Starbucks Coffee is expanding its portfolio of company-operated stores with the acquisition of 23.5 Degrees, Starbucks first UK franchised business partner. The coffee chain has acquired its largest licensed partner in the market, adding around 113 stores and 1,650 employees. This brings its total number of company-operated locations in the UK to nearly 500. Private equity-backed 23.5 Degrees opened its first store in February 2013 and now operates 110 locations across the UK, including 73 Drive Thrus, with 25 more planned for the coming year. Alex Rayner, general manager, UK, Switzerland and Austria, said: “I want to acknowledge the important contributions of 23.5 Degrees and the dedicated green apron partners. This strategic move will enable us to enhance our investment in new locations, elevate our in-store experience and drive innovation for our UK customers.” The move comes after a leadership change at Starbucks, where former Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol replaced Laxman Narasimhan . #Starbucks #235Degrees #UK

PepsiCo’s Walkers brand has introduced a new limited-edition festive flavour to its Sensations range. The new variety, Sensations Honey Glazed Roast Ham flavour, will launch into supermarkets across the UK this month, alongside the return of Sensations King Prawn & Marie Sauce flavour. The new Honey Glazed Roast Ham crisps were crafted to provide consumers with a premium, non-HFSS snack. Wayne Newton, senior marketing director at Walkers, said: "With new shoppers entering the category and existing customers buying more in preparation for the holiday season, Christmas is a crucial opportunity for retailers to be driving their savoury snacking sales. During this time, shoppers look for extra special snacking options that will elevate their celebrations, such as limited-edition flavours.” Newton continued: “These limited-edition options are set to meet the demand for bold and exciting festive treats, ensuring there's something special for everyone this Christmas”. The limited-edition Sensations are available to purchase now in 150g sharing formats, with an RRP of £2.50. #Walkers #PepsiCo #Sensations #crisps #snacks #seasonal #UK

Swire Coca-Cola USA has appointed Andrea Kendell as president and chief executive officer. Andrea, who brings decades of leadership experience and operational expertise, joined Swire Coca-Cola as CFO in January. Previously, she was CFO North America and SVP Finance Global Manufacturing at French biotechnology company bioMérieux. Founded in 1978 in Salt Lake City, Swire Coca-Cola USA employs over 8,000 people and operates six production plants and 43 distribution centres across 13 states, delivering more than 50 beverage brands to 31 million consumers daily. With Andrea's appointment as CEO, Swire Coca-Cola USA has also named Marc Hempstead as the new chief financial officer. Marc joins from the Swire Group, where he has worked since 2017 after starting his career at KPMG. Andrea Kendell and Marc Hempstead Kendell said: "To be the steward of Swire Coca-Cola USA and all that goes with it – our people, our brands, our customers, our history and our future – is a great responsibility and a great privilege". "I know the foundation of our success has always been our people. I am honoured and humbled to have the opportunity to help our people unleash their individual and collective potential as we deliver refreshment to the communities we call home." Pat Healy, chair of Swire Coca-Cola, added: "I'd like to congratulate Andrea on her appointment as president and CEO of Swire Coca-Cola USA. As an organisation that was founded more than 200 years ago, the Swire group knows how important it is to have leaders with a vision for the future coupled with stewardship of the past. We are excited to have Andrea at the helm to shape the next chapter in the growth of our U.S. beverage operations." Karen So, MD of Swire Coca-Cola, commented: "We are confident Andrea is the right person to fulfill our mission of winning together by serving as constant and true advocates for our people, our customers, our partners, our community and our planet. With Andrea as the new president and CEO, Marc in the CFO role, and strong leaders across our territory, we know we have the right people in the right seats to support our mission and drive growth." Andrea and Marc will be based at Swire Coca-Cola USA's headquarters in Draper, Utah. #SwireCocaColaUSA

Canadian sparkling tree water company Sapsucker has released its latest product line, Sapsucker Hard – a ready-to-drink (RTD) vodka soda. Inspired by the classic vodka soda, this RTD sparkling vodka is made with tree water and comes in one new flavour – The Lime Vodka One. The beverage features 46 naturally occurring minerals, vitamins and antioxidants and is fully organic and naturally sweetened. Each can contains 110 calories and 4% ABV. “We’re thrilled to launch Sapsucker Hard in Ontario and to highlight the benefits of sparkling tree water,” said Tim Lute, CEO of Sapsucker. “The better-for-you RTD alcoholic beverage category has experienced tremendous growth in the last few years.” Nancy Chapman, founder of Sapsucker, added: “While offerings in the space continue to expand, consumers have expressed a desire to explore beverages which have unique flavour profiles – not another typical vodka soda. Sapsucker listened, and we are excited to bring to market a delicious, sustainably-focused product that’s completely new to consumers.”

