Top 5 flavour trends in dairy
From dessert-inspired indulgence to tropical wellness, where is flavour innovation headed? A look at the latest releases charts the path forward
Market trends
Taste still rules, but may no longer be enough to win in the snack aisle
New Circana data shows consumers increasingly expect functional benefits alongside flavor, driving a shift from ‘better-for-you’ to ‘nutritious and delicious’ snacks, like those showcased at Sweets & Snacks Expo by Barebells, Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn and...
Why dairy giants see growth in meal replacement brands
Danone, Nestlé and Lactalis have all jumped onto the ‘smart food’ bandwagon via bolt-on acquisitions. Why is the segment so strategically important?
Opinion
Ethics alone don’t sell: why plant-based meat needs a rethink
Consumers want practical benefits, not abstract ideals
How texture is elevating dairy and alt dairy
From playful crunch to decadent smoothness, brands are increasingly leaning on textural cues to give their products a premium feel
Is big business done with food?
Unilever and IFF are not the only companies viewing food segments as less attractive
What foods do GLP-1 users actually like?
Despite reduced appetites, those using GLP-1s still care about taste
Up the food chain
The secret duo shaping global FMCG innovation
They don’t front the brands, but this Nottingham duo is quietly shaping what the world eats next
How sustainability is becoming ice cream’s next growth ingredient
Premium indulgence and snacking are driving momentum at ice cream major Froneri – and sustainability is underpinning both trends
Fibre surge driven by gut health and functional boom
Once neglected in favour of protein, fibre love has entered the mainstream
Mondelēz ignites airport buzz with Milka x Monopoly campaign
Mondelēz teams up with Monopoly for limited-edition Milka campaign to drive category growth
Opinion
Hershey’s next move: Rebuilding trust after cocoa cuts controversy
Hershey cut cocoa and stirred up a crisis. A viral takedown from the Reese heir has exposed a deeper clash over taste, trust and the cost of cheapening chocolate
Up the food chain
Mondelēz International R&D VP Ian Noble: Food must innovate or decline
The snacking giant’s innovation lead talks sustainability, the future of cocoa and his love of ‘how things work’
Mars vs Hershey: Snickers takes cheeky swipe at Reese’s
Mars turns confectionery rivalry into content gold, with bold new Snickers campaign
Nestlé doubles down on growth in bold strategy shift
Nestlé resets growth strategy with shift away from price hikes and back towards volumes, brands and execution
Pistachio pressure compounded by Iran War squeeze
Disruption from the conflict in Iran adds to existing pressure from weather and high demand from social media virality
Barry Callebaut sharpens strategy amid cocoa volatility
Barry Callebaut shifts strategy with new Focus for Growth plan
Mars doubles down on premiumisation to drive growth
Mars is ramping up its premium strategy as demand for high-quality indulgence accelerates
Hershey appoints new CSCO in C-suite reset
Confectionery giant recruits new chief supply chain officer from rival snack brand
Is hojicha the next flavour megatrend?
Is hojicha quietly positioning itself as matcha’s successor? From drinks to desserts, this green tea is gaining momentum and the industry is taking notice
The world’s top alcohol brands
Kantar BrandZ reveals which brands dominate the global beverage alcohol market
Mars taps reality TV for experiential M&M’s push
Confectionery brands are ditching traditional ads for immersive experiences as culture‑led campaigns reshape how sweets engage shoppers
Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you trends and indulgence
Cargill joins alternative chocolate race with Barry Callebaut and Nestlé amid cocoa volatility
By upcycling grape seeds, Cargill’s new NextCoa offers CPG brands a vegan, allergen-free option as major manufacturers hedge against soaring cocoa costs
Hershey’s profit surge masks deeper struggles
Hershey’s profits surge may look like a comeback, but rising prices, falling volumes and volatile cocoa costs reveal a more complex story
7 ways GLP-1s are driving the freeze-dried snack frenzy
Smaller appetites, clean label cravings and the internet obsession with crunch are turning freeze-dried snacks into one of the hottest categories in global food
Alt-seafood investment bets on production, not just product
Oshi’s $3 million raise signals a new phase for alt-seafood, where sensory innovation meets scalable production to potentially unlock broader adoption
When an ingredient goes viral, can the supply chain keep up?
