News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
Trump’s food price probe, research on what really drives acceptance of gene-edited foods and KeHE’s latest read on authenticity, function and global flavor exploration reshape the industry as the year winds down
As regulatory green lights multiply and cost‑efficient production ramps up, GFI’s release of SciFi Foods’ bovine cell lines could provide the common foundation the cultivated‑meat sector needs to accelerate commercial-scale growth
Amazon’s same-day grocery delivery rollout helps drive November rebound
Startup Spotlight
What the food and beverage market needs isn’t just another AI model — it needs artificial intelligence that understands CPG-specific business
Consumers are more open to gene-edited foods when benefits are clear, transparent, and aligned with their values – offering CPG brands a roadmap to communicate innovation effectively
Why recyclable packaging drives consumer loyalty
From proteins to dyes and sweeteners, the CPG major is betting big on the technology: here’s why
Paying premiums alone isn’t enough to get producers to embrace sustainability, Mars Snacking’s VP of R&D says as he reflects on emerging methane mitigation solutions and the Bovaer fallout
Up the food chain
How Oatly’s North American president Helge Weitz uses his CPG and real-world restaurant experience to map the firm’s US reset
Exclusive data analysis carried out by FutureBridge on behalf of Food Manufacture has identified the top 100 hottest food and drink start-ups worldwide.
Prebiotic sodas, better-for-you energy drinks and Halloween candy give embattled retailer Q3 lift
Nestlé is exploring cutting-edge genomics and sustainable sourcing to safeguard cocoa supplies
Food sector AI, coconut nectar, trout and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus
The retail giant leverages AI, online sales and warehouse automation in challenge to Amazon
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
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
As more shoppers hand off purchasing decisions to AI, PwC’s Carla DeSantis shares how brands can win in an era where algorithms – not aisles – drive discovery and purchase
After years of price-driven gains, Acosta’s John Carroll warns the industry must pivot to tech-enabled collaboration to reignite meaningful unit growth
Startup Spotlight
The startup says its AI-enhanced platform boosted revenue 8% for one independent grocer, and it aims to help more retailers reclaim margins lost to pricing inefficiencies
Groceryshop 2025
Launching in January, the new ‘one stop shop’ platform brings together fragmented marketing tools under one agentic layer in a self-serve system built for grocery that promises smarter targeting, easier campaign management and better ROI
Reduced-allergen wheat could transform baking, letting brands deliver better-for-you products without sacrificing quality or consumer experience
News Bites
FDA accelerates precision fermentation, General Mills refocuses on overlooked consumers and innovators redefine the role of sugar
An AI-powered insurance tool is giving bakeries a way to cap chaos in wheat, butter and packaging prices – finally turning forecasts into action
News Bites
Lay’s gets a new look, nutrition science is getting a reality check and precision fermented ingredients are getting FDA’s nod
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
The company’s proprietary ingredient Caseed mimics dairy casein without the allergenic effects of dairy, nuts and soy for B2B partners
The 31% year-over-year increase was driven by a spike in users older than 60 years
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.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Kellanova’s pilot offers a blueprint for using data clean rooms to bridge gaps between brands and retailers, unlock deeper shopper insights and rebuild brand value amid inflationary pressure
The French startup’s FermWhey Native and FermWhey MicroStab expands formulation options for RTD beverages, shots and plant-based hybrids to better meet demands for consumers using GLP-1s and seeking support for active lifestyles and healthy aging
By layering an “AI watchtower” over existing enterprise resource planning systems, startup Burnt claims to automate tedious order management in seconds without forcing distributors to change how they work
FDA acknowledges brazzein-54, advancing Oobli’s nature-identical sweet protein toolkit to reduce sugar
Sustainability September
Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance are teaming up to prove that how food is grown can directly boost nutrition, safety and consumer trust
Unilever’s ice cream spin-out is supercharging its ice cream formulations in the US with the help of AI. NotCo founder Matias Muchnick tells us what it’s all about
Shinkei Systems, launched in 2021, is growing rapidly with a new headquarters in metro Los Angeles
A major food and drink player has ambitions to close its waste loop, but can it be done?
A breakthrough in cocoa fermentation could finally deliver consistent, high-quality flavour every time
Rising costs and stiff shelf competition mean every blind spot can turn into wasted product, lost sales or empty shelves when customers show up.
As companies brace for stricter guidelines under the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign, AI is emerging as an essential ally in reformulation, risk management and consumer trust
Sustainable September
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
Practical strategies from industry voices show how generative AI can enhance ideation, protect intellectual property and create “first-time right” product launches
AI-driven retail insights firm Crisp Data helps seafood brand Safe Catch recover lost sales and fuel double-digit growth
Start-up Opalia is on a mission to prove its cell-cultured milk can be used to make an entire range of dairy products: from cheese to ice cream
IFT FIRST 2025
IFT FIRST revealed how industry and academia are racing to deliver safe, sustainable and consumer-friendly solutions in a rapidly shifting food landscape
The KitKat and Aero maker hopes to yield more chocolate from fewer cocoa fruits
While AI technology may grab the headlines, automation still propels most of the efficiency gains in manufacturing. But both technologies can certainly alleviate workforce worries
Hightouch’s new AI-powered identity resolution service lets marketers ‘toggle’ confidence levels for more precise or broader reach – all within their own data warehouse
Acquisition pairs Daring’s retail reach and clean-label appeal with v2food’s tech stack to tackle taste, texture and nutrition challenges holding back sales of plant-based protein in the US
Dynamic QR codes are emerging as a key tool for brands to own the post-purchase experience and capture first-party data
A deep dive into the consumer shifts, ingredient innovations and market opportunities redefining the global protein landscape