US speciality coffee roaster Press Coffee has acquired a coffee estate in Panama. Founded in 2008, Press focuses on sourcing high-quality speciality coffee. The company operates 13 standalone cafés in the Phoenix area and six cafés inside Sprouts Farmers Markets, along with monthly coffee subscriptions for regular customers. The new farm will allow Press to source beans directly from the origin. The estate, located in the highlands of the Volcan Valley in western Panama, is known for its rich soil and ideal microclimate for coffee cultivation. The farm spans 70 hectares at an elevation of 1,800 to 2,300 meters, benefiting from volcanic soil that produces distinctive beans. According to the company, each harvest from the Panama farm will be unique due to variations in weather and soil conditions. Jason Kyle, co-owner of Press Coffee, said: “This coffee estate marks a significant milestone for our company. It helps us expand our commitment to quality, sustainability and deepen our connection to the farm. This farm will allow us to offer even richer, more distinctive coffees and we're excited to bring them to our customers.” The new Press Estate beans will be available at all Press locations in the Phoenix metro area, offered as drip coffee at the café bar or in bags of whole beans. Additionally, limited-edition single-origin beans from the estate will also be available quarterly through the Press' Allocation coffee programme online. #PressCoffee #Panama #coffee

Waitrose has partnered with Just Eat in a multi-year deal to expand its reach in the on-demand grocery and convenience sector. Just Eat customers can now order food and drink for delivery in under 30 minutes from 229 Waitrose locations across the UK, including Birmingham, Glasgow London and Manchester. This move follows a 140% rise in Waitrose’s weekly on-demand grocery sales during the first half of the year, helping the retailer reach a wider range of customers. According to Waitrose, over a million people in the UK currently use Just Eat for grocery deliveries, with the platform processing 12 orders per minute. Users will be able to choose from thousands of Waitrose items, including the revamped premium range, Waitrose No. 1 and Essential Waitrose. Popular options such as Waitrose Duchy Organic, fresh ready meals, free-from and vegan ranges, along with British brands like Gail's Bakery and Deliciously Ella, will also be available. Additionally, a selection of Waitrose's wines, beers and spirits will be offered through the service. Later this year, customers will also be able choose from over 550 Waitrose Christmas products, including 175 new festive items for 2024. Waitrose has also announced plans to open up to 100 convenience stores across the UK over the next five years, adding to its presence at Shell forecourts and Welcome Break service areas. Waitrose's executive director, James Bailey, said: “Partnering with Just Eat and stepping up our plans for new shops allows us to reach even more customers who want the same commitment to quality, taste and ethical standards whenever and wherever they want to enjoy great food. As demand for greater convenience has grown, so have expectations of convenience food - and that is a huge opportunity for us.” Claire Pointon, MD for the UK&I at Just Eat, added: “Many of today’s consumers no longer consider speed a luxury but a necessity. This is supported by Just Eats’ own research – three in four people who have ordered on-demand groceries believe it will become a part of their daily lives. Just Eat is proud to be leading this change and so we’re thrilled to be adding Waitrose to our list of grocery partners, strengthening the choice and value available for customers on the platform – whenever, and wherever, they need us.” #JustEat #Waitrose #UK #retailer

Celsius Holdings has expanded its Essentials line with the launch of two new flavours: Watermelon Ice and Grape Slush. Grape Slush offers a bold, slushy-inspired icy grape flavour with sweet, nostalgic notes. Meanwhile, Watermelon Ice delivers a tart watermelon flavour that is refreshing and sweet. The Celsius Essentials line features bold flavoured, performance energy drinks that contains MetaPlus blend and added aminos to support physical and cognitive performance. The new flavours will be available early next year, joining the range existing 12- and 16-ounce flavours, including Celsius Sparkling Cherry Cola. #Celisus #Energydrinks

Keurig Dr Pepper-owned brand 7Up is set to launch a ready-to-drink version of Shirley Temple, catering to the growing demand for nostalgic beverages among millennial and Gen Z consumers. The classic non-alcoholic drink is made from a combination of non-cola soda, grenadine syrup and maraschino cherry. Meanwhile, the new 7Up Shirley Temple combines 7Up's signature citrus flavour with vibrant notes of pomegranate and cherry. The beverage aims to evoke childhood memories while appealing to modern taste preferences. Andrew Springate, chief marketing officer at KDP, added: “Our team loves the challenge of developing and marketing a beverage that evokes a deep sense of nostalgia with a modern twist, and the 7Up Shirley Temple does just that. Consumers will be delighted by this sweet reminder of the magic of childhood with a contemporary burst of flavourful refreshment.” The 7Up Shirley Temple will be available at mass and grocery retailers nationwide in the US from 15 October until 31 December, while supplies last. It will be sold in two-litre bottles and 12 packs of 12-ounce cans, including a Zero Sugar version. #KeurigDrPepper #7Up

