Inside Joe & The Juice’s global expansion strategy for 2026 and beyond Few brands in the fast casual space have scaled with the same clarity of identity as Joe & The Juice. What began as a niche, lifestyle-driven concept has evolved into a globally recognised brand, now entering a new phase of accelerated expansion. In 2026, the company is not just growing, it is refining how it grows. With ambitions to surpass 1,000 locations globally by 2028, the focus has shifted from rapi

In 2026, innovation in food and beverage is no longer defined by product launches alone. It is measured by how effectively a company can integrate data, technology, and consumer insight into a cohesive, scalable system. PepsiCo is emerging as one of the clearest examples of this shift in action. Not through a single breakthrough, but through a consistent, system-wide approach to innovation that spans product, operations, and consumer experience. Moving beyond product-led inno

With plans to open more than 40 new locations, the brand is accelerating its expansion well beyond London, moving into new regions and formats, including suburban sites and high-footfall retail destinations. Backed by Bain Capital, GAIL’s remains focused on what made it successful in the first place: high-quality craft baking, thoughtful sourcing, and a clear point of view on sustainability. Growth hasn’t come at the expense of standards, it’s been built on them. The next pha

For much of the past decade, the role of the CIO was defined by infrastructure, stability, and cost control. Systems needed to run, data needed to be secure, and technology was often seen as a support function rather than a driver of growth. In 2026, that model no longer holds. Across restaurants, QSR, and hospitality, the CIO has moved to the centre of the business. Technology is no longer an enabler of strategy. It is the strategy. And the modern CIO is now responsible not

The playbook for food and beverage leadership is shifting. Scale alone is no longer enough. Today’s leaders are operating with greater precision, adaptability, and clarity of vision, as they navigate a more complex and fast moving global market. Across North America and Europe, a new set of priorities is emerging, reshaping how businesses operate, grow, and compete. Speed and simplicity have become critical. Menus are being refined, formats streamlined, and operations optimis

This achievement places Walmart in a rare group historically dominated by technology companies, highlighting how far the boundaries between retail and tech have blurred. What’s driving this shift is not just scale, but transformation. Walmart has steadily evolved from a physical retail giant into a digitally enabled ecosystem, investing heavily in e-commerce, automation, data infrastructure, and supply chain intelligence. The result is a business that increasingly operates le

While discussions are still at an early stage and valuation figures remain unconfirmed, the business, last valued at around $500m (£375m), could approach a $1bn (£750m) valuation depending on the outcome of the deal. Founded in 2020 in Brooklyn, Blank Street has scaled rapidly by tapping into younger, trend-driven consumer habits, with a strong focus on formats like matcha-based drinks and compact, high-footfall store locations. Since entering the UK in 2022 with openings in