Walmart jumps to Nasdaq as e-commerce soars
The retail giant leverages AI, online sales and warehouse automation in challenge to Amazon
Markets
Pucker mania is spicing up snack shelves … and powering pickle sales
Pickles are big business and experiencing rapid growth through savvy startups and private-label expansion
Ultra-processed foods: 5 biggest implications from Lancet study
The landmark study series is the biggest blow yet to UPFs
Hormel’s strategy for winning at the digital shelf
As online grocery shopping surges year-over-year and digital-native shoppers come into their buying power, Hormel Foods’ Leslie Lee explains how brands must optimize assortment, content and search strategy to win in an era of endless digital shelves and...
Patents plummet in alt proteins: Has innovation ground to a halt?
Alternative proteins have lost a lot of popularity in recent years, and this is reflected in IP activity
General Mills, WK Kellogg & Ferrero spark a fresh fight for the breakfast bowl
Once the poster child for easy mornings, breakfast cereal has been losing shelf swagger. Now a new wave of innovation, investment and protein-packed reinvention is pushing the category back into the spotlight
US plays catch up in store brands renaissance
As private-label products surge overseas, US grocers are just beginning to unlock their full potential
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What will the M&A landscape look like in 2026 for CPGs?
Seasoned deal advisors share the emerging trends shaping valuations, investor expectations, and what founders must do now to stay competitive
Danone takes on Chobani with low-sugar coffee creamer
The Too Good & Co. range brings ‘farm-fresh’ ingredients to coffee aficionados at home
How TikTok food trends are inspiring brand innovation and limited-edition flavors
Viral flavors on TikTok are reshaping the food and beverage industry, accelerating product development and redefining how brands connect with consumers
Maximizing the holiday shopping rush: 5 strategies for food and beverage brands
Five actionable strategies show how brands can navigate shifting shopper behavior, boost engagement and maximize holiday revenue this season
Letter from the editor: Healthy beverage trends
The beverage aisle often is a testing ground for claims, ingredients, flavors and branding that, if successful, can serve as a roadmap for other categories to tap into emerging trends
Healthy beverages
Celsius enters a new era with Rockstar, Alani Nu acquisitions
New flavors, female-forward brands power energy drink company reboot
Healthy beverages
What’s the buzz around instant coffee?
Gen Z and Millennials are embracing the low-cost counterpart to ground and whole bean
The future of functional food is female: Startup The Cycle taps into huge whitespace with PMS and period relief beverages
Targeting the growing demand for functional products designed by and for women, the startup blends clinical science, tradition and taste to normalize self-care during menstruation
Guest Article
Beyond Meat and Meati 2.0: How D2C can help their recovery strategies
As plant-based pioneers navigate financial hurdles, direct-to-consumer channels are emerging as a key tool for reconnecting with shoppers and testing new products
Born Simple launches premium boxed meals designed to build consumer trust
By combining short ingredient lists with long shelf life, Born Simple’s Better Bowls show how packaging, processing and protein can align to meet modern expectations for clean convenience
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
40% of grocery shoppers will use AI by 2030 – How will this transform CPG marketing?
As more shoppers hand off purchasing decisions to AI, PwC’s Carla DeSantis shares how brands can win in an era where algorithms – not aisles – drive discovery and purchase
Flavor forecast 2026: What will consumers want in the new year?
Flavor houses are predicting what will drive success for F&B brand in 2026, including authenticity, artistry and immersion
Hain Celestial shows signs of stabilization amid brand shake-up
The maker of Celestial Seasonings and Garden Veggie Snacks narrowed losses as restructuring gains traction
Non-UPF Verified debuts standard for CPG brands
The standard includes ingredient criteria and processing intensity that align with nutrition research and food system realities
Monster’s momentum: Energy drink sale surge as innovation and ‘affordable luxury’ positioning redefine the category
Innovation, affordability and shifting perceptions fuel 16.8% year-over-year growth, as Monster Beverage broadens its appeal beyond core users and positions energy drinks as an affordable alternative to coffee
Prepare for turbulence: AI, retail media networks and M&A shifts require a new growth playbook
After years of price-driven gains, Acosta’s John Carroll warns the industry must pivot to tech-enabled collaboration to reignite meaningful unit growth
Trendspotting 2026
Crunch, cream, contrast: Texture takes the spotlight in 2026
Forget flavor fatigue – next year will be all about how snacks feel. From crisp layers to creamy centers, texture is fast becoming the biggest lever of indulgence and loyalty
Justin Gold’s second act: Back at Justin’s after Hormel sell-off
Nut butter pioneer hopes to recapture the entrepreneurial spark that made his snack company a category trailblazer
Protein, AI, GLP-1 drugs and more… What are the biggest trends shaping the beverage industry of tomorrow?