FoodBev Media is thrilled to announce the winners of this year's highly anticipated World Coffee Innovation Awards, a celebration of creativity and excellence within the coffee industry. This event, which highlights groundbreaking advancements, exceptional products, and sustainable practices, has become a hallmark of innovation in the global coffee community. The winners of this year's award were announced in London today at the Caffe Culture Show, the trade event that spotlights the UK speciality coffee and cafe bar market. As we celebrate the game changers who have elevated the coffee experience, FoodBev would like to congratulate all winners, finalists and commended companies. View the full photo gallery here Dan Bunt, marketing director of FoodBev Media, presented the awards ceremony at the Caffè Insights stage, at 4pm (BST) earlier today. Dan commented: "This year's display of innovation has transformed the way we think about the simple cup of coffee. Myself and the judges were impressed at the selection of innovative technology, use of ingredients, ethical initiatives and sustainability." Find the final positions of every shortlisted entry below: Automatic Coffee Machine WINNER -   Eversys  - Shotmaster S/ST FINALIST - Coffetek - Vitro FINALIST - OutIn Inc. - Nano Portable Espresso Machine FINALIST - Dualit - Espressivo Pro Coffee Machine FINALIST - Franke Coffee Systems UK - Mytico Barista Tool/Equipment WINNER - Coffetek - New Ascaso Grinder P74 Coffee Capsule/Pod WINNER - Dualit  - Home Compostable Coffee Pods FINALIST - Voyage Foods - Bean-Free Coffee FINALIST - Dualit - Aluminium Coffee Pods Cold Brew Product WINNER - Ezpresso - Rich Kenyan FINALIST - RISE Brewing Co. - Shelf-Stable RTD 3 Gallon Cold Brew BIB FINALIST - GoodBrew - GoodGut Caramel Cold Brew Latte Functional Coffee WINNER - GoodBrew - GoodGut™ Vanilla Latte FINALIST - Sr. Valley Hemp Foods - Roasted Hemp & Coffee Blend Low/no Caffeine Product WINNER - Origin Coffee - Atlas Decaf Coffee Manual Coffee Machine WINNER - Dalla Corte UK  - Icon FINALIST - Coffetek - Barista T 2024 Milk Alternative WINNER - Floatmilk - Orginal Oatmilk FINALIST - Floatmilk - Vanilla Oatmilk FINALIST - Floatmilk - Chocolate Oatmilk FINALIST - Floatmilk - Original Oatmilk +Adaptogens FINALIST - Arla JÖRÐ - Barista Oat Drink 1L Ready-to-drink Product WINNER - Lost Sheep Coffee  - Iced Latte FINALIST - GoodBrew - GoodGut™ Caramel Latte FINALIST - Lost Sheep Coffee - Iced Mocha Brewing Innovation WINNER - Dalla Corte UK  - Zero Barista FINALIST - Tous les Jours - Tiramisu Latte Packaging Innovation WINNER - Parkside Flexibles - Dark woods compostable coffee bag FINALIST - The Good Cup™ - All-in-one coffee cup FINALIST - SHARPAK - PET Recyclable Coffee Cup Lid Roasting Innovation sponsored by Gaggia WINNER - ROEST  - L100 Plus Sample Roaster FINALIST - Mr. Bean Coffee Ltd. - Shish FINALIST - Peet’s Coffee - Peet’s Bright Collection FINALIST - Bellwether Coffee - Bellwether Shop Roaster FINALIST - Voyage Foods - Bean-Free Coffee FINALIST - ACAPELLA - Café de Noël Technology Innovation WINNER - OutIn Inc.  - OutIn Nano Portable Espresso Machine FINALIST - Mr. Bean Coffee Ltd. - Shish AI-assisted tabletop coffee bean roasting systems for Horeca FINALIST - nunc. - nunc. FINALIST - Ingredient Batching Systems - Green Coffee Silo Storage & Auto Batching System FINALIST - Dualit - Milk Frother Max FINALIST - Franke Coffee Systems UK - Mytico COMMENDED   -   365 Retail Markets  - PicoCoffee COMMENDED   -   Dalla Corte UK  - Zero Barista Ethical Initiative WINNER - Raw Material - Plant-to-Port: Driving Ethical Transformation Through Inclusive Coffee Education New/start-up Business WINNER - Mr. Bean Coffee Ltd. - Shish HoReCa Craft Roaster Station FINALIST - Voyage Foods - Bean-Free Coffee Sustainability Initiative WINNER - ofi (Olam Food Ingredients)  - Coffee Kindergartens: Creating safe spaces for children during the coffee harvest FINALIST - Atomo Beanless Coffee - Atomo's Beanless Espresso FINALIST - Bella Barista - Bella Barista Brazil Santo - Regenerative Organic Coffee FINALIST - Raw Material - Off-Grid Renewable Coffee Hubs Event partner: Caffe Culture Show This year, FoodBev Awards has taken the World Coffee Innovation Awards to the next level and presented shortlisted companies on our dedicated World Coffee Innovation Awards feature area. This provided a physical platform to showcase, network and celebrate their innovations. Roasting Innovation Category Sponsor The myth of the 'caffè all’Italiana' was born from the ingenious idea of Achille Gaggia, an Italian barista who - in 1938 - filed the patent that signalled a revolution in the way that aromas are extracted from coffee. Achille began constructing his innovative professional coffee machines and installing them in bars and restaurants around the world, allowing customers the unique pleasure of experiencing perfect Italian espresso, complete with its unique ‘crema’ for the very first time. Today the Gaggia name is synonymous with excellence and state of the art technology, as represented by its range of traditional manual espresso machines and fully automatic machines for coffee professionals. About FoodBev Awards FoodBev Media awards schemes have been running for more than 20 years and are now recognised as the most credible and respected awards schemes to influence the international food and beverage industry. For more information about our selection of awards programmes, please visit foodbevawards.com  or email awards@foodbev.com

