New Protein Watch: Dairy-free ice cream, China plans and EU ‘meaty’ ban
Dairy-free ice cream, China plans and EU ‘meaty’ ban feature in this edition of New Protein Watch
Ingredients
AI identifies nearly 800 plant proteins for next generation of meat substitutes
Such plant proteins could offer food manufacturers new clean-label emulsifiers for plant-based products
Grass-fed dairy: Ireland eyes Asia’s premium nutrition boom
Ireland has its sights on Asia’s growing premium nutrition market, positioning its grass-fed dairy credentials to meet rising demand for quality dairy products
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Raising the functional beverage bar: Drinks are becoming more specific and creative
As consumers look beyond generic energy and wellness claims, emerging brands are creating drinks tailored to specific needs, from focus and calm to protein and recovery
Cultivated protein’s next phase? Integration over invention
The sector is entering an integration phase, according to Ever After Foods’ CEO Eyal Rosenthal, where partnerships, acquisitions and platform-based business models could help tackle persistent cost and scaling barriers that have slowed commercialization
Cadbury breaks category boundaries with beauty launch
Cadbury joins cross-category collaboration trend with MCoBeauty beauty launch
Baobab: A multi-purpose functional powerhouse continues to grow
The fruit, originating in Africa, has potential for use as a functional ingredient around the world
Does the future of dairy protein lie in specialisation?
As protein expands beyond sports nutrition into everyday foods, having tailored dairy proteins designed for different health outcomes is key
IFT FIRST
Can dairy retain its bioactive benefits without sacrificing food safety?
By preserving naturally occurring milk exosomes that conventional processing often destroys, biotech startup Exosomm says it can help manufacturers deliver clinically relevant bioactive benefits without compromising food safety, shelf life or scalability
5 functional snack trends for an ageing world
Older consumers are becoming one of the food industry’s fastest-growing demographics, prompting snack manufacturers to rethink everything from ingredients and nutrition to texture, packaging and portion sizes
EUDR excludes palm oil waste – how is it used in agriculture?
Excluded from the EUDR scope, palm oil waste could find new opportunities in regenerative agriculture
Growth Asia Summit 2026
Paradigm shift: Next frontier of probiotics lies in traceability and functionality – TCI
Taiwanese company TCI says the next frontier of probiotics is not drawing more correlations between the gut and other organs, but tracing what travels between and building a more complete evidence chain.
Pioneers
How Lullaa is taking functional dairy to the next level
Milk already boasts an impressive nutritional profile, but can it compete with kefir, kombucha and protein shakes? Four Leaves Co’s award-winning functional milk offers one answer
Growth Asia Summit 2026: Retailers JD Health, Guardian, Alpro Pharmacy join major brands next week
There is still a week left until the Growth Asia Summit 2026 and we can confirm the attendance of retailers active in the region’s health and nutrition space, including Alpro Pharmacy, China’s JD Health and Guardian Singapore.
聚焦中国：功能性食品创新、KitKat 本土化战略、中国品牌在东南亚的崛起等
本期探讨本土化、功能创新与高端化如何助力品牌赢得亚洲各地消费者
China Focus: Functional food innovations, KitKat’s localisation strategy, and the rise of Chinese brands in SEA
This edition examines how localisation, functional innovation and premiumisation are helping brands win consumers across Asia
PepsiCo, Danone & Nestlé: how AI is powering F&B growth
AI is transforming how F&B giants cut costs, boost efficiency and innovate faster — turning data into a powerful competitive edge
4 ways food brands can win in China’s ‘conscious indulgence’ era
Chinese consumers are among the most discerning in the world, and guilt-free indulgence is leading local innovation trends. Here are four ways food firms can capitalise
ThaiFex-Anuga Asia 2026
Thai Union rides protein and whole-food waves with MONORI snacks
Seafood giant Thai Union has ticked multiple snacking checkboxes with its MONORI brand, tapping ongoing megatrends such as protein, whole foods and convenience
Japan Focus: KitKat’s localisation strategy, food security, Glico at Growth Asia Summit, and FFC trends
This edition explores how KitKat became a Japanese icon, efforts to strengthen food security, Glico in Growth Asia Summit, and FFC consumption trends
Fair pricing and sustainable diets: Safeguarding Japan’s food security
Japan has amended its Food System Act to introduce cost-based pricing benchmarks as concerns grow over the long-term resilience of its food system
Monster chases global energy drink growth with Coca-Cola distribution muscle
Monster executives say the company still has a long runway outside the US as it rolls out market-specific products, affordable brands and female-focused lines such as FLRT, while international sales climb to 45% of revenue
Snack trends: Nutrient-dense grazing hitting its stride
Snack brands are targeting fluid eating occasions with products that deliver nutrition in smaller portable formats, aligning with healthier snacking trends to suit busier lifestyles
Young and sweet: Apple cider vinegar reinvented as RTD drinks
Shandong-based Lv Jie launches RTD apple cider vinegar with apple juice and prebiotics – a younger, tastier makeover to attract younger consumers
Old-school soy, new-school appeal: Oatside’s fresh soymilk take
Oatside is repositioning soymilk for younger Asian consumers with a high-protein, clean-label offering focused on taste and wellness
Unilever McCormick deal under pressure as backlash builds
Unilever’s $40bn Foods deal with McCormick is facing mounting backlash as questions over strategy and valuation put the deal under pressure
The F&B jobs AI is targeting, but is it really that dire?
AI is accelerating reformulation, automation and data-led decision making at a pace that is already reshaping roles across the food and drink workforce
AgNavigator: same agtech backbone, bigger industry picture
William Reed, publisher of FoodNavigator, has unveiled a new title for its market-leading agtech and agrifood title
WALOVI taps food-as-medicine trend to grow in Saudi and beyond
China’s WALOVI is seeking growth globally in markets from the Middle East to Africa for its traditional herbal teas
ジャパン フォーカス：グリコが語るスナックのトレンド、甘酒ゼリースティック、お茶のイノベーション
今月のJapan Focus:では、スナック分野におけるグリコの成長戦略、消費者に合わせた甘酒の現代的なアレンジ、お茶のイノベーションなどについて深く掘り下げています。
Taylors Wines bets on lighter reds and Asian cuisine for Syrah launch
As demand grows for lighter, food-friendly reds, Taylors Wines is entering the category with a Syrah targeted for Asian cuisine
Chewable beauty: Convenience meets functionality in amazake jelly sticks
The traditional amazake drink is transformed into convenient jelly strips to boost gut and skin health for busy consumers
Tea among the stars: Space sakura and decaf drive Japan firm exports
Space sakura tea and decaffeinated teas are part of Japan GreenTea’s export push, combining novelty, aesthetics and healthier beverage options
The ‘warming’ buzz for alcohol-free booze is finally cracked
Industry players, academics and researchers have cracked the code for better tasting alcohol-free drinks - in different ways