Weekly Roundup – Week of 9.1.25
September 5, 2025
Discover this week’s hottest food and beverage news– all curated by our team of strategists and food enthusiasts:
Hear What’s Propelling The Specialty Food Industry
Discover the biggest forces guiding the specialty food industry in 2025, from inflation and tariffs to bold new flavor trends and shifting shopper habits. Food Institute CEO Brian Choi and MenuData CEO Sunny Khamkar share insider insights on where consumers are buying, what cuisines are rising, and which demographics are driving change. Recorded live at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, this conversation reveals the trends every food professional needs to know now. Listen Now
Starbucks Taps Into AI-Powered Inventory Tech
Starbucks recently announced the nationwide deployment of an AI-powered inventory counting system across its over 11,000 company-owned stores in North America. The system—developed with NomadGo—uses computer vision, 3D spatial intelligence, and augmented reality to scan and track inventory up to eight times more frequently, improving visibility and reducing stockouts of high-demand ingredients. Expect other chains to explore similar AI-driven supply chain technologies in the coming year. Learn More
Instacart For Independents!
Instacart has forged a strategic partnership with Merchants Distributors, LLC (MDI), a wholesaler supplying over 600 independent grocers across 12 states, to bring Instacart’s Storefront Pro platform and app-based same-day delivery capabilities to local stores. This enables smaller grocers to adopt fully customizable e-commerce storefronts, access data analytics, and tap into retail media via Instacart’s Carrot Ads advertising ecosystem. Other wholesalers and grocery groups may follow suit, leveraging tech licensing and marketplace infrastructure to accelerate digital transformation for their networks. Read Article
It’s All About The Bevvies
Energy Drinks Take the Spotlight: Energy drinks are outperforming other beverages, with 6.3% year-over-year unit growth through mid-July 2025, even as RTD coffee and tea stagnate or decline. As consumers reel from steep coffee prices (up 14.5% YoY in July), energy drinks offer a more affordable caffeine option—typically around $3.45 per can versus $3–6 for coffee—delivering better value perception and menu accessibility. Read Story
Dirty Soda: Customization Fuels Hype: The “dirty soda” revolution—carbonated drinks combined with creamers, syrups, fruit purees, and more—has captured Gen Z attention and driven 42% menu growth from a low base (~2% menu penetration). Its viral success is tied to social media buzz (social mentions surged 270%) and Instagram-worthy presentation. Now, chains such as McDonald’s, KFC, Sonic, and national soda brands are launching their own takes to capitalize on this high-margin, high-engagement beverage trend. Read Story
Coffee Prices: A Cliff’s Edge: Global coffee prices have surged to 50-year highs, driven by climate disruptions and severe supply shortages in key origins like Brazil, Vietnam, and Central America. U.S. tariffs have added further upward pressure, with recent U.S. tariff hikes accelerating retail costs and narrowing margins for roasters and retailers alike. Read Story
Takeaway: These trends showcase a broader shift in beverage consumption. Rising coffee costs are driving consumers toward energy drinks, while the playful customization of dirty sodas is setting a new benchmark for engagement-driven, premium non-alcoholic offerings. Retailers and foodservice operators may consider leaning into functional alternatives and creative formats as value, novelty, and viral potential reshape the competitive arena.
More top stories. More trends and insights. Every Friday.
