Hershey rejects Mondelēz’s acquisition bid
The Hershey Trust has rejected Mondelēz International’s second attempt to acquire confectionery giant Hershey, citing the offer as too low.
Markets
USDA orders mandatory raw milk testing for H5N1
A new federal order has been issue requiring nation-wide milk testing in a bid to tackle the bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle
Mondelēz International’s share earnings cut as cocoa costs predicted to rise
Hope for a cocoa price slump is dwindling as commodity analysts predict a price-boosting run on the brown stuff.
Cheapflation: How this economic phenomenon is impacting F&B
Cheapflation is having a major impact on consumer and manufacturer behaviour. So what is it and how long will it last?
Where does innovation stand in dairy, deli and bakery?
Deli, dairy and bakery innovation has focused on pack sizes, flavorful options and functionality over the last two years, according to insights shared during an International Dairy Deli Bakery Association webinar.
Startup Spotlight
Throne Sport Coffee shares why investing in a team is essential to achieve CPG dream
To keep overhead low, entrepreneurs often wear multiple hats and work long hours with a skeleton crew when first launching a business, but the founder of the ready-to-drink coffee startup Throne Sport Coffee suggests this may be penny-wise, but...
Mondelez’s SnackFutures Ventures invests in Celleste Bio to scale cell-culture cocoa production
Cocoa-tech startup Celleste Bio may soon produce the same amount of cocoa butter from just one to two beans as traditional production methods currently produce from four tons of cocoa pods, thanks in part to an infusion of $4.5 million in seed funding...
Revolutionizing soda: The emergence of a new Modern Soda category
Walmart has introduced its new ‘Modern Soda’ category: featuring innovative, better-for-you brands that are far from the traditional sugar-packed drinks loved by previous generations. So what is Modern Soda – and how big is its potential?
Finnish start-up making mycoprotein more sustainable and affordable
Mycoprotein is one of the most popular alt protein sources on the market. Now Espoo-based start-up, Enifer, wants to take it to the next level.
How are consumers shopping in stores?
For price- and value-oriented consumers, discount and gourmet stores provide some relief on their wallets.
Elevate your nutrition knowledge with our biggest ever global broadcast series
Eight free webinars, over 50 experts and one unmissable opportunity to turn nutrition insights into action. It’s FoodNavigator’s global Positive Nutrition event
Legal clash intensifies: Grupo Bimbo pursues C$2bn claim against Maple Leaf
The Canadian bakery industry’s legal tensions are heating up, with Grupo Bimbo filing a CAD $2 billion counterclaim against Maple Leaf Foods over the controversial 2014 sale of Canada Bread
DSM-Firmenich calls out ‘misinformation’ over Arla Foods backlash
Dutch multinational DSM-Firmenich has pulled no punches in its response to backlash over Arla Foods' use of methane-cutting additive Bovaer.
Alt dairy brands will live or die by texture
New research has reaffirmed the importance of texture to reformulating within the alternative dairy category.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What will it take for the US hummus market to break $1 billion annually?
PepsiCo’s acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in Sabra and Obela dips and spreads brands from Strauss Group late last month underscores the growth potential of the US hummus market, which Persistence Market Research predicts will grow at a compound...
The biggest food tech trends for 2025 and beyond
Robot use will increase, more food deliveries will be made and food waste will be consigned to the past… how food tech will evolve.
CPG food & beverage volumes up for first time in 3 years
CPG volumes rose for the first time in three years as consumers shifted to value and e-commerce channels amid high food prices.
Five takeaways from the latest USDA dairy consumption data
From butter’s best year on record to ice cream’s worst, here are the main takeaways from the latest US annual dairy consumption data
Major NPD opportunities in intermittent fasting
Fasting diets are creating huge NPD opportunities in food and beverage. So, how can brands get involved and what’s next for this mega trend?
How microplastics affect gut health
How, and why, do microplastics alter the microbiome?
Egg dollar sales jump 51% in October on avian flu concerns, as listeria slices into lunch meat sales
Egg prices drove up dairy market dollar sales in October, while shoppers pulled back on deli meats over concerns of listeria ahead of the Thanksgiving and winter holiday season, according to Circana data shared in a recent International Dairy Deli Bakery...
What’s next for bakeries? Insights from ABA’s 2024 Playbooks
American Bakers Association’s inaugural Bakery Playbooks unveils the hottest trends shaping how consumers shop, eat and savour baked goods. Are you ready to turn these insights into your bakery’s next big win?
Top 5 health trends dominating F&B
When it comes to food and beverage trends, nothing is punching through quite like health and wellbeing. But what are the top trends within health and wellbeing? And how are they shaping the industry?
What’s hot in natural and clean confectionery?
New Product Development spotlight on emerging startups
SNAP recipients more likely to buy national brands over private-label, Circana reports
US shoppers receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) gravitate to national CPG companies over private label alternatives, despite the cost-saving associated with store brands, according to a recent Circana webinar.
Deli-licious: Prepared deli shows ‘consistent growth’ as inflation eases
Grocery’s foodservice segment addresses high consumer demand for value-added convenience even though retailers must shoulder more cost increases even as inflation eases.
