Taste gap narrows for plant-based dairy – but only in select categories
Nectar’s Tasty Awards reveal rapid gains in non-dairy barista milk driven by flavor and functionality, with significant white space in plant-based mozzarella and yogurt
Labeling, marketing & advertising
St. Patrick’s Day product promotions push CPG brands into the spotlight
CPG heavy-hitters like Lucky Charms, Guinness and Kerrygold are rolling out green-themed launches to boost baskets and social buzz
Hershey: Strategy shake‑up and leadership reset
Hershey is shaking up its strategy and its structure
4 market opportunities revealed by Mintel Most Innovative winners
When supply chain snarls and cautious consumers dominate, winners focus on health, convenience and mindful indulgence
Regenerative Organic Certified emerges as one of food’s fastest-growing labels
‘The bottom line is, if we don’t have healthy soils, we are not going to have healthy plants … and we are not going to be healthy ourselves’
Natural and organic food & drink poised to hit $427 billion by 2029
With most shoppers buying natural and organic but many unsure what it really means, brands must better explain health benefits and value, according to experts
Half of US shoppers worry about artificial ingredients, want EU-style bans
A new Acosta Group study finds growing demand for transparency and cleaner labels as consumers push for stricter rules on artificial ingredients
Stricter certification aims to bring higher quality to extra virgin olive oils
For NAOOA’s brands, the message is clear: certification now represents more than authenticity; it aims to improve quality, transparency and consumer trust
Snack sales hold steady despite GLP-1 weight loss surge
USDA data shows snack units sold remain stable through 2024, even as prescription rates for GLP-1 drugs climb, suggesting opportunity – and caution – for snack manufacturers targeting shifting consumer diets
Natural Products Expo West 2026
New beverage launches to watch at Expo West 2026
Pura Soda, Beyond Meat, Nixie, Malk, Tractor Beverage and more unveil their latest innovations in natural and organic drinks
GLP‑1s are quietly rewriting the grocery list
GLP-1 drugs are reshaping food demand, spending patterns and packaging strategy across the CPG landscape
How food retailers and suppliers are driving health and affordability
Grocery retailers and food suppliers are reformulating products, leveraging dietitian expertise and integrating health services to meet rising consumer demand for nutritious, affordable food
Celsius’ $722M Q4 signals surging energy drink growth as Alani Nu, Rockstar join PepsiCo network
As Celsius absorbs Alani Nu and Rockstar into PepsiCo’s distribution system, the three‑brand portfolio is grabbing shelf and cooler space nationwide
What do CPG brands need to know about the updated FSMA 204?
FDA’s latest FSMA 204 updates give CPG brands clearer guidance on digital traceability, compliance timelines and new exemptions impacting dairy processing.
Smucker sues Trader Joe’s, as Uncrustables shifts from freezer to fridge
Smucker is retooling its $1B Uncrustables line for ready-to-eat convenience while battling knockoffs in the frozen PB&J arms race
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
Nestlé bets big on ‘healthy longevity’: Inside its new launch
Which ingredients make Nestlé’s new drinks suitable for healthy ageing?
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...
Opinion
Your next cashier might be on food stamps
It’s time for US taxpayers to stop subsidizing corporations that fail to pay employees a living wage
Mondelēz charts next growth wave across North America, Europe and emerging markets
The company is tailoring its strategy by region, courting value‑seeking US shoppers, fixing European chocolate margins and using Oreo‑led biscuits and cakes to unlock runway across China, India, Brazil and Mexico
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
Why CPGs need to design for AI discovery now
CPG brands must restructure product data and APIs to stay visible as AI pushes deeper into agentic commerce
General Mills lowers sales expectations but expands its playbook to win back consumers
The packaged food giant is banking on bolder taste, functional nutrition and smarter packaging to offset weak cereal and snack demand
New Product Development
Ice cream launches to watch in 2026
Ben & Jerry’s, Häagen-Dazs, Mars and Novel are giving shoppers plenty of reasons to linger in the frozen foods aisle
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
Big FMCG vs TikTok: Who leads trends and who can win?
