AGP Executive Report

Interview Etiquette Meets Coffee Culture: A viral TikTok debate is splitting generations over whether bringing an iced latte to a job interview looks “unprofessional,” with recruiters warning it can read as too casual. Game-Day Beverage Tie-Ins: Round Table Pizza rolls out a nationwide Dr Pepper BBQ Pizza and wings/sides lineup through Jan. 3, leaning into sweet-and-smoky soda flavor. Retail & Brand Launches: Krispy Kreme debuts Churro Doughnut Dots with dulce de leche; Wendy’s partners with Lisa Barlow for a limited-time “Baby Gorgeous” meal via app and DoorDash. Food Trade & Events: Abu Dhabi’s Global Food Week 2026 returns Oct. 6–8 with a bigger B2B and consumer push after $1.7B in 2025 deals. Sustainability in Packaging: Returnable packaging is forecast to surge globally as companies shift to reusable systems to cut waste and improve logistics. Water Safety Update: Tremonton lifts a boil-water advisory after tests show no E. coli following storms. Local Food Security: Texas’ State Fair and North Texas Food Bank kick off “Feed the Need,” with donation discounts and millions of pounds already raised since 1995.

Food Safety & Diet: Bangladesh experts warn climate change could reshape household diets and raise cardiometabolic risks, while separate reporting highlights how coffee can affect digestion, reflux, medicine absorption, and cholesterol. Beverage & Tea Supply: A tea shortage warning points to climate-driven production drops and soaring prices; meanwhile, guidance notes sweet tea should be refrigerated and not left out too long. Packaging & Waste: Guinea moves to ban single-use plastics and polystyrene items, and multiple coastal cleanups in the Philippines show beverage bottles and food wrappers remain major marine litter sources. Industry & Retail: New Zealand’s Foodstuffs says food price inflation in its basket stayed low in August, and DB (NZ) opens a major $30m upgrade to its Waitematā brewery and packaging lines. Global F&B Trade: Guyana’s rum and food draw export interest at Miami’s Americas Food and Beverage show, and U.S.-China fast food is framed as consumer-led “gastrodiplomacy.” Local Food Culture: Negroni Week cocktails benefit Slow Food in Fairhope, and a new culinary program in New York’s Greenport High School adds industry certificates for students.

Coastal Cleanup Push: Volunteers in the Philippines collected 35,105kg of shoreline waste in Calabarzon and 107,607 pieces of marine litter across Mimaropa, with beverage bottles and food wrappers among the most common finds—another reminder of how fast food and drink packaging ends up in waterways. Health & Nutrition Reality Checks: Experts say cutting added sugar can help blood sugar and weight, but abrupt changes may trigger headaches and cravings; coconut water supports hydration yet isn’t proven to “cleanse” kidneys. Coffee & Beverage Culture: A Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival in Maryland drew 18,000 visitors, while a Gurugram specialty café, Oro, opened with an all-day menu built around premium coffee. Food Industry Innovation: Ingredion highlights a “mouthfeel” boom as brands chase texture-driven cravings, from frothier drinks to chewy sweets. Beer & Festival Spotlight: Wanstead’s beer festival returns with a honey-and-barley braggot highlight, Wanstead Heron.

Greek Retail Shift: A new Athens University study says private label is at record levels in Greece, with nearly 4 in 10 items now private label—yet “Made in Greece” remains a key quality signal as shoppers favor domestically made goods. California Recycling Push: Gov. Newsom signed SB 955 to expand bottle-and-can return access and eliminate “dead zones,” aiming to ensure communities can take back 100% of sold containers and collect CRV deposits. Energy Drink Supply Shock: Kroger stopped selling Red Bull at Fry’s stores nationwide, removing displays as the brand runs out of stock while suppliers work on pricing. Airport Food & Drink Experience: Aberdeen International Airport is investing £2.5m to expand post-security retail and food-and-beverage options, including more seating and an enhanced coffee offer. Local Food Culture: Jackson, Tennessee’s Craft on Main returns with 30+ craft beers and artisan vendors, while Pease, Minnesota’s Pease Pickle Fest (Sept. 26) leans hard into pickle-themed food and drinks. Hospitality Expansion: Petros’ Manhattan Beach flagship closed as the group files to open a new speakeasy concept nearby, signaling more Greek-Californian nightlife growth.

