Bakery

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

US snack giants find their fastest growth is no longer at home

Tariffs, weight-loss drugs and a more cautious US shopper are pushing the industry’s biggest names to chase growth in India, Latin America and Southeast Asia instead

And so it begins: Pumpkin spice season kicks off with a flurry of products

As the $1.25 billion pumpkin spice market eyes massive growth, top brands are rolling out fresh, better-for-you seasonal snacks to satisfy early consumer cravings

Krispy Kreme cuts losses, but remains in the red

Doughnut giant’s turnaround strategy shows signs of success, but losses persist

From Grupo Bimbo to Warburtons: The billion-dollar battle for the bakery of the future

As conventional bread sales stagnate across mature markets, the world’s biggest bakery groups are committing billions to factories, digital systems and new product formats – a race for flexibility, not volume

Drought hits Europe: How have crops been impacted?

Heatwaves have led to water shortages across the continent

Is speculoos the new Dubai chocolate? Inside Biscoff’s €500m boom

Lotus Bakeries is making its biggest-ever investment to turn soaring demand for speculoos into lasting global growth

Why chocolate goes wrong in baking

Chocolate leakage and uneven bake performance are often blamed on poor-quality chocolate, but the real problem frequently lies in ingredient performance and process consistency

FN+The seasonal launch is dead. What comes next?

Faster trend cycles, retailer demands and shrinking product lifecycles are reshaping food and beverage innovation

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 Nestlé to Mars: Why Big Food is embracing contract manufacturing

Outsourcing becomes a priority as CPGs seek greater flexibility, speed and resilience

FN+Cyberattacks surge as food and beverage becomes prime target

From suppliers to retailers, no part of the food and beverage industry is safe as cyber attacks escalate

FN+Why Nestlé’s latest results point to real recovery

Accelerating volumes, resilient margins and a confident outlook suggest Nestlé’s recovery strategy is gaining traction

6 ways a hotter Europe is transforming food and drink

Climate change is no longer a future threat for Europe’s food and drink. It’s already here, and it’s reshaping the way European food and drink operates

FN+From Nestlé to Ferrero: Big Food’s consolidation boom

Big Food’s biggest players are using acquisitions and strategic investments to fuel growth and expand their influence, and it’s reshaping the future of the industry

Nestlé’s turnaround gains momentum despite profit drop

Nestlé delivers stronger organic growth and improving volumes in H1 2026, but net profit falls 31.4%

EUDR excludes palm oil waste – how is it used in agriculture?

Excluded from the EUDR scope, palm oil waste could find new opportunities in regenerative agriculture

From Three Square Meals to the Snack Universe

The traditional three-meal day falls from favour as consumers choose spontaneous snacking

FN+Creatine appeal expands with mental health focus

Research explores potential mental health benefits of creatine as popularity of supplement soars

FN+Health vs Indulgence: Why consumers refuse to choose

Wellness is reshaping food and beverage, but indulgence still drives sales

Barry Callebaut assesses cocoa threat as El Niño intensifies

World’s biggest chocolate producer weighs in on cocoa market concerns as UN issues El Niño warning

FN+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

FN+El Niño: How it will impact food and beverage

The weather phenomenon has begun and F&B needs to prepare for the worst

FN+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

FN+How the industry’s biggest player is securing cocoa’s future

Cargill fights to futureproof cocoa as supply threats intensify

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

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

Big Food falling short on regen ag commitments

FMCGs are setting big targets but they’re not always credible, says new report

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

Function beats fame: why big food brands are losing their edge

Consumers want their problems solved and that’s how brands can grow

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

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

Nestlé’s KitKat move signals industry shift to regenerative sourcing

Nestlé makes regenerative agriculture mainstream in sustainability shift that could reshape standards across confectionery

EU’s new gene-editing rules open the door for CRISPR

Under a new two-tier system, some gene-edited crops will face simplified regulation

Döhler commits to cocoa‑free future with Nukoko acquisition

Döhler’s acquisition of Nukoko highlights cocoa-free chocolate’s move into the mainstream

Lindt hits 100% cocoa milestone amid Big Confectionery sustainability drive

Lindt hits 100% certified cocoa as Big Confectionery shifts focus to responsible sourcing

Mondelēz reveals taste is no longer king in snacking

Consumers aren’t simply looking for something tasty. Mondelēz International’s latest report suggests they increasingly want food that entertains, comforts and gives them something worth talking about

Is ‘healthy enough’ the new ‘better for you?’

Winning brands balance health, indulgence and convenience

Mondelēz appoints new EVP and CFO in leadership reshuffle

Mondelēz names Amit Banati EVP and CFO, signalling continuity and a sharper focus on execution, as competition in snacking intensifies

Iran-US peace deal: What it means for food

The deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Can Ebola disrupt coffee prices and stocks?

The border closure between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has raised concerns over potential disruption to coffee trade - but is there a risk to global coffee prices?

Deepfake food fraud threatens global brands

Fake contamination claims, AI-generated complaint letters and manipulated food images are creating a new fraud risk that regulators, delivery platforms and food businesses are struggling to contain

Unilever CEO defends $40bn McCormick megamerger

Unilever stands by $40bn McCormick deal as scrutiny grows over whether streamlining will strengthen the group or weaken it

Opinion

Hershey’s next move: Rebuilding trust after cocoa cuts controversy

Hershey cut cocoa and stirred up a crisis. A viral takedown from the Reese heir has exposed a deeper clash over taste, trust and the cost of cheapening chocolate