Startup Spotlight
How early-stage food and beverage brands are navigating tight capital in 2026
Early-stage founders share how they’re reinventing indulgent foods while navigating one of the toughest fundraising environments in recent years
Beverage
How BuzzBallz became Gen Z’s global RTD obsession
BuzzBallz has become Gen Z’s go‑to party prop, fusing bold flavours, playful design and recession‑proof pricing to rewrite the rules of ready‑to‑drink cocktails
US Dietary Guidelines sideline MyPlate in favor of inverted food pyramid
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans spotlight an inverted food pyramid, effectively sidelining MyPlate and sparking debate among nutrition experts and educators
Nestlé’s infant formula recall: What’s next for the industry?
We look at the supply, safety and quality control implications for infant formula manufacturers and ingredient suppliers
Beyond Meat’s now selling drinks
Beyond - formerly Beyond Meat - is living up to its new name by stepping beyond plant-based meat, and even food itself, to enter a completely new category
How the Dietary Guidelines may shape product strategy and development
The latest Dietary Guidelines may not reinvent the wheel, but they offer manufacturers a roadmap to balance nutrition, consumer preference and formulation strategy across sweeteners, grains and processed foods, according to one expert
Rethinking ‘clean’ water in the bottled water aisle
For startup Loonen, water isn’t just water - it’s spring-sourced and filtered with an emphasis on minimizing plastic across the supply chain
New product launches: From pistachio milk to RTD drinks
Arla enters cottage cheese and Oatly ventures into RTD coffee in out January 2026 NPD round-up
Coca-Cola reportedly pulls plug on Costa Coffee sale
Coca-Cola said to be scrapping Costa Coffee sale after months of talks with private equity bidders fall flat
Nestlé infant formula scandal escalates
Nestlé faces global scrutiny as infant formula recall widens over contamination fears
How the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines are shifting America’s plate – and sparking debate
The newest Dietary Guidelines emphasize whole foods, protein and animal fats – a shift praised by some experts as overdue, but others warn the report is retro and insufficient
From spicy to made in the USA: FreshDirect maps 2026 food and beverage trends
FreshDirect’s 2026 trends point to a year defined by flavor staying power, premium hydration, chef-led grocery and a growing interest in US-made products
The AI revolution sweeping food and drink
From autonomous R&D to real‑time supply chain resilience, AI is redefining the rules of food and beverage. Is industry ready for the next era?
Up The Food Chain
What’s brewing at Heineken? Behind the scenes with the R&D chief
Hubert te Braake already had the dream job: as director of research and development at Heineken, he’s tasked with creating the world’s next big brews. Now he’s been given a shiny new €45m ($53m) lab to do it from
Exclusive: Can biotech break monk fruit’s supply constraints? Manus thinks so
As demand for natural sweeteners grows, Manus moves monk fruit production in the US
Coca-Cola announces job cuts as restructuring continues
Coca‑Cola job cuts highlight wider Big Food overhaul
Retailers are reshaping access to healthy and affordable diets
Although top retailers highlight affordability and health, healthier products tend to be more expensive and promotional strategies are not typically used to drive their sales
Top beverage trends for 2026
What are the top trends defining soft drinks in the coming year and beyond?
Is plant-based dead - or evolving?
Plant-based brands are looking for new ways to lure in consumers after the category’s initial success
Why collagen is set to dominate 2026
Collagen is transforming food, drink and confectionery. Discover why this powerhouse ingredient is set to dominate innovation in 2026
Letter from the editor
Trendspotting 2026: Restrain, realism and trust will define the next phase of growth
Quality, credibility and connection will redefine value for food brands in the year ahead
2026 Trendspotting
Packaging trends to watch in 2026: Data, transparency and compliance will redefine innovation
2026 promises to be a pivotal moment for packaging for food and beverage CPG as innovation shifts from flashy materials to more precision, credibility and data-based decision-making
Trendspotting 2026
Whole ingredients, big impact: Plant-based milk trends for 2026
Plant-based milk is predicted to rebound in 2026 with whole ingredients, high-protein innovation and premium café culture
Trendspotting 2026
Trendspotting 2026: Why shoppers are ditching extreme diets and embracing balance
Mintel dives into the food trends of 2026 — where perseverance, playfulness and practical products meet at the grocery aisle
GLP-1 adoption is rising steadily – and reshaping pack size, portfolio strategy and volume
Rising GLP-1 adoption is quietly reshaping pack size strategy, category risk and marketing priorities for food and beverage brands
How International Delight approaches celebrity partnerships to drive flavor innovation and Gen Z relevance
With its Paris Hilton–inspired limited-edition lineup, International Delight is doubling down on culture-led innovation as a strategy to energize the creamer aisle and attract next-gen shoppers
Federal hemp regulation could open up beverage innovation opportunities
The Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA) would regulate – rather than ban – hemp derived beverages
New beverage launches: Keurig, C4 Energy, and more
From coffee to kombucha, we take a look at some of the new beverages launching around the globe
Coca-Cola names new CEO
Executive vice president and chief operating officer Henrique Braun will take over as CEO of The Coca-Cola Company: succeeding James Quincey, who has led the drinks giant for nine years.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Danone reveals what is next for protein
With demand for protein climbing but understanding about different types and benefits lagging, Danone unveils how it is helping consumers move beyond grams per serving to understand quality, digestibility, differences in plant- and animal-based options...
