The ‘warming’ buzz for alcohol-free booze is finally cracked
Industry players, academics and researchers have cracked the code for better tasting alcohol-free drinks - in different ways
Markets
Aldi ramps up clean-label push with 44 new ingredient bans
Move affects 90% of store assortment as private-label-focused retailer responds to consumer ingredient concerns
The butter price crash: Winners, losers and what comes next
As butter prices collapse, farmers are feeling the sting – but it’s not all bad news for the industry at large
Sustainable sourcing: From upcycling to carbon neutral to sustainable packaging
Bel Group accelerates the shift to paper packaging by taking a holistic transition approach
As plastic comes under growing scrutiny, Bel Group is redesigning its iconic Babybel packaging around a 5Rs framework, with paperization pilots highlighting both opportunity and technical complexity
Sustainable sourcing: From upcycling to carbon neutral to sustainable packaging
Upcycled Food Association launches Canada hub to unify, scale upcycled food sector
Backed by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, the UFA-led hub aims to connect fragmented stakeholders and accelerate growth in the category
Sustainable Sourcing
The fault line in aquaculture sustainability: Can seafood certification deliver what it promises?
At stake is not just consumer confidence, but who governs sustainability in seafood
Sustainability marketed products defy headwinds to gain market share, drive sales
NYU Stern and Circana data show eco-positioned CPGs are category and sales growth drivers
As food brands tweak child marketing rules, UNICEF’s playbook still holds
As food brands rewrite child‑marketing rules, experts say voluntary action isn’t enough
Earth Day 2026: ‘Food’s problem isn’t supply – it’s commitment’
Eighth-generation UK miller Bertie Matthews says regenerative farming is already proven, so if it’s still niche, the failure sits with retailers, manufacturers and the wider supply chain
How fibre went from forgotten nutrient to consumer obsession
Once dismissed as dull, fibre is now reshaping global food and drink innovation
GLP-1-friendly foods are booming – but the label is still taboo
From “high protein” to “supports muscle mass” claims, brands are coding GLP-1 benefits without naming the trend outright
The 7 nutrition trends redefining food and drink
From emerging ingredients to protein power, discover the nutrition trends shaping the future of food and beverage
Meat substitutes are only a small part of the plant-based market
Plant-based meat gets all the attention, but it’s actually traditional foods that dominate the sector
Is microwave popcorn ready for disruption? Opopop thinks so
Next-generation microwavable popcorn brand Opopop got a big boost in March with nationwide distribution at Walmart, a launch that has kept the company innovating
How AI is reshaping product discovery in F&B
Algorithms are increasingly deciding if a product flies or flops. Here’s how food and beverage companies can wow a new customer: agentic AI
Functional beverages: The 5 overarching trends defining the next generation of drinks
What are the forces shaping the functional drinks of the future?
GLP-1 ‘Halo effect’: Users positively impact household eating habits
An Acosta Group report shows that GLP-1 drugs are improving users’ relationship with food and how they feel about their personal appearance
PepsiCo proves new playbook works as price cuts and innovation drive sales
Price cuts, cleaner ingredients and bold flavors drove Q1 gains for PepsiCo as consumers seek affordability, function and comfort
Why texture is the new king of ice cream
From layered tubs to crunchy chocolate coatings, ice cream has a new kingmaker - and it’s not flavour
USDA creates Office of Seafood to boost US seafood competitiveness
The new office will streamline access to USDA programs for seafood producers and align efforts across federal agencies to strengthen the domestic seafood sector
Walmart revamps private label as shoppers redefine what ‘value’ means
Packaging overhaul comes as inflation-weary consumers, including higher earners, turn to private label for lower prices without sacrificing quality
US patent for Solar Foods’ air-based protein production opens door for scaling
The approval gives the Finnish company exclusive rights to produce its air-derived Solein protein in the US and reinforces its intellectual property position as it prepares for major factory expansion
Albertsons’ digital strategy helps hold sales steady even as shoppers pull back
Targeted pricing, AI-driven personalization and loyalty gains help offset demand pressure from rising fuel costs, higher prices due to tariffs and shifting consumer behavior
Iran war pushes global food markets toward crisis mode
The escalating Middle East conflict is pushing food inflation, energy prices and consumer confidence to a breaking point
Big Soda spotted it first: Why ultrafiltered milk became a billion‑dollar bet
Ultrafiltered dairy offers a rare mix of growth, margin and modern wellness appeal. Where’s the category headed?
