iced beverage buckets nationwide starting Aug. 7, plus a new “Bucket Holder” for Rewards members. Industry Moves: Bain Capital Private Equity has agreed to acquire Gong cha, expanding the tea brand’s global footprint. Local Food Culture: Wisconsin State Fair’s Sporkies & Drinkies winners include Birria Flamin’ Bombs and the Tilt-a-Spritz.

Retail & Consumer Health: A new study links higher intake of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium and others) with faster cognitive decline, raising fresh questions for diet drink fans. Food Safety & Regulation: Maharashtra has imposed a one-year statewide ban on analogue (non-dairy) paneer, allowing only paneer made from pure milk after inspections found widespread adulteration. Beverage Industry Moves: 7 Brew says it will open 62 drive-thru coffee stands in August, including new Illinois locations, and will add liquid collagen protein to select drinks. Brand/Marketing Risk: South Korean police raided Starbucks Korea over its “Tank Day” promotion, a controversy tied to political sensitivity. Packaging & Production: A UK brewery partnered with Kemtile to upgrade brewery flooring with stainless drainage channels and industrial ceramic tiles. Sustainability & Circularity: Singapore’s beverage container return scheme expands with more reverse vending machines, while retail data shows food-and-beverage services sales dipped year-on-year in June. M&A & Investment: A family-owned M&A wave in food continues, with buyers paying big premiums as public markets cool.

Food Manufacturing Jobs: A new analysis says U.S. food manufacturing hit a record 1.77 million workers in 2025, even as the sector’s share of the workforce keeps shrinking over the long run—highlighting how bread, milk, frozen vegetables and cereal still rely on large-scale processing hubs. Convenience Foodservice: At the Convenience Foodservice Exchange, operators discussed how limited-time offers can drive trial and repeat visits, with Rutter’s rolling out a limited-time SPAM menu built for breakfast through dinner. Functional Coffee Expansion: Brew Shockalaka’s zero-sugar nootropic RTD coffee is landing in Schnucks Markets across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, aiming to bring “functional energy” into mainstream grocery aisles. Hospitality & Dining Growth: Nu Stadium’s matchday lineup adds Miami Slice pizza and expands La Birra Bar with new footprint at the stadium starting Aug. 5. Awards & Spirits: Batch 22’s aquavit brand racked up three major U.S. honors in recent months, signaling growing mainstream interest in the Scandinavian spirit. Local Dining Events: Tybee Island Restaurant Week returns Aug. 3–17 with eight participating spots and rotating specials.

Regulatory Shake-Up (India): FSSAI ordered Dabur to stop selling products with “100%” claims (including “100% Natural/Pure/Purity Guaranteed/Organic” on honey, cow ghee, oils and more), citing ambiguity and potential consumer mislead; the move hit Dabur shares, down 2.8% early. Labeling & Marketing (PepsiCo): PepsiCo India removed the word “energy” from Sting packaging after FSSAI said “energy drink” isn’t a recognized category, aiming to keep the product on shelves while staying compliant. Beverage Business (CCEP): Coca-Cola Europacific Partners reported €10.72bn revenue for the first half (+4.4%) with volumes up 5.6%, but noted a slowdown and reaffirmed full-year guidance. Airport Food Demand (UK): Caffè Nero’s relocated Birmingham Airport outlet is drawing strong early trade, adding more seating and an outdoor area as part of the terminal’s catering upgrades. Coffee & Local Sourcing (Korea): Starbucks Korea launched a new “shared growth” Sangju Shine Muscat Ade using local grapes to help independent cafes boost sales. Food Industry Events (Malaysia): Vitafoods Asia 2027 will move to Kuala Lumpur’s MITEC (21–23 Sept 2027), expanding to 8 halls to serve Southeast Asia’s nutraceutical market. Trade & Agriculture (Indonesia/Thailand): Indonesia and Thailand set a target of $20bn bilateral trade by 2030, with halal food value chains and agricultural tech cooperation in focus.

