AGP Executive Report

Seafood Safety: A fire at Pacific Seafood’s Newport, Oregon, plant prompted evacuations over fears of ammonia contamination. Officials later found the tank intact, with no apparent leak. Food Standards: Delhi inspectors destroyed more than 900 kilograms of adulterated or spoiled festive foods, while Maharashtra seized 43.56 tonnes of food stock in a separate crackdown. Food Access: Foodbank Australia says one in three households experienced food insecurity in the past year. In Gaza, flour shortages put the enclave’s last seven operating bakeries at risk of closure. Industry Moves: PepsiCo is closing a Tennessee bottling plant amid declining soft-drink volumes, even as it secures an 11-year Taco Bell beverage deal. Vita Coco, meanwhile, raised its full-year guidance after reporting third-quarter results. Waste Reduction: A World Wildlife Fund report says up to 40% of food served in US schools is wasted, but one Georgia elementary school cut waste by about 70% through student-led efforts.

Corporate Results: Nestlé’s third-quarter organic sales rose 4%, beating forecasts as volumes rebounded 2.8%. It kept its 2026 growth outlook, with volume growth outpacing price increases for the first time since 2024. Food Safety: Maharashtra seized 43.56 tonnes of suspected substandard or adulterated food and 719 litres of milk and ghee in a statewide crackdown; 564 litres of milk were destroyed. Food Access: US SNAP enrollment fell 13% to 36.5 million between July 2025 and June 2026 after benefit restrictions, raising concern that more families will turn to food banks or go hungry. Digital Food: Just Eat apologised after AI-generated menu pictures produced bizarre depictions of dishes, including a jacket potato shown as an actual jacket. Consumer Trends: A UK survey found 69% of respondents would consider eating less meat and dairy to improve food security.

Food Safety: Maharashtra’s FDA seized 43.56 tonnes of suspected substandard or adulterated food and 719 litres of milk and ghee, worth a combined Rs 1.56 crore. Separately, the state suspended a Blinkit unit’s licence over allegedly expired products, while Georgia’s food agency reported contaminants in Turkish olive oil. Beverage Supply: India extended aluminium-can certification deadlines for beer and soft-drink makers amid shortages that are constraining production. Company Results: Unilever Nigeria reported a 20% rise in nine-month profit and raised its interim dividend fourfold. Food Prices: Sri Lanka’s food inflation rose for a sixth straight month, reaching 6.9%, as global food prices continue to climb.

Food Supply: Sabah is targeting a rise in rice self-sufficiency from 22% to 40% by 2030, alongside investment in farm support, infrastructure, technology, market links and climate resilience. Commodity Markets: Wheat prices sank to three-month lows on ample global supplies and hopes for renewed Russia-Ukraine talks, though Black Sea disruption keeps markets vulnerable. A separate S&P Global report warns that diesel costs, tight fertilizer inputs and El Niño could push food prices higher. Retail Rules: A Canadian report recommends a voluntary supermarket code to curb supplier fees and discounts; Sobeys is the only major chain to sign on so far. Beverage Deals: PepsiCo renewed its exclusive Taco Bell distribution deal for 11 years, even as KFC switches its main U.S. soda supplier to Coca-Cola. Food Safety: Hyderabad authorities seized 1,035 kg of food and suspended three sweet-shop licences after festive-season inspections found hygiene and storage violations.

Produce Trade: Fruit Attraction 2026 drew 128,364 professionals from 170 countries, up 6% year over year, as international exhibitors grew 23%. Food Company Moves: Colombia’s Grupo Nutresa agreed to acquire hamburger chain Presto, adding the troubled 45-year-old brand to its restaurant portfolio. Hershey plans to launch protein powder in January as it looks to adapt to consumers using weight-loss drugs. Grocery Delivery: Instacart has held preliminary sale talks with Uber and DoorDash, though no deal is assured. Farm Outlook: USDA corrected September corn data affected by a processing error but kept its October yield forecast at 181.2 bushels per acre. Food Access: Canadian food banks logged 2.35 million visits in March, up 8.7% from a year earlier; many say shortages are limiting how much food they can distribute. Agriculture and Environment: Fires in Papua’s Merauke region are worsening haze, with local watchdogs linking some blazes to land clearing for rice and sugarcane projects.

