AGP Executive Report

Market Accountability: A former vendor at Fort Wayne’s Union Street Market says Electric Works is “extractive and predatory,” citing a rent valuation that jumped from a discounted $48/sq ft to $156/sq ft after she applied for a grant—sparking fresh questions about whether the “business incubator” model is truly helping local food entrepreneurs. Indy 500 Food & Drink Culture: Katherine Legge is pushing through a rough build-up for Sunday’s Indy 500, blaming flight delays, handling and wind issues, and clutch/communication problems—while the race’s famous milk tradition keeps the spotlight on motorsport’s quirky food rituals. Zero-Waste Summer Plans: West Seattle Summer Fest returns July 10–12 with a major zero-waste push, including reusable serviceware and refill stations for food and beverage areas. Local Flavor Events: Forked River marks 13 years with Forked Fest June 6, featuring a pie-inspired beer and beer floats. Hospitality Hiring & Expansion: Marriott’s Fiji resorts add Stephen Wright as hotel manager, while airport dining continues to grow via athlete-partnered concepts like Norfolk’s “200 Sack Club.”

Sauce Strategy: Americans are turning condiments into the main event, with chains leaning into dipping-first concepts and even grocery shelves getting in on the action. Starbucks Tech Reset: Starbucks has retired its AI inventory tool after nine months, with the system reportedly struggling to tell milk types apart—back to manual counts for beverage components. Heineken Leadership Gap: Heineken’s CEO transition is still in limbo after Dolf van den Brink’s May 31 exit date, leaving the brewer leaderless while it navigates job cuts. Beer & Summer Rituals: New data keeps pointing to beer as the go-to summer drink for cookouts and outings, with “ice-cold” still the top demand. Food Safety Watch: A Lancaster County inspection flagged raw beef stored above raw fish in a walk-in cooler—another reminder that basics still matter. Packaging & Policy: Iraq moves to restrict plastic bags and shift toward biodegradable alternatives, while Texas kicks off sales tax holidays for water-efficient, Energy Star products.

Policy Shock on Grocery Costs: Trump moved to ease a Biden-era refrigerant rule, aiming to cool surging grocery prices—an EPA shift that could ripple through food storage, retail operations, and supply costs. New Café Launch: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf rolled out its Mixers platform in Singapore, leaning into layered, shareable “sober curious” drinks built for social hangouts. Brand vs. History Backlash: South Korea’s Interior Ministry said it will stop offering products from companies tied to Starbucks’ “Tank Day” campaign, after public outcry over a marketing tie to the 1980 Gwangju crackdown. Summer Menu Push: McDonald’s is running Memorial Day promos and sampling new specialty drinks in Indiana, including lemonade-based refreshers and cold-foam sodas. Food Safety Watch: FDA inspection results were posted for California Custom Beverage, Inc. after a May 6 visit, with recommendations focused on managing foodborne biological hazards. Hospitality Upgrades: Serengeti Springs is gearing up for its third season opening over Memorial Day weekend, with added shade, seating, and food-and-beverage improvements.

Refrigerant Rollback: The Trump administration is moving to loosen Biden-era refrigerant rules, arguing it will cut grocery costs by letting stores choose refrigeration systems that work best for them—though analysts warn the impact on prices may be limited. Premium Deli Momentum: Specialty cheese is still defying price pressure, with specialty sales hitting $6.5B and up nearly 6% year over year, as shoppers chase bold, globally inspired flavors. In-Store “Personality” Wins: A new FMI report says shoppers still value physical grocery trips, often bouncing between multiple banners, and loyalty rises when stores feel distinct—bargain, entertainment, or experience-led. Sugar-Sweetened Scrutiny: Nigeria’s CAPPA premiered “Sweet Poison,” linking sugary drink marketing to rising diet-related illness and environmental harm. New Product Push: Kraft Heinz is expanding Jell-O “Simply” with no synthetic colors and less sugar, while Dusted™ is rolling out a Glazed brown sugar ham rub for the holiday season. Local Color & Community: From North Liberty’s Hy-Vee Amphitheater summer lineup to PeopleTalk’s $10 weekday happy hour, food and drink keep showing up as the social glue.

