Rising grocery costs loom as Middle East conflicts disrupt supply chains
As oil and fertilizer prices squeeze margins, farmers and manufacturers must make tough decisions on pricing, pack sizes and innovation
Prepared foods
News Bites
From war‑driven inflation to GLP‑1 eating trends: What mattered in food this month
From international supply instability to GLP‑1s reshaping eating habits and a booming condiment category, this month’s roundup tracks the forces rapidly reshaping how food is made, priced and enjoyed
Unilever confirms Foods merger talks with McCormick
Unilever in talks with McCormick over potential Foods separation, raising fresh questions about the future of some of its best‑known brands
Can fermented bean protein be the new ‘it’ category?
Wildbrine bets big on creating a new category with its fermented chickpea salads
Why Big Food is reformulating growth not just recipes
From halted breakups to billion-dollar buyouts, the world’s biggest food groups aren’t just tweaking products, they’re rethinking how growth works
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
Nestlé crashes the condiment aisle with its first US sauce brand
Minor’s Kitchen features four chef-driven flavors, aiming to reach home cooks looking for flavor-forward, convenient options
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
Buffett bets on Kraft Heinz as shock split suspended
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway signals support for Kraft Heinz, following separation update
Kraft Heinz details $600M investment plan to reignite US growth, scale global ‘blueprints’
Kraft Heinz outlined a $600 million investment plan across pricing, R&D, marketing and sales to revive US market share, accelerate innovation and scale successful models from Canada, Europe and emerging markets.
Conagra bets on active aging adults to drive the next wave of CPG growth
As competitors chase Gen Z, Conagra Brands is targeting the fastest-growing cohort in the US: active adults seeking protein, portion control, value and health-forward convenience – all of which overlaps with other emerging demographic groups, including...
Fancy Faire
6 trends redefining spicy beyond extreme heat to reach new consumers
From sweet-heat pairings and clean-label innovation to global flavor exploration and softer packaging cues, brands are transforming spicy into an everyday, elevated experience
From breakfast staple to cultural treat: The reframing of sugary cereals in a MAHA era
Sugary cereals are no longer breakfast staples, but they’re not disappearing either
Is breakfast still a meal? How consumer behavior is reshaping the category
Mintel research shows breakfast evolving from a product category into a flexible, behavior-driven eating occasion
Kraft Heinz scraps breakup timeline to focus on turnaround
Following disappointing Q4 results and the potential exit of a major investor, new CEO Steve Cahillane redirects resources toward restoring growth and competitiveness
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
Why the Super Bowl still delivers what TikTok can’t for food brand power
In a marketing culture obsessed with speed and efficiency, Southern Connecticut State University associate professor Amit Singh argues the Super Bowl exposes an uncomfortable truth about how real brand power is actually built
News Bites
Top 5 stories reshaping grocery value in 2026
The grocery value equation is evolving beyond simple price tags
GLP-1 ranges: Should you launch one?
We round up the challenges and opportunities of entering the ‘GLP-1 friendly’ meals arena
Diet Trends
Fiber’s comeback: Why snacks are embracing the next functional macro
Fiber is making a comeback in snacks as gut health trends, GLP-1 use and clean-label demands reshape functional food innovation
The real tariff impact on food is still ahead – here is what to expect
Industry data shows manufacturers have delayed price hikes through promotions and portfolio pricing, but analysts warn those tools will weaken as tariff costs finally flow through in 2026
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
Virginia becomes third state to mandate baby food heavy metal testing, raising the compliance bar for manufacturers
As Virginia becomes the third state to regulate heavy metals in baby food, the question for manufacturers is no longer whether to comply, but how high to set the bar
Kraft Heinz demerger: Will the $28.7bn break-up pay off?
After the collapse of a major merger, Kraft Heinz plans to split into two companies. Will this bold move unlock growth or expose new risks?
