The airline’s latest IPA, dubbed Cloud Cruiser, will be served as a complimentary beverage in first and premium class, and will be available for purchase in the main cabin.
Alaska Airlines partnered with Fremont Brewing to develop a range of beer blends. These blends underwent taste testing at 30,000 feet until both collaborators settled on Cloud Cruiser: an India Pale Ale infused with orange, melon, and tropical flavors.
Todd Traynor-Corey, Alaska Airlines’ managing director of guest products, said, “The Cloud Cruiser is the result of two Pacific Northwest brands coming together…The only place in the world you’ll be able to find this one-of-a-kind craft beer is if you’re flying on Alaska or in one of our lounges.”
Matt Lincecum, Fremont Brewing’s founder and owner, commented, “Cloud Cruiser IPA is brewed with a select blend of malts and Washington-grown to stay fresh in the air.”
Califia Farms, a leading dairy alternative brand, has introduced Califia Farms Complete, a plant-based milk that offers similar nutritional value to dairy.
Crafted from a fusion of pea, chickpea, and fava bean protein, this plant-based milk boasts nine essential nutrients, eight grams of protein, all nine crucial amino acids, and half the sugar content found in traditional dairy milk.
An 8oz serving of this plant-based milk provides equivalent or higher levels of nine essential nutrients compared to an equivalent serving of dairy milk. These nutrients include protein, calcium, vitamins A, D, and B12, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and riboflavin.
According to Mintel data, Califia Farms noted that while plant-based milks are favored for their taste and relatively lower fat, sugar, and calorie content compared to dairy milk, their new product caters to the 60% of consumers worried about nutrient deficiencies when consuming plant-based beverages.
Available in a 40oz refrigerated format, this product is free from the nine major allergens identified by the FDA: milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soybeans, or sesame. Additionally, it is certified non-GMO Project Verified.
Suzanne Ginestro, chief marketing officer of Califia Farms, commented, “The launch of Califia Farms Complete is a stand-out addition to our product portfolio and signals a shift in the way we think about plant-based milks.”
She added, “This product is not only irresistibly delicious and creamy, but it also delivers an undeniably impressive number of vitamins and minerals that rival that of dairy milk.”
Califia Farms is expanding its dairy-free beverage line-up with the addition of five new items, alongside the Califia Farms Complete.
The Matcha Almond Latte features authentic matcha green tea powder combined with Califia’s almond milk. Designed for optimal steaming and frothing, the Organic Oat and Coconut Barista Blends are perfect for barista use. Additionally, the Pure Black Sweetened Ice Coffee base is brewed to seamlessly blend with Califia’s plant-based milk and creamers.
Exclusively available for a limited time, the Chocolate Strawberry Almond Creamer provides a sweet alternative to traditional dairy creamers, infusing delightful strawberry and chocolate flavors.
The newly launched products are currently accessible at chosen retailers throughout the US, including Target, Walmart, and Kroger.
Café Barbera, the renowned Italian-based coffee chain, has announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia (KSA) through a partnership with Big Apple Sweets, a foodservice operator based in the United Arab Emirates.
The partners plan to open ten new outlets throughout the region by February 2025.
The first outlet is set to open its doors in Riyadh by March 2024.
The coffee chain revealed its plan during the Gulfood 2024 event.
Café Barbera founder and CEO Enrico Barbera said, “Gulfood serves as the perfect platform to announce our venture into KSA. We are delighted to introduce Café Barbera’s rich heritage to Riyadh, offering a true Italian coffee experience that will resonate with the local community.”
Big Apple Sweets CEO Eisa Adam Ibrahim said, “We are honoured to take our partnership further, to take Café Barbera in bringing their unique Italian coffee culture to the KSA. Their dedication to quality and tradition perfectly aligns with our values, and we are confident that our offerings will be embraced by the Saudi market.”
In addition to its expansion in Saudi Arabia, Café Barbera has also extended its reach to Greece by opening its first store in Athens in November 2023.
The new establishment not only marks the brand’s entry into its fifth European market but also unveils its inaugural mini-store concept in Europe.
Café Barbera began as a coffee roaster in 1870. Its first franchised coffee shop was launched in Dubai in 2004.
It operates 40 establishments across 18 markets, with eight in the UAE and additional locations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan.
IPO-bound Swiggy is set to change its registered name from Bundl Technologies Private Limited to Swiggy Private Limited, following a resolution passed earlier this month by the shareholders of the food delivery giant.
“The same (change in name) was in line with the Management belief that the change in the name of the Company will help establish greater proximity and identification of the Company’s corporate name with the Company’s core brand, ‘Swiggy’,” the startup said in the resolution.
This development comes at a crucial time for the food delivery giant as it prepares for its initial public offering (IPO). Renaming will enable the startup to trade under the name “Swiggy” on the stock exchanges.
As part of its IPO preparations scheduled for later this year, Swiggy also named Anand Kripalu as an independent director and chairperson of its board of directors in December of last year. Previously, Kripalu served as the managing director and global CEO of Essel Propack Ltd.
