Food Inflation Watch: India’s inflation outlook is getting bumpier as El Niño risk rises, with Bank of Baroda projecting CPI at 5.2–5.5% in FY27 even as reservoirs and vegetable arrivals look okay; food inflation is already running hot at 4.8% and fuel-linked pressures are feeding into restaurant and accommodation costs. Macro-to-Consumer Pressure: ICICI Bank Global Markets also flags upside risks from West Asia conflict and a below-normal monsoon, seeing food inflation at 4.8% and warning rate hikes of 50–75 bps may be needed. Labour & Cost Reshaping F&B: Malaysia’s consumer sector is shifting structurally as labour costs and availability bite, pushing food and beverage firms toward automation and supply-chain upgrades; labour expenses can reach about 20% of revenue for covered consumer companies. Health Labelling Debate: Indonesia’s Nutri-Level graded sugar-salt-fat labels for beverages are drawing scepticism from consumers and small operators over whether consistent testing and fair ratings are feasible. Tea Culture in Transition: Malaysia’s teh tarik remains king, but Gen Z is moving toward premium teas, home brewing and “new tea drink” formats, with transparency and traceability becoming key. Local Dining Scene: A Leeds Japanese grill-and-bar spot, Tori Nori, is seeing strong bookings after early concept and service teething issues. Beverage Industry Angle: Plastic resin cost spikes in the US are raising the prospect of higher prices across packaged goods, including groceries.