News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
As consumers redefine premium chocolate through taste, ethics and wellness, everyday indulgence is replacing special-occasion luxury – opening the door for brands and retailers to grow margins, build loyalty and differentiate in a tightening,...
Chocolate is changing fast - premium indulgence, health-driven treats, and even cocoa-free innovations are rewriting the rulebook
Unilever is set to offload Graze for a fraction of its 2019 purchase price. Can Katjes revive the struggling snack brand?
From budget-friendly feasts to playful twists, brands are blending affordability, nostalgia and creativity to win over holiday hosts
The global food and beverage ingredients market is booming. But what are the trends powering industry growth?
New product development
Reese’s is ramping up its Christmas offer for 2025, revealing a raft of new products and returning best-sellers
New research linking omnipresent emulsifiers to gut damage and obesity is raising tough questions for manufacturers
Nestlé is exploring cutting-edge genomics and sustainable sourcing to safeguard cocoa supplies
Ultra-processed diets aren’t equally dominant worldwide - but in some countries, they’re rising fast
Targeted pricing, selective promotions and strategic investments help brands protect margins and capture share in a high-cost environment
The standard includes ingredient criteria and processing intensity that align with nutrition research and food system realities
Inside Nestlé: Rania Abou Samra on crafting the future of food and beverage
The price of sugar will not stay low forever
Holidays are coming! Discover the confectionery trends driving festive sales in 2025
The largest players in food are making bold decisions in an effort to boost growth
Hershey doubles down on the convenience channel with bold flavors, strategic pack sizes and data-driven innovation aimed at capturing Gen Z and driving repeat purchases
Travel retail is no longer just about luxury - confectionery is taking off. Discover how Mondelēz is turning airports into brand-building playgrounds
The confectionery giant beat expectations in Q3, but soaring costs and shrinking profits reveal deeper industry troubles
The snack giant will expand value offerings, boost innovation in better-for-you products and indulgent items, and refine promotions to reignite growth
Consumer concern about UPFs has surged, but understanding still lags far behind, according to new research from the Non-GMO Project
Sweeteners in focus
Consumers’ evolving preferences, clean-label demands and political debates are reshaping sugar and alternative sweeteners - and challenging brands to innovate without compromise
Sweeteners in focus
Kerry Group and NotCo show how advanced sweetening systems can overcome many of the technical, sustainability and cost barriers with sugar reduction
84.51° data shows households – especially those with children – are driving double- and triple-digit gains in candy made with less sugar and alternative sweeteners
Sweeteners in focus
The retailer predicts that consumers will embrace real sugar, but less of it in the new year – driving demand for products sweetened with cane sugar, honey and fruit instead of other alternatives
‘The beauty and longevity revolution demands both breakthrough science and the infrastructure to deliver it,’ according to Geltor CEO. ‘PrimaColl is the first ingredient to nail both’
After Summerween comes the real deal: Halloween, which expects to see recording spending
The new ingredient is positioned as an ‘insurance policy’ against cocoa supply chain volatility and says the bio-identical ingredient could stabilize supply as climate change strains traditional crops
Kerry’s sustainable nutrition spectrum guides CPG brands in reformulating foods that meet evolving consumer expectations for health, sustainability and taste.
A Wisconsin entrepreneur launched a new business during the pandemic to keep herself afloat – now it supports independent foodmakers
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Food and beverage is ripping up the rule book to innovate for the future
FDA acknowledges brazzein-54, advancing Oobli’s nature-identical sweet protein toolkit to reduce sugar
Nestlé confectionery has unwrapped a broad Christmas 2025 range, featuring seasonal flavours, gifting formats and shareable packs. Sustainability and retail exclusives also return to the line-up
Savvy consumers are seeking better-for-you options with functional benefits, according to Spate
Cocoa prices have finally cooled after a historic surge - but will the calm last?
By extending its seasonal leadership and tapping consumer nostalgia with a modern twist, Hershey is driving incremental sales and household penetration
Onego Bio says its animal-free, precision-fermented Bioalbumen is functionally identical to the protein found in chicken egg whites, and is gearing up for large-scale production following FDA’s ‘no questions’ GRAS letter
Consumers may be under financial pressure, but candy remains one of the most resilient categories in the store
Holiday treats, spices and baking goods are back in stores
CPG brands could face greater regulatory oversight, higher expectations for transparency and new risks if ingredient safety communication falls short
Early preparation, thorough documentation and proactive governance remain the best defense in a landscape where litigation and regulation related to ultra-processed food are still evolving
Nestlé fast-tracks leadership change following investor pressure
For Melissa Ben-Ishay, teaming up with Ferrero is a Halloween treat. But the Baked by Melissa CEO knows collabs are more than fun – they’re fueling serious business growth
The legislation received bipartisan support to ban ultra-processed foods in California public schools and is on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom, while industry stakeholders express mixed support on economy, school infrastructure and nutrition
Investors want chairman Paul Bulcke out now. With trust shaken and shares slipping, pressure mounts for Pablo Isla to take the reins early
From Kraft Heinz’s split to Mars and Kellanova’s mega-merger, the world’s biggest food brands are reshaping the industry
A breakthrough in cocoa fermentation could finally deliver consistent, high-quality flavour every time
Is the clock still stopped on the $35.9bn deal?
News Bites
Energy drinks, snacking behaviors and corporate restructuring made headlines this week, underscoring how rapidly the food and beverage landscape is shifting under competitive and consumer pressures
Capol’s acquisition of Blue Pacific underscores how quickly the natural color market is evolving - from a nice-to-have to a core differentiator
From Oreo x Reese’s to Biscoff tie-ups, partnerships are delivering the consumer buzz and sales lift that price cuts and big-ticket acquisitions no longer guarantee