Aquaphor has expanded its UK product line with the launch of Fresh, a new water filter jug designed to offer higher-capacity filtration in a compact format. The 3.2-litre jug joins Aquaphor's growing portfolio as the brand continues its rapid rise in the UK water filtration market. According to the company, Fresh is designed for both countertop use and fridge-door storage, and is available in black, grey and white. Fresh is equipped with Aquaphor’s Maxfor+ filter cartridge, which the company says reduces chlorine, limescale, heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, PFAS and other impurities while maintaining essential minerals. The filter has an expected lifespan of up to 200 litres. The launch follows an Aquaphor survey indicating that more than 40% of UK consumers still drink unfiltered tap water, despite growing concerns around taste, limescale and contaminants such as microplastics and PFAS. Among those who do use filtration, jugs remain the most common solution, with filter performance and cost ranking as the top purchasing considerations. The findings also showed that 80% of respondents were more likely to buy from a brand offering a recycling scheme. The Fresh jug, made from BPA-free, food-grade materials, is now available from £19.99 through Amazon, Tesco Marketplace, Debenhams, The Range, B&Q, Wilko, Robert Dyas, Aquaphor’s social commerce channels and the brand’s website.

Stuart Heflin Peet’s Coffee has announced that Eric Lauterbach is stepping down after a 15-year tenure with the company, with former Quest Nutrition executive Stuart Heflin appointed as the brand’s new president. Lauterbach, who joined Peet’s as VP of sales and rose to president and CEO, reflected on his departure in a LinkedIn post, describing his time at the company as “a privilege”. Over his tenure, he oversaw Peet’s growth into a $1 billion-plus business and led the organisation through major structural changes, including its transition from a public company to private ownership under JAB and back into the public markets with the formation of JDE Peet’s. “Brands are consciously built by people and culture, and I’m proud of the culture we built over the years at Peet’s,” he wrote. “Now it is the right time for me to move on and create space for the next leader.” That next leader is Stuart Heflin, who brings more than two decades of experience in global consumer brands. Heflin most recently served as senior vice president and general manager at The Simply Good Foods Company for Quest Nutrition, where he led the brand through record growth and expanded its presence across new categories and channels. Announcing his appointment, Peet’s said Heflin’s background in brand building, innovation and people-focused leadership positions him to guide the company through its next chapter. Lauterbach endorsed the choice, noting Heflin’s “deep appreciation for brands with soul” and “ability to lead with both vision and heart”. Peet’s thanked Lauterbach for his leadership and commitment, crediting his long-standing role in shaping the company’s trajectory. Heflin has now officially stepped into the role as Peet’s enters what it called its “next phase” of growth.

Mars has introduced several new limited-edition confectionery products for the 2025 holiday season across its M&M’s, Twix and Life Savers brands. New products include: M&M’s Winter Blend – a milk-chocolate edition featuring white and blue colours designed for winter-themed baking and gifting. Twix Snowmen – a snowman-shaped bar combining cookie, caramel and milk chocolate. Life Savers Gummies Holiday Shapes – gummies in seasonal designs such as stockings, snowmen and Santa hats. Allison Miazga-Bedrick, VP seasonal marketing at Mars Wrigley North America, said: "Nothing says holiday cheer like sweet treats and classic movies, enjoyed with friends and family. Passing around M&M's Winter Blend during a holiday film or treating yourself to a Twix Snowmen while holiday shopping, makes the season cosier and more delicious." Alongside the new launches, Mars is also returning several seasonal classics, including M&M’s Holiday Blend (red and green varieties), Snickers Trees, M&M’s Toasty Holiday Peanut and the Skittles Holiday Cane. The 2025 Mars Wrigley seasonal range is available at retailers nationwide throughout the holiday period.

Nestlé is investing £28 million in its Dalston factory in Cumbria to upgrade production of Nescafé Frothy Coffee and modernise the site’s operations. The investment includes a new £17.5 million mixing plant and two new packing lines worth £10.7 million. The four-storey mixing plant will introduce updated equipment and systems designed to improve efficiency and recipe accuracy, while also reducing manual handling by 80% through the use of larger ingredient bags. The new packing lines will replace older machinery and include technology capable of producing up to 60,000 sachets per hour. The lines will also be compatible with new packaging materials such as Mono PP laminate, enabling fully recyclable sachets. Richard Watson, CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: “We are very proud of our British manufacturing and this investment reflects the great work being done by our teams to position the UK as a market with significant manufacturing expertise and capability". He continued: “The Dalston investment is a prime example of how we’re investing in the future of the British food and drink industry – modernising our operations and supporting local jobs, driving growth opportunities and being more sustainable.” Ian Pipes, Nestlé's Dalston factory manager, added: “We are delighted to have secured this investment which marks a significant step forward for our Dalston site. By upgrading our facilities with the latest technology, we’re not only improving product quality, but also creating a more sustainable and supportive environment for our teams.” The site manufactures products including Nescafé Cappuccino, Nescafé Latte, Coffee Mate and Starbucks-branded latte mixes. It sources fresh milk from local dairy farms through a long-standing partnership with First Milk.