Coca-Cola & U.S. Infrastructure: The White House is framing Coca-Cola’s planned $10B U.S. infrastructure spend as a “Trump Effect,” but the company says the figure covers its wider U.S. system (including bottling partners) from 2026-2030. Food Safety Inspections: Pennsylvania’s latest restaurant checks flagged issues from blocked handwashing sinks and unsafe food handling to rodent harborage concerns. Sugar Market Watch: India’s sugar prices eased about 10% as government stock limits were relaxed, though officials say retail savings aren’t fully reaching consumers yet. Children’s Nutrition: A UK study found children’s yoghurts can carry substantial sugar, with some products near four teaspoons per serving. Global Food Week 2026: Abu Dhabi opened registration for Global Food Week and the Global Food Security Summit, adding a new “Shop at the Show” platform for buyers. Dairy Innovation: World Dairy Expo’s 25th Virtual Farm Tour will stream U.S. dairy operations focused on genetics, sustainability and herd management. Local Food & Drink Culture: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati returns with German food and beer, while Singapore debate continues over rising hawker prices.

Soy Sauce Expansion: Kikkoman opened a new $560M soy sauce and seasoning plant in Jefferson, Wisconsin, a decade-long investment expected to add 80+ jobs, boosting North American supply. Alcohol Rules Update: Delaware is revising rules for direct wine shipment and common carriers; public comments run through Oct. 1, with new licensing, reporting, and age-verification requirements. Workforce Crunch: Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing sector needs 173,000 workers by 2034, with hiring driven by expansion and replacement of retiring staff. Halal Trade Deal: Korea and Indonesia signed an agreement to streamline halal certification as Indonesia’s mandatory halal rules for imported food, beverage, and cosmetics take effect Oct. 18. Food Waste Compliance: New York City expanded organic waste diversion rules, pushing more restaurants to separate food scraps for composting, donation, or other reuse. Product Launch Correction: Philadelphia’s Mike’s Hot Honey whipped cream cheese distribution details were updated, with Walmart availability now confirmed before broader retail rollout. Local Licensing Watch: Guam’s ABC board approved multiple alcohol license applications, including upgrades for a new off-sale retailer and a food-court vendor.

Food Safety Crackdown: India’s FSSAI escalated action against Nestlé, finding a substandard baby formula sample over biotin requirements and opening adjudication cases tied to infant-food marketing claims. Public Health Emergency: Nigeria reported at least 48 deaths after suspected methanol-tainted alcohol, with dozens more hospitalized, spotlighting risks from illicit or homemade drinks. Packaging & Waste Rules: Tokyo is considering a metro-wide ordinance to curb littering, with possible fines and new duties for food and beverage sellers and container makers. Beverage Industry Moves: Negroni Week returns Sept. 21–27 with a packed Hong Kong/Macau schedule and exclusive bar collaborations. Retail & Consumer Pressure: US shoppers report cutting food budgets as grocery costs stay high, while UK retail sales volumes rose in August and supermarkets and alcohol/beverage retailers benefited. Hospitality & Growth: Portillo’s plans a new Georgia restaurant in 2027, and F&B operators keep rolling out seasonal menus and experiences.

Functional Food Meets Beauty Claims: A SupplySide webinar says “beauty-from-within” products are moving fast, from collagen peptides to targeted probiotics—while stressing formulators must handle stability and label claim rules. New Beverage Launch: Kothari Industrial’s CHUSIP™ Coco Twist enters FMCG with 100% natural tender coconut water (no sugar, no preservatives), priced at Rs. 50 for 200 ml, with more flavors planned. C-store Beverage Momentum: Convenience retailers report strong energy drink growth and continued smokeless nicotine pouch momentum, with plans to add shelf space for nonalcoholic drinks. Tariffs Hit Alcohol Industry: Massachusetts Treasurer Deb Goldberg warns tariff “games” could destabilize alcohol supply chains and threaten jobs and tax revenues. Brand & Packaging Signals: Diageo makes Buchanan’s Coconut a permanent flavored Scotch expression, betting on shelf space and cultural/seasonal events to extend summer into fall. Foodservice & Community: Seneca Falls’ Sip, Savor & Stage fundraiser returns Sept. 19 with drink-and-hors d’oeuvres pairings across local stops. Local Dining Leadership: FriendShip Kitchen names a new COO as part of a succession plan to elevate foodservice at its convenience-store locations.