Bubble tea, matcha, Dubai chocolate, cottage cheese, pistachio and hot honey: Just a small selection of products and flavours that have gone viral on social media in recent years
Winter Fancy Faire
Beans get rebrand as companies tap into protein- and fibermaxxing trends and GLP-1 user needs
From snackable lentils to refrigerated formats, brands are making legumes relevant again through convenience, creativity and nutrition
Protein, probiotics and clean-label products top targets in new wave of CPG lawsuits
Law firms warn CPG clients to prepare for tougher scrutiny under MAHA-driven policies, Prop 65 claims and state-led investigations targeting ingredients, packaging and label language
Yuka drives reformulation but leaves brands in the dark
In a world of pervasive confusion and growing mistrust over the contents of our food, the Yuka app is one claiming to sow a few seeds of clarity and transparency
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
Food companies further limit advertising to children across digital media
Coca-Cola, Campbell’s, General Mills and other CPG and fast-food companies expanded voluntary advertising restrictions across digital platforms after research found most children encounter unhealthy food branding on YouTube
3 flour brands are redefining how regenerative agriculture scales
By redesigning contracts, supply chains and product development, three flour brands show that scaling regenerative agriculture is as much institutional as it is agricultural
New Product Development
Godiva, A-Sha and Loacker gallop into the Year of the Horse
From pineapple cakes to chocolate gift boxes, CPGs celebrate the Lunar New Year with limited-edition products
PepsiCo cuts prices on Lay’s, Cheetos and Tostitos ahead of Super Bowl
CEO calls the move a ‘surgical investment’ as the company integrates Siete Foods, Poppi and its expanded Celsius partnership while preparing relaunches of Gatorade and Quaker Oats
Schumacher’s strategy: Five moves to revive Barry Callebaut
New CEO Hein Schumacher enters a company in decline. Here are the five decisive moves that could put the world’s biggest chocolate maker back on track
Plant-based meat laws aren’t misleading, court rules
Court finds that requiring disclaimers like “does not contain meat” violates free speech, marking another victory for Tofurkey, Plant Based Foods Association and the Animal Legal Defense Fund
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
What does Hain Celestial’s sale of its North American snack business signal for the category?
After years of acquisitions and declining sales, the health-focused food company is narrowing its portfolio and using the proceeds to shore up its balance sheet
Kroger, Hy-Vee and UNFI make better-for-you private-label plays in 2026
Store brands nearly triple the dollar sales growth of national brands, as grocers position wellness-focused products to capture health-conscious shoppers
Finally, a big-name FMCG engages openly on ultra-processed foods
Although admitting it’s a risk, Oatly is addressing the UPF issue head-on
Hellmann’s, Heinz and McCormick dominate the mayo market – but for how long?
Mayonnaise giants are squaring off against better-for-you upstarts like Graza and Chosen Foods in the race to reinvent a creamy classic
World’s biggest snack companies: who’s really got the crunch in 2026
In a near-$700bn global market, a handful of companies now decide what scales, what sticks and what survives, and in 2026, the power gap is only widening
TikTok’s influence on food: How online trends blow up
The social media platform can drive food trends to the point where they move markets
GLP-1 ranges: Should you launch one?
We round up the challenges and opportunities of entering the ‘GLP-1 friendly’ meals arena
Winter Fancy Faire
3 trends revitalizing the sleepy nut butter and seed spread category
From swicy flavors to squeezable pouches, emerging brands at the Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Faire are pushing a mature category into its next growth phase
The top coffee trends to watch in 2026
Innovation in coffee is moving fast: How can brands get ahead in the booming market?
Ultra-processed food fears mount even as consumer understanding about it lags
Americans increasingly factor processing into food choices, but inconsistent definitions and tradeoffs around convenience and cost leave room for clearer communication, according to new IFIC research