Markets

Kroger bets on lower prices and simpler deals to drive growth

The grocer’s growth strategy also calls for 110 new stores, an expanded private label lineup and more prepared meals as it seeks to attract shoppers

Chocolate has a new problem. And it’s not cocoa prices

Rising temperatures are hitting chocolate demand, forcing manufacturers to rethink products, formats and sales strategies

Allplants sold to French food manufacturer

The plant-based ready meals business has been acquired by an historical French manufacturer.

UPF classification doesn’t tell the whole story about nutrition, study reveals

Analysis by IFIC and NIQ of more than 40,000 US grocery products finds nutrient density varies widely among ultra-processed foods, raising questions about the relationship between processing, nutritional quality and affordability

FN+M&M’s at 85: How Mars built a billion-dollar confectionery icon

From flavour innovation to space exploration, M&M’s has spent 85 years securing its place in confectionery history

FN+4 strategies Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Spindrift and others are using to revitalize RTD tea

As US bottled and canned tea sales struggle, Coca-Cola’s reformulated Gold Peak Zero Sugar tea and new launches from PepsiCo, Ryl Tea, Spindrift and others show how brands are reigniting demand for ready-to-drink tea

Forget breakfast: The battle for the morning snack is on

Consumers are increasingly turning to morning snacks for energy, focus and satiety, creating a fast-growing opportunity for food and beverage brands

Letter From The Editor

Dairy’s fight for growth and shelf space

From high-protein products and café-inspired creamers to AI-powered market insights, dairy brands are finding new ways to meet consumer demand and win shelf space

Dairy Innovations

Danone’s AI commerce goal: ‘Trusted by machines and desired by humans’

At Groceryshop, Arthur Sylvestre outlined why internal alignment, digital consistency and consumer needs – not the latest technology – are guiding Danone’s strategy

Dairy Innovations

Can plant proteins help ease the whey squeeze?

Surging protein demand and tight whey supplies are driving interest in hybrid formulations, with ADM and other suppliers developing plant-based ingredients to help manufacturers balance nutrition, functionality and texture

Dairy Innovations

New data platform reveals opportunities for dairy milk to win back shelf space

MilkPEP’s free, AI-powered market intelligence platform Milkscape gives milk processors and retailers access to consumer trends, sales data and insights to identify growth opportunities, drive innovation and boost milk sales

Dairy Innovations

Better Dairy self-affirms GRAS status for lactopontin

The precision fermentation company is targeting US nutrition and supplement launches while pursuing a separate regulatory pathway for infant formula

China Focus: Mengniu, Yili, alt protein hurdles, and the trends shaping food

From functional dairy and digitalisation to alternative proteins, we explore China’s food industry developments, emerging trends and the people shaping its future

Ghirardelli joins Dubai chocolate craze with new-look Squares

Chocolate maker puts spin on Dubai chocolate craze with taller Squares

FN+What is next for food and beverage cargo thefts after the surge in 2025?

After a sharp rise in 2025, reported thefts have declined in 2026, but shifting product trends, freight hotspots and evolving fraud tactics continue to challenge CPG supply chains

Protein boom powers confectionery growth

Protein is reshaping confectionery innovation, but consumers continue to put taste, texture and indulgence first

Is snacking too obsessed with Gen Z?

Manufacturers chasing younger consumers could be putting an unnecessary age limit on their next bestseller

Will Vandemoortele and Délifrance’s integration squeeze bakery buyers?

Vandemoortele and Délifrance have the scale to reshape frozen bakery, but customers will want to know how much of the benefit reaches their businesses

ANZ Focus: COA protein chocolate, Australia labels and Food Top 25

COA protein chocolate, Australia labels and Food Top 25 feature in this edition of ANZ Focus

FN+Nestlé backs landmark effort to improve cancer care

Food and beverage giant partners with the WSSO to make nutrition a standard part of cancer surgery care worldwide

FN+Walmart’s promise on ‘surveillance pricing’ sets the tone for retail

Dynamic pricing is nothing new, but shoppers and lawmakers are challenging personalized grocery prices – and Walmart is promising not to use them

FN+Are food and beverage brands stuck on repeat?

Another flavour. Another collaboration. Another limited edition. Line extensions are booming, but are brands delivering genuine innovation or simply more of the same?

Can AI stop seasonal promotions wasting money?

AI can help brands create seasonal campaigns and check whether stores deliver them, but faster marketing won’t rescue an offer shoppers can’t find or don’t want

FN+Middle East war on obesity: Can food and diet policies reverse the trend?

Middle East governments are ramping up measures in a new war, as rising obesity rates threaten public health. But can these measures deliver results?

