AGP Executive Report

Food & Drink: McDonald’s McRib returns Tuesday, Oct. 27, in select U.S. cities for a limited time; customers can check the app for local availability. CocoLove is expanding distribution in Florida and California and has launched its first flavored coconut water. Product Safety: Nearly 1,000 pounds of beef jerky sold in seven states were recalled because the products used unauthorized USDA inspection labels; no illnesses have been reported. New Zealand will require asbestos testing for certain sand products, including children’s toys, from February 2027. Health & Beauty: Hanmi Pharmaceutical has launched three Epislim supplements aimed at weight management, muscle strength, energy and skin health. Australia’s regulator is developing tougher sunscreen testing and quality rules to improve confidence in SPF claims. Consumer Tech: Apple says it will replace a small number of iPhone Duo foldables with inner-display problems, reported just days after launch.

Audio: Samsung’s Galaxy Buds On clip-on earbuds debut in South Korea Oct. 27 for about $226, with an open-ear design and Galaxy AI features; wider release plans are unconfirmed. Home: Woolroom is entering bed frames with a line made in North Carolina using solid hardwood, wool and natural latex. Food: Fazoli’s new Cheesy Bread, made with mozzarella and provolone, is available at participating U.S. restaurants through Jan. 18. Games: Avery Moore will launch GAMETIME Football Playing Cards at a Nov. 7 event in Long Beach, with live demonstrations. Resale: ThredUp’s holiday survey finds 62% of Americans plan to buy secondhand gifts, with many valuing one-of-a-kind finds over mass-produced items. Food demand: Japanese seafood exports to Malaysia rose about 40% in the first eight months of 2026, as interest in premium products and Japanese cuisine grows.

Audio Launch: Samsung’s clip-on Galaxy Buds On arrive in South Korea on Oct. 27 for 299,000 won, with accessory discounts for early buyers. Foldable Phone Watch: Apple’s new iPhone Duo drew strong preorders, but early buyers have reported cracked screens around the hinge, raising questions about durability. Grocery Refresh: Yoplait Zero is back with 10g of protein, added fibre, no added sugar and a creamier texture, targeting shoppers seeking more from everyday yoghurt. Snack Shift: Food makers are pitching protein- and nutrient-rich snacks as quick meal substitutes, though a health expert warns against relying on them too often. Product Safety: Consumer Reports has urged parents to stop using Millie Moon diapers after hundreds of reported skin reactions; Which? also says online marketplaces need stronger accountability for dangerous listings. Retail Strategy: Blinkit is wary of building private-label brands, citing the investment and potential seller conflicts, while rival Instamart sees its own-label range as a way to stand out.

Beauty Launch: Aldi has brought back its £19.99 Lacura advent calendar, with 12 skincare, makeup and haircare treats arriving in stores today. Tech: OnePlus has revealed the colors for its Ace 7 and Ace 7 Pro ahead of their October 29 launch; Samsung’s 2TB 990 SSD, meanwhile, is 38% off at Amazon. Product Safety: Consumer Reports has urged parents to stop using Millie Moon diapers after more than 600 reports of skin reactions. Fashion: Karen Millen’s Desmond & Dempsey sleepwear collaboration, featuring organic-cotton pyjamas and nightwear, goes on sale October 27. Automotive: Hyundai’s Bayon SUV is set to launch in India on October 26, with bookings open. Retail Watch: Starbucks Taiwan’s new fee for topping up no-ice drinks has triggered customer complaints over value and portion size.

Foldable Phones: Reports of cracked displays and hinge problems surfaced as Apple’s iPhone Duo reached stores, while Samsung is set to unveil its blue-and-gold W27 foldable in China on October 29. Product Safety: Consumer Reports urged parents to stop using Millie Moon diapers after finding more than 600 reports of skin reactions this year; no recall has been issued, and the company says its testing found no defect. New Products: Scan and Groove has launched its first consumer packaged good, Bucha Booch kombucha. Retail & Lifestyle: Delsey marked its 80th anniversary with refreshed luggage collections, including aluminum-shell A’lur and lightweight Helium Ultimate lines.

