Gulf Cocoa Deal: Ghana’s Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) secured major multi-year offtake agreements with confectionery and beverage buyers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, including semi-finished cocoa products like cocoa liquor, butter, cake and powder—aimed at boosting local processing and jobs. Türkiye Price Controls: Turkey’s trade ministry launched inspections after a rise in the beverage deposit fee, warning firms not to use the update to justify unfair bottled-water and beverage price hikes. Saudi QSR Marketing: McDonald’s Saudi Arabia teamed up with Them Again for a nationwide Jujutsu Kaisen collaboration, generating 146.9M impressions and reaching 26.1M unique users across major digital channels. Bahrain Dining Launch: Ninive opened at Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain, bringing the brand’s Middle Eastern majlis-inspired concept (first outside the UAE) with a culture-led food and drink experience. Egypt Inflation Watch: Egypt’s annual headline inflation eased to 12.2% in June, with food and beverage prices rising 4.7% driving much of the movement. PepsiCo Consumer Pressure: PepsiCo reported stronger Q2 revenue but said North American demand weakened as consumers tightened budgets, with beverage volumes down 4% in the region.