Food Security Focus: At WOFEX Manila 2026, organizers and exhibitors kept circling back to food security—shifting weather, fragile supply chains, and the need for better farm productivity, logistics, and waste reduction. Retail & Private Label: Target is leaning into food discovery with a new “Good & Gather” cookbook, putting 100 recipes (and ingredients) behind its owned-brand push. Food Safety Watch: Macau’s Q2 inspections found 98.9% of food samples passing microbiological and chemical tests, with failures tied to specific contamination and labeling issues. Alcohol Regulation: Dora, Alabama set a hearing for a pending retail liquor license application for Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores. Beverage Innovation: HTeaO launched a limited-time Pineapple Chipotle Refresher with Tajín Clásico seasoning. Industry & Policy: Malaysia’s restaurant lobby praised a PM directive to clear foreign worker applications within a month, aiming to ease staffing bottlenecks. Health & Science: Texas A&M research links polyethylene microplastics to fatty liver disease risk, especially alongside poor diet. Operations in Foodservice: Aramark Correctional Services pilots “Beyond the Tray” dining in Ohio and Indiana prisons, aiming to improve meal experience and reduce grievances. Manufacturing Investment: ADM will expand its Boone County facility with $16M to boost natural color solutions for food and beverage reformulation.

Food Safety Crackdown (India): India’s FSSAI barred sales of specific liquor variants (including Old Monk, Bagpiper, Royal Challenge and others) after tests found artificial flavouring used to mimic standard spirits, alongside concerns over misleading age claims. Alcohol Labelling Clarification (India): The ministry said enforcement targets flavours that recreate the sensory profile of standardised spirits using external additions, not flavouring substances in general. Retail & Convenience Expansion (Singapore): Cold Storage launched “On The Go” at Esso stations, rolling out ready-to-eat meals, beverages and ice cream across 58 sites, with plans for standalone stores. New Openings (UK): SushiDog will open a new London site at The Broadway in September, adding a major Japanese concept to the St James’s Park development. Event & Hospitality (US/UK): Big Sky Food & Wine Festival announced a star-studded chef lineup for Sept. 24–26, while Wine Spectator honored three OC coastal restaurants with its Best of Award of Excellence. Packaging & Supply Chain (Europe): UncannyCS is set to discuss food traceability and connected operations at Odoo Experience 2026. Market Signals (Turkey): Istanbul food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 1.3% in July as overall inflation eased to 31.75%.

Regulatory Crackdown (India): FSSAI moved against liquor makers over added flavours, misleading labelling and age claims, telling companies to stop marketing “flavoured” spirits as standard rum/whisky and to disclose true product nature on-pack. Health & Nutrition: A Purdue-linked study found unsweetened sparkling water drops mouth acidity far less than sugar-sweetened soda, suggesting a lower enamel-risk swap when consumed in moderation. Public Health Debate (US): RFK Jr. urged Americans to get MMR amid a record measles outbreak, sparring with Fauci-related claims on CNN. Food Safety/Labeling (Broader): Separate FSSAI notices named United Spirits and INBREW plants tied to flavouring violations. Local Food Community: Oswego police served as celebrity servers at a Red Robin fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. Beverage Trends: Starbucks Japan launched “Clear Coffee” to attract non-coffee drinkers with a less bitter extraction approach. Industry & Innovation (Macao): Melco hosted a tech-industry matching event inviting solutions co-created with local food & beverage teams.

Food Recall: Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods recalled nearly 23,000 pounds of baked spaghetti and chicken cobbler after customers reported metal slivers; no injuries confirmed, but products were sold in several states and online. Agriculture & Food Security: Hungary faces massive agricultural losses as drought worsens, with an economist estimating 470–500 billion forints in damage and knock-on effects for livestock and processing. Retail & F&B Growth: Malaysia expects Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix visitor traffic to boost retail and small food operators, pushing SMEs to upgrade digital marketing and customer service. Coffee & Consumer Tips: Experts say coffee taste is heavily shaped by water chemistry; chlorine and mineral balance can mute flavors, so choosing the right filter matters. Chain Expansion: Greggs plans 100–110 new UK shops by year-end and will trial “Greggs Express” self-service outlets inside petrol stations. Beverage Product Buzz: Ghost’s Yoo-hoo protein drink sold out in 20 minutes and is set to roll out to Walmart nationwide soon. Food Safety/Quality: McDonald’s Korea ended sales of a waxy corn cheese croquette burger and muffin early after multiple “stone fragment” complaints. Hospitality Workforce: World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance says it will train about 2,000 disadvantaged young people in India for hospitality jobs.

