News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Award-winning biotech Michroma is using fungi-based fermentation to tackle the cost, supply and performance challenges holding back natural colors
Clean label soda brand Nixie outlines the retail and merchandising strategy that is helping it compete in conventional aisles
Functional mushroom products surge across beverages and snacks, but rising competition, consumer pullback and a wave of acquisitions signal a more challenging next phase
Nestlé is doubling down on cold, convenient and customizable coffee solutions as Gen Z drives the rise of fourth‑wave, at‑home café culture
From gut health to energy, there’s a huge range of choice in the functional beverage category. What do consumers actually want?
When supply chain snarls and cautious consumers dominate, winners focus on health, convenience and mindful indulgence
Alcohol was once what held social occasions together. Now alcohol-free has the opportunity to take up the mantle
For product developers, designing GLP-1 friendly foods will require new sensory approaches, emotional metrics and new nutritional architectures
Sleep deprivation is becoming big business as consumers obsess over how much shuteye they’re getting, but how is the market responding?
Despite consumer coffee prices slipping, Vietnam’s brewing supply‑chain crisis threatens a painful whiplash for manufacturers as climate chaos, shrinking yields and land pressures trigger a new wave of cost volatility
From protein shakes to collagen coolers, brands are reinventing beverages for the GLP‑1 era and the race for dominance in this fast‑growing $3.5bn category is just beginning
The ongoing tensions in Iran could disrupt supply routes and drive volatility across key food commodities such as rice and meat
As Celsius absorbs Alani Nu and Rockstar into PepsiCo’s distribution system, the three‑brand portfolio is grabbing shelf and cooler space nationwide
Opinion
To understand how processing affects food consumption, don’t caricature either side of the debate
The dairy giant’s new ready‑to‑drink collagen milk aims to support bone health, signalling where functional dairy innovation is heading
In a category driven by flavour innovation, functionality and format, the colour of a beverage remains one of its most powerful and immediate signals.
CEO Ramon Laguarta outlines plans to reduce sugar and sodium, boost protein and fiber, and “restage” core brands to drive higher value per consumption
Yerba mate is breaking out from its South American roots, fuelled by soaring exports, innovation and booming global demand for natural energy beverages
Comfort food now needs an edge
Functional beverages are popular with wellness enthusiasts: but how wide is their appeal?
As Coca‑Cola enters a pivotal year, the drinks giant is doubling down on digital transformation, bold innovation and a refreshed leadership vision to fuel its next decade of growth
How advances in fiber chemistry and sourcing may influence the next generation of food products and health
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines focus on federal programs and procurement to drive whole-food consumption and reduce ultra-processed foods nationwide
After a year marked by a CEO shake-up and its biggest ever product recall, the Swiss CPG major is embarking on a strategic reset in 2026
Chobani is translating hype and scarcity economics into everyday grocery categories, reframing its Flavor Drops creamer from a staple product into a discovery-driven experience
The last decade has seen a steady decline in alcohol consumption. GLP-1 drugs add a new dimension
News Bites
The grocery value equation is evolving beyond simple price tags
Innovation in coffee is moving fast: How can brands get ahead in the booming market?
Tracking January’s search data reveals the rising stars in the US alcohol-free category...
News Bites
From sensemaxxing and nutrition policy to freeze-dried candy, consumers are reshaping what ‘value’ means in food - moving beyond price, binaries and one-size-fits-all health claims
Nestlé kicks off the sale of a stake in its €5bn water division, drawing major private equity interest
Startup Spotlight
Early-stage founders share how they’re reinventing indulgent foods while navigating one of the toughest fundraising environments in recent years
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
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans spotlight an inverted food pyramid, effectively sidelining MyPlate and sparking debate among nutrition experts and educators
We look at the supply, safety and quality control implications for infant formula manufacturers and ingredient suppliers
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
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
For startup Loonen, water isn’t just water - it’s spring-sourced and filtered with an emphasis on minimizing plastic across the supply chain
Arla enters cottage cheese and Oatly ventures into RTD coffee in out January 2026 NPD round-up
Coca-Cola said to be scrapping Costa Coffee sale after months of talks with private equity bidders fall flat
Nestlé faces global scrutiny as infant formula recall widens over contamination fears
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
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
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
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
As demand for natural sweeteners grows, Manus moves monk fruit production in the US
Coca‑Cola job cuts highlight wider Big Food overhaul
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
What are the top trends defining soft drinks in the coming year and beyond?
Plant-based brands are looking for new ways to lure in consumers after the category’s initial success