Bixolon Europe has partnered with Polish IT company iMedia and systems integrator Hant to supply receipt printing technology for GreenBottle, a nationwide network of reverse vending machines collecting PET bottles and cans. Developed by iMedia, GreenBottle machines is part of Poland’s new PET container recycling initiative. The kiosks issue instant digital rewards to users who deposit empty containers. To support the rollout, iMedia and Hant selected Bixolon's BK3-21 thermal kiosk printer, chosen for its compact design, rapid printing speed and ability to operate continuously in public spaces. The printer generates receipts containing container details and discount codes in under two seconds. Hant worked with both companies to integrate the printers with GreenBottle’s software, adapt them for outdoor and high-traffic environments and run staging tests ahead of deployment. According to the companies, this approach enabled the system to scale quickly without changes to hardware or software architecture. Rafal Milko, IT specialist at iMedia, said: “The new solution ensures reliable receipt printing and improved user experience for those interacting with the GreenBottle machines. In the context of the project’s dynamic growth, the implementation of Bixolon’s printers enables easy scalability and rapid deployment of new devices without redesigning the entire system.” Paul Kim, managing director for Bixolon Europe, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with iMedia and Hant on the GreenBottle project, which is a fantastic example of technology being used to drive real change. Recycling is high on the agenda across Europe and Poland in particular, and initiatives like this make it easier for people to take part while helping cities meet their sustainability targets.” He added: “It’s exciting to see our printers contributing to that journey, ensuring every transaction is simple, seamless and reliable for the user. Projects like GreenBottle show how the right technology can have a genuine impact on everyday behaviour, and we look forward to seeing these systems expand across Poland, helping to make recycling easier and more accessible for everyone.”

FIJI Water has named Alexandre Zigliara as its next president, effective 1 December 2025. Zigliara joins the company with more than 20 years of experience in global consumer packaged goods, holding senior roles at The Coca-Cola Company, Mondelez International, Clif Bar & Company and, most recently, MrBeast Feastables. His background includes leading operations across multiple regions, serving as president of Coca-Cola Italy and managing the company’s partnerships with Restaurant Brands International and Walmart. At Fiji Water, Zigliara will be responsible for global strategy and operations, including marketing, manufacturing, supply chain and sales. He will be based at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters and oversee operations in Fiji, where the brand sources and bottles its water for distribution to more than 80 markets. Stewart Resnick, president and chairman of The Wonderful Company, which owns Fiji Water, said: “We could not be more fortunate than to have Alex Zigliara join Fiji Water as its next president. There has never been a greater opportunity for Fiji Water to expand on our success as the world’s leading premium bottled water, and Alex has the experience, vision and track record to chart that course." "He’s transformative, growth-focused and has a history of successfully operating businesses on a global landscape. Alex inherits a great brand, a strong team and dedicated consumer base. We are excited about this next chapter and of his leadership to come.” Zigliara added: “I’m very proud to join Fiji Water and to steward a brand with such an iconic reputation around the world. Through my years in the beverage industry, I’ve watched with admiration as Fiji Water has firmly established its place not only as the world’s premium bottled water company, but among all beverages in every category." "It’s set a model for consumer loyalty and customer trust that provides incredible opportunity for continued growth. It’s a privilege to lead this iconic brand and to work with the Resnicks as part of the prestigious family of brands that is The Wonderful Company, and I look forward to getting started.” Top image: © Fiji Water

US President Donald Trump has announced that a range of food and beverage products will no longer be subject to the sweeping tariffs he announced earlier this year. First announced earlier this year, the tariffs saw a baseline 10% levy imposed on goods imported into the US from all other countries, with some subject to an additional tax. According to Trump, this intended to address the US’ trade deficits and the ‘absence of reciprocity’ within its relationships with trading partners. However, in a move the President claims will ‘strengthen the US economy and national security,’ the White House announced on 14 November that the scope of the tariffs would be modified. An Executive Order was signed to exempt certain agricultural products from the tariffs, including a range of food and beverage items not grown in the US. The statement from the White House said that limited current domestic capacity to produce these products in the US has determined it ‘necessary and appropriate’ to modify the tariffs. The modifications took effect retroactively from 13 November 2025. Now exempt products include coffee and tea, tropical fruits and fruit juices, cocoa, spices including vanilla beans, various nuts and grains, and beef products. The National Coffee Association (NCA) applauded the news, with the company’s president and CEO, Bill Murray, stating that the action to remove reciprocal tariffs on most coffee imports will “ease cost-of-living pressures for the two-thirds of American adults who rely on coffee each day, as well as secure coffee supplies for the US companies who turn every $1 in coffee imports into $43 of US economic value”. Murray also praised new trade deals secured with Switzerland, Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala, which will deliver further benefits for the coffee supply chain. “NCA urges all trading partners to advance similarly successful negotiations with the United States,” he added. Commenting on the exemption of cocoa from the broad tariff measures, chocolate giant Hershey released a statement welcoming the decision from the Trump administration. “For more than 130 years, we’ve been committed to keeping chocolate affordable and accessible for every family. Cocoa is not grown in the United States and is essential to our US-based manufacturing operations, supporting more than 10,000 American jobs and fuelling economic growth across the country,” the statement reads. “This exemption strengthens our domestic supply chain and enables us to continue investing in American manufacturing.” The roll back on tariffs comes as the Trump administration has faced scrutiny over rising food and beverage prices in the US – though the President has denied claims that his tariff policies have contributed to the higher costs.