RTD Growth: BuzzBallz launched its eighth Puerto Rico flavor, Grapes Gone Wild, as the cocktail brand courts consumers with snack pairings and casual social occasions. Supply-Chain Risks: A new survey found 97% of food and beverage firms identified modern-slavery or serious labor-rights risks in their supply chains, while only 36% could show the impact of whistleblowing systems. Delivery Results: Swiggy’s second-quarter revenue rose 36% to ₹7,571 crore and its food-delivery business posted record adjusted EBITDA of ₹341 crore, but quick-commerce losses helped widen its overall loss from the previous quarter. Eating-Out Trends: Malaysian households spent more on meals outside the home than on food at home in 2024, with rising costs and lifestyle shifts cited as possible drivers. Supply Disruption: A truckers’ strike in southern Italy left supermarket shelves empty, stranded farm produce and forced some producers to halt harvesting and production. Ingredients: Kerry reported 4.1% volume growth in its third quarter.

Beverage Business: Boston Beer’s third-quarter revenue fell 3.2% to $520.1 million as shipments declined, though gross margin improved. Taco Bell, meanwhile, extended its PepsiCo deal through 2036, while KFC is switching to Coca-Cola. Food Safety: India’s FSSAI flagged Nestlé infant-formula claims and labeling on Nescafé ready-to-drink coffees; the company says its products comply with regulations. Supply Chain: Food-tech firm Share-ify launched an AI tool to help companies assess supplier risks using compliance and safety data. Agriculture: Sarawak’s first harvest of perennial rice on former swamp land could help raise the state’s rice self-sufficiency from 21% to 60% by 2030. Market Pressures: Canadian food banks logged a record 2.35 million monthly visits, up 9% in a year. In Nigeria, delivery apps account for just 1% of spending on meals prepared outside the home, with affordability and delivery fees limiting demand.

Beverage Results: Vita Coco’s third-quarter net sales jumped 34%, led by coconut water growth, and the company raised its full-year guidance. Kerry Group reported 4.1% volume growth and held its earnings outlook, while Nestlé’s sales growth gained pace as volumes improved. UK Drinks: Amber Beverage Group UK, a supplier of brands to Tesco and Asda, has entered administration after failed efforts to find a buyer. Sainsbury’s expects a tough run-up to Christmas but says sharp food-price rises have not materialized; it warns energy and fertilizer costs could push prices higher next year. Food Access: Canadian food banks logged a record 2.35 million visits in March, nearly double the 2019 level, as grocery and transport costs squeeze household budgets. Supply Chains: Italian trucker protests have disrupted food deliveries, leaving fresh produce and other perishables stranded. Lagos is targeting transport and storage bottlenecks to curb food waste and prices. Food Safety: Niger’s Bida council shut unlicensed ice cream facilities after inspectors found flies in production mixtures and serious hygiene lapses. Delivery Tech: Just Eat is removing inaccurate AI-generated menu images after the tool confused dishes and drinks, raising concerns about misleading customers.

Food Affordability: Canadian food banks recorded 2.35 million monthly visits in 2026, up nearly 9% in a year and 117% since 2019. Children made up nearly a third of visits, as food prices rose about 30% since 2021. Restaurant Outlook: U.S. fast-food traffic fell 2.6% last quarter, and several major chains are bracing for weak sales as earnings season begins. Restaurant Marketing and Tech: Sweetgreen says creator campaigns helped its wraps launch, using more than 500 micro- and mid-tier influencers. OpenTable reports rising reservation demand, while restaurants are weighing how to stop AI agents from crowding out diners. Food Waste: Caesars’ catering teams say they cut event waste by forecasting attendance, adjusting production in stages and donating eligible surplus through recovery partners.

Food Delivery: Flipkart is testing its “Eat-in by Minutes” service in Bengaluru with more than 8,000 employees, as it prepares to challenge Zomato and Swiggy. Beverage Deals: KFC will replace Pepsi with Coca-Cola at about 3,700 U.S. restaurants from 2027, ending a nearly 40-year partnership. Food Safety: More than 400 people near Pretoria fell ill after exposure to contaminated water; officials warned residents not to drink or cook with tap water. In Ahmedabad, authorities seized 10.6 tonnes of suspected fake ketchup made without tomatoes. Market Pressures: Global food prices are nearing a four-year high, while Canada’s monthly food-bank visits hit a record 2.35 million, up 117% since 2019. Drinks & Health: A U.S. survey found 44% of people who drank when starting GLP-1 medication reported drinking less within three months. Retail Investment: The UK government invested $15 million for a roughly 13% stake in Kenya’s QuickMart, ahead of the supermarket chain’s planned IPO.

Bakery Expansion: Porto’s Bakery will open its first Inland Empire location in Ontario, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and opening planned for 2028. Food Safety: Lidl recalled its Gelatelli coffee-and-vanilla gelato after testing found possible Listeria contamination; no illnesses have been reported. Rising Costs: Tucson vegan restaurant Lovin’ Spoonfuls will close Saturday after produce costs surged, with cauliflower reaching $60 a case. Trade Costs: Food importer Gellert Global is suing to block 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports, including cheese, in a case that could affect supply costs and prices. Beverage Business: Courtenay’s Gladstone Brewing was named B.C. Brewery of the Year, taking home four additional medals.

