Why is private equity interested in food?
Segments of the industry are being snapped up by private capital, and for good reason
Europe
Terry Smith accuses Unilever of misleading shareholders
Former Unilever shareholder Terry Smith accuses multinational of misleading investors over planned Foods merger with McCormick
Barry Callebaut returns to growth after two-year slump
Barry Callebaut posts first quarterly volume growth in two years, amid ongoing weakness in the global chocolate market
The rise and rise of precision-fermented lactoferrin
Lactoferrin is breaking into the mainstream as precision fermentation makes the ‘miracle molecule’ scalable, animal-free and more affordable
Is MSG still controversial?
The scientific consensus around the additive does not reflect common attitudes
Hershey takes Reese’s Pieces into snacking with first new launch in a decade
Hershey has unveiled Reese’s Pieces Chocolate Cookie, marking a bold play in snacking and highlighting a wider industry trend
Hershey’s Hollywood debut: New film brings founder’s legacy to life
Hershey to make big screen debut with biopic on founder Milton Hershey
El Niño: How it will impact food and beverage
The weather phenomenon has begun and F&B needs to prepare for the worst
International guidance on ‘may contain’ allergen labelling introduced
The guidance aims for more scientific standards
The alt cocoa boom: Big Chocolate’s new obsession
Volatile cocoa markets and growing supply concerns fuel the rise of alt cocoa as manufacturers fight to futureproof chocolate
Nestlé reformulates KitKat as consumer tastes change
Nestlé is revamping its most iconic chocolate bar to meet changing consumer tastes
Why is Big Food booming in emerging markets?
The F&B growth that’s missing in Europe and North America is happening elsewhere
How the industry’s biggest player is securing cocoa’s future
Cargill fights to futureproof cocoa as supply threats intensify
Ingredients revolution: the race to survive climate disruption
As climate risks threaten key crops, food manufacturers are seeking to strengthen supply chains and reduce reliance on vulnerable commodities
Mondelēz crystal Toblerone marks confectionery marketing shift
Mondelēz and Swarovski’s crystal Toblerone offers glimpse into confectionery’s new marketing style
12 brands that have nailed the ‘fricy’ trend
Beverages, snack, sauces and even ice cream are turning up the heat with ‘fricy’ offerings
Barry Callebaut’s strategic reset under Hein Schumacher
Six months in, Hein Schumacher is focused on profitability, discipline and execution, but can he turn stabilisation into sustainable growth?
Reformulation isn’t simply about replacing cocoa
The cocoa crisis has exposed a much bigger challenge for manufacturers – preserving flavour, texture, quality and consumer trust while navigating a volatile ingredient market
Nestlé turns KitKat Heist into Cannes glory
Nestlé transformed one of the confectionery industry’s biggest cargo thefts into an award-winning marketing triumph
Plastic-free confectionery packaging? It’s complicated
Confectionery’s plastic addiction is under scrutiny, but there are no easy solutions
Mondelez State of Snacking: The impossible innovation brief
Manufacturers have spent years responding to one consumer trend after another, but today’s snack has to satisfy every expectation at once
Inside Big Chocolate’s Cocoa Plan B
Confectionery’s biggest names are no longer just watching the alternative cocoa space – they’re shaping it
Private-equity firm acquires $1.6 billion Irca as Dubai chocolate trend fuels growth
The Italian baking, chocolate and ice cream ingredients maker will focus on M&A, supply chain optimization and international expansion
Nestlé to axe artificial colours worldwide in industry first
Nestlé to remove artificial food colourings from all products globally by the end of the year
Mars invests €1.5m in the future of science
Confectionery giant invests €1.5m in young scientists through Mars Impact Fund
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
Kraft Heinz hits 100% renewable electricity across European factories
The FMCG giant continues its commitment to decarbonisation
Ferrara accelerates growth with global expansion strategy
From innovation to international expansion, Ferrara targets growth
Whey boom fuels surge in protein processing expansion
From WPC80 to lactoferrin, dairy companies globally are investing in premium protein capacity to capture growth in the high-end sports nutrition and functional food space
BuzzBallz surges into UK Top 100 alcohol brands with record £73m growth amid RTD boom
BuzzBallz, the RTD (ready-to-drink) cocktail, has been described as the “new darling” of the UK alcohol category as it has rocketed into the Top 100
EU clearance unlocks €18m boost for novel mycoprotein
Significant investment signals a breakthrough moment for biomass fermentation in the EU
Nestlé combines confectionery and coffee to boost growth
Nestlé brings together confectionery and coffee in latest bid to drive growth
Nestle’s race to scale sustainable coffee
Nescafé sustainability strategy making progress, but scaling across global supply chains remains critical challenge
Are investors still interested in precision fermentation?
Products derived from this method still face significant barriers
Big Food falling short on regen ag commitments
FMCGs are setting big targets but they’re not always credible, says new report
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
Nestlé accelerates shift to regenerative agriculture
Nestlé steps up efforts to transform farming practices as pressure mounts to decarbonise global supply chains.
Private equity tightens hold on Big Food
Private equity is reshaping food and beverage, but rising costs raise questions over just how far it can go
Why food scientists still can’t crack the perfect natural red
Creating a heat-stable natural red remains one of food science’s toughest colour challenges
Misinformation circulates around new EU Listeria rules
New EU Listeria regulations are set to come into force next month – as misinformation circulates, we speak to the European Chilled Food Federation Rapporteur on Listeria and FSA to offer a clear and accurate outline.
Former Nestlé CEO in legal dispute with Swiss food giant following sacking
Former Nestlé chief executive officer, Laurent Freixe, is challenging his dismissal in a dispute over lost bonuses and shares
Function beats fame: why big food brands are losing their edge
Consumers want their problems solved and that’s how brands can grow
Nutri-Score in the dock: Why Lactalis is taking it to court
The front-of-pack labelling scheme is facing a legal challenge over its algorithm changes
Opinion
Nestlé’s Dairy Plan is strong on disclosure but weak on detail
Disclosing emissions data is crucial for transparency and accountability, but companies like Nestlé must do more to show what’s behind the data
UK consumers drinking habits change as heatwave drives hydration trend
The heatwave ravaging western Europe has seen temperatures hit unprecedented highs in the UK, France and Spain
Nestlé combines comms and ESG in strategic leadership shift
Nestlé promotes Antonia Wanner to chief communications and sustainability officer, signalling sharper focus on credibility and long-term growth
Hershey appoints PepsiCo veteran to drive next phase of growth
Hershey names Heather Hoytink US president, highlighting renewed focus on growth
GLP-1 drugs aren’t killing confectionery – they’re reinventing it
GLP-1 drugs are changing how consumers snack, but confectionery sales remain strong and new opportunities are opening up