The Hershey Company is expanded further into functional snacking with the launch of a new Reese's-flavoured protein bar under its One brand. The One x Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Flavoured Layered Protein Bar features 18g of protein and 2g of sugar. The new bar features a layered format, designed to offer a more textured eating experience than a standard protein bar. It is positioned as an on-the-go snack for consumers looking for protein-led products without moving away from familiar confectionery flavours. Deanna Lyons, One brand manager, said: “Consumers have long been skeptical that protein bars can fully deliver on taste. By bringing Reese’s-inspired decadence into a layered format, we’re proving elevated flavour and functional performance can coexist.” The protein bar is currently available on Amazon.

Suntory Beverage & Food (SBF) GB&I has invested £14.5 million in a new blackcurrant processing facility in Herefordshire, as part of efforts to strengthen its UK supply chain for Ribena production. The project has been developed in partnership with Döhler Group’s Bevisol and is based at Bevisol’s newly developed site in Ledbury, Herefordshire. The facility is operating in time for this year’s blackcurrant harvest and will be used to prepare fruit sourced from SBF GB&I’s network of British growers. The site is located closer to key blackcurrant-growing regions and SBF GB&I’s manufacturing operations, providing a dedicated facility for fruit preparation before the berries are pressed and concentrated for use in Ribena. Karl Ottomar, supply chain director at SBF GB&I, said the investment marked “a huge milestone” for SBF GB&I, Ribena and British blackcurrant production. “By investing in innovative processing here in the UK, we are supporting our supply chain while continuing to work closely with the farmers who have been at the heart of Ribena for generations,” he added. The facility includes advanced evaporators powered by vapour recompression technology, cleanable membrane filtration, automated weighing, tipping and handling systems, and digital smart tag tracking on fruit bins to improve visibility across the supply chain. Farming minister Stephen Morgan described the project as “a vote of confidence in British farming” and said investments in greener technology and modern processing could help strengthen UK supply chains and support rural jobs. SBF GB&I sources blackcurrants from 33 farms across five growing regions in the UK, amounting to around 10,500 tonnes of fruit harvested annually over a six-week period. The new facility is expected to support 12 full-time jobs and an additional 30 seasonal roles in the region. Gero Spika, global account director at Döhler, said the partnership with SBF GB&I combines processing expertise, investment and innovation in a facility designed to support UK fruit preparation. “This project strengthens our global partnership with Suntory while reflecting our shared commitment to enhancing local production capabilities, supporting jobs in the region and contributing to the long-term future of British blackcurrant farming,” he said. First created in 1938, Ribena has used British blackcurrants for nearly 90 years. SBF GB&I has also invested in a blackcurrant breeding programme with the James Hutton Institute and a regenerative agriculture pilot in Norfolk. The announcement forms part of a wider £57.5 million investment programme across SBF GB&I’s UK supply chain. This includes recent projects at its Coleford factory aimed at strengthening manufacturing capability and reducing emissions, as well as plans to upgrade the site’s electricity connection, reduce reliance on its gas turbine and install a new £25 million manufacturing line in 2027. Top image: © Lucozade Ribena Suntory

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has opened a search for the future chief executive of Global Coffee Co after Rafael Oliveira, head of the company's coffee operating unit, informed the business of his intention to leave at the end of July. Rafael Oliveira Oliveira, who has led JDE Peet's since 2024, is departing to take up an external chief executive opportunity. He has been named as Heineken's next CEO and chair of the executive board, subject to shareholder approval. Following KDP's acquisition of the coffee and tea company, Oliveira was appointed to lead KDP's coffee operating unit and serve as CEO of the planned Global Coffee Co. KDP is currently preparing for its planned separation into Beverage Co and Global Coffee Co, which is targeted for early 2027. Pamela Patsley, chairman of KDP's board and chair of its nominating and governance committee, will lead the search for Oliveira's successor. KDP also confirmed that Patsley will serve as chairman of Global Coffee Co following the separation. KDP chief executive Tim Cofer will continue to oversee the coffee business in the interim, working with the coffee operating unit leadership team as the company progresses the integration of JDE Peet's and prepares for the planned separation. Cofer is expected to serve as chief executive of Beverage Co once the split is complete. Cofer said: “Our business has strong momentum, and we remain focused on executing our 2026 priorities: delivering our full year guidance, successfully integrating JDE Peet’s and achieving separation milestones.” Patsley said KDP’s acquisition of JDE Peet’s is creating a “scaled, global coffee leader” with a broad portfolio of brands and category expertise. Oliveira said: “It has been an honour to lead JDE Peet’s and lay the foundation for Global Coffee Co. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in integrating our coffee businesses, bringing our teams together and beginning to execute on meaningful synergy opportunities.” He added that he remains committed to supporting a smooth transition. KDP reaffirmed its 2026 guidance, including net sales of $25.9 billion to $26.4 billion and constant currency adjusted diluted earnings per share growth in a low-double-digit range.

