Food & Drink

Las Vegas – October 07, 2026 -- Lucky Energy debuted a complete brand overhaul at the NACS Show, swapping its old can design for a stark black-and-white look that will hit shelves at select retailers, Amazon, and luckyenergy.co starting in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The redesign, developed with creative agency Dayjob, keeps the brand's signature tape graphic but strips away color except for flavor-specific accents. The company says the minimalist approach makes the simple, zero-sugar, zero-calorie formula easier to understand at a glance.

The company adopts a new mission statement built around gratitude

Lucky's updated tagline, "Every day is a miracle," reframes luck as something consumers create rather than wait for. Founder Richard Laver said the new identity is "cleaner, sharper, and more grown-up" while keeping the brand's original emotional core intact.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – October 07, 2026 -- The 6th Annual Pumpkins & Palm Trees Fall Festival returns to Las Olas Oceanside Park on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with free admission and an expanded lineup of carnival rides, a student pie-baking contest and a musical trick-or-treat trail.

Presented by the City of Fort Lauderdale Beach Business Improvement District (BBID), the family event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Las Olas Oceanside Park, 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd., with the Oceanside Community MKT open separately from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free admission covers photo stations, STEM exhibits and candy games

Entry to the festival itself costs nothing. Included activities feature an interactive photo station sponsored by Stoked on Salt, hands-on exploration aboard the MODS STEMobile, balloon artistry from SoFlo Community Markets, lawn games with candy prizes and the Broward Center Spotlights Trick-or-Treat Trail, running from noon to 2 p.m.

Sacramento, Calif. – October 07, 2026 -- Blue Diamond Growers has partnered with dancer, actress and host Julianne Hough to launch two commercials for its newly introduced Blue Diamond Almondmilk line.

Two almondmilk varieties anchor the campaign

The spots promote Unsweetened Simple, made with just water, almonds and sea salt, and Chocolate Protein, which delivers 8 grams of plant protein per serving. Both products are marketed for use in coffee, matcha, cereal, smoothies, overnight oats or on their own.

Hough helped shape the creative direction

Hough was involved from the initial concept through the final cut of the ads, creating original choreography for the spots. The ads lean into nostalgic, playful kitchen moments set to her movement style.

"Julianne brought such a joyful, hands-on energy to every part of this partnership,

Atlanta – October 07, 2026 -- The Honey Baked Ham Company has added Deluxe Ham and Turkey Sandwiches and new Protein Cups to its everyday menu, giving customers more grab-and-go options built around its signature meats.

The new sandwiches pack significantly more protein than before

The Deluxe Ham Classic contains 50% more Honey Baked Ham, along with extra Swiss cheese, mayonnaise, Hickory Honey Mustard, lettuce and tomato on a croissant, delivering 45 grams of protein. The Deluxe Turkey Classic uses 50% more roasted or smoked Honey Baked Turkey on a Baker's Roll, with the same toppings, and delivers 51 grams of protein.

Protein Cups offer a faster, on-the-go option

Available in ham or roasted/smoked turkey, the Protein Cups contain 6 oz. of meat each. The ham version provides 32 grams of protein, while the turkey version provides 38 grams.

San Leandro – October 07, 2026 -- Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is entering the packaged cookie aisle for the first time with the launch of Ghirardelli Crispy Cookies, now available online at Ghirardelli.com.

The lineup debuts with two varieties: Classic Chocolate Chip Crispy Cookies and Double Chocolate Crispy Cookies, each sold in 10-cookie, 6.3 oz. (180g) packages.

The Classic Chocolate Chip cookie uses Ghirardelli chocolate chips as its top ingredient.

The recipe blends buttery cookie notes with vanilla and brown sugar sweetness. The Double Chocolate version adds Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips along with cocoa powder and chocolate worked into the dough itself.

Bobby Oliver, the company's VP and Head of Marketing, says cookies offered a natural next step for the brand.

He described cookies as a familiar, everyday treat and said Ghirardelli wanted to bring its chocolate quality into that category.

Anchorage – October 06, 2026 -- Alaska fishermen hauled in 30 million wild sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay this summer, as the region marks National Seafood Month by pointing consumers to an online Fish Finder tool to buy the catch directly from fishermen or locate retailers nationwide.

Bristol Bay in western Alaska is the world's largest source of wild sockeye salmon, a fishery that supports roughly 8,000 commercial fishermen and drives economic activity across rural Alaska communities. Salmon is already the second-most consumed seafood in the United States.

Los Angeles – October 06, 2026 -- Don Francisco's Coffee has rolled out its 2026 Holiday Collection, featuring two limited-time flavors: Maple Pecan and Holiday Blend.

Starting in October, both coffees are available at donfranciscos.com and select grocery retailers in 12-ounce ground coffee bags and 12-count single-serve pods compatible with Keurig brewers. Amazon shoppers can also find the coffees in larger 20-ounce bags and 24-count pod packs, though availability and formats may vary by retailer.

Both blends use 100% Arabica beans for a seasonal flavor profile.

Maple Pecan is a medium roast combining sweet maple, toasted pecans, and caramel undertones. Holiday Blend is a medium-dark roast with a nutty aroma, creamy chocolate notes, and a caramelized finish.

New York – October 06, 2026 -- Bruichladdich has launched the second expression of The Laddie Rye, a whisky distilled from rye and malting barley grown within 11 miles of its Islay distillery, now exclusively available across the United States for $59.99.

The whisky is aged six years and bottled at 50% ABV

Distilled from a single-farm 2019 harvest, The Laddie Rye was matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill American Virgin Oak casks. A portion of the bourbon barrels was sent back to the cooperage to be de-charred and re-charred, a process Bruichladdich says adds toasted oak and wood spice to the final spirit.

Owensboro, Ky. – October 06, 2026 -- Kentucky Legend, the ham and bacon maker, has signed a sponsorship deal with competitive bass angler Andrew Krintz, backing the young fisherman as he pursues a professional career in the sport.

Krintz currently fishes for Purdue University in collegiate tournaments nationwide.

He has already qualified for a national collegiate championship and is now aiming to compete professionally within Major League Fishing.

Kentucky Legend calls the partnership a fit built on shared values.

Mike Riley, Chief Growth Officer at Kentucky Legend, said Krintz represents the brand's focus on tradition, family and community. "He's talented and driven, but he's also incredibly grounded," Riley said, adding that the company is "excited to be along for the ride."

Saint Helena, Calif. – October 06, 2026 -- Somerston Estate has released its new flagship wine collection, launching the 2023 Somerston Red today at $245 per bottle, with only 190 cases produced.

A second limited wine arrives later this year

The 2025 Somerston White, priced at $75 with 200 cases produced, will follow in late fall 2026. Both wines are available directly through Somerston Estate, with the red going on sale starting October 6, 2026.

The bottles feature a 1,682-acre mountain estate's new identity

Somerston Estate sits in Napa Valley's eastern Vaca Mountains and farms 230 acres of sustainable vineyards at elevations between 850 and 1,615 feet. The new bottles carry a gold-embossed Astrolabe, an early navigational instrument, as the collection's central symbol.