The Americas
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste calls to stop food loss and waste
On 29 September 2026, the world marks the seventh International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW), renewing global calls to action to stop food loss and waste and build more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems. Food loss and waste account for an estimated 8-10% off global greenhouse gas emissions. Around 13% of food produced is lost globally after harvest and prior to reaching retail shelves and an additional 19% of food available to consumers is wasted in homes, restaurants, and shops. Yet 645 million people faced hunger in 2025, highlighting the urgent need to make food systems more efficient and equitable.
McDonalds reclaims top spot in global top 25 restaurant brands
McDonald’s reclaimed the top spot, with brand value up 5% to $42.6bn, in the world’s top 25 restaurant brands, which reached a combined brand value of $190.1bn in 2026 even as brand strength came under pressure across several leading chains, according to Brand Finance. Starbucks ranked second place despite a 4% decline in brand value to $37bn. Competition in key markets, particularly China, offset gains from improving store performance. KFC remained third, with brand value rising 8% to $16.5bn, supported by growth in China and continued international expansion.
Asia Pacific
KFC Korea signs agreement with KFC Taiwan and Hong Kong to increase collaboration
KFC Korea has signed a memorandum of understanding with KFC’s Taiwan and Hong Kong operations to deepen cooperation on menu development, marketing and restaurant operations. The agreement is the latest step in KFC Korea’s push to extend its menu and marketing expertise overseas. Under the partnership, the three markets will share operational expertise and collaborate on localized menus, joint promotions, customer engagement strategies and quality assurance.
APAC hotel investment appetite gains strong momentum in H1 2026
Strong investor appetite for APAC hotels has continued to strengthen in H1 of 2026, with investment activity reaching US$8bn, up 21% year-on-year, according to CBRE’s 2026 Asia Pacific Hotels & Hospitality Performance & Outlook Report.Japan, Mainland China, and Korea led activity during the first half of the year. It has accelerated as resilient travel demand, rising room rates and a shrinking development pipeline strengthened the sector’s appeal to investors, according to CBRE. “Hotels have become one of the most compelling real estate investment sectors in Asia Pacific,” Steve Carroll, CBRE’s head of Hotels & Hospitality for the region, said in the firm’s 2026 Asia Pacific Hotels & Hospitality Performance & Outlook report.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Subway signs deal to open 300 restaurants across five European markets
Subway has signed a new master franchise agreement with Emerging Bites Holdings GmbH (Emerging Bites) to open 300 restaurants across Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic over the next 10 years, marking its sixth new master franchise deal across EMEA in less than 18 months. Under the agreement, Emerging Bites will develop and operate Subway restaurants across the five markets and take over support for existing franchisees in the region. The group will introduce Subway’s latest restaurant design, develop digital ordering and loyalty capabilities, and invest in supply chain, marketing, and operational standards across the markets.
Report highlights Europeans’ confidence in food choices
New research from the EIT Food Consumer Observatory, published on 28 September, finds that Europeans who feel able to make good food choices rose from 60% in 2024 to 66% in 2025. Yet fewer than half consider food information itself reliable. Consumers are, however, becoming more confident in their own ability to separate reliable information from unreliable information, and 53% say they know where to find sources they can trust. The new report, Who do consumers believe?, is based on responses from around 20,000 consumers across 18 European countries.
Lauren Hurrell