The European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation to assess whether energy drinks company Red Bull has illegally restricted competition within the category. The probe is significant, as it marks the EU Commission’s first formal investigation into a potential abuse of a category management position by a supplier to limit or disadvantage competing products. In a statement released yesterday (13 November 2025), the Commission said that Red Bull may have developed a European Economic Area (EEA)-wide strategy to restrict competition from energy drinks larger than 250ml in the off-trade channel, in retail outlets such as supermarkets and petrol station shops. Allegedly, Red Bull’s strategy targeted its ‘closest competitor’ in the energy drinks market, the EU Commission said – though it did not disclose the name of the brand. It expressed concern that Red Bull may have implemented this strategy in the Netherlands in particular, where it holds a dominant position in the national market for the wholesale supply of branded energy drinks. Two suspected anti-competitive practices are at the centre of the investigation. One such practice is granting monetary and non-monetary incentives to off-trade customers to delist, or disadvantage (such as in terms of visibility), competing energy drinks sold in sizes exceeding 250ml (Red Bull’s most widely recognised can size). The other is misuse of a category management position at off-trade customers, so that competing energy drinks sold in sizes exceeding 250ml are delisted or disadvantaged. Under category management arrangements, retailers entrust the marketing of a category of products – such as energy drinks – to a specific supplier (the category ‘captain’ or ‘manager’). Acting as a category manager may cover not only the supplier’s products, but also the competitor’s. The category manager may therefore have influence on factors such as the selection, placement and promotion of competing products in a store. If such practices are proven, Red Bull may have breached EU competition rules that prohibit the abuse of a dominant position. The Commission said it will now carry out its ‘in-depth’ investigation as a priority. It carried out unannounced inspections at the headquarters of Red Bull, located in Austria, and at several of its EEA subsidiaries in March 2023. The Commission then continued the inspection at its premises in Brussels in June 2023, and between August and September 2023. Red Bull challenged the decision authorising the Commission to carry out inspections to the General Court. The company also requested the suspension of the continued inspection at the Commission’s Brussels premises. In September 2023, the president of the General Court dismissed the request for suspension, and in October 2025, the General Court rejected Red Bull's challenge against the inspection decision. It stated that that decision was ‘well-founded’ and ‘adopted on the basis of sufficient indicia, and that it was neither arbitrary nor disproportionate’. FoodBev has reached out to Red Bull for comment on the latest developments. The EU Commission’s Teresa Ribera, executive vice president for Clean, Just and Competetive Transition, said: “We want to see if these practices may be keeping prices high and limiting choice of energy drinks for consumers. This investigation is part of the Commission’s continued efforts to enforce competition rules in the food supply chain to the benefit of European consumers.”

A group of minority first-lien lenders has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Selecta Group, alleging that the vending giant and a cohort of majority creditors carried out a secretive restructuring that unlawfully disadvantaged non-participating noteholders. According to the complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, investment funds including Deltroit Directional Opportunities, Algebris, CQS, Fineco, Mercer and Faros Point claim they were excluded from a series of agreements negotiated between Selecta and a group of 'favoured holders' – including Invesco, Man Group, Strategic Value Partners and Diameter Capital. The filing alleges these favoured holders entered into a private co-operation agreement that bound them to vote as a bloc, prevented them from supporting any alternative restructuring and granted them exclusive control over the process. Plaintiffs say this conduct amounted to collusion intended to increase the value of the majority’s holdings at the expense of other first-lien creditors, in violation of the Sherman Act and New York’s Donnelly Act. The lenders further claim Selecta and the favoured holders orchestrated a foreclosure of the equity pledged to first-lien lenders through a Netherlands Commercial Court proceeding that provided 'inadequate' notice to minority creditors and was conducted without a public hearing. Control of Selecta Group was subsequently transferred to a new entity, Bidco, allegedly controlled by the favoured holders. Following the foreclosure, plaintiffs say their first-lien notes were forcibly exchanged for deeply subordinated Bidco 'third-out' notes, while the favoured holders received superior 'first-out' securities. According to the filing, minority lenders could only access the higher-ranking notes if they agreed to release all claims and surrender key indenture protections. The complaint asserts the restructuring violated multiple provisions of the first-lien indenture, including requirements that recoveries be distributed 'ratably, without preference or priority,' and that the security agent act for the benefit of all holders – not just a subset. Plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and treble damages, along with attorneys’ fees and interest.

