AGP Executive Report

Hospitality Investment: Hospitality Qatar 2026 opened in Doha with 120 exhibitors showcasing food and beverage, catering equipment and technology, as the country courts tourism-sector investment. Food-Supply Disruption: A cyberattack on supermarket refrigeration systems in France spoiled food across hundreds of stores, with losses estimated in the millions; some stores also reported fires. Market Loss: Fire destroyed Paris’s 17th-century Enfants Rouges market, the city’s oldest covered food market. Restaurant Operators: Singapore’s Crystal Jade closed four outlets and issued termination notices to about 120 workers amid restructuring ahead of a proposed sale; nine outlets remain open. Food Manufacturing: McCain Foods is acquiring an Indian frozen-food company’s potato processing business in Gujarat, expanding its presence in a growing market. Costs and Staffing: India’s food inflation reached 7.74% in September, while Japan plans to adjust foreign-worker classifications to keep hiring in food service without raising its overall cap.

Food Manufacturing: McCain Foods is acquiring Falcon Agrifriz’s frozen potato business in Gujarat, adding a processing facility, more than 450 employees and links to over 1,000 farmers as competition in India’s fries market heats up. Food Prices: India’s retail inflation climbed to 5.54% in September, with food inflation rising to 7.74% and adding pressure for shoppers and food businesses. Food Service Technology: AI-powered food production system CA-1 has made its first deployment outside Europe, partnering with UAE contract caterer Royal Prestige, which produces more than three million meals annually. Restaurant Industry: Starbucks is reportedly exploring a possible acquisition of Chipotle, a high-risk deal that could put former Chipotle chief Brian Niccol in charge of turning around his old company. Market Shock: A fire destroyed Paris’s historic Enfants Rouges covered market, displacing about 20 traders. Industry Costs: Food giants face up to $820 million in fines in a price-rigging case involving sugar, flour and starch.

Food Safety: A free school-meal program in Medan, Indonesia, is under scrutiny after 17 pupils became ill and six were hospitalized; laboratory results are pending. PepsiCo also recalled 122,021 cases of Gatorade across 37 states over undeclared food dyes. No illnesses have been reported. Food Industry: Four South Korean food makers face cumulative fines of 1.19 trillion won for colluding on sugar, flour and starch prices, including delaying price cuts. Meanwhile, Korean ramyeon exports rose 27.9% in the first half to a record $935.4 million, putting the sector on course to top $2 billion this year. Food Distribution: Theft and damage have sidelined seven Second Harvest trucks in Toronto, disrupting deliveries to more than 300 nonprofits as the food-rescue charity works to restore its fleet. Food Waste: Greece generates more than 2 million tonnes of food waste a year, while 12.7% of its population faces food insecurity, according to the supermarket industry group.

Food Safety: India stepped up festival checks after 40 students fell ill following a hostel meal in Bhopal; separately, authorities seized 74.6 tonnes of edible oil in Maharashtra. The UK also recalled Ukrainian eggs after Salmonella was found. Delivery & Dining: India’s quick-commerce orders are forecast to grow up to 21.6% quarter-on-quarter, while food delivery is expected to maintain 18% annual growth. Illinois is expanding its Restaurant Meals Program, which lets eligible SNAP customers buy prepared meals at participating restaurants. Foodservice Investment: Knowledge Economic City has partnered with TGP International on a new food hall in Madinah, bringing local and international dining concepts together. Trade: A UN Economic Commission for Africa initiative is connecting more than 150 West African rice businesses to strengthen regional trade and processing. Awards: Isle of Wight Distillery won gold for its Mermaid Salt Vodka at the Great British Food Awards, while Isle of Wight Tomatoes took gold for its cherry tomato sauce.

Food Prices: Ahead of World Food Day, residents in Ghana’s Sekondi-Takoradi are calling for action as the cost of essentials rises, urging investment in cold storage and stronger supply chains. Food Safety: UK authorities have recalled Ukrainian-supplied eggs after Salmonella was detected; caterers and other food businesses are told to check stock, withdraw affected eggs and alert customers. Workforce: India’s Krystal Integrated Services plans to add more than 10,000 jobs across 25-plus cities by March, including roles in catering and other operations. Industry Deals: Global Food Week in Abu Dhabi closed with $1.88 billion in deals. Uber Eats is set to buy workplace food provider ezCater for $2.3 billion, while Sodexo has expanded its UK catering business through Olive, adding 150 clients. Restaurant Business: True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11, with closures reported at several locations.

Brewing: Carlsberg Britvic proposes closing Marston’s Brewery in summer 2027, citing a sharp decline in UK cask ale; some brands may find new owners. Food Processing: Albanian manufacturers want lower VAT on food processing and tax breaks for machinery and materials to ease rising costs. Food & Drink Awards: Six Limerick producers won Blas awards, while Isle of Wight Distillery took gold for its salt vodka and Isle of Wight Tomatoes for its sauce. Food Safety: A major US outbreak sickened nearly 20,000 people, putting supply-chain safety and public health oversight under renewed scrutiny. Restaurant Business: True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 and is closing 12 locations, though some restaurants remain open. Food Supply: Woolworths received approval to acquire a major supplier employing 8,000 people and selling more than 1,400 products.