Cartisan Carts was awarded the title of Best Coffee Shop Concept 2025 at the prestigious World Coffee Innovation Awards. Here, co-founder of NSP Cases, Rob Sampson, shares the vision of transforming how coffee is served in today’s evolving retail and hospitality landscape. Rob Sampson, co-founder of NSP Cases Can you tell us a little about your winning entry — what makes it unique or innovative? Our winning entry was built around a simple but often overlooked idea: If coffee is treated as a premium experience, the environment it’s served from should reflect that. Cartisan coffee carts are designed with the same level of engineering, material quality and attention to detail you’d expect from high-end hospitality interiors but packaged into a fully mobile, event-ready format. What makes it unique is the balance between form and function. Every element is purpose-designed: from workflow efficiency for the barista, to durability for transport, to visual impact in demanding environments like festivals, exhibitions and corporate spaces. We didn’t just design a cart that looks good, we engineered a platform that elevates the coffee service experience wherever it goes. How has winning a FoodBev Award impacted your brand, team or project since the announcement? Winning the FoodBev Award has been a huge validation for the team. Cartisan is the result of deep collaboration between designers, engineers and craftspeople, so external recognition like this reinforces that the details really do matter. From a brand perspective, it’s accelerated conversations we were already having with customers, partners, and distributors, particularly internationally. Internally, it’s given the team a real sense of pride and momentum. Awards don’t change the way we work, but they do energise you to push even harder and raise the bar again. What does it feel like to have your work recognised on this global stage? It’s incredibly rewarding. When you’re building something from the ground up, especially in manufacturing, you spend a lot of time focused on problem-solving and continuous improvement. You don’t always stop to reflect on how far something has come. To have Cartisan recognised on a global stage alongside such strong innovation in the food and beverage sector is both humbling and motivating. It tells us that thoughtful design, quality engineering and practical innovation still resonate, regardless of scale. Looking ahead, what’s next for you and how do you see your innovation evolving in the future? This award isn’t a finish line, it’s a starting point. We’re continuing to evolve Cartisan with new configurations, smarter integrations and even greater focus on sustainability and efficiency. Innovation for us isn’t about chasing trends, it’s about listening to how our products are used in the real world and refining them continuously. As the specialty coffee industry evolves, we see Cartisan becoming a platform, one that grows with the needs of modern baristas, brands and venues while staying true to quality, craftsmanship and purpose-led design. World Coffee Innovation Awards 2026, in association with Café Business Expo The World Coffee Innovation Awards have returned, showcasing groundbreaking developments across the sector. 2026 marks the fourth year of these awards, celebrating international innovation from the coffee industry. Submissions close: 14 August – Don't miss your chance for global recognition and industry exposure! In association partner The World Coffee Innovation Awards 2026 ceremony will be held at Café Business Expo, presented by FoodBev Media. Café Business Expo is the UK’s leading trade event connecting café owners and operators with the suppliers, technology and ideas shaping the future of the industry. Discover the latest products and connect with innovative brands in the sector. Source new products, compare suppliers and negotiate deals all in one place in London from 29 to 30 September 2026! For more information about our selection of awards programmes, please visit foodbevawards.com or email awards@foodbev.com.

Portable coffee equipment brand Wacaco has launched Prestina, a manual immersion coffee brewer. The Hong Kong-based company said the patented brewer replaces the traditional piston mechanism with the cup itself. The device is hand-powered and uses an integrated stainless steel filter, removing the need for paper filters or capsules. Prestina is designed for use with 15g of medium-gound coffee and 240ml of water at around 90°C. Users stirs the coffee, leave it to infuse for one minute and then press down with the cup until brewing is complete. The six-piece kit includes the brewer body, portafilter, cup, lid, spoon and drip tray. When packed, the brewer and cup nest into one unit measuring 134 x 85 x 85mm and weighing 254g. Hugo Cailleton, co-founder and chief designer at Wacaco, said: “With Prestina, we wanted to strip manual brewing back to its most essential form. The breakthrough was realising the cup did not have to be separate from the brewing mechanism – it could become part of it." "That allowed us to create something simpler, smaller and easier to use, without losing the richness people expect from an immersion brew." Prestina is available in Sage Green, Clay Pink and Coal Black, with a retail price of $29.90. It is sold through Wacaco’s website, select online marketplaces and the company’s global retail partners.