In this week’s free webinar, we’ll ask beverage experts what they’re watching and where the biggest opportunities are for beverage innovation
5 meat snack innovations at NACS 2025
The tradeshow featured hundreds of innovative new products at the Cool New Snacks preview room
SNAP funding shortfall puts pressure on food system as Instacart, retailers step in
With Congress gridlocked over SNAP funding, the food industry – from Instacart to grocery chains – is stepping in to keep families fed and stabilize supply chains
News Bites
Gen Z trends, UPF debate & Coca-Cola’s beverage pivot
Younger consumers redefine “healthy,” experts warn UPF rules may backfire and Coca-Cola bets big on protein and zero sugar
Alt Protein Watch: Updates from Bel, Tetra Pak, PepsiCo and more
Updates from Bel, Tetra Pak, PepsiCo and more feature in this edition of Alt Protein Watch
Consumers want better sleep: 5 ingredients for nighttime nutrition
Sleep is a key health goal among consumers globally. The food industry now has an opportunity to meet consumer demands
Startup Spotlight
Grocers are leaving money on the table: Startup BetterBasket can help
The startup says its AI-enhanced platform boosted revenue 8% for one independent grocer, and it aims to help more retailers reclaim margins lost to pricing inefficiencies
Kraft Heinz fights weak demand with marketing blitz
The food manufacturing giant plans to divide into two companies by the second half of 2026
Conagra all in on Taco Bell, Buffalo Wild Wings and pickles
CPG giant showcases co-branded launches and adventurous snacking trends at NACS, targeting flavor-driven demand
Groceryshop 2025
Ahold Delhaize USA’s retail media arm tears down ad silos with Edge platform
Launching in January, the new ‘one stop shop’ platform brings together fragmented marketing tools under one agentic layer in a self-serve system built for grocery that promises smarter targeting, easier campaign management and better ROI
Inside discount retailer Lidl US’ recipe for success: Fresh, value and focus
From SKU rationalization to supplier partnerships and front-line empowerment, CEO Joel Rampoldt is reshaping Lidl US’ playbook for sustainable growth and earning consumer loyalty along the way
5 functional beauty drinks driving innovation
The trend for functional beauty drinks doesn’t seem to be waning anytime soon. Take a look at five of the latest innovations in this space.
Staying true while scaling up: The evolution of breakfast bar brand Olyra
After finding early success in the natural channel, Olyra revamped its packaging, flavors and formulation to resonate with mainstream consumers while preserving the ancient Greek roots at the heart of its story
Can wheat be safer without sacrificing taste?
Reduced-allergen wheat could transform baking, letting brands deliver better-for-you products without sacrificing quality or consumer experience
What Unilever can learn from Froneri’s success in ice cream
The Magnum Ice Cream Company’s biggest global rival has gone from strength to strength in the face of market challenges – here’s how the Nestlé co-owned company drives growth
Gen Z and Millennials redefine wellness: Protein, fiber and flavor drive food choices
Spins data reveals how younger consumers are reimagining nutrition around functional benefits, global flavors and ingredient transparency
News Bites
From vegan collagen to smart sweeteners: FDA and CPG shifts shape food innovation
FDA accelerates precision fermentation, General Mills refocuses on overlooked consumers and innovators redefine the role of sugar
UPF awareness rises but confusion reigns over what’s healthy, Non-GMO Project finds
Consumer concern about UPFs has surged, but understanding still lags far behind, according to new research from the Non-GMO Project
Coca-Cola leans into protein, ‘zeros and diets’ as GLP-1 users reshape beverage habits
Even as appetite-suppressing drugs dampen full-sugar soda sales, the beverage giant reports higher revenue and market share gains powered in part by its ‘reinvigorated sparkling portfolio’ thanks to no- and low-calorie options and its protein offerings,...
How Sprouts scouts out the next big thing in beverage innovation
Sprouts Farmers Market’s approach to NPD keeps it on a constant search for the hottest beverage innovations
What if memories had a flavor…
Mondelēz’s latest State of Snacking report explores how memory and emotion have become the new currency of snacking
Start-up Spotlight: PepsiCo accelerator, ginseng innovation and more
PepsiCo accelerator, ginseng innovation and more feature in this edition of Start-up Spotlight
How big is the GLP-1 wave going to get, really?
As usage of weight loss medications surges and new therapies emerge, food businesses face a once-in-a-generation opportunity – or risk being left behind
News Bites
Lay’s glow-up, food science myths and fermented frontiers
Lay’s gets a new look, nutrition science is getting a reality check and precision fermented ingredients are getting FDA’s nod
Sweeteners in focus
Letter from the editor: Sweeteners in focus - navigating the taste, tech and trade-offs
Consumers’ evolving preferences, clean-label demands and political debates are reshaping sugar and alternative sweeteners - and challenging brands to innovate without compromise