Hershey’s salty strategy
The confectionery giant’s latest move – snapping up LesserEvil – pulls it deeper into the everyday snacking landscape it’s been circling for years
Labeling, marketing & advertising
New product development
Hershey’s Reese’s unwraps Christmas NPD with bold festive launches
Reese’s is ramping up its Christmas offer for 2025, revealing a raft of new products and returning best-sellers
New beverage launches: Canned cocktails, energy drinks and more
We take a look at some of the new beverage innovations launching around the globe
5 pillars powering private label’s ‘super cycle’ growth
Savvy consumers are looking for more than discounts – smart products and marketing can drive loyalty, according to Kantar
Cost discipline drives growth: How Conagra, General Mills and Celsius are navigating inflation and tariffs
Targeted pricing, selective promotions and strategic investments help brands protect margins and capture share in a high-cost environment
US plays catch up in store brands renaissance
As private-label products surge overseas, US grocers are just beginning to unlock their full potential
Bubbl’r and Amez Infusions ride the functional energy drink wave
From antioxidant sparkling waters to unsweetened tea blends, drink makers meet surging demand for focused energy without the crash
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
Farmed cod gets Aquaculture Stewardship Council stamp, offering consistency for retail and CPG
The ASC is shifting its focus downstream, working with retailers and foodservice partners to make responsibly farmed seafood the industry standard – not the niche
Campbell’s Pokémon play: How the soup brand is winning with videogamers
A limited-edition line of collectible cans and a national sweepstakes helped Campbell’s connect with fans across generations while showcasing the power of gaming partnerships
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
Healthy beverages
Celsius enters a new era with Rockstar, Alani Nu acquisitions
New flavors, female-forward brands power energy drink company reboot
Healthy beverages
Lipton leans into function and flavor with new herbal teas and concentrates
Lipton is expanding into concentrates and herbal teas to meet growing demand for flavorful, functional and convenient tea formats, while keeping pace with trends like GLP-1 wellness and stress management
Healthy beverages
What’s the buzz around instant coffee?
Gen Z and Millennials are embracing the low-cost counterpart to ground and whole bean
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
60 Years of the Pillsbury Doughboy: 3 Lessons in brand longevity and digital innovation
From AR experiences to influencer partnerships, Pillsbury’s 60-year-old icon shows how heritage brands can stay fresh by fusing emotional equity with digital innovation
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
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
5 meat snack innovations at NACS 2025
The tradeshow featured hundreds of innovative new products at the Cool New Snacks preview room
Bero and Aston Martin partner on non-alcoholic beer
Bero is aligning with Aston Martin to bring non-alcoholic beer into the premium space
Top 5 Christmas confectionery trends 2025
Holidays are coming! Discover the confectionery trends driving festive sales in 2025
Packaging news: From smart labels to PPWR ranges
A round-up of some of the latest packaging stories
‘Advertising is a weak force’: Busting CPG marketing myths
Does spending more improve sales? Why do brands fail? Do consumers ever go back to weak brands?
Ben & Jerry’s pro-Gaza ice cream blocked by directors
If Ben & Jerry’s can’t make a ‘Peace for Palestine’ flavoured ice cream, co-founder Ben Cohen will make it himself
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
Mondelēz rethinks new product development and distribution strategy as US consumers cut back on snacks
The snack giant will expand value offerings, boost innovation in better-for-you products and indulgent items, and refine promotions to reignite growth
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
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
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
Filippo Berio unveils premium packaging redesign to connect with modern consumers
The Italian olive oil brand updates its packaging with bold design and clear flavor cues as it embraces a strategy to attract multicultural and multigenerational shoppers
General Mills bets big on overlooked consumers to drive next wave of growth
The CPG giant is adapting products, pack sizes and marketing to place aging consumers, GLP-1 users and Hispanic shoppers at the center of its fiscal 2026 plans
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
Soup-to-Nuts Podcast
Finding comfort in chaos: How food will help consumers cope in 2026
After a year marketed by rising prices, food safety confusion and supply chain fears, ADM predicts consumers in 2026 will gravitate toward nostalgic, sensory-rich foods and beverages that help restore their resilience
Healthy, hot and functional foods driving c-store growth
Prepared-food sales are climbing, and younger shoppers are leading the push for fresher, clean-label offerings
Acme Smoked Fish champions sustainability and climate action across the seafood supply chain
From traceable sourcing to employee engagement, Acme’s Citizens of Seafood initiative and Climate Awards demonstrate how seafood companies can align business success with environmental responsibility
Smithfield leverages honey trend with Mike’s Hot Honey Bacon
Smithfield and Mike’s Hot Honey use honey’s flavor versatility to create bold, on-trend products that engage millennials, Gen Z and sweet-and-spicy enthusiasts
Startup Spotlight
Startup Elavi doubles down on high protein brownies – and retail notices
While a national buy from Whole Foods is the dream for many startups, often a ‘no for now’ will bide time and resources to land on more shelves in the future
No trick: Halloween 2025 candy sales to hit record highs
After Summerween comes the real deal: Halloween, which expects to see recording spending
Most CPG ads miss the mark with video gamer players: Here is how to fix it
CPG marketers can’t afford outdated strategies when it comes to connecting with video game players. Learn what works now in FoodNavigator-USA’s free webinar Fueling Fun: Connecting with Esports Enthusiasts and Everyday Gamers FTW
Lay’s enters ‘a new era’ with its largest brand fresh in nearly a century
The potato chip brand spotlights its ‘humble potato’ and cleaner labels for its global brand refresh
Chobani hits back at Danone in trademark infringement case
Danone is ‘weaponizing’ the law to hurt Chobani’s ‘superior’ position in RTD coffee, according to a motion to dismiss filed by La Colombe’s owner
Kerry turns consumer insights into sustainable food solutions
Kerry’s sustainable nutrition spectrum guides CPG brands in reformulating foods that meet evolving consumer expectations for health, sustainability and taste.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Inside Kellanova’s clean room: How a new AI data strategy drove 36% gains for Special K
Kellanova’s pilot offers a blueprint for using data clean rooms to bridge gaps between brands and retailers, unlock deeper shopper insights and rebuild brand value amid inflationary pressure
Startup Spotlight
From console to convenience store: How Bangers! Snacks converts videogame buzz into real-world retail sales
By connecting with millions of Roblox players across 200 video games, the caffeinated snack startup is scaling distribution at a fast pace