Alt-seafood investment bets on production, not just product
Oshi’s $3 million raise signals a new phase for alt-seafood, where sensory innovation meets scalable production to potentially unlock broader adoption
Meat
PepsiCo, Jack Link’s, Chomps racing to own better-for-you meat snack boom
Clean labels, grass-fed beef and chicken sticks are reshaping a market expected to reach $21.67 billion by 2035
Why thinking like an AI agent matters to marketing
Generative engine optimization is reshaping how brands get discovered
Beyond Meat: Why is foodservice doing worse than retail?
The plant-based major has seen severe divergence between channels
New product development
Just launched: Maggi ready meals, Quorn, Ella’s Kitchen and more…
Plant-based innovation, next-generation kids food and elevated snacking are all key themes in this week’s NPD roundup
Oral GLP-1 breakthrough: What it means for impulse-driven food categories
Food and beverage brands face consumers staying on appetite-suppressing drugs for longer
Chicken of the Sea tests sustainability waters, but will consumers bite?
Chicken of the Sea rolls out sustainability certification across its entire tuna portfolio, marking a milestone for a mainstream US brand – but the move is about more than environmental credentials
Tariff refunds are available - here’s how to get them right
High rejection rates and a tight 80-day filing window are turning what should be straightforward IEEPA tariff refunds into a high-stakes, error-prone process for small and mid-sized CPG brands
FDA issues request for information on BHT and ADA
The two embattled food chemicals are the first two under review, following the launch of FDA’s new post-market assessment review program
Premium standards power seafood brand’s push into frozen foods
Safe Catch’s ethos of rigorous mercury testing expands into its new frozen portfolio aimed to deliver on nutrition, quality and convenience
Why is plant-based dairy doing so much better than plant-based meat?
While the two formats both provide vegan alternatives to animal-sourced products, one is a clear winner in terms of market share
From clicks to cart: Online grocery drives the next wave of growth
As omnichannel shopping becomes the norm, ecommerce, retail media and retailer apps are reshaping how and where grocery growth happens
Beef downturn hits Tyson and local economies as prices rise and supply shrinks
A 75-year low cattle cycle is taking a toll on Tyson’s beef volume leading to plant closures and job losses, even as other protein segments post gains
Universities emerge as backbone of alternative protein scale-up
From fermentation infrastructure to GRAS validation, universities are bridging gaps between research, regulation and commercialization
Post–Liberation Day tariff fight shifts to refunds, courts and Congress
The post–Liberation Day tariff fight now centers on refunds and who ultimately keeps the money
Sustainable Sourcing
The fault line in aquaculture sustainability: Can seafood certification deliver what it promises?
At stake is not just consumer confidence, but who governs sustainability in seafood
Meat substitutes are only a small part of the plant-based market
Plant-based meat gets all the attention, but it’s actually traditional foods that dominate the sector
What if coffee was the missing ingredient in plant-based meat?
A surprising ingredient could help plant-based meat tackle one of its biggest problems: taste
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Clean label vs shelf life: A new food-tech solution removes the tradeoff
Startup BioBlends – a runner up in the Americas heat of the Global Food Tech Awards – leverages gas-based technology to extend freshness without additives to address clean label and food waste concerns
Iran conflict: Is ceasefire too little, too late for global food?
A two-week ceasefire is now in place in the war between US-Israel and Iran, but much is still uncertain about how long-lasting the impacts of damage done thus far will be and what still lies ahead for the global food sector
Animal welfare info makes consumers want to buy meat . . . up to a point
Consumers appreciate knowledge about animal welfare, but it depends on framing
10 global trends shaping F&B
What trends are driving changes in the F&B industry?
From humans to hounds: The protein boom hits pet food
Orijen’s Freshprey aims to deliver fresh animal-forward ingredients that’s driving premiumization across the category
How GLP-1s are reshaping product innovation
For product developers, designing GLP-1 friendly foods will require new sensory approaches, emotional metrics and new nutritional architectures
Iran Conflict: What does this mean for global food sector?