Brain boom: 3 ingredients boosting cognitive health
Functional ingredients are aiming to boost brain health and wellbeing
Monster Beverage energizes growth through innovation that reinforces, not replaces what consumers love
By pairing fan favorites with innovative new products, Monster expands occasions, recruits new consumers, and protects its core amid industry-wide unit declines
News Bites
3 strategies shaping the future of food and beverage
Brands and retailers are responding to consumers who want more — more flavor, more functionality and more alignment with their health and sustainability goals
Startup Spotlight
AI that speaks the language of CPG
What the food and beverage market needs isn’t just another AI model — it needs artificial intelligence that understands CPG-specific business
Premier Protein’s playbook for holding the lead when a category takes off
The hardest part about winning a new category isn’t getting there first – it’s surviving the stampede that follows, as illustrated by BellRing Brands’ aggressive growth strategy for convenient nutrition leader Premier Protein
What’s coming after stevia? 4 new sweeteners on the horizon
From Finland to Italy, Peru to the UK, four start-ups are on a mission to transform the sugar reduction landscape
The packaging advantage: How recyclability drives consumer loyalty
Why recyclable packaging drives consumer loyalty
Coca-Cola eyes return of bolt-on deals, but is there a viable pipeline?
CEO James Quincey says bolt-on M&A will become a ‘bigger feature’ for Coca-Cola and the larger industry, but the timing hinges on innovation cycles and the beverage giant’s prolonged IRS dispute
Walmart and Coca-Cola see tariff pressures cresting, but growing consumer divide requires strategic marketing shift
With discretionary spending slipping among lower-income households, both companies are shifting investment and pricing tactics to follow changing shopper behavior
Danone tackles the big question for GLP-1 users: What should they eat?
Grounded in emerging science, Danone’s research and innovation team is developing nutrient-dense products tailored to every stage of the GLP-1 user journey – and meeting the needs of the broader health conscious consumer
Nestlé reportedly planning coffee sale amid portfolio shake-up
Swiss food and beverage giant is reportedly considering sale of Blue Bottle Coffee as part of streamlining strategy
Up the food chain
Oatly’s strategy: Driving plant-based milk’s growth through taste, creativity and sustainability
How Oatly’s North American president Helge Weitz uses his CPG and real-world restaurant experience to map the firm’s US reset
What’s popular this Thanksgiving? Brining, baking and brand buzz
From budget-friendly feasts to playful twists, brands are blending affordability, nostalgia and creativity to win over holiday hosts
Top 5 F&B ingredients trends driving market growth towards $560bn
The global food and beverage ingredients market is booming. But what are the trends powering industry growth?
Nestlé retains right to label Perrier ‘natural’ amid filtration scandal
A French court has rejected a case against Perrier’s owner Nestlé, who will now reclaim legal fees
Beauty from within: How functional foods are blurring the line between skincare and nutrition
As the beauty-from-within movement gains momentum, food and beverage brands are turning to collagen, antioxidants and other functional ingredients to deliver skincare benefits from the inside out
Emulsifiers in food and beverage: Market growth and health risks
New research linking omnipresent emulsifiers to gut damage and obesity is raising tough questions for manufacturers
New beverage launches: Canned cocktails, energy drinks and more
We take a look at some of the new beverage innovations launching around the globe
UPFs surge unevenly across global markets - where’s next?
Ultra-processed diets aren’t equally dominant worldwide - but in some countries, they’re rising fast
AI platform Keychain raises $10M to help retailers speed private-label product launches
The funding backs Keychain360, a new operating system designed to cut product launch time by up to 30% and streamline sourcing, compliance and vendor management for retailers