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
Market trends
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
10 ingredients for healthy ageing – What manufacturers need to know
What ingredients do older consumers need?
How cottage cheese reinvented itself
Cottage cheese is being reinvented through new formats, younger consumers and rising global demand – and brands are only just getting started
Why is plant-based dairy doing so better than plant-based meat?
While the two formats both provide vegan alternatives to animal-sourced products, one is a clear winner in terms of market share
Mars: The global heavyweight setting the snacking agenda
The world’s biggest confectionery and snacking company is driving change across the industry
Healthy ageing beyond the wrinkle: 4 big opportunities in food and drink
The longevity trend is moving from beauty and wellness into food and drink, and the opportunities are big
Mars rewrites confectionery marketing playbook with NYX partnership
Confectionery giant Mars signals new era of culture-led marketing campaigns with latest collaboration
TikTok-fuelled food shortages: How industry can respond
TikTok-led demand for products like ube and pistachio is straining global supply
Excess sells - so why are manufacturers holding back?
From freakshakes to functional chocolate, ‘more is more’ is supercharging foodservice sales, but manufacturers continue to play it safe
Rethinking the coffee replacement
Coffee alternatives are rising not as replacements, but as functional upgrades
Biofuel use pushes up food prices: Is demand here to stay?
As the price of crude oil is buoyed by the Iran war, the world’s energy markets are scrambling for alternatives
Nestlé returns to growth but recovery remains fragile
Nestlé’s Q1 results reassured investors, but uneven volumes urge caution
When paper packaging fails the sustainability test
While brands like Babybel are showing the shift to paper packaging can work, moving away from plastic is not universally viable. Here’s why
Hershey bounces back as profits jump 93%
Hershey’s had a bruising start to 2026, but fresh results hint at a major comeback
‘Healthy’ has moved on – have snacks?
From fibre and protein to texture and sensation, the new rules of healthy snacking go far beyond cutting sugar, salt and fat
Mainstream chocolate sales take a hit, super-premium punches back
Super-premium chocolate is gaining share and recruiting new buyers, signaling a shift toward fewer, higher-value indulgences
5 food and drink innovations shaping the industry’s next growth wave
Smart insight is driving innovation to the next level, whether it’s how to better tap into GLP-1 nutrition or the rise of frozen snacks, manufacturers are getting clever
Mars accelerates net zero ambitions with landmark energy deal
Mars doubles down on renewables with major wind power deal, signalling how major CPGs are reshaping the food industry’s path to net zero
Tony’s Chocolonely: Turning ethical chocolate into a global hit
From activist roots to mainstream success, Tony’s Chocolonely shows how bold flavours, smart collaborations and a clear mission can turn ethical chocolate into a global growth story
Nestlé Waters sale nears decision point
Nestlé edges closer to Waters sale as CEO confirms “progress”
From Nestlé to Mondelēz, alt chocolate is gaining real ground
When the biggest names in the business get on board, it’s a clear sign the trend has legs
Creating the next generation of beverages: 3 top tips for brand builders
How can brands push boundaries, carve out categories, and stand out from the crowd?
10 food megatrends in Europe, and who’s following them
What trends are dominating Europe, and which countries are they most popular in?
Nestlé confirms Blue Bottle Coffee sale as restructuring accelerates
World’s biggest CPG to sell coffee chain as Big Food reassesses service-led diversification
How GLP‑1 drugs are reshaping dairy innovation
Protein demand has been a boon for dairy – but there’s more to GLP-1-friendly formulation than meets the eye
10 top trends in functional beverages
Gut health, energy and relaxation are booming: but what else are consumers looking for in functional beverages and how can brands meet their needs?
Consumer caution throws global packaging into turmoil
Packaging volumes are suffering due to consumer caution
Nestlé slashes 450 jobs sparking union backlash
Nestlé’s set to cut more than 450 UK jobs as global restructuring begins
From coffee to soda: How protein is making waves in beverage innovation
Drinks are a new frontier for protein innovation
The next matcha? Ube surges in popularity
Health, clean-label status and recognisability have made the ingredient stand out
Hershey stock sell-off: Key stakeholder sells 30,000 shares
Major Hershey stakeholder sells shares following profit shock and leadership shift
The butter price crash: Winners, losers and what comes next
As butter prices collapse, farmers are feeling the sting – but it’s not all bad news for the industry at large
Nestlé weathers formula crisis to deliver strong Q1 growth
Nestlé overcomes infant formula recall to deliver solid Q1 growth, powered by Coffee and Confectionery
New product development
Just launched: Aldi, meat-free, avocado pots, protein cheese and more…
Functional dairy, hybrid comfort foods and plant-based reinvention showcase how brands are leaning into nutrition-led indulgence, playful formats and new consumption occasions
Letter from the editor
Sustainability at a crossroads
From upcycling to carbon-neutral claims, the food industry weighs real progress against rising costs, scrutiny and skepticism
5 big food trends in Sweden
What do Swedish consumers want?
Functional drinks shift focus from body to mind
Functional drinks have traditionally concentrated on the body. The next frontier is exploring brain health, cognition, focus, stress-relief and mental wellbeing
Private label is surging. Here are 3 ways food brands can fight back
Food and drink brands are fast losing ground to private labels. But they can still win
5 big food trends in Denmark
What do Danish consumers want?
GLP-1-friendly foods are booming – but the label is still taboo
From “high protein” to “supports muscle mass” claims, brands are coding GLP-1 benefits without naming the trend outright
The 7 nutrition trends redefining food and drink
From emerging ingredients to protein power, discover the nutrition trends shaping the future of food and beverage
Meat substitutes are only a small part of the plant-based market
Plant-based meat gets all the attention, but it’s actually traditional foods that dominate the sector
Winners and losers of the UPF backlash
Who is benefitting from consumer scepticism around UPFs - and who isn’t?
Functional beverages: The 5 overarching trends defining the next generation of drinks
What are the forces shaping the functional drinks of the future?
The KitKat heist that exposed a confectionery crime crisis
The KitKat heist went viral but exposed a multimillion euro cargo crime crisis