Restaurant Shake-up: True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 and is closing 12 locations. Pie Five has shrunk to 13 outlets after systemwide sales fell 23.8% in fiscal 2026. MTY Group may sell weaker brands as it closes corporate stores and shifts toward franchising. Investment & Growth: Land O’Lakes is expanding its California plant to make more protein ingredients, while PepsiCo reported food-and-beverage growth in India and is sharpening its focus on low- and zero-sugar drinks. Foodservice Deals: Uber is betting $2.3 billion on ezCater to expand corporate meal delivery. Woolworths has approval to acquire a food supplier with 8,000 workers and more than 1,400 products. Cost Pressures: Supply-chain disruption is expected to lift food prices over Christmas. M&S chief Stuart Machin says rising business costs are also pushing prices higher.

Restaurant Restructuring: True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11, closed 12 locations and is seeking a court-supervised sale; 34 restaurants remain open. Airline Dining: American Airlines will test advance food orders on DFW–Los Angeles flights from Oct. 13, preparing selected items for customers who reserve ahead. Food Delivery: Uber is betting $2.3 billion on ezCater to expand its corporate meal-delivery business. Market Pressure: PepsiCo beat earnings expectations but lowered its outlook as North American weakness weighed on profits, prompting cost cuts. Supply Chains: UAE food retailers and producers are sourcing closer to home and using chartered ships and flights to limit disruptions tied to the Iran war. Food Safety: Canada’s food inspection agency found non-compliant chemical residues in Driscoll’s berries in 2022–24, but no recalls followed; the case is renewing questions about public notification. Food Business Rules: New Zealand is consulting on simpler food-safety plans, with less record-keeping and guidance tailored to individual operations.

Restaurant Deals: Starbucks has explored a takeover of Chipotle, the Financial Times reports, as both chains face softer demand and rising costs. Neither company commented, and analysts warn a deal could prove expensive. Food Leadership: Simplot named longtime executive Erik Brandenburg president of its Global Food division, which runs 22 facilities worldwide; he takes over Nov. 1. Consumer Demand: PepsiCo beat quarterly estimates but lowered its outlook as North American snack volumes weakened. The company plans cost cuts and price increases, while its healthier snack brands continued to grow. Catering Growth: Uber Eats is buying ezCater for $2.3 billion, expanding into workplace meal delivery and adding access to a network serving 140,000 U.S. restaurants. Dining Trends: Yard House topped $1 billion in system sales after same-store sales rose more than 10% last quarter, adding to signs of strength among some full-service chains. Supply Risks: Forecasts of a powerful El Niño are raising concerns about disrupted harvests, food supplies and costs in Britain and beyond.

Packaged Foods: PepsiCo beat third-quarter revenue expectations at $25.27 billion but cut its core earnings growth forecast to 2.5%–3% and plans further cost cuts as North American demand remains weak. Beverages: Tilray reported record quarterly revenue of $257 million, up 23% year over year; its beverage business generated $101 million and expanded gross margin to 41%. Foodservice: Uber agreed to buy ezCater for $2.3 billion, expanding into workplace catering through a platform serving 140,000 restaurants. Supply Chains: A ransomware attack disrupted seafood giant Nissui’s logistics system across 17 Japanese sites, affecting about 1,200 business partners. Restaurant Sector: True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 and is closing locations, including three in California and sites in New Jersey. Food Distribution: East Africa Foods raised $26 million in equity, bringing its broader funding round to about $40 million to expand its food supply-chain network.

Restaurant Shake-up: Oprah-backed True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 and plans to close 12 locations as it seeks a court-supervised sale; its remaining restaurants are expected to stay open during the process. Catering Expansion: Uber will acquire ezCater for $2.3 billion, taking Uber Eats into workplace catering and adding a network serving 140,000 U.S. restaurants. Chain Strategy: Chick-fil-A is sticking with human drive-thru ordering as chicken competition heats up, while KFC’s new Texas prototype tests ways to lift restaurant sales. Beverage Innovation: Swig plans to let app users save and reorder custom dirty sodas, reflecting the growing pull of personalized drinks. Food Systems: WWF warns food production must change to stem biodiversity loss and protect economies that depend on nature. Supply Chain: New Zealand’s Gladfield Malt bought a former Malteurop site, preserving a key link between local barley growers and brewers.

Food Safety Enforcement: A Labasa restaurant in Fiji was hit with an abatement notice after a surprise Ministry of Health Food Unit inspection found insanitary conditions tied to complaints about meal quality, including alleged stale dhal. Retail & Consumer Pressure: UK grocer Lidl is adding £75m to its Christmas savings push after £400m in price cuts, while Jersey’s “Natasha’s Law” allergen labeling plan remains stalled with no start date. Brand & Menu Innovation: Wetzel’s Pretzels is partnering with Warner Bros. Animation for a limited-time “The Things’ Blue Lemonade Freeze” tied to The Cat in the Hat. Food Industry Growth: Blank Street UK reported £58.9m turnover in 2025 (+70.7%) and profit growth, driven by signature drinks and store expansion. Food Security & Trade: FAO is urging urgent funding for emergency agricultural support across the Near East and North Africa as hunger worsens; UNDP warned Black Sea drone attacks on wheat ships could deepen global food insecurity. Catering Deal: Uber is set to expand into workplace catering via its $2.3bn acquisition of ezCater.