Oasis International has announced the launch of a new filtration product: Outdoor filter. The filters address rising concerns over contaminants such as forever chemicals, pharmaceuticals and lead in drinking water. Outdoor filter is designed for high-temperature environments. It reduces contaminants, including chlorine, lead, cysts and microplastics, and operates within temperatures from 2°C to 50°C. With a capacity of 17,980 liters, it can provide approximately 36,000 water bottle fills. Equipped with the 'Tilt 'N Tether' fast filter-change system, the new filter allows users to replace them in minutes, ensuring quicker access to improved drinking water. Steve Sabin, Oasis' director of engineering, said: "This filter is engineered specifically for outdoor use and designed to meet the unique challenges of elevated temperatures, providing consistent, clean water without compromising performance". #Oasis #water #filters

Sodexo has launched four new eat>NOW frictionless grocery stores at Endicott College, the University of Maine, Orono, Lindenwood University and Seattle Pacific University. Powered by Amazon Web Services, these stores provide students with a convenient, modern shopping experience. At Endicott College, the new store, called Gull & Go, is located in Venuti Hall and offers beverages, snacks, healthy options, Simply to Go meals, bakery items and dorm supplies. The University of Maine’s store is situated in a new campus building, featuring a range of beverages, snacks, healthy options, Simply to Go meals, breakfast items, bakery goods and dorm essentials. Lindenwood University's store, Lion’s Pride Market, housed in an existing space, offers a variety of dorm supplies, beverages, snacks and healthy food options. Seattle Pacific University will unveil its Falcon Express Market this month, providing drinks, snacks, nutritious food, baked goods and dorm essentials. Brett Ladd, CEO of Sodexo Campus and Government, said: “We’re thrilled to introduce eat>NOW frictionless stores to the vibrant university campuses we’re proud to partner with. By combining cutting-edge technology with everyday convenience, we’re elevating the campus experience and offering students a modern, seamless shopping solution. These stores are designed to address the evolving needs of students while fostering a more dynamic campus environment.” #Sodexo #US

BE WTR, a Swiss company focused on sustainable water solutions, has raised CHF 39 million (approx $45.5 million) in a Series C funding round. Convent Capital, a Dutch agri-food growth equity fund, led the round, with participation from PeakBridge’s Growth 2 Fund, Edmond de Rothschild Direct Investments, HHT and other private investors. This funding will help BE WTR's mission to offer eco-friendly, premium water solutions, ensuring access to high-quality drinking water while minimising single-use packaging and plastics. The company is actively involved in water purification, distribution and sustainability, aiming to redefine water consumption in residential, commercial and hospitality sectors. The capital will also support the company’s entry into the Chinese and North American markets, as well as investments in R&D and product development. BE WTR’s approach offers a sustainable alternative to traditional bottled water, providing filtered water in glass bottles at the point of consumption. BE WTR's CEO, Mike Hecker, said: “This funding round enables us to scale our circular bottling plants operations across Europe, Middle East, North America and Asia and expand our product offerings, driving further innovation in the water industry.” Dirk Hoorn, founding partner of Convent Capital, added: “We believe BE WTR is uniquely positioned to address some of the critical challenges around sustainability and water consumption. Their vision aligns with our goal of supporting businesses that create lasting value for society and the environment." #BEWTR #watersolutions