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
Markets
How brands can win in plant-based cheese
As plant-based cheese innovation enters a new era, brands must elevate taste, functionality and nutrition
Inside FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ protein strategy - amid a whey shortage
When ingredient trends boom, suppliers need a strategy to ensure they meet demand
3 key lessons for food brands targeting the ‘Future Consumer’
The ‘Future Consumer’ is here, and food brands need to stay ahead of their evolving tastes and expectations to survive in the long run
Is the protein snack boom running out of steam?
Flattening consumer interest and growing format fatigue suggest the category may be hitting a ceiling unless brands evolve beyond bars and bold claims
Business strategies to win in a GLP-1 food world
It may not be the big FMCGs who dominate in a market where appetite, and impulse, shrink
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
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 GLP-1s have turned fiber-maxxing into a snacking strategy
As GLP-1 drugs suppress hunger and compress eating occasions, fiber is emerging as a way to make smaller snacks feel functional, tolerable and worth the calories
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
Trends vs fads: What’s shaping CPG in 2026?
In 2026, longevity – not hype – is the real differentiator
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
Mars, Danone and Mondelēz roll out star-studded Super Bowl ads
From celebrity cameos to cashback promos, food and beverage brands are pulling out all the stops ahead of kickoff
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
Game on: Flipz, Velveeta and SuperPretzel gear up for the Super Bowl
Super Bowl week snack sales reached $742m last year, and snack makers are leaning into shareable formats, bold flavors and activations again as the Big Game approaches
How GLP-1 drugs are playing into the alcohol moderation trend
The last decade has seen a steady decline in alcohol consumption. GLP-1 drugs add a new dimension
Mondelēz’s CoLab Tech accelerator shines light on the biggest stress points facing the global snack system
As the company reopens applications for its R&D-led accelerator, the focus areas highlight mounting pressure around climate resilience, packaging constraints and shifting consumer expectations
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
Candy in the crosshairs
‘Elevated’ arsenic in candy reveals industry-wide food safety and regulatory risks
Even without enforcement action, publicly released contaminant data could fuel lawsuits, consumer confusion and regulatory scrutiny, while also undermining federal oversight
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?
Kraft Heinz rocked as Buffett eyes full stake sell‑off
Berkshire Hathaway’s move to exit sends shockwaves through industry - what does it mean for the future of Big Food?
A bakery & snacks survival guide for 2026
Top 10 TikTok trends shaping bakery and snacks in 2026
From pistachio-packed fillings to products engineered to break, pull and ooze on camera, TikTok is reshaping what indulgence and value look like in 2026
Why salt reduction is getting harder for food makers
Governments may be returning to salt reduction targets, but manufacturers say the era of easy reformulation wins is long over
The most popular alcohol-free brands in the US this month, according to search data
Tracking January’s search data reveals the rising stars in the US alcohol-free category...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
3 steps to future-proof the food system and CPG industry in a ‘critical decade’
As population growth, soil degradation and climate pressures converge, BSI’s Todd Redwood explains why the next 10 years will determine whether the global food system can deliver enough high-quality nutrition, strategic opportunities and next steps for...
What CPG investors want now: Growth, proof points and founders who won’t quit
Top VCs share what gets CPG brands funded
Healthy Snacking
Snacks are eating into the meal occasion creating new opportunities for brands
Consumers are turning to snacks for nutrition, satiety and convenience – blurring the line between eating occasions and pressuring brands to deliver more
Nestlé water unit sale reportedly underway
Nestlé kicks off the sale of a stake in its €5bn water division, drawing major private equity interest
Winter Fancy Faire
Playing defense on price isn’t enough to win today’s food shoppers
Even cautious consumers are balancing budgets with quality, trust and values — and brands that focus only on price risk missing growth opportunities
Mars-Kellanova: The $36bn merger transforming the snacking sector
Mars’ $36bn takeover of Kellanova is reshaping the global snacking landscape, combining two powerhouse portfolios and igniting innovation
Letter from the editor
2026 diet trends: What is in, what is out and what does it mean for CPG brands?
Consumers are redefining ‘healthy’ and rethinking nutrition to focus on their physical and mental well-being, which is creating opportunities and challenges for brands
Diet Trends
Alcohol-free beverages become part of the wellness diet
From Dry January to everyday routines, alcohol-free beverages are integrating into wellness diets with functional, mood-enhancing ingredients
Diet Trends
Rethinking sweetness in an age of sugar skepticism
As shoppers scrutinize labels and headlines, brands are rethinking sweetness strategies to deliver lower sugar, clearer messaging and commercially viable reformulations
Diet Trends
Millennials and Gen Z scrap formal diets for functional and high-protein foods
Spins analysts say younger consumers are turning to wearable technology and AI tools to customize nutrition and choose foods that deliver health benefits and flavor
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
Diet Trends
Circana maps 3 ‘healthy eating’ white spaces for food manufacturers in 2026
Study highlights how fiber, convenience-driven healthy meals and mood-boosting products are redefining better-for-you trends
PepsiCo, Del Monte and Mars tap global street food for inspiration
From street food-inspired rice cups to Mexican corn chips, big food makers are betting that spicy flavors and convenient formats will resonate with shoppers
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
How BuzzBallz became Gen Z’s global RTD obsession
BuzzBallz has become Gen Z’s go‑to party prop, fusing bold flavours, playful design and recession‑proof pricing to rewrite the rules of ready‑to‑drink cocktails
Freeze-dried candy craze grows – but not everyone’s winning
Mars, Ferrara ride TikTok-fueled demand while Sow Good restructures to survive
Winter Fancy Faire
Dry oat milk ‘slices’ promise a step-change in plant-based beverage sustainability
Using a proprietary dry-printing process, Milkadamia’s new oat milk format reduces packaging by 85%, lowers logistics costs and gives retailers a less expensive, more sustainable entry point for plant-based milks
Ingredients Compendium No. 1: L-theanine
The need for calm drives a green tea amino acid into the snack aisle
In a world that feels louder, faster and harder to switch off, L-theanine is finding a new role in snacks
Top 5 trends shaping healthy dairy snacking
From cheese bites to RTD beverages, dairy is primed for success in the healthy snacking space
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
6 food trends giving consumers more of what they want
At the Winter Fancy Faire, the Specialty Food Association revealed six emerging trends reshaping how consumers engage with food and beverage as they seek more value as inflation and GLP-1 use cut into volume and dollar sales
Cocoa crunch: How shortages are rewriting chocolate’s future
As climate, disease and regulation strain global cocoa supply, manufacturers are turning to low‑cocoa and cocoa‑free innovations to protect margins and future-proof their portfolios
Whey protein suppliers race to expand capacity amid tight markets
As the glut for advanced protein ingredients continues, where is the extra supply set to come from?