What took so long?: Cooks have been using beer in recipes for as long as there has been beer … and cooks. Now soup brand Campbell’s Chunky has teamed up with beer brand Pabst Blue Ribbon on two new flavor mashups—Campbell's Chunky x Pabst Blue Ribbon Beef, Bacon & Beer Chili with Beans and Campbell's Chunky x Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Cheese with Potatoes & Chorizo Soup. Chunky and Pabst Blue Ribbon hosted a dive bar takeover at Ray's Bar in New York City. Attendees were among the first to try out the new soup and chili paired with a PBR. In September, the two brands will embark on a food truck sampling tour this fall at Walmart stores. —Greg Lindenberg
The big guys thrive: In a tariff economy, retailers like Walmart and Amazon are grabbing market share from rivals via deals and convenience. Walmart has managed to keep price increases to a minimum by absorbing much of the tariff cost. And Amazon made improvements to its delivery network, which helped drive an 11% increase in online-store sales in the latest quarter. And while tariffs haven’t yet led to broad price increases for the big retailers, retail executives said more price hikes are coming. As to how all this will shake out, only time will tell. —Chloe Riley
Will this mashup bear fruit?: In a move that attempts to answer the age-old question—Is a tomato a fruit?—Heinz has teamed up with Smoothie King to create the Heinz Tomato Ketchup Smoothie, the first ketchup-based smoothie, which blends fruit with ketchup. The exclusive, limited-edition smoothie is available at select Smoothie King locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Miami and parts of the greater New York area and northern New Jersey, while supplies last. The new smoothie blends Acai sorbet, apple juice, strawberries and raspberries with ketchup, resulting in “a sweet and fruity smoothie with a bright, tangy ketchup finish,” the companies said. “After months of meticulous R&D, testing and tasting, we landed on a savory-sweet blend that celebrates the tomato in all its glory,” said Lori Primavera, vice president of research and development and product marketing at Smoothie King. —Greg Lindenberg
Report a shoplifter, receive a reward: U.K.-based supermarket chain Iceland has come up with a new way to catch shoplifters. The retailer said shoppers who alert staff to a theft in progress will receive a 1 pound (about $1.35) credit on their Iceland Bonus Card, the BBC reported. Iceland said customers shouldn’t directly interact with any shoplifters, but instead, find the nearest member of staff and alert them with a detailed description of the suspected shoplifter. The company estimates shoplifting costs its business around 20 million pounds–or nearly $27 million–each year. —Hannah Hammond
Flavor forecast: This autumn and winter, five trends are reshaping the global confectionery landscape: functional benefits, premium indulgence, clean-label ingredients, bold international flavors and festive innovation, according to Confectionery News. Today’s consumers want more from their sweets—be it a chocolate bar packed with stress-soothing Reishi or a chewy delight infused with ashwagandha for cognitive support. At the same time, indulgence is getting a serious upgrade. Luxurious ingredients, gourmet touches and artisanal craftsmanship are in high demand, as consumers seek little moments of affordable luxury. Clean-label expectations are rising too, with shoppers scanning ingredient lists for natural, organic and plant-based options. Meanwhile, flavor is going global: matcha, spicy chocolate and alcohol-inspired profiles with a twist. And of course, confectionery truly shines during the festive season. Limited-edition launches, seasonal flavors and eye-catching packaging help drive sales spikes around Halloween and Christmas. The global functional confectionery market is expected to hit $136.78 billion by 2033. —Rachel Gignac
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