How the Iran conflict could reshape our shelves
High oil prices hit prices at gas pumps straight away. But how long will it take for food and beverage prices to rise?
Future Food Tech San Francisco
MAHA push accelerates reformulation, but leaves food industry in limbo
Companies race to meet shifting policy signals without formal rulemaking, raising concerns that costly changes could be reverse by future administrations
Functional, feel-good drinks edge out alcohol for ‘controlled indulgence’
Data from Nielsen IQ and Spate show consumers are turning to non-alcoholic beverages and those infused with THC and adaptogens to relax mindfully as they pull back on alcohol consumption
Grocery inflation eases for now, but rising energy and fertilizer prices threaten rebound
A dip in supermarket prices in March offers a brief respite, but surging fuel and fertilizer costs tied to the Iran conflict could reverse the trend
Hormuz blockade leaves food industry pricing in the dark as volatility becomes the baseline
Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are pushing up energy, freight and insurance costs – but the bigger challenge for the global food industry is managing risk in a market that is becoming increasingly unpredictable.
Is Big Food breaking? Why the industry is selling itself off
Investors are losing patience as volume growth stalls and food giants tear up the playbook
Iran conflict: The 5 biggest pressure points for food and beverage
The price of oil and transport dominates headlines: but food and beverage companies need to anticipate other potential impacts
Artificial sweeteners: Why the science war is raging on
New health studies are reigniting a global battle over artificial sweeteners, leaving brands, regulators and consumers divided
Can high-fat dairy withstand the GLP-1 effect?
GLP-1 users spend less on cheese, butter and ice cream – so how resilient are these categories?
Danone’s Mead Johnson decision: Timing, risk and opportunity
This isn’t the first time Danone has contemplated a Mead Johnson acquisition. Can a deal happen this time?
Opinion
Would Danone sell its Lifeway stake?
Danone was once in hot pursuit of a Lifeway acquisition. Now, the dairy major looks more likely to exit the business
Protein soda: Why the new craze is going from strength to strength
Gone are the days where protein drinks meant serious whey shakes at the gym. Protein soda is making the category much more fun
Future Food Tech San Francisco
Food tech faces funding reset as investors demand profits over promises
Deal flow and exits decline sharply from peak levels, pushing companies to prove real demand, solid margins and a clear path to profitability in a more disciplined investment climate
When demand falls but prices rise, who really pays?
From $7 chips to $8 cereal, food pricing is starting to defy logic – and the consequences aren’t falling neatly on one side
Gen Alpha and Beta: Functional food and beverage’s next big bet
Kids and teens power next growth phase for functional foods and beverages
Private-label consolidation continues with CK Snacks’ purchase of Keystone Food Products
From Axium to Keystone, CK Snacks is stitching together a manufacturing network as private‑equity dollars pour into store‑brand suppliers
Alianza Team spends $36M to open first US plant
With a new blending and finishing facility in North Carolina, Alianza Team is helping U.S. food manufacturers reduce saturated fats and reimagine bakery and chocolate ingredients
Why non‑UPF verification is emerging as a strategic advantage for startups
As consumer concern over ultra‑processed foods accelerates, startups are turning to emerging non‑UPF certifications to build trust with shoppers and retailers
Global milk boom continues as prices come under renewed pressure
Iran shockwaves and abundant dairy product availability are putting pressure on farm margins – but when will milk production slow?
How the Swedish candy craze helped save a San Francisco sweets shop
A year after flames gutted his Haight Street candy shop, founder Max Kolegue rebuilt the business through Amazon sales – and a viral boom in Swedish gummies
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Clean label vs shelf life: A new food-tech solution removes the tradeoff
Startup BioBlends – a runner up in the Americas heat of the Global Food Tech Awards – leverages gas-based technology to extend freshness without additives to address clean label and food waste concerns
Can biopeptides reclaim weight loss from GLP‑1 drugs?
As GLP‑1 drugs reshape how people eat, food‑based bioactive peptides are emerging as a potential way to support satiety before, during and after drug use
Can fermentation solve the cocoa crisis?
Cocoa innovation opens up new possibilities for manufacturers
Iran conflict: Is ceasefire too little, too late for global food?
A two-week ceasefire is now in place in the war between US-Israel and Iran, but much is still uncertain about how long-lasting the impacts of damage done thus far will be and what still lies ahead for the global food sector
Can AI really sort the UPF mess the food industry is facing?
New tools promise sharper answers on ultra-processed foods as regulation struggles to keep up