Olvi has completed its acquisition of Värska Originaal, with its Estonian subsidiary A Le Coq acquiring 100% of the shares in the natural mineral water producer. The transaction closed on 19 June 2026 and is effective for accounting purposes from the same date. The deal was cleared by the Competition Authority in mid-April but was temporarily suspended due to interim legal protection requested by a third party. Following legal proceedings, the Tallin Administrative Court and District Court ruled that there were no ground to continue the interim protection, allowing the acquisition to proceed. Olvi first announced the planned acquisition in September 2025, saying the deal would support its strategy to expand its non-alcoholic beverage portfolio and pursue growth through acquisitions in Europe. Olvi said the acquisition would increase production capacity and support growth in non-alcoholic beverage volumes. At the time the deal was announced, the group said the transaction could increase sales volume of non-alcoholic products by around 10%. Värska Originaal, founded in 1993 with operational roots dating back to 1973, produces natural mineral water in Värska, southeastern Estonia. Its portfolio also includes flavoured and functional waters, with products exported to markets including Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden and Ireland. The company employs around 70 people and recorded a production volume of 44 million litres in 2025. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Chobani has expanded its coffee creamer portfolio with the launch of a new permanent zero-sugar flavour: Vanilla Cinnamon. The new creamer is made with cream and milk and contains 0g of sugar. According to the company, the product is free from artificial ingredients, sweeteners and preservatives. Chobani said vanilla and cinnamon are the two most requested flavours among consumers of its zero-sugar creamer range. The launch also taps into growing demand for nostalgic flavour profiles in food and beverage. The Vanilla Cinnamon Zero Sugar Creamer will be available soon at retailers across the US, including Target, Walmart and Publix.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalised a consent order linked to 365 Retail Markets' $848 million acquisition of Cantaloupe. The deal brings together two of the largest providers of micro market kiosks, as well as software and services used by foodservice operators to manage and run micro market locations. Under the final order, 365 must sell Cantaloupe’s competing micro market kiosk provider, Three Square Market, to Seaga Manufacturing. The FTC said the divestiture is intended to address competition concerns arising from the merger. The order settles FTC allegations that the original proposed acquisition would have eliminated head-to-head competition in the micro market kiosk sector. The regulator said this could have led to higher prices for kiosks and related software and services, as well as reduced product and service quality. The FTC also alleged that higher kiosk costs could have been passed on to consumers through increased food prices. In addition to the divestiture, the final consent order requires 365 to offer integrations between its software and hardware on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms to customers and third parties. The Commission voted 2-0 to approve the final order following a public comment period.

Mondelēz International has appointed Amit Banati as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective 1 July. Amit Banati Banati will report directly to the chairman and chief executive officer, Dirk Van de Put and join the company's leadership team. His appointment comes alongside a broader executive transition, with current CFO Luca Zaramella moving fully into his role as executive vice president and chief operating officer, where he will oversee commercial operations across Mondelēz's four geographic regions, as well as corporate sales, marketing and supply chain functions. Banati joins Mondelēz from Kenvue, where he most recently served as chief financial officer. Prior to that, he held the positions of vice chair and CFO at Kellanova, formerly Kellogg Company. His extensive consumer goods experience also includes leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, Cadbury Schweppes and Kraft Foods following Kraft's acquisition of Cadbury. During his tenure at Kellogg, Banati served as president of the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa business before being promoted to senior vice president and CFO, helping drive regional growth and transformation initiatives. In a statement, Van de Put said: "Amit is a highly experienced CFO who brings a strong blend of financial leadership and commercial acumen spanning multiple consumer businesses. His track record of delivering results and building talent across large, global businesses as a CFO, alongside his breadth of general management and emerging market experience, will provide an important perspective to our leadership team." Van de Put also acknowledged Zaramella's contributions during his eight years as chief financial officer. "I want to thank Luca for his outstanding contributions over eight years as CFO, during which he played a pivotal role in shaping our financial strategy and strengthening our company. We will continue to benefit from his strong leadership as chief operating officer, focusing on driving durable, profitable growth and value creation." Speaking about the appointment, Banati said: "I am delighted to rejoin Mondelēz International. I am excited to return to a company and set of brands that I know well. The company has an iconic portfolio, an advantaged global footprint and a talented team."

