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
Confectionery
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
Hershey’s push for premiumisation picks up pace
Hershey’s stepping up its premium ambitions with elevated products, strategic acquisitions and a growing focus on affordable indulgence
Mars at 115: Shaping the future of confectionery
From a small-town America to the world’s biggest confectionery company, Mars mark 115 years of family ownership and industry influence
Natural colors are creating a new supply chain reality
Natural dyes require more than reformulation because supply chains must evolve too
Mondelēz targets festive growth with Christmas confectionery range
Confectionery giant targets growth with 2026 Christmas confectionery range
Why Nestlé’s factory closure could be first of many
Nestlé’s chocolate factory closure could be a sign of what’s to come for global confectionery production, as manufacturers prioritise scale, flexibility and efficiency
Hollywood snack collabs: Why movie tie-ins keep winning for CPG brands
Snacks are the biggest beneficiary of Hollywood-powered marketing, with 60% of consumers noticing brand collabs “often or always” and 68% saying they’ve purchased a co-branded or special edition product
From Nestlé to Mars: Why Big Food is embracing contract manufacturing
Outsourcing becomes a priority as CPGs seek greater flexibility, speed and resilience
How Mondelēz achieved its mid-year wins
The snacking multinational has seen a strong second quarter, returning to volume growth and succeeding in emerging markets
Mondelēz growth boosted by emerging markets as Europe sees decline
Like other major FMCGs, the biggest growth for Mondelēz is outside developed markets
As AI carts enter stores, brands face a new battle for visibility
Are AI carts helping brands sell more products, or are they helping shoppers become smarter, more value conscious buyers?
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
How can CPGs modernize iconic brands for a new generation without losing the magic?
J&J Snack Foods says the answer lies in evolving heritage brands and products but not the emotional experiences consumers associate with them
Retailers rethink SNAP strategy as enrollment and spending decline
As SNAP enrollment shrinks, retailers rethink value, convenience and e-commerce
Mars bets on Summerween as Halloween becomes a season
The confectionery giant is producing Halloween candy in the spring and bringing products to shelves in summer as consumers increasingly treat Halloween as a multi-month occasion
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%
Lindt shares slide as cocoa costs shake investor confidence
Lindt’s share price slides as investors question strength of chocolate maker’s premium pricing power
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
Lindt turns Dubai chocolate craze into ice cream
Lindt brings Dubai chocolate trend to ice cream as confectionery brands continue to diversify
Confectionery’s innovation dilemma: Doing more with less
Rising costs, changing consumer demands and fast-moving trends are reshaping confectionery innovation. But what does it take to stand out?
Ferrero advances certified sourcing and supplier compliance
Confection giant reports 99% certified cocoa, certified palm oil and growing supplier code adoption in its latest sustainability update
Sweets & Snacks Expo
Mars rethinks seasonality to drive bigger sales with smaller moments
The confectionery maker says future growth depends less on recruiting new snackers and more on creating more consumption occasions through micro-seasons, cultural moments and holiday extensions
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
GLP‑1 use is fueling trends already in motion
GLP‑1 adoption is scaling rapidly and the brands that win are focusing on delivering nutrition for broader appeal rather than a niche segment
Nestlé accelerates shift to regenerative agriculture
Nestlé steps up efforts to transform farming practices as pressure mounts to decarbonise global supply chains.
News Bites
How CPGS are rewriting ‘better-for-you’
Cleaning up labels is no longer enough – value-driven consumers are forcing the industry to rethink the balance of price, health and convenience
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
Sweets & Snacks Expo
Hershey’s ‘yes, and’ innovation strategy blends better-for-you and indulgence
The confection giant is leveraging protein, zero-sugar products and cross-category brand extensions to reach new consumers and help retailers merchandise a changing snacking landscape
Federal court blocks food benefits ban on soda and candy
The decision in Aragon v. Rollins vacates USDA waivers in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia and sets up a likely appeal
Hershey appoints PepsiCo veteran to drive next phase of growth
Hershey names Heather Hoytink US president, highlighting renewed focus on growth
Agentic commerce could crack personalization but only for data-ready brands
Will agentic commerce deliver on the personalization food and beverage has been trying to achieve?
Nestlé’s KitKat move signals industry shift to regenerative sourcing
Nestlé makes regenerative agriculture mainstream in sustainability shift that could reshape standards across confectionery
Mars’ artificial-dye-free push hits major reformulation hurdles
Mars to introduce artificial-colour-free M&M’s but reformulation challenges leave two colours out in the cold
Kraft Heinz overhauls global structure amid split uncertainty
Kraft Heinz shakes up global structure as separation remains on hold
The state of fermentation and cultivated ingredients: Where are we now?
Precision fermentation reshapes how sweetness is made
The future of sweetness may not be about replacing sugar with a single ingredient, but about redesigning how sweetness itself is built
When everything is a snack, is anything a snack?
The most important finding in Mondelez International’s latest State of Snacking report isn’t that people are snacking more but that the industry may no longer know what a snack is
How are Nestlé, Danone and Muscle Milk rethinking reformulation?
Additives and artificial colors and flavors continue to be axed from formulas as the industry balances a meeting consumers’ health goals with nutrition policy
Mars goes all in on renewables as emissions fall and growth climbs
Mars hits energy milestone, while maintaining growth and stepping up global investment
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