Americas
iFood and Uber team up in Brazil as platforms broaden their offerings
iFood has partnered with Uber to bring ride-hailing and delivery under one roof in Brazil, letting users book Uber rides directly through the iFood app. The move reflects a growing global trend of platforms bundling services ‒ from transport to grocery and meal delivery ‒ into a single digital ecosystem. A new Mobility tab on iFood and a Delivery tab on Uber will streamline access to both services. While membership programmes remain unchanged for now, the companies plan to explore joint offerings. The integration hopes to boost convenience and engagement among Brazil’s millions of app users.
In-N-Out drops Red Dye 40 from lemonade and shakes
In-N-Out is removing Red Dye 40 from its strawberry shakes and signature pink lemonade, replacing it with beta carotene and vegetable juice. The California-based burger chain is also transitioning from high fructose corn syrup to cane sugar in its ketchup and exploring new fry oils. The move fits with growing consumer demand for more natural ingredients and follows a wider shift in the US food industry to phase out synthetic dyes. In-N-Out has made several ingredient changes since 2017, including replacing Yellow Dye 5 with turmeric and eliminating artificial flavorings from shake and cocoa mixes.
Asia Pacific
Starbucks eyes revamp of China business amid growing competition
Starbucks is exploring a potential shake-up of its China operations, including a possible stake sale, as it seeks investor input on expansion plans. The coffee giant has hired a financial advisor to reach out to private equity and tech firms for feedback. With over 7,750 stores and $740m in net revenue in the quarter to March, China is Starbucks’ second-largest market ‒ but competition from fast-growing domestic rivals like Luckin and Cotti is intensifying. Luckin’s net revenue was US$1.2bn in the same period. There is no guarantee that the deal will go ahead, but prospective bidders are expected to submit initial feedback in the next few weeks. In April, Starbucks reported a 2% increase in consolidated net revenues in Q2 2025, reaching $8.8bn.
Restaurant faces backlash after wrongly accusing customer of non-payment
A Malaysian restaurant’s attempt to publicly shame a family for allegedly skipping out on their bill backfired when digital wallet receipts confirmed the meal had been paid in full. After sharing CCTV footage on social media, the restaurant faced backlash for failing to verify payment before posting. The wrongly-accused customer shared transaction records, forcing the eatery to delete the post and issue an apology. The incident sparked debate over digital privacy and public accusations, with legal experts pointing out potential breaches of Malaysia’s Penal Code and Communications Act. A timely reminder for everyone to keep your e-wallet receipts.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Snacking drives foodservice growth as mealtimes lose ground
Foodservice spending in Europe grew 1% in Q1 2025, despite a 1% dip in visits, according to new data from market research firm Circana. Younger consumers are reshaping the market, with over 50 million visits shifting from traditional meals to snacks in the past year. Afternoon and evening snacking are up 13% and 14% respectively, driven by flexible lifestyles and a demand for affordable options. Meanwhile, digital orders, dinner occasions and workplace canteens experienced modest growth. As the industry continues to battle economic pressure, Circana says embracing new consumption patterns will be key to brands’ future success.
Richard Caring in talks to sell stake in Ivy empire
Restaurateur Richard Caring is reportedly close to selling part of his UK hospitality empire, including the Ivy Collection and private members’ clubs such as Annabel’s, George and Harry’s Bar. Talks with IHC, an entity controlled by Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, could see Caring offload a £1bn+ stake in Troia, owner of the 40-strong Ivy restaurant group. A deal would support the overseas expansion of Caring’s brands. Troia reported revenues of £314.7m in 2023. Caring also owns Bill’s and high-end venues like Sexy Fish and Scott’s through Caprice Holdings.
Elly Earls
