From 67 no’s to nationwide: How Magic Mind built its functional shot business
Positioned to upgrade coffee, Magic Mind rapidly is scaling its nootropic shot after turning early rejections into nationwide retail traction
Brands & manufacturers
PepsiCo is in the middle of its biggest snack reset in years
From SKU cuts and factory closures to functional launches and acquisitions, PepsiCo is moving fast to streamline and prove its snack empire still matters
From Hi‑Chew to mochi: Morinaga America bites into the US frozen treats scene
Layered flavors and texture continue to shape Morinaga America’s ambitious business goals with the acquisition of My/Mochi frozen treats
Barbecue season heats up with swicy sauces and bold brand collaborations
McCormick, Mission BBQ, Spam, Bachan’s and Big Tree Farms are turning up the heat with new sauces that bring regional, Japanese and Bali-inspired flavors to the grill
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Inside the race to reinvent food color: Global Food Tech Awards Americas heat winner pioneers new approach to natural dyes
Award-winning biotech Michroma is using fungi-based fermentation to tackle the cost, supply and performance challenges holding back natural colors
The retail playbook that took a clean label soda from natural to mainstream
Clean label soda brand Nixie outlines the retail and merchandising strategy that is helping it compete in conventional aisles
Unilever confirms Foods merger talks with McCormick
Unilever in talks with McCormick over potential Foods separation, raising fresh questions about the future of some of its best‑known brands
Can fermented bean protein be the new ‘it’ category?
Wildbrine bets big on creating a new category with its fermented chickpea salads
3 takeaways on capital fundraising from JPalmer Collective
Capital is returning to CPG, but on new terms: smarter growth, stronger fundamentals
Nestlé leans into ‘convenient indulgence’ as the fourth wave of coffee accelerates
Nestlé is doubling down on cold, convenient and customizable coffee solutions as Gen Z drives the rise of fourth‑wave, at‑home café culture
Ferrero’s Bold Snacks deal signals strategy shift
Ferrero’s Bold Snacks acquisition hints at where industry is headed
Why Big Food is reformulating growth not just recipes
From halted breakups to billion-dollar buyouts, the world’s biggest food groups aren’t just tweaking products, they’re rethinking how growth works
Inside Burlap & Barrel’s lawsuit against President Donald Trump
A small US-based spice importer is taking the Trump administration to court over sweeping tariffs it says threaten small businesses and global farming partners
Seed oils are out, avocado oil is in – and snack brands are leading the switch
Chip makers are transitioning to avocado oil, due to backlash against seed and vegetable oils
Future chocolate: Mondelēz, Lindt and Barry Callebaut reshape taste
From Mondelēz and Barry Callebaut to Lindt, the future of chocolate is being defined by bold flavour innovation, smarter formulations and a refusal to compromise on indulgence
Relaxation drinks boom as consumers seek calm
The global market for functional ‘chill out’ beverages is growing by more than 8% annually, driven by adaptogen-fueled brands like Recess, Hiyo, Brēz and Trip
St. Patrick’s Day product promotions push CPG brands into the spotlight
CPG heavy-hitters like Lucky Charms, Guinness and Kerrygold are rolling out green-themed launches to boost baskets and social buzz
Hershey: Strategy shake‑up and leadership reset
Hershey is shaking up its strategy and its structure
Bel Group levels up: New protein cheese hits shelves as brand doubles production
Babybel is supercharging its US growth with a $200 million South Dakota capacity expansion just as its new protein‑and‑probiotic Babybel Pro hits mass retail, staking an early claim in the fast‑rising functional snacking space
Rooted in Chicago and Nepal, two pet food brands share a strategy with simple ingredients
It’s a family affair for Nak Chews and Ava’s Pet Palace. Though their clean-label pet treats are developed on opposite sides of the globe, the two independent pet food companies share a common non-negotiable for today’s pet parents: no mystery chemicals...