FN+Top 10 food and beverage trends set to shape 2027

What’s next for food and beverage? Explore the consumer trends powering the next wave of innovation and new product development

FN+Big Food’s C-suite shake-up signals new era

From Nestlé to Ferrero, Big Food’s leadership structure is changing, as boards search for executives who can do more than just manage a business

Japan Focus: Health, innovation and the forces shaping food and drink

In this edition of Japan Focus, we explore the health and nutrition trends, market drivers and sustainability challenges shaping Japan’s food and drink industry — and the wider Asian food landscape

FN+Growth drivers in Japan’s food and drink landscape

Affordability, health, product safety, and convenience as important considerations shaping Japanese consumers’ purchasing decisions

Spins leverages vast datasets with new AI product discovery tool

As AI assistants reshape product discovery, the retail analytics firm is using its datasets to help CPG companies improve their visibility in AI-driven shopping results

FN+Inside Kraft Heinz’s product content strategy for AI shopping

Reusable product-title components, automated workflows and human oversight are central to the food giant’s approach to evolving product discovery

What is the best way to talk to organic shoppers?

New Organic Trade Association research explores how Gen Z and millennial shoppers respond to organic messaging and what marketers may be overlooking as the category looks to its next phase of growth

Nestlé launches its first-ever cookie Advent calendar

World’s biggest CPG counts down to Christmas with 12 Days of Nestlé Toll House, combining festive flavours with brand heritage and the growing consumer appetite for nostalgia

How can CPG brands stand out as private label expands?

As retailers expand mid-tier and premium store brands, CPG companies must respond with faster innovation and a closer eye on consumer trends

Could PepsiCo’s snack turnaround offer a blueprint for its struggling beverage business?

As pricing changes, portfolio innovation and renewed investment help revive North American snack volumes, CEO Ramon Laguarta is looking to improve soft-drink performance through increased marketing, focused innovation and stronger execution

Barry Callebaut’s move beyond chocolate fails to convince investors

Chocolate producer’s transition into complete product solutions is designed to unlock growth, but investors remain unconvinced

Ghirardelli enters snack aisle in major move beyond chocolate

Luxury chocolate brand enters the snack aisle in a major expansion beyond chocolate roots

ASEAN Focus: Nestle nutrition, Carlsberg Malaysia and Kinza expansion

Nestle nutrition, Carlsberg Malaysia and Kinza expansion feature in this edition of ASEAN Focus

FN+McCormick-Unilever deal clears US antitrust hurdle as UK review deadline looms            

The FTC granted early termination of its US antitrust waiting period, while the UK’s CMA continues its Phase 1 review and Sen. Elizabeth Warren calls for closer scrutiny of major food-industry mergers

What makes a snack worth the price?

Savory snacks win on health, while sweet snacks win on fun

FN+Lost confidence in nutrition information offers CPG makers opening to rebuild trust

The latest IFIC Food & Health Survey finds consumers increasingly unsure what, or whom, to believe as self-assessed health declines, but also points to a path for food companies to rebuild trust with credible facts, practical guidance and scientific evidence

FN+The GLP-1 effect: How weight-loss drugs are changing food and drink

Weight-loss drugs are reshaping the food and beverage landscape, driving demand for nutrient-dense, portion-controlled products and opening up new opportunities for innovation across the industry

FN+15 most influential private label players in the world today

Private label’s come a long way from the budget alternative to branded food and drink

FN+Mars’ vision for 2036: The trends set to transform food and nutrition

Food and beverage giant bets on fibre, AI and personalised nutrition as solo eating reshapes food’s future

Nestlé signs biggest-ever global brand deal with NBA

World’s biggest CPG bets on basketball to reach the next generation, signing 21-market NBA deal

FN+High grocery prices push shoppers to spread spending across store formats

NIQ finds consumers spreading their dollars to club and mass outlets, trading down on brands and selectively splurging on functional products

FN+Consumers don’t trust influencers on food – or do they?

Reported distrust appears incongruous with the immense influence online creators have over food trends

A celebrity event designer’s playbook for Halloween launches

Edward Perotti argues that brands must move beyond predictable colours and seasonal sprinkles if they want their Halloween launches to command attention

Our top 10 most-read F&B industry news from Sept 2026

Check out our top 10 most-read F&B industry stories from Sept 2026, including Nestle Russia, climate-fuelled mycotoxins and Aussie food labelling changes

Mars predicts a future of automated and immersive retail

Agentic technology is increasingly shaping what consumers expect from their shopping experience as household staples are relegated to automated replenishment while immersive spaces are designed to drive discovery and spotlight viral trends

Ferrero targets protein-led growth beyond chocolate

Confectionery giant strengthens position in fast-growing snack market with Power Crunch revamp