Restaurant Tech & AI: The National Restaurant Association Show wrapped in Chicago with beverages and AI stealing the spotlight, from Coca-Cola’s Freestyle upgrades to cold-foam drink ideas and more diversified big-brand lineups. Packaging & Food Safety: At PACKCON, Demi Co. is pushing high-quality absorbent pad solutions aimed at better moisture control for safer, longer-lasting food packaging. Automation Meets Compliance: Unmanned beverage robots are scaling in 2026, but food-safety compliance is now the gatekeeper for where they can operate. Prices & Supply: PET prices are surging in 2026 as packaging demand stays strong and supply shifts ripple through costs. Retail & On-the-Go: Wienerschnitzel is expanding into high-traffic Walmart locations, while RaceTrac keeps growing with new store openings featuring grab-and-go food and coffee. Memorial Day Hospitality: LA Fleet Week returns to the Port of Los Angeles with free ship tours and food vendors, and Stateside Live! reopens after a $20M renovation with a beer garden and rooftop lounge. Food Safety Reminders: Michigan is urging Memorial Day picnic hosts to separate beverages from perishable foods and keep raw meat apart to prevent illness.

Food Safety & Compliance: The FDA says only one company tied to a city within Uvalde County, Texas—PepsiCo Beverage Sales, LLC—was inspected in 2025, with “No Action Indicated.” Manufacturing Standards: A reminder that good manufacturing practices (GMPs) are central to preventing contamination and keeping food quality consistent, from sanitation to pest control. Retail & Consumer Pressure: In the U.S., NielsenIQ reports the alcohol market stayed under pressure in the four weeks ended May 9, with broad declines in both value and volume across major categories. Pricing Moves: Sri Lanka’s milk tea price is set to rise by Rs. 5 starting tonight as operators cite higher operating costs. Brand & Product News: Dunkin’ is bringing back its viral 48-ounce iced beverage buckets May 22 for Memorial Day weekend, plus a new Cherry Lime Rickey Refresher. Business Restructuring: A bankruptcy court approved the sale of Fat Brands in four deals, moving major chains to lenders and cash buyers. Local Agritourism: Iowa launched the free 2026 Choose Iowa Passport to route consumers to farms and local food-and-beverage stops.

Regulatory Pressure: French anti-fraud officers raided Nestlé Waters sites in Vergèze and a Vosges lab over alleged “deceit,” reigniting scrutiny of Perrier’s natural mineral-water status after reports it used treatments to prevent contamination. Hospitality & Growth: Huntsville moved to buy Orion Amphitheater food-and-beverage assets for $12M, shifting revenue control toward the city and aiming to cut general-fund support. New Drinks on Shelves: Tommy’s Booze added a limited-edition Kiwi liqueur to its fruit-forward lineup. Food Safety & Illicit Alcohol: Singapore Customs arrested two men and seized 9,200+ cans and bottles of contraband beer and liquor hidden under “non-alcoholic” packaging. Industry Watch: A U.S. report says limited-time offers have surged since 2019, with cold/non-alcoholic drinks leading new launches. Beverage Innovation: Gong cha launched EnerTeas™ with Tetris-inspired energy drinks and collectible straw toppers.

Authenticity Push in Premium Spirits: Ballantine’s and COLORSxSTUDIOS are betting on “realness” over perfection, citing a survey where 9 in 10 fans say authenticity is the key to connecting with artists, and 84% crave unscripted live moments. Kefir Deal Shake-Up: Danone is exiting Lifeway Foods, selling its $67.4m stake after years of takeover fights and legal tension. Protein RTD Meets Fitness Marketing: Starbucks is rolling out a 22g-protein ready-to-drink coffee tie-in with Strava—walk or run 22 minutes a day for 10 days—turning morning sips into a challenge. Sweetener Scrutiny: New research flags sorbitol metabolism as linked to fatty liver disease mechanisms, adding pressure on manufacturers already facing rising skepticism. UK Retail Value Moment: Morrisons brings back a viral 2kg BBQ meat bundle for £9.97 during the bank holiday window. Regenerative Agriculture Coalition: Major food and beverage giants sign on to scale regenerative farming via the SAI Platform, aiming for supply-chain-wide alignment.