Water Sustainability: Culligan CFO Andy Kellogg says rising scrutiny of tap-water quality and plastic reduction is opening a bigger growth path for cleaner, more sustainable water services. Supply Chain Performance Gap: EFESO’s 2026 survey of 250+ executives finds nearly 30% of firms have resilience plans but still lag results, urging integrated operating models that connect risk detection to faster decisions. Food & Hospitality Health Rules: Abu Dhabi’s tourism regulator will require hotels and restaurants to offer at least one healthy option in every adult menu category and make low-sodium salt the default, with full enforcement starting Oct. 1. Corporate Profit Pressure: Pladis (McVitie’s owner) lifted revenue to £3.27bn but saw profits fall on commodity inflation, currency swings, and cost pressures, while pledging continued UK factory investment. Angola Drinks Deal: Investor Zandre Campos buys into Refriango, Angola’s biggest drinks maker, expanding a portfolio with regional reach. Beverage Retail Ops: PepsiCo Beverages lays off 143 in Maryland as it shuts Cheverly manufacturing and warehouse operations, citing demand shifts and network modernization. Packaging Reuse Push: A new report projects returnable packaging growth to $234.16bn by 2035 as reuse mandates and tracking tech spread across food and beverage supply chains. Consumer Promotions: Coca-Cola Namibia launches its “Under the Cap” campaign with N$1m in cash prizes through year-end. Industry Event: Abu Dhabi’s Global Food Week returns Oct. 6–8 with a bigger consumer-facing push alongside B2B dealmaking. Sake Culture: Julio’s Liquors hosts a major sake celebration in Westborough in October with nearly 100 sakes and local food pairings.

Food & Beverage Innovation: Sunny Sky says it’s helping convenience stores launch new beverages with “simplicity first” formulas—fewer components, longer shelf life, and machine-agnostic pour-and-go builds to fit tight labor and space. Food Safety & Compliance: Hyderabad regulators raided a biryani cafe, discarding 50 kg of rotten and expired meat and recommending FSSAI licence suspension, while a separate case flagged serious sanitation and storage failures. Cold-Chain Sustainability: Fast Logistics Group in Cebu is adding rooftop solar via a 20-year power deal to cover up to 35% of a cold hub’s electricity needs, cutting grid reliance for temperature-sensitive operations. Retail & Pricing Pressure: Kroger stopped selling Red Bull nationwide, while imported meat demand in South Korea surged as hanwoo prices climbed and shoppers traded down to imports. Nutrition Claims Under Scrutiny: Lawsuits target “zero sugar” products using allulose, arguing label disclosures don’t match how the sweetener is treated under FDA guidance. Tourism Data for Food Economies: The Philippines’ DOT launched a tourism dashboard tracking arrivals, tourism’s economic contribution (including food & beverage services), and jobs. Market Watch: New Zealand GDP grew 0.2% in the June quarter, with mixed industry results and fuel-price impacts noted.

GLP-1 and alcohol habits: A new wave of research suggests GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may also reduce alcohol cravings and drinking frequency, raising questions for bars and restaurants as appetite patterns shift. Food safety and compliance load: A hospitality industry voice warns that food safety, licensing, employment and council processes pile onto small operators, turning compliance into a major cost and staffing burden. Coca-Cola bottling expansion: Coca-Cola UNITED started operations at a new $350M Birmingham, Alabama campus, consolidating production and distribution and creating up to 50 jobs. Coffee automation: UNSW visited COFE+’s 7th-generation robotic café in Shanghai, highlighting AI-powered beverage prep and 24/7 campus use cases. Hospitality tech upgrade: BeerBoard rolled out SmartBar v3.0, aiming to streamline on-premise ordering, inventory and finance in one workflow. Local food & drink events: Taste of Abby returns in Canada with a Night Market and Bun Run, while Goschie Farms spotlights hop-growing traditions. Retail/brand moves: Juice It Up! opened a Santa Fe Springs, California location, expanding Southern California footprint. Labor pressure in beverages: A strike at The Beverage Market nears week 19 as union leaders cite rising outside legal and strike-related costs.