Before that, the startup added three new independent directors to its board last year: Sahil Barua, the MD and CEO of Delhivery; Mallika Srinivasan, the MD and chairman of TAFE; and Shailesh Haribhakti, the chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates. However, earlier this month, Srinivasan resigned from her role as an independent director at Swiggy.
The Bengaluru-headquartered startup aims to debut on the stock exchanges around mid-2024. Anticipated to reach a size of $1 billion (INR 8,300 crore), its public offering is already being hailed as one of the largest IPOs among new-age tech firms.
Swiggy contends with Zomato in India’s food delivery sector, which largely operates as a duopoly. However, both are also challenged by the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
In FY23, the Invesco-backed decacorn reported a net loss of INR 4,179.3 Cr, marking a 15% increase from INR 3,628.9 Cr in the previous financial year. Swiggy’s operating revenue surged over 40% to INR 8,264.4 Cr in FY23 from INR 5,704.9 Cr in FY22 as it scaled up its quick commerce vertical during the year.
The foodtech giant saw its expenditure rise by over 35% to INR 12,884.4 Cr in FY23, compared to INR 9,574.5 Cr in the previous fiscal year.
Valued at over $10 billion, Swiggy has raised over $3 billion in funding to date. Notable backers include industry giants such as SoftBank, Prosus Ventures, and DST Global.
It’s worth noting that Swiggy’s competitor, Zomato, has reported three consecutive profitable quarters in the current financial year thus far.
KFC is adding a zesty twist to its menu with the introduction of the Chizza, a unique pizza-inspired creation. Instead of traditional pizza dough, the Chizza features two 100% white meat extra crispy fried chicken filets as the base, generously topped with zesty marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni, as announced in a press release.
Initially introduced on menus in the Philippines in 2015, the Chizza has since expanded its presence to various countries including Korea, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Germany, Spain, and Mexico. The eagerly awaited item is set to debut in U.S. markets on February 26th.
“Fried chicken and pizza collaborated to create something even better — the Chizza,” Nick Chavez, CMO, KFC U.S., said in the release. “The fan-favorite mashup is finally available in the U.S. after making its way around the world — try it while you can!”
In honor of its launch in the United States, KFC will convert its New York City restaurant at 242 E 14th St. into an exclusive “Chizzeria” pop-up. Here, customers will have the unique opportunity to be the first to taste the Chizza at no cost. The Chizzeria will be open for a limited time from February 23rd to February 24th, operating from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
KFC has a presence in over 150 countries and territories, boasting a network of more than 27,000 restaurants worldwide.
Dole Food Company has partnered with the clean supplement brand Beam Be Amazing to broaden its footprint in the health and wellness sector.
The collaboration kicks off with the launch of ‘Beam x Dole Super Greens,’ featuring orange, peach, and mango flavors infused with a blend of 35 fruits and vegetables per serving, along with prebiotic fiber, digestive enzymes, antioxidants, essential vitamins, and minerals.
The new launch is devoid of artificial sweeteners or colors, and is non-GMO, gluten-free, and soy-free. It comes in powder format, making it versatile for adding to beverages or food.
The NPD also incorporates Spectra, a clinically proven formula described by Beam Be Amazing as enhancing antioxidant levels, bolstering the immune system, and enhancing overall cellular health.
Elisabeth Morris, director for brand and licensing at Dole Food Company, added, “We are thrilled to partner with Beam to leverage Dole’s bold flavours and bring a taste of paradise to everyone in a new way! Beam’s focus on educating consumers aligns so well with our mission at Dole around nutritional education. We hope that this product will encourage more people on their health and wellness journey.”
Russell Saks, CEO of Beam Be Amazing, said, “Since the inception of our Super Greens product, we have always thought Dole was a natural fit for a product collaboration. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with a company that not only makes great products but shares our values and mission, as well.”
Beam also forged a partnership with popular juice brand Sunny D, collaborating to create a nostalgic blend that offers consumers an all-encompassing wellness formula for their daily routines.
Delivery Hero has halted discussions regarding the potential sale of its Foodpanda business in certain Southeast Asian markets.
The German-based online food ordering platform was in talks to sell off its operations in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Delivery Hero co-founder and CEO Niklas Östberg said, “The strength of our APAC [Asia Pacific] business has become evident during the last quarters as the region reached an inflection point in 2023.
“We believe the region remains strongly positioned to drive profitable growth at scale. The decision to terminate negotiations after months of discussions was taken after careful consideration.”
On February 2nd, 2024, Delivery Hero reiterated its ongoing discussions and conveyed optimism about reaching favorable terms with the primary negotiating party.
The company was confident that it had reached consensus with the prospective buyer on the essential terms of the sale.
However, circumstances have shifted, prompting Delivery Hero to retract from the negotiations.
Delivery Hero said in a statement, “As always, the company will remain open to mergers and acquisitions and will continue to assess potential strategic alternatives.
“However, Delivery Hero will only proceed with negotiations where it can create value for shareholders with high certainty of closing.
“Delivery Hero continues to exercise a disciplined investment policy aimed at maximising profitable growth and free cash flow generation in its operations.”
In late January 2024, Delivery Hero offered 68 million Class A shares in Deliveroo to institutional investors for settlement on February 1st.