Fonterra to appoint new CEO in major leadership reshuffle
Fonterra will replace Miles Hurrell at the helm as the co-op embarks on a new strategic chapter
Whole Foods’ small-format stores could boost CPG startups
The grocer’s UK small-format rollout, together with its US LEAP accelerator and UK Brand Pitch Day events, is creating new opportunities for emerging brands
From humans to hounds: The protein boom hits pet food
Orijen’s Freshprey aims to deliver fresh animal-forward ingredients that’s driving premiumization across the category
High-fiber konjac could be the next big competitor in better-for-you foods
From noodles to “inner beauty” drinks, konjac is moving beyond Asia to challenge established categories across the US functional food landscape
Middle East tensions, rising energy and fertilizer costs push grocery prices higher
February CPI shows food-at-home prices climbing 0.4% as supply chain risks, tariff uncertainty and volatile farm inputs threaten to add new pressure on brands, retailers and inflation-weary shoppers
Nestlé crashes the condiment aisle with its first US sauce brand
Minor’s Kitchen features four chef-driven flavors, aiming to reach home cooks looking for flavor-forward, convenient options
Bel Group’s AI strategy: From cheese virtual twins to protein innovation
Bel’s research head opens on how the technology is enhancing product R&D and operational efficiency
Opinion
The icing on the donut: Why Puratos wants Dawn
Dawn built its reputation supplying the mixes, glazes and fillings behind the $20 billion global donut market. That makes Puratos’ proposed acquisition far more strategic than it first appears
Global seaweed snack sales could double to $4.66B by 2030
North American and European markets are experiencing the fastest growth in seaweed snacks
Campbell’s snack gamble meets a tougher consumer
Snack weakness forced Campbell’s to cut its outlook after a difficult quarter, with the company admitting performance in the category fell short of expectations even as its premium Rao’s brand continued to surge
Why Lay’s, Oreo and M&M’s are engineering consumer experiences
PepsiCo’s Lay’s restaurant in Madrid highlights a growing strategy among snack giants to extend blockbuster brands beyond the supermarket shelf and into cafés, retail attractions and immersive consumer experiences
Buffett bets on Kraft Heinz as shock split suspended
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway signals support for Kraft Heinz, following separation update
SNAP’s next chapter could redefine product eligibility across states
The next era of SNAP reform targets how nutrition policy, retail compliance and product eligibility quietly reshape the CPG playbook
The Ozempic effect reaches the bread aisle: Bimbo redesigns bakery for GLP-1 users
The world’s biggest baker says GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are already reshaping how people eat, so it’s redesigning bread and snacks to keep up
How Danone is redefining plant-based through a benefit-led strategy
Danone US is taking plant-based nutrition into the sports performance arena as it seeks to deepen the category’s benefit-driven appeal
GLP‑1 drinks take off as brands race for $3.5bn functional growth
From protein shakes to collagen coolers, brands are reinventing beverages for the GLP‑1 era and the race for dominance in this fast‑growing $3.5bn category is just beginning
National Snack Day: Inside the billion-dollar brands refusing to slow down
From Oreo’s $4bn global machine to Uncrustables’ rapid ascent, the snack aisle’s biggest names are banking billions and still investing like challengers
Mondelēz’s meteoric rise: The strategy behind the superpower
Strategic deals, powerhouse brands, and disciplined growth – inside Mondelēz’s journey to global leadership, and its vision for the future
Natural Products Expo West 2026
New beverage launches to watch at Expo West 2026
Pura Soda, Beyond Meat, Nixie, Malk, Tractor Beverage and more unveil their latest innovations in natural and organic drinks
Global formula fallout: The crisis that’s redrawing an industry
The cereulide contamination crisis sent shockwaves through the global infant formula market, accelerating a sector‑wide reckoning on quality, transparency and brand resilience
Private equity doubles down on private label with launch of Keep It Real Foods
CIC Partners-backed manufacturing platform launch follows sales of TreeHouse Foods and Great Kitchens
More with less: Hormel and Utz downsize to grow efficiently
Strategic downsizing at Hormel, Utz and peers shows how fewer brands and plants can unlock efficiency, margin expansion and sustainable growth in packaged food
Ferrero’s next move: Reshaping confectionery and snacking
From premiumisation to supply-chain control, Ferrero’s strategy is redefining the competitive landscape
Mars launches Impact Fund with cocoa farmers first to benefit
Mars invests in community resilience worldwide, starting with cocoa growers
Celsius’ $722M Q4 signals surging energy drink growth as Alani Nu, Rockstar join PepsiCo network
As Celsius absorbs Alani Nu and Rockstar into PepsiCo’s distribution system, the three‑brand portfolio is grabbing shelf and cooler space nationwide
News Bites
News Bites: Are food policies getting clearer — or more confusing?
America’s food system is facing growing confusion as shifting definitions, patchwork state laws and controversial federal guidelines leave consumers and brands searching for clarity and consistency
Cow‑free dairy finds its stride as Those Vegan Cowboys break crowdfunding records
Those Vegan Cowboys’ record raise shows that precision fermentation dairy has legs – and is ready to run
Flavour first, fibre close behind: Bakery resets for 2026
Bakery’s next growth phase won’t be driven by a single mega-trend, but by flavour authority, fibre credibility and formats that make everyday indulgence feel justified
Nestlé’s new power play: Four Pillars, one direction
Swiss food and beverage giant unveils bold new strategy for the future
The tale of two spin-offs: What the Kellogg breakup really achieved
Kellogg’s 2023 split was sold as a focus play. Less than two years later, both companies had been sold. So what was the split really for?