Herbalife, a global health and wellness company, has expanded its Liftoff energy supplement line with two new flavours – Cola and Ginger Beer, bringing a nostalgic, soda-inspired twist to the functional beverage category. Designed for on-the-go consumers, the new zero-sugar, low-calorie Liftoff varieties deliver a refreshing taste alongside science-backed ingredients for energy, focus and alertness and are available exclusively through Herbalife in the US and Puerto Rico. Since its debut in 2005, Liftoff has become one of Herbalife’s best-selling products, in part due to its convenient stock pack and functional formulation. Each serving contains 75mg of caffeine, Panax ginseng to support mental alertness, vitamin C and a full spectrum of B vitamins. Vicki Alaniz, VP of marketing for Herbalife North America, said: “With these new flavours, we are introducing the familiar taste of classic sodas to the functional beverage space, giving our independent distributors more ways to connect with consumers embracing a wellness-driven lifestyle.” The launch comes as the US energy drink market is projected to reach $41.4 billion by 2033, driven by a strong consumer demand for functional, better-for-you beverages. In response, Herbalife has expanded its Liftoff portfolio globally, with the drinks now available in more than 65 markets and making its debut in India earlier this year.

Danone North America’s dairy brand Too Good & Co has expanded into the coffee segment with the launch of a new line of refrigerated creamers. Rolling out nationwide this month, the Too Good & Co Coffee Creamers range includes three varieties: Sweet Cream, Roasted Vanilla and a seasonal Lavender option. Each product is made with milk and cream and contains no artificial sweeteners, flavours, preservatives, gums or oils. According to the company, the creamers contain 40% less sugar than leading coffee creamer brands and are designed to appeal to consumers seeking simpler ingredient lists and lower-sugar options. Danone cited research indicating that 68% of shoppers look for products made with real ingredients, while 41% consider total sugar content when buying food and drink. The three flavours aim to offer versatility for coffee and tea preparation at home, aligning with growing interest in #HomeCafe and #CoffeeTok trends. Sweet Cream provides a classic profile, Roasted Vanilla offers a caramelised vanilla flavour, and the Lavender creamer delivers subtle floral notes with a vanilla base. Additional seasonal flavours are planned for 2026. "Our new Too Good & Co creamers are crafted for those who want to enjoy real, high-quality ingredients and delicious flavor, all while feeling good about what's going in their cup," Olivia Sanchez, senior vice president of creamers at Danone North America. Too Good & Co said the move into creamers builds on consumer demand for everyday products with reduced sugar and recognisable ingredients. The creamers will be available at retailers across the US with an SRP of $5.99 per bottle.

Lucky Energy, a US-based clean-energy drink brand, has closed an oversubscribed $25 million Series B funding round led by Paine Schwartz Partners, with participation from North Fifth Services, LLC, Sequel and Joyance Partners, alongside existing investors. The funding underscores a growing change in the energy drink market, with consumers demanding more clean options. The capital will support Lucky Energy’s retail growth, expand marketing initiatives and strengthen team development as the company scales. As part of the round, Lucky Energy added two new members to its board of directors: James Brennan, founder and CEO of Enlightened Brand Ventures, and Bob DeBorde, chairman of Suja Life and Promix Nutrition. They join Dan Ginsberg, former Red Bull North America CEO. “Lucky Energy is redefining what consumers expect from energy drinks,” said DeBorde. “By combining great taste with clean, functional ingredients, the brand is positioned to lead the next wave of growth in the category.” Founded by Richard Laver, Lucky Energy has built its brand around simplicity and functionality. Each can contains just five ingredients – including maca and beta-alanine – with zero sugar, zero calories and no artificial additives. The brand’s focus on clean formulation and transparency has resonated strongly with consumers seeking sustained, feel-good energy without the crash of traditional energy drinks. Laver said: “Lucky Energy was born from two core beliefs: that people deserve a cleaner, simpler energy drink they can feel genuinely good about. With partners like James and Bob, both proven leaders who have built iconic beverage brands, we’re building a modern energy powerhouse.” The new funding follows the sell-out launch of Lucky Energy’s Black Label line, which was available exclusively online.