Food Waste & Climate: A new UN-backed push highlights how rotting food in landfills drives methane and urges cutting organic waste fast. Food Safety Oversight: Fiji’s health ministry issued an abatement notice to a Labasa restaurant after complaints of stale dhal and inspectors found insanitary conditions. Manufacturing & Safety Environment: A US Abbott Nutrition settlement spotlights how production-site issues like contamination risks and facility problems can become part of food safety exposure. Tech in Food Pricing Under Fire: A McDonald’s AI menu-pricing system is named in a federal price-fixing lawsuit alleging franchise coordination. Catering Consolidation: Uber agreed to buy ezCater for $2.3B, aiming to expand workplace and event catering for restaurants. Healthcare Dining: Morrison Healthcare launched an after-hours menu, while Elior North America rebranded its healthcare unit into Elior Healthcare and Elior Living. School Nutrition: Colorado launched Farm to School Meal Month Showcase Awards, and Iowa’s Choose Iowa program funds school purchases of local foods. Bankruptcy Watch: Oprah-backed True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 and closed 12 restaurants, with 34 locations still operating. Local Food Infrastructure: Canada’s Zest Food Hub won a national award for expanding commercial kitchen access for food entrepreneurs.

Food Safety & Inspections: Fareham’s Jinzun jumped from “improvement necessary” to a top five after inspectors flagged dirty sink racking, hard-to-reach grime, and raw-meat handling issues. Water & Operations: In Labuan, a three-day water disruption forced some eateries to close or suspend prep and sanitation. Food Retail for Hard Times: Medway opened the Chatham SEK Community Food Shop with ultra-low prices (including £1 fruit/veg bundles and £2 whole chicken) plus budgeting support. Corporate Food Business: Whitworths reported £173m turnover in 2025 as it pushes nutrition-led products and brand repositioning. M&A/Utilities (Food-adjacent): Emera and Canadian Utilities announced a merger of equals to build a larger energy infrastructure platform. Beverage Innovation: Coca-Cola launched Topo Chico Colección in premium 8-packs, aiming to move sparkling water beyond “just soda alternative.” Regulatory/Politics: Nigeria’s NAFDAC DG said food safety problems persist partly because consumers don’t read pesticide instructions. Local Food Access: Tulsa’s Food On The Move served 1,153 families in September and plans more October distributions.

Antitrust & Pricing Tech: McDonald’s is hit with a proposed nationwide class action in Chicago alleging its AI menu-pricing system illegally coordinates prices with franchisees, sparking fresh scrutiny of algorithm-driven pricing. Food Security & Supply Chain: Utah Food Bank received 1.512 million eggs tied to a multistate settlement after DOJ and states accused egg producers of price-fixing that inflated the Urner Barry benchmark. Public Health & Supplements: Utah issued an urgent warning after four deaths linked to illegal herbal products, including kratom and “cat’s claw,” with regulators identifying dangerous semi-synthetic compounds. Healthcare Foodservice: Sodexo says smart combi ovens help it keep patient meals consistent across hospitals while meeting complex dietary restrictions. Retail & Community Food Access: A plan to float government-owned supermarkets in Australia aims to cut grocery prices by taking profit out of the equation. Restaurant Industry Shakeup: Oprah-backed True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 and permanently closed 12 locations, shrinking to 34 restaurants. Livestock Digitalization: Kuwait unveiled a national digital livestock platform to improve traceability, animal health, subsidies, and food safety. Food Safety Regulation: Korea reports braille/sign-language labeling is up nearly 50% but still covers under 0.5% of processed foods.

Food Supply & Farming: Mongolia says it has harvested most of its wheat and vegetables, with 90% of potatoes and 70% of wheat collected, and plans transparent state wheat purchases via the commodity exchange. Food Security & Nutrition: Liberia’s €375K NOURISH Family Farms project will back 600 smallholders with organic biofertilizers/biopesticides and nutrition support, reaching hundreds of thousands. Waste & Recycling: Malaysia reports food waste is about 40% of daily solid waste and pushes a “whole-of-nation” recycling push. Retail & Delivery: Iceland launches rapid online grocery delivery in London (17 stores) aiming for 200+ stores by Christmas. Food Safety & Regulation: India’s FDA enforcement spotlight continues, while FSSAI actions include licence suspensions and recalls tied to unsafe cumin powder. Industry & Logistics: Dubai Chamber’s Sustainability 365 forum backs diversified sourcing and circular practices to cut food loss. Business Moves: Alfa Laval starts full integration of Desmet to strengthen oils, fats and biofuels processing offerings.