Real California Milk Excelerator features 'herd' of game-changers in dairy
In its sixth year, the Real California Milk Excelerator powered by VentureFuel brought together a diverse cohort – or herd – of startups, students and processors that are “harnessing the nutritional benefits of real dairy” to improve digestion, boost...
Nestlé to spin off water brands into a standalone business
Nestlé's water brands will be separated into a standalone business as of January 1, 2025, the company announced this morning.
Special Edition: Microbiome Modulation
Letter from the editor: Microbiome modulation benefits span lifespan and health conditions
New scientific studies are published every week that report that modulating the microbiome with probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics or combinations of these can impact all aspects of health and wellness, and that is translating to growing consumer...
Top food tech trends for 2025 revealed
Innovation in the food space has seen a boom in recent years. But this is just the beginning.
Beef, prepared deli sales soar as consumers embrace convenience, quality
Despite 96% of shoppers expressing concern about an economic recession in the coming months, fresh foods remain a top priority, with many willing to pay a premium for high-quality options, according to a recent Circana webinar.
Dairy innovation trends: From weight management to protein
We narrow down the most important market and consumer trends that could influence dairy product innovation in 2025.
Insect protein buzz waning as patents slow
Insect protein’s predicted take off has been less than a flutter as market innovation stagnates, with worldwide patents sliding year-on-year again.
2025 Beverage trends to watch: Circana expects growth in water enhancers, functional drinks
Hydration-boosting, functional and non-alcoholic (non-alc) beverages will continue their growth in 2025, but generations are seeking out different drinks to meet their health and nutrition needs, according to a recent Circana webinar.
The butterfly effect: Non-GMO Project Verified out grow similar self-reported claims
CPG companies trying to make the most out of their non-GMO claims are finding market success through certification programs rather than making claims on their own, according to data shared in a recent SPINS webinar.
New Product Development from Toblerone to Hotel Chocolat
Staying up to date with the newest confectionery products, trends and flavour combinations on the market is key to keeping on top of the fast-paced and competitive sweet sector.
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
Innovative brands awaken the sleep-support food & beverage set with function, flavor & convenience
A third of American adults consider sleep one of their top three health priorities, and while most of them prioritize behavioral and lifestyle strategies to fall and stay asleep, there is an opportunity for “naturally helpful” and “functional” food and...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Consumers increasingly turn to food for ‘emotional wellness’
Emotional wellbeing is emerging as a top health concern for consumers across the generations, according to new research by the Hartman Group, which also found an increasing portion of people prefer to manage their moods with food, beverages and...
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
Relaxation, mood-support foods focus on ‘other side’ of functional
A good night's sleep could be a functional product away, as consumers swap their alcoholic nightcap for a nonalcoholic option or their favorite comfort food to ease their mind after a long day, Scott Dicker, director of insights at SPINS told...
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
When function meets convenience: how mood foods are shaping F&B NPD
High quality nutrients – from vitamins and minerals to botanical extracts – drive consumers’ purchasing decisions, while the line between function and form continues to blur as brands develop foods and beverages that deliver targeted health benefits and...
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
Letter from the editor: What is the opportunity for mood-boosting foods, beverages?
Many Americans are eating their feelings or turning to drink to manage their mood, but that isn’t necessarily bad as innovative manufacturers leverage nootropics, adaptogens and botanicals alongside packaging and branding to create products that...
Innovation watch: Natural clean energy drinks
Health conscious consumers don’t want sugar-laden, taurine energy drinks: but they still want a burst of energy to keep them powering through their day. How are brands providing that better-for-you buzz?
Nestlé’s top six 2025 food and drink innovation trends revealed
Nestlé has revealed the top food and drink trends that will drive its research, development and innovation in 2025, with speed, personalisation and fusion taking centre stage.
Packaging with starch: Thai firm offers tapioca-based thermoplastic material as sustainable option for food industry
Thai Wah is aiming to use its tapioca-based thermoplastic starch (TPS) for its consumer food packaging to create a closed-loop solution starting with cassava cultivation and ending with eco-friendly waste that enriches the soil.
Nestlé plant-based patents down 50% as sector innovation slowed
New plant-based meat patent application figures have fallen globally for the first time in near a decade, with companies including Nestlé slashing numbers by almost 50%.
Opinion
Is Trump stoking an EU/US trade war?
Will Trump’s rebooted presidency bring about a transatlantic trade war or is it all hot air? Fake news or not, the returning president has made worrying noises – from crippling tariffs to climate ignorance – that are sending markets in a spin.
2025 trends to watch: Functionality, sustainability, comfort flavors continue growth
Functionality and sustainability will grow in 2025, as shoppers balance their desires for authentic and indulgent flavors with nutritious foods and beverages, C.A. Fortune and SPINS shared in a recent webinar.
Big Interview
A sensible rebel: Juicy Marbles' boss on breaking even, NPD and beyond
After raising “peanuts” to launch a plant-based meat business around Covid-19, Juicy Marbles is set to break even within its fourth year and is planning NPD along with another funding launch.
Dietary supplement industry considers the future of U.S.-China tariffs
The dietary supplement industry continues to closely monitor the evolution of tariff policies between China and the United States, pending the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.
Is the Nordic Diet the next major food trend?
Health trends are big business for food and beverage brands. So, will the new Nordic Diet take the industry by storm or be a foodie flash in the pan?