Starbux steams up
fans and baristas

Cafe service 'refresh' causes
mixed and pricey reactions 

Improved service, better seating and heartfelt messages are at the heart of Brian Niccol’s turnaround plan at Starbucks, but baristas say they’re under pressure. Niccol said “The thing I’m happy about the ‘Back to Starbucks’  strategy, it’s been well received by partners and customers".  Obviously, not so well as this NYTimes study by Julie Creswell has discovered....

Kraft Heinz breaks
up 10yrs marriage 

CEO: "It will unleash power of
brands & unlock the potential"

A decade after its merger created a global food giant, Kraft Heinz said  it planned to split the two companies....Groceries and Sauces. CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera said “It will unleash the power of brands and unlock potential”. Really? Yet it has struggled as consumers purchase less processed food. Moreover, major shareholder BerksHath (27%) is "disappointed". Full story here, first...

Nestlé fires CEO
post conduct probe

Appoints coffee brands chief
Navratil w 

immediate effect

Nestlé's Board today announces Philipp Navratil has been appointed as CEO following the dismissal of Laurent Freixe with immediate effect. Freize was appointed ceo last year after 40 years with the world's largest food company. Full story here, first

RJSchinner splits
w Steve Schultz 

Foodservice wh/saler aims

for "more cultural cohesion"

Family owned, foodservice, hygiene supplies wholesaler RJSchinner signed ex-Essendant, SPR and Gojo leaderSteve Schultz in Apr'23. Last week ceo Ken Schinner announced Steve will be leaving saying "we feel this will best align our leaders to drive more cultural cohesion". Full story here first...

Smucker volumes
down, price boosted

Coffee & snacks demand dips.
High inflation to aid Q2 profits

JMSmucker, US beverage & foodservice brands supplier, reported inflated sales largely from coffee prices, as snack volumes fell in Q1'26. CEO Mark Smucker strangely commented "Q1 exceeded expectations reflecting continued momentum of the business". But, sales volume is down in all categories? Full analysis here, first

Keurig brews up
in Nestlé defence

KDP acquires rival, plans
spin-off Dr.Pep beverages

US drinks giant Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP)  is set to create a global coffee giant ($15Bn sales) to rival market leader Nestle ($26Bn) with an extravagant $18Bn takeover of Europe's Peet's Coffee ($10Bn sales). CEO Tim Cofer then plans to spin off the fast growing Dr.Pepper ($11Bn sales) to create 2 new hot and cold enterprises. Full story here, first

Coke gone cold
on Costa coffee 

For Sale! Drinks giant finds
retail far too hot to handle

The struggling UK coffee chain Costa is up for sale as Coca-Cola wants to unload it from its drinks empire. Coke bought it in 2019, since when its image, reputation and traffic has declined in comparison with Caffe Nero and Starbucks. CEO James Quincey spoke of “great opportunities for value creation” in 2019, but it has suffered heavy losses in recent years. Full analysis here, first

Amazon advances
same day delivery

Perishable food, meds svc to
1,000+ cities; 2,300 by Yr end

Amazon Prime  service can now get strawberries, milk, meats and frozen dinners on the same day as it expands iinto  perishable food items, Amazon said today. It is the latest move to outpace  services offered by Walmart+  and Instacart.

PFG:Powerful Food
Service  G r o w t h 

Acqu'ns boost growth. Case
volumes up double digit %'s

Performance Food Group inc.Vistar, the $63Bn US food & beverage services wholesaler reported powerful sales growth in Q4'25 as businesses & restaurants returned to 'normal'. CEO George Holm  commented "we continue to drive share gains across our business segments. Meanwhile, the board is considfering a takeover move by USFoods. Full analysis here, first 

Foodservice market
return decelerates

Is #3 US Foods gaining maket
share in US v giant #1 Sysco?

Foodservice supply leaders to restaurants & business #1 Sysco & #3 USFoods reported slower volume growth volume and prices, US Foods ceo Dave Flitman commented "We gained market share with independent restaurant, healthcare and hospitality customers" Comparative analysis here, first