Food Launches: Greggs brought back its Festive Bake two weeks early, setting a single-day sales record and raising hopes for its biggest season yet. Pune’s Food Mahotsav, opening Oct. 31, will showcase more than 90 stalls of ready-to-eat, millet-based, organic and other foods. Retail Updates: Morrisons refreshed its More Card app with six personalized weekly offers and a tool that adds products to shopping lists by scanning their barcodes. Lidl will open a €4.5 million Cork city store on Oct. 29, creating 23 jobs. Consumer Tech: Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo reached stores, but limited stocks and rapid sellouts have left many shoppers unable to buy one. Product Safety: Georgia’s attorney general urged convenience stores to remove kratom and 7-OH products, citing addiction and serious health risks.

Consumer Mood: U.S. sentiment slipped to a five-month low in October as inflation and higher interest rates weighed on household budgets. Foldable Phones: Apple’s iPhone Duo drew long lines and sold out at many stores, but first-day reports of screens cracking along the hinge raise questions about durability. Food & Beverage: Hershey plans to launch a protein powder in January as it looks to attract health-conscious shoppers and consumers using weight-loss drugs. Health & Safety: Georgia’s attorney general urged lawmakers to presume kratom products illegal unless manufacturers prove they are safe; Nigeria’s new digital registry aims to track cooking-gas cylinders and remove unsafe ones. Mobility Products: Millennial Medical launched Crutches.com, a consumer-focused online store, after reporting sales growth of about 25% this year. Seafood Labels: The FDA is proposing a voluntary “U.S. Caught Seafood” label to help shoppers identify seafood harvested by American fishermen.

Foldable Phone Launch: Apple’s iPhone Duo went on sale amid queues in major cities, but early buyers noted its high price and camera trade-offs; stock is limited at many stores. Beauty Retail: Bath & Body Works opened its first Feel Good concept store, designed to make fragrance discovery easier, with two more locations planned. Everyday Upgrade: PG Tips is rolling out a richer Original tea blend, developed with consumer input, across UK retailers this autumn. Camera Demand: Strong pre-orders have pushed back the OM System PEN’s Japan launch by a month, though US shipments remain on schedule. Consumer Safety: Malaysian authorities seized smuggled beauty products allegedly sold through TikTok, and referred them for further investigation. Retail Expansion: REVOLVE opened its first Florida store at Aventura Mall, with fashion and beauty assortments tailored to local shoppers.

Smartphone Launch: Apple’s iPhone Duo goes on sale with walk-in purchases restricted in several markets, including India, as strong preorders threaten to exhaust launch-day stock. Food Finds: Trader Joe’s is selling four ready-to-eat jammy eggs for $3.99, offering a convenient shortcut for quick meals and snacks. Consumer Safety: Consumer Reports is urging Millie Moon to recall its diapers and advising parents to stop using them. Product Updates: Kia and Hyundai owners of certain 2011–2022 cars can get a free, roughly 30-minute anti-theft software update at a dealer. Product Innovation: Unilever says Chinese consumers’ growing focus on performance and scientific credibility is shaping its product development and global R&D.

Kids & Family: Snuggle Me Organic added a $159.99 Toddler Chair to its play collection, designed for reading, lounging and imaginative play, alongside new colors for its Play Gym and foldable mat. Pet Products: Champ’s Pet Kitchen treats are now in 165 Stater Bros. stores across Southern California. The soft chews feature at least 26% animal protein and functional ingredients for dogs’ health. Auto & Road Trip: CarParts.com plans to launch CarParts Connect in December, expanding its marketplace to accessories, travel essentials, pet products and outdoor gear. Smart Home: RYSE’s new MOTORYSE trade brand has signed two distributor deals, extending its retrofit window-covering automation products to professional installers. Footwear: New Balance unveiled the 990v7, the first all-new model in the 990 line since 2022, with a FuelCell midsole and a grey suede-and-mesh upper.