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
Nestlé infant formula recall 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
Italian-made pasta dodges crushing US tariffs – for now
The Commerce Department sharply reduced proposed anti-dumping duties on 13 Italian pasta brands, easing fears of product pullouts by major brands including Garofalo and La Molisana ahead of a final ruling in March
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
The GLP-1 effect: How 2026 will look for food and beverage
From shifting grocery habits to new product opportunities, Circana’s insights reveal how brands and retailers can adapt to the rise of GLP-1 users
Next steps for Mars’ $20m climate-smart rice initiative
Mars Food & Nutrition invested $20 million to help rice farmers adopt climate-smart practices that reduce water usage and greenhouse gas emissions while protecting yields
Trump orders sweeping probe into food price-fixing as grocery costs threaten GOP
Facing voter frustration and political risk, the White House directs DOJ and FTC to investigate potential price-fixing across the food chain as Republicans brace for midterm pressure
Hidden Valley Ranch draws in Gen Z home cooks with NYC pop-up
Turning real estate constraints into real brand estate
Trend Tracker: Salt-free condiments, Mars Wrigley Gen Z focus and more
Salt-free condiments, Mars Wrigley Gen Z focus and more feature in this edition of Trend Tracker
From shelf to chef: McCormick’s Gourmet Collection redesign stirs purchase intent
Early retail enthusiasm and consumer testing suggest McCormick’s premium pivot could spice up category growth well into 2026
The top 100 hottest global F&B start-ups
Exclusive data analysis carried out by FutureBridge on behalf of Food Manufacture has identified the top 100 hottest food and drink start-ups worldwide.
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
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
Startup Spotlight
Yough! scales gut-friendly frozen pizza with clean ingredients and specialty retail strategy
From Greek yogurt crust to store shelves, Yough! is navigating the hurdles of scaling a healthier frozen pizza
Saffron Road’s seed oil-free certification aims to ‘level up’ frozen aisle
Frozen entrée manufacturer Saffron Road expands its clean label positioning with its Seed Oil Free certification, a move that reflects both evolving consumer awareness and the brand’s long-term strategy around ingredient transparency
Non-UPF Verified debuts standard for CPG brands
The standard includes ingredient criteria and processing intensity that align with nutrition research and food system realities
Protein, please: NPD with real muscle
Protein’s still flexing hard, but it’s left the gym and hit the grocery aisle
Instacart’s 2025 health policy agenda signals new opportunities for CPG brands
Grocery delivery service Instacart’s renewed policy agenda isn’t just a roadmap for public health – it’s a signal to CPG brands that the future of grocery is increasingly digital, nutrition-driven and integrated with healthcare
California’s ultra-processed food ban could reshape school meals and national policy
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a landmark bill yesterday requiring the state to define UPF and eliminate the ‘most harmful’ ones from school meals over the next 10 years – a decisive action in sharp contrast to national efforts and political MAHA rhetoric
Video
NotCo on boosting F&B innovation in challenging times
Food and beverage is ripping up the rule book to innovate for the future
Whole Foods Market shoppers are changing – here is what it means for brands
A senior leader at Whole Foods Market shares how the retailer’s shopper demographics and psychographics are evolving – from lapsed holiday buyers to aspirational Gen Z – and what that means for product placement and marketing opportunities
Purged NIH scientist: America sees historic reduction in biomedical research support
Kevin Hall, a former senior investigator at NIH, says MAHA children’s report fails to address ultra-processed food threat
Kraft Heinz split: What happens now?
Kraft Heinz is officially splitting into two companies. What does this mean for its iconic brands, shareholders, and the future of the food industry?
Sam’s Club takes a slice of the pizza business with online sales growth
The warehouse club is growing its store count along with its prepared food offerings
Unilever: 4 key focus areas for strategy
The CPG giant is focused on performance, core brands and embracing the new
Sustainable September
Compostable packaging gains ground: What CPGs should know about PHA
Innovations in compostable packaging are moving towards a commercial reality, and CPG brands that engage early with PHA solutions will be better positioned to meet sustainability and compliance demands