Airline Dining: JetBlue rolls out new Mint menus with NYC partners Crown Shy and Birdee, bringing fresh onboard dishes to select domestic and transatlantic routes. Airport Retail: SSP Group posts +4% Q3 sales (constant currency) and lands a five-unit deal at Auckland Airport, even as passenger traffic shifts in APAC. Food Safety Trust: A Quinnipiac poll finds Americans’ confidence in U.S. food-safety oversight at record lows as a Cyclospora outbreak tops 20,000 cases. Alcohol Policy & Training: San Mateo County and California ABC crack down on underage drinking via inspections, citations, and education sessions funded by a $75,000 grant. Functional Drinks & Claims: Oxymel (apple cider vinegar + honey) may offer limited benefits, but major “detox” and broad wellness claims lack strong proof. Beverage Trends: Mocktails keep expanding as bars add spirit-free options, while “dirty soda” continues to grow via customization and ready-to-drink competition. Market Watch: U.S. beer sales soften in the latest NielsenIQ Beer Pulse period, with demand cooling across core segments.

Sports-to-food crossover: CBS Sports put NFL analyst Tony Romo on leave after a Wisconsin arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, with J.J. Watt stepping in as lead analyst. Food inflation pressure: Australia’s latest CPI shows food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation still at 3.3% year-on-year, with meals out and takeaway driving the pain and analysts warning pressures may strengthen through 2026. Middle East cost-of-living hit: Iran’s stats show headline inflation topping 100% in eight provinces in July, while food inflation exceeds 100% across all provinces—pushing up the cost of basic food and beverage baskets. Beverage innovation & ingredients: C16 Biosciences launched Palmless Cocoa Butter Equivalent, aiming to stabilize chocolate performance and supply; Afyren is pushing bio-based organic acids to replace fossil-derived inputs. Retail & supply chain: Asda and Food and Drink Wales launched a supplier development programme to help Welsh producers with compliance, marketing, logistics and account management. On-the-ground food culture: Wagamama is expanding into UK motorway service stations for the first time, while Greece’s craft beer scene continues to grow with more independent microbreweries. Community food events: Taste of Elk River marks 20 years with a new venue and first-class style VIP tastings, and Plymouth’s Beaches, Bands & Brews returns Aug. 7 with local food vendors.

Hotel & Hospitality: JD Power’s 2026 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index ranks top hotel chains using real guest feedback, scoring brands on check-in/out, connectivity, facilities, food & beverage, rooms, staff service and value. Restaurant Openings: Saugatuck, Michigan is set for a Spanish-style taproom and tapas concept, while Glasgow’s Maki & Ramen and Scran+ Roadie are expanding into new retail-and-family venues. Beverage Innovation: Califia Farms adds limited-edition banana crème coffee drinks and creamers, and KULTURA Brands updates shareholders on building a broader distribution platform via partners. Industry Moves: Yum Brands is sharpening focus on Taco Bell and KFC with redesigned loyalty plans aimed at deeper, more direct customer relationships. Food Safety/Compliance: Pulaski County inspections flagged issues ranging from expired yogurt to expired permits and pest problems. Local Closures: IHOP shut two Massachusetts locations (Cambridge and Hyannis), while Salsa Brava is ending service in Colorado Springs.

Functional Ingredients Funding: India’s Arboreal Bioinnovations raised Rs 230 crore (Series A) to scale manufacturing and R&D for next-gen functional ingredients across food and beverage. Retail Pressure: Target’s 3Q profit fell 52% as shoppers cut back and demand price cuts, prompting major expense-savings plans. Food Safety Oversight: Maharashtra’s FDA temporarily shut a Bombay High Court canteen after an inspection, while Berks County published recent inspection results showing both clean reports and violations tied to pest protection and food handling. Brand Copycat Row: South Korea’s Tokyo Berry faced allegations of copying Japan’s Tokyo Banana, leading to canceled future pop-ups. Beverage & Bar Culture: Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace hosted Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026, reinforcing the region’s cocktail spotlight. Japan Policy Watch: Japan’s planned food-and-beverage consumption tax cut to 1% for two years drew warnings it may not boost consumers and could worsen inflation. Local Food Moves: Cape Coral is lining up short-term food-and-drink vendors at a rebuilt riverfront park while it searches for a long-term concessionaire.