US energy drink brand Gorgie has launched Rocket Pop Protein, a new summer-inspired flavour designed to evoke the taste of the classic red, white and blue ice lolly. The new flavour combines cherry, citrus and berry notes and is formulated with 150mg of green tea caffeine per can. It also contains biotin, B vitamins and L-theanine, and is gluten-free and made without artificial sweeteners. Michelle Cordeiro Grant, founder and CEO of Gorgie, said: "Rocket Pop Protein is everything we want summer to feel like nostalgic, fun, energetic and a little unexpected. Our community is always looking for flavours that feel exciting and memorable, and we wanted to create something that taps into that sense of nostalgia while still delivering the clean, functional energy Gorgie is known for." Rocket Pop Protein will be available via the brand's websites and at Target stores across the US.

Spacegoods has launched its first ready-to-drink canned product, expanding its Rainbow Dust mushroom-adaptogen coffee blend into a grab-and-go oat latte format. The launch brings Spacegoods’ blend of coffee extract, mushrooms and adaptogens into a canned format designed for occasions such as commuting, workdays, travel, gym bags and weekends on the move. Spacegoods Oat Mushroom Latte is launching in two flavours: Coffee and Coffee Caramel. Spacegoods has built its brand around offering an alternative to conventional coffee, positioning Rainbow Dust as a product designed to support energy, focus and everyday performance without the jitters or crashes often associated with caffeine. The new ready-to-drink range contains ingredients including lion’s mane, ashwagandha, chaga, maca root and coffee extract. According to the brand, the products are vegan, cruelty-free and made with natural ingredients. Matthew Kelly, founder of Spacegoods, said: “I started Spacegoods because I was done with what coffee was doing to my mind and body. Now it's in a can, in a range of flavours, and you can take it anywhere. This is the version of coffee I always wished existed.” The UK brand’s new Spacegoods Oat Mushroom Latte is available via the company's website.

Yum Brands has entered into definitive agreements to sell Pizza Hut for an aggregate $2.7 billion, subject to certain purchase price adjustments. Under the agreements, Pizza Hut, excluding Mainland China, will be acquired by private equity firm LongRange Capital for approximately $1.5 billion. Pizza Hut in Mainland China will be acquired by Yum China Holdings for approximately $1.2 billion. The sale follows a strategic review of Pizza Hut, which Yum began in November 2025. The company said its leadership team and board determined that the transactions provide the strongest path to maximise shareholder value, while giving Pizza Hut an ownership structure tailored to its distinct markets, competitive strengths and long-term priorities. Chris Turner, chief executive officer of Yum, said: “These transactions enable Yum to be a more focused company that continues to leverage scale, technology and talent to accelerate our raising the BAR priorities and deliver sustained value for our stakeholders". "Under LongRange and Yum China, Pizza Hut will be well positioned for future growth with ownership that brings deep expertise in the restaurant industry. Pizza Hut is one of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world, and we are proud of the important role it has played in Yum’s history. Pizza Hut was built by the passion and dedication of our team members, employees and franchisees, and we’re excited for the next chapter.” Yum said it expects to receive approximately $2.3 billion in net proceeds after taxes, closing adjustments and transaction-contingent fees, excluding a potential $75 million earn-out from LongRange by 2030. The company also expects to incur one-time expenses of approximately $85 million during the remainder of 2026 to complete the separation. Following completion, Yum will continue to provide Byte by Yum, its proprietary technology platform, to Pizza Hut outside China. It will also provide certain corporate services under a transition services agreement to support the separation. Yum! Brands and Yum China said they remain committed to their partnership, with the companies agreeing to certain financial incentives that are expected to generate value for both sets of shareholders if KFC China’s future system sales growth rates accelerate. The companies also plan to work together on long-term growth plans for Taco Bell in Mainland China. The transactions have been unanimously approved by Yum’s board of directors and are expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Once completed, Yum will no longer report Pizza Hut as a division. Separately, Yum’s board has approved an additional $4 billion authorisation for the repurchase of common stock. The company said the net after-tax proceeds from the Pizza Hut sale will be used in line with its capital allocation strategy, including investing in the business and returning excess capital to shareholders.