Cost-of-Living Pressure: A new CNN/SSRS poll puts costs of living at the top of Americans’ worries ahead of midterms, with housing, groceries, health care and utilities squeezed by rising insurance premiums and energy bills—now further pressured by AI data centers and extreme weather. Local Recycling Push: Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania just rolled out glass recycling with purple bins for bottles, jars and jugs, aiming to keep food-and-beverage glass out of landfills. Hospitality AI Reality Check: A Mews survey finds 98% of hoteliers use AI, but 59% still want key front-desk moments human-led—showing adoption without full automation. Food Safety & Rules Fight: The proposed “FRESH Act” is sparking a fresh clash over whether federal rules should override state protections on additives and contaminants. Restaurant Ops Under Strain: At the National Restaurant Show, operators warned that cutting costs the wrong way can hit quality and traffic, while immigration reform remains a live concern for staffing and food prices.

New Openings: Cloud Boba just opened in Novi’s Sakura Novi plaza (May 15), bringing 100+ customizable Taiwanese-style drinks—fruit teas, milk teas, coffee and smoothies—made fresh to order. Big Investment & Rebrand: Kerry Dairy Ireland is rebranding as Kinisla and rolling out a €300m investment plan, aiming to create 100 jobs and expand nutrition/ingredients growth tied to higher protein demand. Food Safety Leadership: The FDA named Donald Prater acting deputy commissioner for Human Foods, elevating a long-time food policy veteran as the agency’s food oversight gets more attention. Local Enforcement Reality Check: A Guam editorial argues laws are being passed but not enforced—citing examples like an oxybenzone sunscreen ban and an unfunded beverage container recycling deposit. Hospitality Tech: New research says hotels are using AI across most operations, but front-desk welcomes are staying human-led. On-the-ground F&B: Kodiak, Alaska is opening a second restaurant license application window, while Curaçao Airport is temporarily closing several food outlets during terminal expansion.

Global Expansion: Chinese herbal tea brand WALOVI has signed distribution deals in 10 countries across South America, Africa and Central Asia, rolling out international cans and new sparkling/sugar-free formats as it targets 60+ additional markets. Water Research Push: Suntory Oceania is funding a $1m partnership with Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute to study climate impacts on waterways and test “safe zones” for river and wetland health. Foodservice Innovation: Sports nutrition is shifting from “energy only” to gut-first, immune and cognitive benefits, with brands leaning into formulations designed to work beyond exercise. Industry Moves: UK chilled prepared-food maker The Compleat Food Group adds Judith Batchelar OBE as a strategic board adviser covering health & safety, sustainability and innovation. Beverage & Retail: New Zealand supermarkets New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square launch Club+ as a single rewards card across the co-ops. Compliance Watch: FDA’s new inspection approach is linked to a spike in food recalls, raising pressure on operators to tighten processes.

Retail Friction: Target is rolling out “beefier” shopping carts with cup holders, but early customer reactions are brutal—people call them “pieces of garbage” and complain they’re falling apart. Foodservice Tech: Coca-Cola is upgrading Freestyle drink machines so they can turn real-time pour data into new drinks in as little as 90 days, speeding up what used to take 18 months. Spirits & Culture: Martinique cane-juice rums keep setting the bar, with BevTest spotlighting top expressions from Depaz and Dillon. Hospitality Moves: Airport Retail Group (Australia) appoints Corey Law as Group General Manager, overseeing dining across Brisbane and Sydney airports. Packaging & Health: Tesco doubles down on in-store pharmacy-led screening campaigns, while Karnataka introduces an Alcohol-in-Beverage excise structure to rationalize liquor pricing. On the Ground: Pennsylvania restaurant inspections flagged issues like dirty restrooms and missing date marks on ready-to-eat foods.

