The Americas
CDC research shows over half of US calories come from ultra-processed foods
Americans get 55% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), a CDC study has found, with children consuming the most (61.9%). The release came as ex-FDA chief Dr David Kessler petitioned the agency to revoke the “generally recognised as safe” status of processed refined carbs like corn syrup and extruded flours, saying the public health benefit may be as significant as those achieved through the regulation of tobacco products. The proposal, tied to health secretary RFK Jr’s Make America Healthy Again initiative, could force sweeping food reform and hit plant-based brands reliant on binders and modified starches. The FDA has 180 days to respond to the petition.
Beyond Meat cuts jobs as sales slump hits foodservice
Beyond Meat will cut 6% of its North American workforce after second-quarter revenue fell nearly 20% to $75M. CEO Ethan Brown cited softness in US retail and sharp declines in certain international foodservice markets, where sales dropped 25.8% to $15.1M. The plant-based pioneer is accelerating cost-cutting and restructuring, naming an interim chief transformation officer. Industrywide, plant-based meat sales fell 7% in 2024, with unit sales down 11%, as foodservice and retail demand cooled amid economic pressures and consumer concerns over processing.
Asia Pacific
Foodpanda to double Pakistan business by 2028
Foodpanda plans to double its gross merchandise value in Pakistan within three years, betting on economic recovery to drive demand across the 35 cities it serves. The Delivery Hero-owned platform has weathered high inflation that forced rivals like Careem and Airlift to exit. With IMF loans boosting stability and credit ratings, Foodpanda sees strong potential in a market where consumers increasingly order online. CEO Muntaqa Peracha said, “You need to have a bit of patience to go through the peaks and the troughs and just survive. So we are figuring out what we can do as an organization to show that Pakistan still has potential.”
Robinhood turns food orders into soldier family support
Thai food delivery app Robinhood has launched “RBH4HERO,” a month-long campaign donating THB 10 per order to families of soldiers killed in recent Thai–Cambodian border clashes. Running until August 31, the initiative is fully funded by Robinhood and requires customers to enter the code at checkout, with no extra cost to them. The company says the campaign honours the soldiers’ sacrifices while fostering community support.
Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)
Harrods to drop big-name chef restaurants
Harrods is ending partnerships with chefs including Tom Kerridge, Calum Franklin, Gordon Ramsay and Masayoshi Takayama as it shifts to developing in-house dining concepts. Sushi by Masa, Kerridge’s Fish and Chips, and Franklin’s restaurant at The Georgian will close by the end of August, with Gordon Ramsay Burger shutting in January. The move follows a review of customer trends, including earlier dining times, and reverses years of focusing on celebrity chef tie-ups. Harrods will continue some partnerships with outside chefs, such as Pasta Evangelists and Kinoya Ramen Bar, while investing in new concepts that are set to launch in the coming months.
Saudi Arabia launches first food delivery robots
Saudi Arabia’s first autonomous food delivery service has debuted at Riyadh’s ROSHN Front Business District, through a partnership between developer ROSHN Group and delivery app Jahez. Licensed by the Transport General Authority, five GPS-enabled robots with cooling systems, sensors and cameras will deliver orders from nearby restaurants during working hours. The initiative aims to cut delivery times, reduce carbon emissions and ease congestion, with plans to expand to shopping malls and residential communities. Jahez says the launch marks a step toward wider automation in its logistics operations.
Elly Earls