Functional beauty-from-within: SupplySide highlights food-based “beauty” product science, from collagen peptides to targeted probiotic strains, plus how to make credible label claims. No/low alcohol brewing tech: A deep dive explains why heat exchangers still matter for AF beer and cider—rapid cooling after boiling is key to avoid off-flavors. Coffee/tea & bone health: A decade-long Flinders study links daily tea/coffee habits with hip and femur fracture risk in older women. Robotic cafés go mainstream: COFE+ unveils a 7th-gen robotic café that can make 300+ drinks with customizable latte art via AI and 3D foam printing. Beverage innovation & ingredients: Nestlé and Starbucks expand into at-home Starbucks Refreshers Concentrates, while FrieslandCampina boosts whey protein isolate capacity to meet demand. Packaging & automation: Market updates point to rapid growth in packaging machinery and self-adhesive labels, alongside rising collaborative robots for flexible food and beverage production. New brands in Kenya: VBL Industries launches BOLT UP and XTREME FIZZ to expand its local beverage portfolio. Food industry momentum: North America sees 63 planned food and beverage projects in August, a rebound and second-highest month of 2026.

Food Security Funding (Canada): Canada is rolling out a $1B Agri-Food Project Finance Fund to boost domestic processing and manufacturing, aiming to keep more value-added products on Canadian shelves. Retail & Convenience Food (US/Canada): Circle K Canada is leaning on daypart meal bundles—breakfast sandwiches, bakery items, and after-school combos—to lift basket sizes and drive grab-and-go growth. Beverage Launch (US): Starbucks is set to debut a Halloween Black Cat Frappuccino and a matching black cookie on Oct. 22 at select locations. Sustainability & Supply Chain (New Zealand): Foodstuffs North Island is investing $340M in Project Fusion to expand and modernize distribution capacity for fresh, chilled, frozen, and ambient groceries. Packaging & Processing (North America): PMMI reports the U.S. packaging machinery market hit about $11.7B in 2025, with food the biggest end market. Food Innovation (US): UMass is launching a $120M Future of Food initiative with a new research hub focused on food security, climate resilience, and safety. Local Governance & Food Safety (UK): England school standards are tightening, with a full list of banned foods and drinks published for schools.

School Food Overhaul (England): England’s government is tightening school meal rules for 2027, banning more items and cracking down on sugary, salty and deep-fried foods, with limits on snacks and products like breakfast pastries and processed meats. SNAP Security Upgrade (Virginia): Virginia is mailing chip-and-tap EBT cards to reduce SNAP skimming theft, with benefits continuing uninterrupted for about 749,000 recipients. Cocoa Circularity Funding (Netherlands): Greencovery raised €1M to scale cocoa upcycling from food side streams, targeting industrial production capacity and a circular cocoa value chain in North Holland. Beverage Launch (Australia): Reliance’s Campa brand is rolling out in Australia via New Sunrise convenience stores, with cans manufactured locally ahead of a late-month launch. Snack Market Outlook: A new forecast projects the global snack bar market growing to $32B in five years, driven by demand for convenient, lower-sugar and higher-protein options. Packaging & Deposit Return Prep (UK): London Packaging Week spotlights innovations and industry planning for the UK’s upcoming deposit return scheme, including beverage can cooling tech. Non-alcoholic Agave Spirits (US): González Byass USA becomes the exclusive US importer for Hamilton’s Almave, expanding distribution of the non-alcoholic agave “spirit.” Craft Beer Expansion (US): Hop Valley Brewing is opening a new Eugene pub at 5th Street Public Market, pairing its beers with a full food menu and game-day screens.

Fast-Food Promo: McDonald’s is giving away free Double Cheeseburgers for National Cheeseburger Day (Sept. 18), but you must buy at least $1, use the McDonald’s app, and delivery orders don’t qualify. AI & Trade Policy: The World Trade Center Georgetown warned developing economies to build safeguards as AI adoption accelerates, focusing on misuse, economic disruption, and keeping human control—while still moving quickly. Beverage Business & Finance: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are showing sharply different results in the same category, with Coke’s Zero Sugar momentum contrasting Pepsi’s snack softness. Food Safety & Health Research: A new study links daily sugary drink intake with higher gastric cancer risk, adding to growing concerns around sugar-sweetened beverages. Spirits Trade: Trump announced removal of US tariffs on Irish whiskey, a potential boost for an industry heavily reliant on the US market. Local Food & Community: A “Hamburgers for Hospice” fundraiser in Colorado raised $1,000 for Pathways, using local food to support end-of-life and grief services.