Taste and texture: Confectionery’s biggest power players
From the melt of a chocolate bar to the tang of a gummy, taste and texture are top when it comes to keeping consumers coming back
Confectionery
Mars, Mondelēz, Ferrero, Nestlé and Hershey: Rethinking confectionery innovation
From viral chocolates to cultural collaborations, confectionery innovation is entering a new experience‑led era
Opinion
Despite fears, the EUDR has retained its force
The simplification kept much of the regulation in place, not compromising as much as feared
Big Food splits: Smart move or strategic misstep?
Big Food’s biggest names are betting on splits, but market reactions show investors aren’t convinced. So when does breaking up actually make sense?
Hershey’s bets on AI to power growth
From marketing spend to manufacturing and innovation, AI is quietly reshaping confectionery
Do UPFs pose greater risk of plastic packaging harms?
Chemicals from single-use plastics may increase health risk to consumers
Mars: The global heavyweight setting the snacking agenda
The world’s biggest confectionery and snacking company is driving change across the industry
Mars rewrites confectionery marketing playbook with NYX partnership
Confectionery giant Mars signals new era of culture-led marketing campaigns with latest collaboration
TikTok-fuelled food shortages: How industry can respond
TikTok-led demand for products like ube and pistachio is straining global supply
Excess sells - so why are manufacturers holding back?
From freakshakes to functional chocolate, ‘more is more’ is supercharging foodservice sales, but manufacturers continue to play it safe
Mars takes first step into cocoa-free category
The world’s biggest confectionery company is making its cocoa-free debut
Nestlé returns to growth but recovery remains fragile
Nestlé’s Q1 results reassured investors, but uneven volumes urge caution
Hershey bounces back as profits jump 93%
Hershey’s had a bruising start to 2026, but fresh results hint at a major comeback
Mondelēz warns of anxious consumers as Middle East conflict threatens spending
While sales rise and cocoa stabilizes, the company keeps guidance steady amid fears of inflation and weakening confidence
Mars accelerates net zero ambitions with landmark energy deal
Mars doubles down on renewables with major wind power deal, signalling how major CPGs are reshaping the food industry’s path to net zero
Tony’s Chocolonely: Turning ethical chocolate into a global hit
From activist roots to mainstream success, Tony’s Chocolonely shows how bold flavours, smart collaborations and a clear mission can turn ethical chocolate into a global growth story
10 CEO scandals that shook food and drink
Amid a wave of high‑profile CEO changes in food and drink, we reflect on the biggest leadership controversies of the past 50 years
From Nestlé to Mondelēz, alt chocolate is gaining real ground
When the biggest names in the business get on board, it’s a clear sign the trend has legs
Why Haribo’s one-trick gummy focus is beating the world
Haribo is showing how a focus on core is driving global scale
Nestlé slashes 450 jobs sparking union backlash
Nestlé’s set to cut more than 450 UK jobs as global restructuring begins
The next matcha? Ube surges in popularity
Health, clean-label status and recognisability have made the ingredient stand out
Hershey stock sell-off: Key stakeholder sells 30,000 shares
Major Hershey stakeholder sells shares following profit shock and leadership shift
Nestlé weathers formula crisis to deliver strong Q1 growth
Nestlé overcomes infant formula recall to deliver solid Q1 growth, powered by Coffee and Confectionery
Why Unilever’s $40bn food merger is raising red flags
Unilever’s $40bn food deal is supposed to sharpen focus. Instead it’s unsettled stakeholders, raising questions over the success of Big Food consolidation
World’s first cell-based chocolate bar developed with Mondelēz
The first-ever milk chocolate bars made with cell-cultivated cocoa butter have been produced
Amazonian cocoa’s untapped health benefits revealed
Could cocoa fermentation be doing more than shaping flavour? New research hints at untapped nutritional potential in Amazonian beans
Nestlé’s 5-point turnaround plan targets leaner growth under new CEO
Coffee, petcare, nutrition and snacks take center stage as CEO rolls out five-part turnaround plan and trims workforce.
The 7 nutrition trends redefining food and drink
From emerging ingredients to protein power, discover the nutrition trends shaping the future of food and beverage
Sales stall, shares fall: What’s next for Barry Callebaut?
Barry Callebaut’s size has long been its strength. But with volumes down and shares under pressure, cracks are starting to show
Ferrero faces antitrust investigation with ‘dawn raids’
The Nutella maker has been subjected to antitrust inspections in two EU member states
The KitKat heist that exposed a confectionery crime crisis
The KitKat heist went viral but exposed a multimillion euro cargo crime crisis
Is coffee ready for the EUDR?
As the deadline for the regulation approaches, the commodity continues to grapple with barriers to compliance
Mars steps up push for net zero cocoa at scale
Mars invests in regenerative farming as it ramps up efforts to hit net zero by 2050
Barry Callebaut profits up 66% but sales slump continues
Strong cash flow and rising profits mask ongoing operational pressures in Barry Callebaut’s latest results, raising questions about what recovery will really look like for the chocolate industry
Unilever shares plummet following McCormick megamerger announcement
Unilever’s $44.8bn decision to merge its Foods business with McCormick has rattled investors and raised regulatory questions
Hershey US president exits amid profits slide and brand backlash
Andrew Archambault’s unexpected departure comes as Hershey grapples with profit declines and reputational pressures
2,000+ supply ships stranded: Iran war puts food security at risk
What started as an energy shock is fast becoming a food crisis, with stranded cargoes and fertiliser shortages threatening global supply chains
EU Sustainable Supply Chains Coalition created in run up to EUDR
Nestlé, Barry Callebaut, the RSPO and Rainforest Alliance will all take part
Up the food chain
Celleste Bio CEO on the urgency of cultivating chocolate’s ‘magic’ ingredient - as missiles fall
Scaling biotech ingredients for a sector under strain is a hard. Doing it while conflict closes in is even harder
Ferrero gets World Cup fever as confectionery goes big on sport
Ferrero is going big on the FIFA World Cup, with a high-profile campaign. What does it signal for the future of confectionery marketing?
Artificial sweeteners: Why the science war is raging on
New health studies are reigniting a global battle over artificial sweeteners, leaving brands, regulators and consumers divided
Gen Alpha and Beta: Functional food and beverage’s next big bet
Kids and teens power next growth phase for functional foods and beverages
Nestlé steps up security following KitKat heist
Stolen KitKats sparked viral attention, delivering unexpected PR for Nestlé and exposing vulnerabilities in road freight security
Big Food’s high‑stakes race to reformulate
From regulation changes to supply chain pressures, reformulation is reshaping Big Food – fast
Can fermentation solve the cocoa crisis?
Cocoa innovation opens up new possibilities for manufacturers
‘More is more’ spells the end for low and no
Low and no loses its shine as consumers reject restriction in favour of real ingredients, richer flavours, and products that prioritise pleasure
Big Food’s big sell off: Who’s cutting loose and who’s cashing in
From shock splits to billion‑dollar buyouts, Big Food is making big changes. Here’s what’s driving the chaos, who’s cashing in, and who could be next
Opinion
Nestlé’s alt chocolate bet is make-or-break for cocoa-free
This is no ordinary product launch. The stakes are high for cocoa-free chocolate
Hershey u‑turns as real chocolate makes a comeback
Hershey says it’s bringing real chocolate back to parts of its portfolio – could this small switch signal something much bigger for the confectionery industry?
Texture innovation: Confectionery’s next frontier
From freeze‑dried sweets to ultra‑indulgent chocolate, texture is taking centre stage