Processing & packaging

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

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

Food tech: 5 trends growing and 5 declining

What’s winning and losing in the world of food tech?

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

FN+How Boston Dynamics’ robot dog is helping food factories run smarter

More than a crowd-pleaser, Spot is helping food manufacturers spot problems before humans can. Here’s why the industry is taking notice

‘The world is changing faster than we can keep up with’: Arthur D Little’s Simon Guyomard-Norman on food innovation’s next steps

Shifts in the food sector will keep innovators on their toes

FN+Mondelēz reveals the trends shaping the future of confectionery and snacking

What does the future hold for confectionery and snacking? Richie Gray of Mondelēz SnackFutures shares his thoughts on the trends and technologies shaping the sector

EPR and RAM: What food manufacturers need to know now

The UK’s EPR regime is entering a significant new phase that directly affects how packaging producers are assessed and charged for the recyclability of their packaging. Here’s what you need to know.

FN+Cutting UPFs linked to lower depression

A study looked at depression before and after cutting back on ultra-processed foods

FN+UPF meta-analysis lands as industry debates definitions

UPF risks mount, but safe consumption levels remain unclear amid divided definition debate

Recyclability rules could make flexible plastics more expensive for producers

Rules designed to rate the recyclability of packaging could see many producers facing higher Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) fees, suggests new analysis by the international circular economy specialist, Reconomy.

FN+Gut health and the $71bn question: What comes next?

From personalised nutrition to GLP-1-friendly foods, gut health is entering a new era

Food’s fight for the evening snack gets serious

From game nights to movie marathons, evening snacking has become one of food and drink’s most valuable occasions

FN+What the EU’s ‘meaty’ names ban means for hybrid meat

New proposals for labelling regulations have specified products must be exclusively composed of meat to merit ‘meaty’ names

Why Europe leads in private label

How private label ranges perform depends on the ambition of their retailers

Mondelēz, PepsiCo and pladis to take part in circular packaging trial

The trial aims to prepare the industry for PPWR recycled packaging minimums that will be introduced in 2030

PPWR is live – but label details overdue

Earlier this month, UK on-pack recycling label scheme operator, OPRL, flagged an important point: where are the finer details around PPWR’s future labelling requirements?

Opinion

FN+Climate change is an existential threat to food

The threat that heat poses to crops is a global problem

PPWR PFAS limits: How to keep ‘forever chemicals’ out of packaging

PFAS limits have been introduced in the EU’s flagship packaging regulation

Consumer acceptance and food safety key to biobased packaging adoption

Experts say consumer acceptance and food safety concerns, including technical and regulatory barriers, remain key hurdles to wider adoption of biobased packaging

FN+Confectionery’s biggest trend? Looking back

From retro packaging to the return of familiar favourites, nostalgia has become one of confectionery’s most powerful growth drivers

PepsiCo makes packaging gains, but infrastructure remains a hurdle

PepsiCo’s David Allen explains why packaging redesign is only part of the solution and why the future of circularity depends on stronger recycling systems, policy frameworks and industry partnerships

Hershey goes beyond confectionery with biggest ever Halloween push

Hershey goes all-in on Halloween with its largest seasonal range to date, spanning confectionery, savoury snacks and better-for-you

FN+Confectionery fraud surges as manufacturers struggle to stay ahead

Fraudsters target high-value ingredients and premium claims, leaving confectionery manufacturers battling risks from farm to finished product

JM Smucker expands Jif peanut butter beyond sandwiches in brand refresh

Jif’s latest spread? A broader snacking strategy

FN+Xanthan gum linked to gut inflammation, putting manufacturers on alert

Study suggests long-term xanthan gum consumption could impact gut health, raising formulation questions for food and beverage

FN+Can PFAS be kept out of food?

The chemicals should be removed at the source, before they have a chance to contaminate food

FN+Private label goes premium as brands fight to keep up

Premium ingredients, sophisticated branding and growing consumer trust fuel private label’s rise across food and beverage

FN+Beyond Nutri-Score: Europe’s other front-of-pack labelling schemes

Nutri-Score is unlikely to become mandatory anytime soon, so what other FOP labelling schemes does Europe have to offer?

The new sustainability playbook starts with suppliers

The race to build a climate-smart food system is putting ingredient suppliers in the spotlight

FN+PPWR implementation timeline: What manufacturers need to know

The PPWR will become applicable over time

FN+PPWR: 6 things manufacturers need to know

The EU’s packaging regulation is now enforceable

Mondelēz targets festive growth with Christmas confectionery range

Confectionery giant targets growth with 2026 Christmas confectionery range

From calories to nutrients: How diet culture has shifted

GLP-1 drugs, protein trends and glucose monitoring are reshaping diet culture, pushing nutrients ahead of once-popular calorie counting

FN+From excess to experience: How indulgence is evolving

Indulgence hasn’t gone away, but its meaning has changed

FN+Nutri-Score: Pros and cons

The front-of-pack labelling scheme has attracted its fair share of controversy

Mondelēz growth boosted by emerging markets as Europe sees decline

Like other major FMCGs, the biggest growth for Mondelēz is outside developed markets

World’s first global sustainability standard for glass unveiled

New proposals have been set out to help drive more sustainable glass production, while offering the industry consistency in measuring and reporting.

Will cultivated meat soon compete on price?

While other headwinds are becoming fiercer, price parity may be on the horizon

Opinion

Regulating UPFs will not be easy

It remains to be seen whether such regulation is workable

Where does the food industry see the strongest growth?

As traditional categories struggle, F&B is turning towards areas of higher value

Plastic-free confectionery packaging? It’s complicated

Confectionery’s plastic addiction is under scrutiny, but there are no easy solutions

Why the smartest food marketing begins when everything goes wrong

From stolen chocolate to monochrome packaging, some of the food industry’s most effective marketing campaigns have grown out of operational problems rather than creative briefs

Are investors still interested in precision fermentation?

Products derived from this method still face significant barriers

Supermarkets globally ramp up investment in own-label alcohol ranges

Supermarkets globally are pouring investment into their own brand food and drink ranges as they look to capture more customer spend, with alcohol becoming an increasing important part of the mix

Kraft Heinz reinvestment: is it the right decision?

The company is putting money back into its operations while the split remains paused and the verdict is positive

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

Iran-US peace deal: What it means for food

The deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Heatwave winners and losers: what’s selling when temperatures rise?

Clear food and beverage trends emerge during a heatwave

6 ways to keep microplastics out of food and drink

Microplastic contamination poses significant risks for consumers