Cereal Breeding Reset: Western Canada’s wheat and barley breeders, seed groups, and Prairie universities say the region’s breeding system is at an “inflection point,” agreeing on a shared vision after a Winnipeg workshop—aimed at keeping innovation moving while giving farmers more choice in field-ready varieties. Industrial Electrification Push: A new Pakistan roadmap argues electrifying heat-heavy industries like food and beverage could cut energy costs by more than a third and slash emissions by 2050, if power tariffs and financing support the switch. Food Safety Spotlight: Florida regulators issued a “stop sale” at a country club after finding cold meatloaf and sea bass held at unsafe temperatures, plus hygiene and cooling issues. Ingredients Deal Watch: Tate & Lyle confirmed talks with Ingredion over a potential takeover worth about US$3.7B. Public Health Reminder: CARPHA is urging salt reduction across the Caribbean as hypertension and heart disease rise, pointing to processed foods as a major source.

M&A Shock: Ingredion has offered about US$3.7B ( £2.74B ) to buy Tate & Lyle, a 64% premium, setting up a major global ingredients reshuffle as talks and due diligence continue under UK takeover rules. Food Safety: A powdered milk recall tied to possible salmonella keeps widening nationwide, and a separate recall hit Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons due to milk-powder contamination. Local Enforcement: Orange County health inspectors ordered multiple restaurant and market closures for issues like rodents and cockroaches, with several reopening days later. Beverage Buzz: Sollos Yerba Mate is teasing its May launch, while Supreme PLC is licensing Tonino Lamborghini energy drinks for multiple regions. Industry Watch: Data centers in California are drawing fresh scrutiny over water use transparency, as lawmakers push again after a prior veto. Hospitality: Katcef Brothers’ beer distribution business was acquired after 93 years in Annapolis, expanding a Mid-Atlantic footprint.

Immigration Shock to Hospitality (Japan): Japan’s immigration authorities have suspended issuance of special “Type I” work-visa eligibility certificates for restaurants since April 13, just as the sector nears its quota—raising fears that foreign workers already in the pipeline could head home, worsening staffing pressure for operators like Skylark. Deal Watch (Fragrance): Boyne Capital has bought a majority stake in YZY Fragrances, betting on fast-growing mass-market scents as the category “has a moment.” Local Licensing Crackdown (U.S.): West Allis, Wisconsin voted 9-0 to revoke a bar’s liquor and entertainment licenses after allegations tied to a federal drug trafficking case and repeated violations. Casual Dining Signal: Technomic says 2025 casual-dining sales rose 2.9%, but the gains heavily concentrated in a few giants—especially Chili’s. On the Ground (Food & Drink): Canada’s Refined Fool returns its popular Refined Fool IPA Fun Box to the LCBO for Victoria Day weekend.

Hospitality Loss: Sam Sianis, the longtime Billy Goat saloonkeeper who embodied Chicago’s late-night grit, died at 91 after complications from recent gall bladder surgery. Wine Demand Reality Check: A new BMO report says U.S. wine sales hit $115B in 2025, but volume fell—buyers pay more while overall drinking declines, especially among younger cohorts. RTD Protein Push: Muscle Milk is refreshing its ready-to-drink line with a “protein for all” repositioning, including a reformulation and packaging update. Local Food & Drink Momentum: Bar Susanne opens in Domino Park with a seafood-and-raw-bar menu, while Youngstown’s WesBanco “YO Nights” brings downtown bars into an outdoor summer event series. Manufacturing Watch: U.S. industrial production rose 0.7% in April, with food, beverage and tobacco among the gainers—though war-linked supply disruptions still loom. Tech Meets Warehousing: Gather AI is betting warehouses finally move off clipboards and manual counts using autonomous devices and AI.