Markets

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

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+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?

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

Growth drivers in Japan’s food and drink landscape

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

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

ASEAN Focus: Nestle nutrition, Carlsberg Malaysia and Kinza expansion

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

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

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

FN+Climate chaos hits food supply chains as heatwave rewrites rules

Record-breaking 2026 heatwaves are forcing food manufacturers to rethink sourcing, reformulation and supply chain resilience as extreme weather increasingly disrupts ingredient availability, pricing and production

Nestlé takes Starbucks home as cold caffeine craze heats up

Nestlé capitalises on demand for cold caffeinated drinks with Starbucks Refreshers Concentrates

Looking beyond healthy: Why better-for-you isn’t enough for snacks

Better-for-you snacks must deliver more than health as consumers continue to seek indulgence, familiarity, convenience and value

East or West? Tips for brands to strategise food export growth

Is your business seeking growth through scale, adaptation, or optimisation? The answer could influence which markets you choose to focus on

Flavors of the future: Global inspiration meets local innovation

FN+Coffee and tea move beyond function to embrace flavor-forward growth opportunities

Nostalgic flavors, regional preparations and specialty formats are giving consumers new reasons to drink coffee and tea, and brands new ways to build occasions and differentiate products

FN+From trend-chasing to execution II: What food innovation needs next

In the second part of this analysis, we look at how recent food industry moves show innovation must balance consumer appeal with scale and resilience

One halal standard to rule them all? Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar bet

A Saudi-led push to harmonise halal rules could reshape global food trade

Nestlé Russia under state control: What happens next?

As the dust settles on Russia’s takeover of Nestlé’s local operations, analysts warn the move could reshape how multinationals assess risk in the country

FN+China food policies face test as consumers seek healthier choices

China has established the foundations for healthier food environments - but new data shows implementation gaps could be a bottleneck

FN+Nestlé Russia falls under Kremlin control

Food and beverage giant vows to protect its rights after Russia transfers control of local business to state-appointed administrator

From trend-chasing to execution: 5 lessons for the food industry

Food innovation is moving beyond trend-chasing, with recent developments showing how brands are turning consumer shifts into viable products and strategies

Africa beckons: 3 key insights for food firms eyeing the next billion

As an emerging market, Africa is often less mentioned than regions like Asia and Latin America — but there is a huge consumer population here for food firms to unlock

Japan Focus: Earthquake label reprieve, Kirin decarbonisation and Roku Gin’s Noryo Tea

This week’s Japan Focus covers emergency food labelling measures in earthquake-struck Kumamoto, Kirin’s low-carbon transition costs, Suntory’s seasonal Roku Gin packaging, and the latest developments in premium beer and dairy-free ice cream

APAC Agri-Food Innovation Summit

Beyond innovation: Why adoption is the real challenge for Asia’s food future

From agricultural advances to new nutrition trends, experts believe adoption will depend on education, accessibility and optimising for consumer needs

What’s the difference between effective and attractive packaging?

The fine line between effective and attractive packaging comes down to how brands use design elements to stand out on crowded shelves while solving shoppers’ problems within seconds

Canada’s tariff retaliation puts US food and agriculture industries in a bind

Dairy and steel groups back aggressive US trade action, while broader agriculture groups warn that escalating tariffs and retaliation could threaten critical export markets

Creative friction: How Taiwan taps tradition for modern Asia

Mayor Huang Ming-Hui tells FoodNavigator how Taiwanese brands are balancing traditional appeal with modern consumer needs as they expand across Asia

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

Up the food chain

FN+Can US whiskey become ‘world’s whiskey’ despite trade hurdles?

In the face of trade barriers and fierce competition, American Whiskey Association CEO Michael Bilello is determined to make US whiskey the ‘world’s whiskey’, no matter the odds

Why food products live or die on shelf: A retailer’s perspective

Winning supermarket shelf space is difficult but keeping it can be considerably harder

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

Check out our top 10 most-read F&B industry stories from July 2026, including chicken breast smoothies, MSG and East Asia food-tech

Beyond calories: Why food brands must rethink ‘eating well’ for kids

Food brands can drive growth by helping children develop positive eating habits. Learn where the biggest opportunities are in this next frontier of kids’ nutrition

FN+China Focus: Coca-Cola’s localisation strategy, protein innovation and sustainability push

From Coca-Cola’s localisation efforts to China’s push for alternative proteins and food waste reduction, we explore how the country’s food and beverage sector is adapting to evolving consumer and sustainability needs

The frozen dessert aisle’s next growth driver isn’t protein – it’s discovery

Frozen treats thrive on convenience, value and discovery, while nutrition remains a secondary consideration

ANZ Focus: Premium cereals, GLP-1 and global trade

Premium cereals, GLP-1 and global trade feature in this edition of ANZ Focus

Can processed food exports ease Egypt’s currency crisis?

After weakening by over 82% against the US dollar over the past decade, the Egyptian pound is finally seeing some stability and even significant growth in its food exports

FN+Why China should matter to every alt protein company

Despite the geopolitical tensions, all alternative protein companies globally need to factor China in their production strategy to scale, compete and reduce costs. Here’s why

Japan Focus: Asahi’s growth plans, Calbee on personalised nutrition, food tech investment, and more

This edition features Asahi’s focus on its beer adjacent categories and East Africa expansion, Calbee’s personalised granola, government investment into food technology, and more

Trend Tracker: Clean label, GLP-1 and cultivated meat

Clean label, GLP-1 and cultivated meat feature in this edition of Trend Tracker

FN+Germany’s food giants thrive as manufacturers feel the squeeze

Germany’s food manufacturers are facing mounting pressure from powerful retailers, rising labour and energy costs, and accelerating consolidation, reshaping one of Europe’s most important food markets

From Mars to Intersnack: Are family dynasties becoming food’s new dealmakers?

As public markets keep discounting listed food companies, family-controlled giants are stepping in with the patience – and the premiums – to buy them

The GLP-1 effect reaches ANZ

New research suggests Australia and New Zealand are following the same GLP-1-driven consumer shifts seen elsewhere, offering an early indication of where the wider APAC food market could head next

5 trends shaping global energy drink recipes

From GLP-1 to naturalness, the evolution of energy drinks worldwide is being driven by a variety of different trends

Tyson Foods says value-added chicken playbook shields profits from commodity price swings

The company’s years-long shift toward branded, retail-ready chicken products and strategic customer partnerships helped insulate its poultry business from falling commodity chicken prices, offering a potential roadmap for other processors

FN+Cultivated beef steak set for global expansion after historic approval

Aleph Farms has secured a historic regulatory approval for its cultivated beef in Singapore.

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

The new beverage battleground is in AI recommendations vs. shelf space

AI is recognizing brands that solve a problem, according to new data

Blurred boundaries: How sports nutrition brands can stay competitive

As food and supplements increasingly converge, experts say sports nutrition brands must sharpen health messaging and create new consumption occasions to stay competitive.

Emerging markets save the day for Unilever

Unilever sees modest Foods growth while progressing McCormick combination

FN+Are global coffee sustainability strategies falling short?

Coffee sustainability worldwide is at a crossroads, as prices fluctuate and concerns grow over climate change, farmer incomes and long-term supply resilience