Coffee Shops: Starbucks China is requiring a purchase to use seating from Oct. 22, while investing more than 300 million yuan in fiscal 2027 to upgrade its in-store experience. New Phones: Apple says iPhone Duo stock will be limited at stores for Friday’s launch after online orders sold out quickly, with delivery delays stretching to January. Consumer Audio: Bose has acquired Skullcandy, which will remain a separate brand as the companies combine their audio expertise and reach to develop new products. Online Grocery: Coles has chosen Coveo’s AI search tools to help shoppers find products across its online range. Footwear: Reebok and Angel Reese launched a special-edition signature shoe in adult and children’s sizes, featuring colors inspired by Reese’s Pieces candy. Beverages: Southern Fix, a cold-pressed juice line geared toward athletic performance, has expanded to more than 200 East Coast locations.

Beauty: No7 is adding four products to its viral Skin Sip skincare range, including a facial mist, toner pads, lip serum and body cream, priced from £9.95. Consumer Safety: Consumer Reports is urging US regulators to finalize mandatory lithium-ion battery standards for e-bikes and e-scooters, citing fires and deaths linked to battery failures. Tech: Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra goes on sale in Australia October 22, starting at A$2,299, with a 14.6-inch display and S Pen. Health: Hims has expanded its men’s health range with injectable and oral testosterone treatments for eligible patients. Fitness: BODi launched INSANITY Liquid Shock, a zero-sugar energy drink with 300 mg of caffeine. Auto: Hyundai has revealed safety features for its Bayon ahead of its India launch on October 26, including six airbags and more than 35 standard safety features.

Apple Hardware: Apple is expected to unveil a refreshed MacBook Pro and iPad mini at its October 28 “Pro and Tell” event. OLED displays are tipped for both, though pricing and final specs remain unconfirmed. Seasonal Snacks: Lay’s is rolling out Thanksgiving-inspired Holi-LAY’S flavors, starting with Cheddar Scalloped-Style Potatoes and Holiday Turkey on October 25. Maple Bacon follows November 8, with chocolate flavors due December 1. Beverage Launch: Cola and energy drink brand CAMPA is entering Australia, targeting Gen Z with a launch supported by sampling, social and retail campaigns.

Consumer Tech: Apple is expected to reveal an OLED MacBook Pro and iPad mini 8 at its October 28 “Pro and Tell” event. The mini may also add waterproofing, with preorders potentially opening the same day. Holiday Snacks: Lay’s limited-time Holi-LAY’S flavors start arriving October 25, including Holiday Turkey and Cheddar Scalloped-Style Potatoes; Maple Bacon follows November 8, with chocolate flavors planned for December. Kitchen Appliances: SMEG’s new warming drawers add settings for dough proofing, slow cooking, dehydration and yogurt fermentation, alongside traditional plate warming. Everyday Products: Frank Green has introduced a new generation of reusable drinkware, while Wyze’s latest smart scale adds a handle display and upgraded body scanning.

Phones & Wearables: Redmagic has released its 12 Pro+ gaming phone in China, pairing Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chip with an 8,400mAh battery; a global launch is planned. Close-up owner photos show the crimson washi dial on Citizen’s new AQ4100-65X titanium watch. Retail: Click Frenzy is moving beyond sale events to year-round shopping, with price tracking and curated deals ahead of its October 27 Main Event. Apple’s iPhone Duo launches October 23, but reports warn walk-in stock may be limited. Food & Drink: Del Monte unveiled six convenience products, while No Cow updated its plant-based protein bars with more fibre and improved texture. KFC has switched back to Coca-Cola after nearly four decades serving Pepsi. Beauty: BioBeauJ plans to launch its Celivion skin booster in Japan early next year.

Service & Retail: Starbucks’ Green Apron model — more baristas and warmer, more personal service — has helped lift same-store sales for three straight quarters and boosted customers’ willingness to recommend its cafés. Wireless Plans: Straight Talk is adding faster 5G, more hotspot data and expanded international coverage to its unlimited plans, while keeping its Silver plan at $45 a month. New Products: HeadWest and Italian hatmaker Tacchino launched two exclusive styles, personalized live at events. Apple is also refreshing its home lineup with new Apple TV 4K and HomePod devices and a HomeView product. Food & Shopping: Clover Sonoma plans a $30 million investment in its Petaluma operations, including capacity for new cultured dairy products. Consumer Reports cautions that “regenerative” on food packaging has no legal definition, so shoppers should not treat it as a regulated guarantee.