As ingredient hype cycles accelerate, so do the risks of shortages, consistency and cost
The functional beverage checklist
From flavour and functionality to fun: here are the five crucial areas every functional beverage must address
Will cocoa alts ever be sexy? Hershey backlash opens the debate
As cocoa markets fluctuate, Hershey’s controversy shows that while alt-chocolate is advancing fast, taste and transparency remain make-or-break for consumers
Wonka returns as Ferrero taps into experiential marketing boom
Ferrero is bringing Wonka back in bold new strategy – blending limited-edition treats, cross-category innovation and a major new Netflix partnership
Why Guinness is bucking all the trends in alcohol
The stout continues to see viral popularity despite alcohol’s decline
Confectionery’s biggest new innovations for 2026 announced
Ferrero and Hershey among winners of the 2026 Most Innovative New Product Awards
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Why consumers pay more for certain brands even in a tight economy
Kantar BrandZ’s Ellie Thorpe explains why brands like Coca-Cola, Red Bull and Walmart continue gaining loyalty, pricing power and market share despite inflation, cautious spending and growing consumer uncertainty
Beyond Meat: Why is foodservice doing worse than retail?
The plant-based major has seen severe divergence between channels
Mars signals new era for confectionery with bold launches and digital focus
Mars redefines confectionery with innovative flavours, new formats and a digital-first shopping strategy
Personalised taste: Is this the future of food?
The food sector aims to target consumer by geography and by demographic, giving them the flavours they want
Ingredion’s Tate & Lyle buy would create a $10B global ingredient powerhouse
The proposed deal would unite two of the food and beverage industry’s largest ingredients makers
Mars powers production growth with $253.6m smart factory investment
Mars bets on smart manufacturing, using £190m UK factory upgrade to boost output and strengthen grip on global confectionery and snacking market
Big Food’s leadership crisis: Why CEOs are falling faster than ever
C-suite exits are mounting across Big Food, but behind the scandals lies a deeper performance and innovation problem
Unilever shaken by investor exit as McCormick deal unsettles shareholders
Unilever’s $40bn Foods merger with McCormick is facing mounting backlash, as shares slide and investors divest
Kraft Heinz split in doubt as weak performance blunts break-up case
With performance still lagging, Kraft Heinz’s paused split looks increasingly uncertain
Taste and texture: Confectionery’s biggest power players
From the melt of a chocolate bar to the tang of a gummy, taste and texture are top when it comes to keeping consumers coming back
Candy makers roll out bold new flavors and functional twists ahead of summer snacking season
New offerings spotlight caffeine-infused candy, globally inspired fruit pairings and spicy-sweet mashups as brands chase novelty and function
Mars, Mondelēz, Ferrero, Nestlé and Hershey: Rethinking confectionery innovation
From viral chocolates to cultural collaborations, confectionery innovation is entering a new experience‑led era
Big Food splits: Smart move or strategic misstep?
Big Food’s biggest names are betting on splits, but market reactions show investors aren’t convinced. So when does breaking up actually make sense?
Will the next wave of alt dairy be built backwards?
Animal-free dairy startup is reversing the traditional biotech model, prioritizing scalability and cost from the outset as the category resets
Consumers don’t care about regenerative agriculture - yet
Sustainability may be slipping down the consumer agenda, but brands can still spark interest in regenerative agriculture
Hershey’s bets on AI to power growth
From marketing spend to manufacturing and innovation, AI is quietly reshaping confectionery
From protein to prebiotics: 11 launches tapping into longevity nutrition
Brands are reformulating everyday foods with more protein, fibre and functional ingredients as consumers look to support strength, digestion and long-term wellbeing through daily eating habits
10 ingredients for healthy ageing – What manufacturers need to know
What ingredients do older consumers need?