The shares translate to an approximately 4.5% stake and mark Delivery Hero’s exit from the London-based firm.
The German company placed the Deliveroo shares for £1.13 ($1.43) per share with institutional investors in an accelerated bookbuilding process.
Costa Coffee has collaborated with retail behemoth Sainsbury’s to introduce in-store cafes within the supermarket chain’s premises.
Under the agreement, Costa Coffee will allocate £3 million for the establishment of 11 cafes during 2024. This influx of openings is anticipated to generate around 100 employment opportunities.
Nick Ridley, Property Director at Costa Coffee, said, “We are excited to join forces with Sainsbury’s, bringing our much-loved Costa Coffee experiences to shoppers nationwide. We’re proud that we will soon be able to make a difference to customers looking to catch up with friends and family over lunch or enjoy a beloved Costa coffee after their weekly shop.”
The first of these 11 cafes opened at Sainsbury’s Farlington Superstore in Portsmouth on February 15, 2024.
According to scientists who have evaluated the “biodiversity footprints” of 151 popular dishes worldwide, India’s idli, chana masala, rajma, and chicken jalfrezi rank among the top 25 dishes contributing significantly to biodiversity loss.
The scientists have assigned the highest biodiversity footprint score to lechazo, a roast lamb recipe from Spain, followed by four beef or meat preparations from Brazil. Their calculations place the idli at rank six followed by rajma (kidney beans curry) ranked seven.
As anticipated, vegan and vegetarian dishes typically exhibited lower biodiversity footprints compared to those containing meat. However, the researchers noted it was unexpected to discover that dishes centered around rice and legumes as primary ingredients also displayed high biodiversity footprints.
“The large impacts of legumes and rice in India was a surprise, but when you think about it, it makes sense,” remarked Luis Roman Carrasco, the lead researcher and associate professor of biological sciences at the National University of Singapore.
Carrasco and his team evaluated the biodiversity footprint of each of the 151 dishes by examining the probable impact of the ingredients in each dish on the diversity and habitat range of wild mammals, birds, and amphibians within the croplands where these ingredients are sourced.
According to the scientists, although taste, price, and health often dictate food choices, conducting studies that assign biodiversity impact scores to dishes could assist environmentally conscious individuals in customizing their dietary selections.
Published on Wednesday in the journal PLOS One, their study emerges amid growing apprehensions regarding biodiversity decline, predominantly propelled by habitat loss stemming from agricultural expansion. Previous research has approximated that food consumption by an average household contributes to 20% to 30% of its overall environmental impact.
“In our analysis, the biodiversity footprint represents the amount of species that have been at least partially impacted to produce that dish,” Carrasco said. “The biodiversity footprint gives us an idea of how many species we’re pushing closer to extinction by eating that dish.”
Multiple earlier studies have flagged the negative environmental impacts of non-vegetarian food based on livestock rearing. The large biodiversity footprints of rice and legumes may be explained by land conversion for agriculture.
India stands as a leading producer of legumes, including chickpeas and kidney beans, while also boasting a rich biodiversity with an estimated seven to eight percent of species. Legumes and rice are cultivated extensively in regions that historically served as biodiversity hotspots.
Among the top 25 dishes with the largest biodiversity footprints are several Brazilian meat dishes, a Korean meat and vegetable stew, as well as meat and pork dishes from Mexico. Additionally, chicken jalfrezi ranks 19th, dal 20th, and chana masala 22nd in the list.
In the study, French fries were designated with the lowest biodiversity footprint, occupying the 151st rank. Other dishes with minimal biodiversity footprints include baguettes, pureed tomato sauce, and popcorn. India’s aloo paratha held the 96th position, dosa the 103rd, while the bonda, a fried dish of mashed potato coated with chickpea paste, was placed at 109th.
Although rice and legume dishes received high scores, Carrasco noted that India has managed to coexist reasonably well with biodiversity, considering its large population. He emphasized that India’s significant proportion of vegetarians is beneficial for biodiversity conservation.
“If Indians were to shift to more meat consumption and production the impact on biodiversity would be much higher,” he said. “This study is a reminder that the pressures on biodiversity in India are very high.”
Diageo-owned brand Captain Morgan has introduced a new line of ready-to-drink cocktail-inspired malt beverages, called Captain Morgan Sliced.
Captain Morgan Sliced offers four malt-based flavors: pineapple daiquiri, which harmonizes lime with pineapple notes; strawberry margarita, merging lime with succulent strawberry for a fruity twist; Passionfruit hurricane, showcasing tropical passionfruit, lemon, and orange flavors; and mango Mai Tai, combining citrus and pineapple with mango nuances.
Laura Merritt, CMO of Diageo Beer Company, said, “We didn’t just want to introduce another new canned drink – we wanted to slice through the ordinary with an offering that compliments the adventurous spirit of our consumers. Captain Morgan has always been known and loved for its bold flavour, and we’re excited to shake up the category and introduce Captain Morgan Sliced to the world.”
Captain Morgan Sliced has an ABV of 5.8% and is available on shelves nationwide for an SRP of $19.99.
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