Food Safety: Authorities in three Sichuan counties are investigating vendors accused of using banned sulfur to preserve bamboo shoots; processing materials and products have been sealed. Supply Disruption: Truck drivers’ protests over fuel and living costs have halted or curtailed pasta production across Italy’s key producing regions, with Rummo suspending output after running short of ingredients. U.S. Recall: Kayem Foods is recalling about 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry over possible unsafe storage temperatures. No illnesses have been reported. Market Entry: Flipkart is preparing a food-delivery launch in India, building a dedicated rider fleet and restaurant network to compete with Zomato and Swiggy. Digital Commerce: Danone is aligning its teams around AI-powered shopping, aiming to make its brands easy for automated systems to find while appealing to consumers. Produce Trade: Malaysia is weighing new measures to protect local fruit and vegetable growers from a glut of imports, including whether to strengthen requirements for imported produce.

Food Safety: Kayem Foods is recalling more than 1.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry after a warehouse cooling failure led to unsafe storage temperatures. No illnesses have been reported. New Products: Lay’s is rolling out holiday-inspired chips, including turkey, scalloped-potato and maple-bacon flavors, with chocolate-covered varieties due in December. Wine Trade: New Zealand exporters will get improved access to India under a new trade deal that gradually cuts wine tariffs over the next decade. Restaurant Demand: South Australian venues say bookings jumped after the first Michelin Guide for the state named 77 restaurants, including 11 with stars. Food Aid: Funding shortages have forced the World Food Programme to cut assistance for 500,000 people in Gaza and 200,000 in the West Bank. Market Oversight: Officials in Kano, Nigeria, sealed grain warehouses suspected of using banned chemicals to preserve food, as investigations continue.

Retail Trends: Grocery visits rose 1% in January–August, but value grocers are gaining ground with some shoppers while fresh and specialty stores attract others. Gen Z remains hard to win: brands need to earn trust and show authenticity. Seasonal Marketing: UK Halloween spending is forecast to hit £705 million, as snack brands use novelty flavours and playful packaging; Party Rings’ 2025 seasonal range brought in 200,000 shoppers and £650,000 in added category sales. Food Safety: Kuwait inspectors issued 48 violation reports in a market crackdown, while Latvia blocked an Armenian-declared tea shipment over pesticide residues. Agriculture & Supply: Origin Agritech signed a three-year exclusive corn-seed distribution deal in Shandong and received an initial RMB 2.9 million payment. Food Access: The World Food Programme will cut aid to 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza as funding shortages force smaller rations and fewer daily hot meals.

Food Safety: Kayem Foods recalled about 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry after temperature problems in a warehouse cooler; no illnesses have been confirmed. A second Starfish smoked-salmon recall over possible Listeria contamination adds to a week of product alerts. Regulation: India’s FSSAI proposed new pesticide-residue limits for tea and a ban on added sugar in foods for infants under six months, while tightening storage and transport rules for perishables. Foodservice: Indonesia’s free-meals program faces a major safety test, with health ministry data citing more than 50,000 suspected food-poisoning cases across 36 provinces. Markets: USDA raised U.S. corn production and ending-stock forecasts, while New Zealand dairy exporters urged the next government to back trade, infrastructure and science-based food regulation to unlock further growth. Industry Moves: KFC is switching its beverage partner from PepsiCo to Coca-Cola, and 7-Eleven is adding hot-food counters at 16 Singapore stores. Menu Trends: A World Resources Institute report says food providers are cutting emissions with more plant-forward menus, though cost and consumer preferences remain hurdles.

Food Safety: Indian authorities have booked Reliance and quick-commerce officials in a probe into allegedly expired food being returned to the market, after seizing stock worth ₹48 lakh. In Ahmedabad, inspectors sealed a factory making ketchup-like sauce without tomatoes and seized more than 10 tonnes of products and ingredients. Retail Strategy: Sainsbury’s faces investor questions over growth as it prepares to report results, with ended merger talks with Morrisons and the Argos sale renewing debate about how it can compete with Tesco. Food-to-Go: UK convenience sales are forecast to reach £49.1 billion in 2026, with food-to-go a key growth driver as shoppers seek affordable meals and snacks. Regulation: India’s food regulator has proposed banning added sugar in foods for babies up to six months old. Food Security: The UN warns 15.9 million people in Afghanistan face acute food insecurity, with conditions expected to worsen this winter.