Independents

A decidedly Montreal food: poutine. This rather simple dish is excellent in its basic form—french fries topped with gravy and cheese curds—and over the top with the variations that are now available.

As consumers and retailers seek more from their beverages, major manufacturers have mined multiple ways to draw their attention. Here’s a look at where their research and development teams moved in 2014.

For years, diet CSDs traded on the promise of fewer calories and, thus, fewer pounds packed onto consumers. In 2013, that promise hit the fan as online campaigns suggested the most common sweetener in the category—aspartame—is the source of numerous health issues.