Top 3 new food & beverage trends for 2026
Discover the top trends set to shape consumer choices and product development
Market trends
Why are dairy prices declining?
From cream to butterfat, prices have lowered across the board
Confectionery market to hit $278bn by 2032 as candy sales surge
The confectionery market is entering a new growth phase, driven by evolving consumer preferences, seasonal demand, and innovation in non-chocolate formats
Potato protein market to grow as demand for functionality booms
The plant-based protein boasts quality, versatility and efficiency
EIT Food: Is sustainability dead?
CEO Richard Zaltman discusses sustainability, tariffs and the future of food tech
How AI can protect F&B from commodity price volatility
A breakthrough in AI forecasting is enabling producers and businesses to insure their commodities based on predicted prices for the first time
Ferrero’s $100m+ sporting gamble
Ferrero bets big on sports with North American marketing blitz
Fibre powers next wave of functional nutrition
Fibre is no longer just a digestive aid, it’s a driving force in food innovation
Press start to snack: Inside the $200 billion gaming boom brands can’t ignore
Ahead of FoodNavigator-USA’s free webinar ‘Fueling Fun: Connecting with Esports Enthusiasts and Everyday Gamers FTW’ (October 15), we look at how brands from Doritos to Heinz are stepping inside the $200bn gaming economy
Coca-Cola’s Power Water takes on PepsiCo’s Propel
Functional bottled water wars continue between US beverage goliaths
Nestlé quits global climate alliance
Nestlé’s quiet exit from global methane-cutting alliance has sparked fresh scrutiny over its climate commitments
Top 5 foods fuelling the brain health boom
Brain food is booming. As consumers seek sharper focus and long-term cognitive health, the food industry is responding with powerful ingredients and smarter nutrition
Mars-Kellanova merger: Commission rumoured to be nearing approval
Mars’ blockbuster $35.9bn bid for Kellanova may get the EU’s green light, without concessions
Why the GLP-1 boom won’t kill sugar reduction
Junk food cravings may ease with GLP-1 use, but people still want sweet foods
The future of chocolate: Trends shaping a $129bn market
From creamy milk chocolate to functional dark varieties, the global chocolate market is evolving fast
Meatly on the next steps for cultivated meat
Scaling and achieving mass market pricing are the next hurdles for Meatly, and cultivated meat as a whole
Food tech investors embrace caution - and look beyond sustainability
Start-ups are being subjected to higher, more exacting standards before securing funding
Functional beverage market to hit $250bn by 2030: Key trends driving growth
The functional drinks market is booming, with health and wellness powering growth
Why Kerry exited hybrid dairy and pivoted Smug to snacking
Once heralded as a category disruptor, Kerry’s hybrid dairy brand Smug is being reinvented into a 100% dairy affair. Here’s why
Video
NotCo on boosting F&B innovation in challenging times
Food and beverage is ripping up the rule book to innovate for the future
Top confectionery trends for 2026
Top trends driving innovation in confectionery include personalisation, premiumisation, and ultra-limited editions
Nestlé’s Christmas 2025 NPD: KitKat Gingerbread, Green Triangle bar
Nestlé confectionery has unwrapped a broad Christmas 2025 range, featuring seasonal flavours, gifting formats and shareable packs. Sustainability and retail exclusives also return to the line-up
TFWA 2025: Top 5 confectionery innovations from the show
From hazelnut Twix to halal Haribo, TFWA 2025 delivered a sweet showcase of innovation under the Cannes sun. Discover the top launches shaking up confectionery
Cocoa market stable for first time since 2022
Cocoa prices have finally cooled after a historic surge - but will the calm last?
How US tariffs are affecting coffee
Trade barriers are hitting the drink in multiple ways
The health trend: Functionality and clean label in 2025
Consumers are paying more attention to health than ever
Taste trumps all in functional food and beverage
Consumers are spending big on health-boosting foods and drinks, but flavour is still the dealbreaker
The big UPF myth: Why consumers say one thing and eat another
Do manufacturers really need to navigate out of the ‘dirty’ UPF world? Perhaps not, as exclusive research shows consumers’ perception of UPF is very different to their reality
Food ingredients see M&A boom
Deal activity is reaching new heights this year
Functional gummy mania sends confectionery sales soaring
Functional gummies are exploding in popularity - blending indulgence with wellness, and appealing to everyone from Gen Z to Boomers
Shrinkflation backfires: Brands risk customer loyalty in cost-saving strategy
Are manufacturers risking it all to save a few pennies?
GLP-1 fuels new wave of confectionery innovation
GLP-1 drugs are transforming consumer snacking habits, and confectionery brands are responding
Dairy alternatives: Boom or bust for the market?
Alt dairy has seen better days as consumers have pulled back from the category. But in every challenge lies an opportunity, industry insiders say
Plant-based dairy: Barriers for adoption
Dairy substitutes still face difficulty in getting through to some consumers
Is it time to get plastic out of chewing gum?
Chewing gum might be small, but its plastic content is causing big concerns. With mounting regulatory pressure and rising consumer demand for change, manufacturers are being urged to rethink their formulations
Opinion
The best of both worlds: Making blended foods work
Blended foods promise the best of both worlds, but getting them right is no easy feat. Discover the science behind creating hybrid products that deliver on taste, texture, and sustainability
Global cheese market to hit $178.5bn by 2035
Cheese sales are soaring, with fast food growth, premiumisation, and health-focused innovation driving demand
Alternative materials market strengthens as sustainability declines
As the need for alternatives becomes clearer, sustainability fades into the background
How food and beverage spin-offs and separations fare after the split
The future is uncertain for food and beverage spin-offs, but we can look to the past for guidance
Coffee linked to happiness in latest boost to $485.59bn industry
New research reveals caffeine could boost mood and energy - especially in the morning
Exclusive: Why Europeans are so slow to embrace food tech innovation
Europeans are dragging their feet when it comes to adopting new foods. And it’s not a question of regulation
Unilever, Mars, Ferrero & Kraft Heinz: A story of spin-offs, splits, mergers & acquisitions
From Kraft Heinz’s split to Mars and Kellanova’s mega-merger, the world’s biggest food brands are reshaping the industry
Keto’s collapse: The end of a diet era
Once a weight-loss juggernaut, the high-fat, low-carb keto diet is losing consumer interest
Scientists crack cocoa’s consistency conundrum
A breakthrough in cocoa fermentation could finally deliver consistent, high-quality flavour every time
Sustainable September
Could the commodity crisis lead to more deforestation?
As crops are driven to more temperate climates, more forests are put under 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?
GLP-1s may pose risk to athletes
By limiting food intake, athletes could lose out on essential nutrients they need for peak performance
Coca-Cola & Costa Coffee: What went wrong?
Coca-Cola’s £3.9bn Costa Coffee acquisition is rumoured to be heading for splitsville, following years of underperformance
Top confectionery trends driving sales in 2025
From timeless favourites to viral treats, discover how price, innovation, and better-for-you options are reshaping the confectionery aisle
EUDR: 5 key traceability challenges for coffee
In a fragmented, complex sector, traceability remains a challenge