The ongoing tensions in Iran could disrupt supply routes and drive volatility across key food commodities such as rice and meat
More with less: Hormel and Utz downsize to grow efficiently
Strategic downsizing at Hormel, Utz and peers shows how fewer brands and plants can unlock efficiency, margin expansion and sustainable growth in packaged food
Opinion
The ultra-processed foods debate has nuance - let’s recognise it
To understand how processing affects food consumption, don’t caricature either side of the debate
Lancet critique of 2025–30 Dietary Guidelines highlights health and policy gaps
The Lancet critique of 2025–30 Dietary Guidelines spotlights SNAP, equity and a widening policy divide
Food inflation will cool in 2026 but grocery bills may continue to rise
USDA data show food-at-home prices growing far slower than food away from home, creating uneven pressure across categories and opportunities for packaged food makers
Food-tech solutions for a more sustainable and secure food system
Letter from the editor: Food-tech tackles today’s threats, but creates new challenges
From AI-powered grocery pricing and agentic commerce to predictive supply chains, cultivated meat regulation and alternative protein funding, technology is helping CPGs manage disruption while reshaping the industry’s risk landscape
Food-Tech Solutions For A More Sustainable And Secure Food System
Where countries stand on cultivated meat regulation in 2026
A global regulatory snapshot of cultivated meat, explaining who is moving first, why approvals vary by country and what comes next for the category
Plant-based meat isn’t dead, but it is in a reset
Plant-based meat faces a slowdown as price, foodservice strategy and manufacturing innovation shape the next phase for the sector
Is aquaculture sustainable? It depends on the system around it
A deeper look shows aquaculture’s climate impact depends less on fish and more on governance
Whole food now at the heart of US nutrition policy
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines focus on federal programs and procurement to drive whole-food consumption and reduce ultra-processed foods nationwide
5 ways to boost plant-based meat sales
Health claims may be an overlooked lever that could reignite plant-based meat demand, according to consumer research by the Good Food Institute
Protein priorities fuel Tyson’s chicken and prepared foods momentum
Affordable pricing, convenience and alignment with federal dietary guidance are reshaping consumer demand for value-added protein
Soup-to-Nuts Podcast
What will it take to rebuild plant-based and cultivated meat?
As protein demand rises and consumers grow choosier, Good Food Institute Founder Bruce Friedrich outlines how plant-based and cultivated meat can move beyond hype and become investable, scalable industries
News Bites
Top 5 stories reshaping grocery value in 2026
The grocery value equation is evolving beyond simple price tags
Smithfield Foods makes its play for Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in a deal that could signal new category growth
Multinational meat purveyor Smithfield Foods acquires Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, moving from longtime licensee to full owner of one of the most recognizable hot dog brands in the US
News Bites
How consumers are redefining food value beyond price, health and hype
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
2026 beef trends: How new Dietary Guidelines are shaping protein demand
Dietary guidance, convenience-driven meals and emerging trends like beef tallow may open new avenues for innovation in beef
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
News Bites
From dietary guidelines to cocoa shortages, pressure mounts on CPG brands
This week’s top stories show how nutrition policy debates, shifting views on processing and cocoa supply disruptions are reshaping formulation and sourcing decisions for CPG brands
The premium protein playbook: Sourcing discipline, pricing restraint and promotions
Pre Brands aims to maintain premium beef pricing through strategic sourcing and targeted retail promotions
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
From media to scaffolding: How plant-based materials are reshaping cultivated meat
Within a narrow funding landscape, plant-based inputs are emerging as one of the most pragmatic ways cultivated meat companies can reduce costs and move toward commercialization
Cellular agriculture funding hits reset and investors want proof, not promises
Capital hasn’t disappeared from cellular agriculture - but investors now want proof the market is ready
Cellular ag moves beyond the startup phase
Government support rises even as startups reset
Startup Spotlight
Whole-cut technology emerges as plant-based meat’s next proving ground
Backed by a $1 million investment from Global Brain, Baltimore-based startup Offbeast is scaling a proprietary fiber assembly process to tackle texture, one of the category’s toughest challenges
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