Americas
Craft beer sector stutters in 2024
After a period of breakneck growth, the US craft beer sector faced challenges in 2024, with 399 breweries closing and only 335 opening, according to the Brewers Associations’ 2024 Year in Beer report. “Craft has been going through a painful period of rationalization as demand growth has slowed and retailers and distributors look to simplify their offerings or add options for flavor and variety outside of the craft category,” said Bart Watson, vice president of strategy and membership at the Brewers Association. Alongside these struggles, non-alcoholic beer sales surged, with year-over-year growth exceeding 30%. Overall, the craft beer industry contributed $77.1 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 460,000 jobs.
FDA finalizes new standards for ‘healthy’ food labels
The FDA has unveiled updated criteria for foods labeled as “healthy,” aligning with modern nutrition science. Foods such as nuts, seeds, salmon, olive oil, and canned fruits and vegetables now qualify, while items like white bread and sweetened cereals no longer meet the mark. Requirements include limits on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, along with mandatory inclusion of key food groups such as fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy. FDA officials hope the changes will encourage better dietary choices and prompt manufacturers to reformulate products. Starting in 2025, compliant foods can use the updated label, with a three-year transition for non-compliant items.
Asia Pacific
Taiwan FTC blocks Uber Eats-Foodpanda merger over competition concerns
Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has halted Uber’s $950 million acquisition of Foodpanda, citing significant anti-competitive risks. The deal would have combined the two largest food delivery platforms, resulting in a market share exceeding 90%. FTC vice-chairman Chen Chih-min warned that the merger would eliminate competitive pressure, likely leading to higher prices for consumers and increased commissions for restaurants. While the acquisition promised nationwide coverage, the FTC deemed corrective measures insufficient to address these concerns.
Security flaws in McDonald’s India delivery system expose customer data
Security vulnerabilities in McDonald’s India (West & South) McDelivery APIs exposed customer and driver data, allowing unauthorized access to orders and personal information, according to a report by TechCrunch. The flaws, caused by inadequate user permission verification, enabled potential exploitation, including redirecting or placing orders for just $0.01. The security flaws were discovered by Traceable AI security researcher Eaton Zveare, who warned these gaps may have risked access to hundreds of millions of orders. He reported them to McDonald’s in July, which resolved the issues by September but maintains that, despite the risks, no breaches occurred. This incident follows past security concerns, including a 2017 data leak impacting 2.2 million customers.
Europe, Africa, Middle East
Harrods staff consider legal action over £1 cover charge
Harrods hospitality staff may take legal action over a £1 cover charge added to customer bills, which they claim is not shared with workers, according to reports from The Guardian. The move follows new tipping laws, which requires businesses to allocate all tips and service charges to staff. Workers, supported by union Unite, are preparing to approach conciliation service Acas as a step toward an employment tribunal. Harrods, which passes 100% of service charges to staff, had previously defended the fee, saying it supports “premium environments” in its restaurants. Operators found to be in breach of the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act at an employment tribunal could be fined up to £5,000 per worker.
National Geographic predicts a return to joy and fun in 2025
A National Geographic report has forecast a fun-filled 2025 for foodservice. Supercharged sandwiches are expected to dominate UK lunchtimes, with cult shops like Sandwich Sandwich planning major expansions. Clarified cocktails ‒ crystal-clear mixed drinks with impurities and solids removed ‒ are set to continue dazzling globally, while chefs plan to keep elevating the common crisp to gourmet levels. Other trends poised to dominate 2025 include bookshop bars, many of which ban laptops and Wi-Fi after 5pm, Korean sool drinks like soju and makgeolli, craft limoncello, and gourmet “haute dogs.”
Elly Earls
