Dairy

Letter From The Editor

Dairy’s fight for growth and shelf space

From high-protein products and café-inspired creamers to AI-powered market insights, dairy brands are finding new ways to meet consumer demand and win shelf space

Dairy Innovations

Danone’s AI commerce goal: ‘Trusted by machines and desired by humans’

At Groceryshop, Arthur Sylvestre outlined why internal alignment, digital consistency and consumer needs – not the latest technology – are guiding Danone’s strategy

Dairy Innovation

Creamers move beyond coffee with flavors, cold foams and café-inspired experiences

The rise of coffeehouse culture, viral beverage trends and cold coffee is fueling demand for creamers that offer more than just a splash of dairy

Dairy Innovations

Can plant proteins help ease the whey squeeze?

Surging protein demand and tight whey supplies are driving interest in hybrid formulations, with ADM and other suppliers developing plant-based ingredients to help manufacturers balance nutrition, functionality and texture

Dairy Innovations

New data platform reveals opportunities for dairy milk to win back shelf space

MilkPEP’s free, AI-powered market intelligence platform Milkscape gives milk processors and retailers access to consumer trends, sales data and insights to identify growth opportunities, drive innovation and boost milk sales

Dairy Innovations

As consumers rethink fat, whole milk gets a second look

Protein, satiety and whole foods drive renewed interest in full-fat dairy

Dairy Innovations

Better Dairy self-affirms GRAS status for lactopontin

The precision fermentation company is targeting US nutrition and supplement launches while pursuing a separate regulatory pathway for infant formula

FN+Nestlé commits $1bn to North America expansion strategy

Swiss food and beverage giant unveils $1bn investment aimed at boosting manufacturing, supporting agriculture and accelerating growth across North America

FN+Can GLP-1 innovation benefit all consumers?

The same protein-, fiber- and nutrient-dense formulations designed for GLP-1 users could help brands meet broader consumer demand for functional, value-driven foods

FN+Why more retail doors don’t always mean more growth

Some brands are approaching their next retail growth phase by focusing on broader assortments, not more doors

As Thanksgiving budgets tighten, brands must justify their price

Thanksgiving shoppers still want abundance, but every purchase must earn its place

FDA eases salt-substitute rules amid MAHA push for healthier foods

The final rule gives food and beverage manufacturers greater flexibility to reduce sodium in products ranging from bread rolls and canned tuna to salad dressing and cheese, supporting FDA’s broader sodium-reduction goals

FN+Big Food’s C-suite shake-up signals new era

From Nestlé to Ferrero, Big Food’s leadership structure is changing, as boards search for executives who can do more than just manage a business

What is the best way to talk to organic shoppers?

New Organic Trade Association research explores how Gen Z and millennial shoppers respond to organic messaging and what marketers may be overlooking as the category looks to its next phase of growth

Renewed call for raw dairy ban amid H5N1 concerns

Unpasteurised milk, cheese and other raw dairy products are unsafe to consume and may be linked to the spread of avian influenza, updated guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has said.

Chobani ranks higher in AI referrals than e-commerce sales: Euromonitor explains how

The analytics firm offers four strategies for positioning CPG for AI discovery

FN+California’s UPF label raises a bigger question: What is a UPF?

A harmonized UPF definition requires more than a list of ingredients or processing methods

The future of food innovation lies in diversifying, not replacing, supply chains

From palm oil to dairy fat, food companies seek new supply chain options

FN+California signs voluntary non-UPF label into law

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing of AB 2244 into law creates the first state-backed, voluntary label for non-UPF qualifying products, amid a pending federal UPF definition

5 clues to the future of grocery in Whole Foods’ latest LEAP Cohort

From culturally specific flavors to functional foods that don’t look like supplements, the 10 brands selected for Whole Foods’ 2026 accelerator offer a window into where the retailer sees opportunity

Nestlé teams with dairy supply chain partners to map path to scaling regen ag

From farmer incentives to peer networks and shared program designs, industry players are testing ways to move beyond one-off initiatives

Why Oatly is going big on fibre

Unlike protein, fibre plays more naturally to oatmilk’s strengths

Protein, coffee and convenience drive Chobani’s next phase of expansion

Health and wellness trends have galvanised demand for nutrient-rich foods, supporting sales expansion across key dairy categories. US Greek yogurt major Chobani is taking note

Supply chain pressures are testing dairy’s resilience

Dairy is one of the most mean-reverting markets in agriculture but geopolitical and environmental pressures are threatening its usual cyclicality

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

What’s holding organic back? The industry takes its case to Congress

Organic industry stakeholders press lawmakers on domestic production, infrastructure, farm relief and enforcement as the sector works to grow beyond $76 billion

From protein to lactose-free: US dairy’s growth engines

With dairy retail sales benefitting from health and wellness trends such as weight management and increased protein consumption, which categories have the biggest growth runway?

FN+Online dairy sales accelerate as yogurt and cottage cheese drive growth

Ecommerce is fueling dairy category gains across retail formats, while yogurt, refrigerated yogurt drinks and cottage cheese lead growth, according to Circana

Alternative proteins have disappointed investors – but it’s not the end

Taste and affordability challenges have dented consumer uptake and limited the category’s commercial potential. Can the sector’s fortunes turn?

Plant-based foodservice has a menu availability problem, says GFI

Plant-based foodservice customers visit restaurants about 50% more often than meat-only consumers and spend roughly $1,950 annually at quick-service venues, according to Good Food Institute research

Plant-based milk brands double down on simplified ingredient lists amid processing scrutiny

As skepticism of processed foods grows, plant-based milk brands embrace simpler recipes

Food inflation may look tame, but rising CPG input costs suggest otherwise

August PPI data show relatively little movement in final-demand food prices, but sharp increases in grains, oilseeds, confectionery, diesel and select packaging inputs could put pressure on food and beverage makers in the months ahead

FN+GLP-1 users look past marketing claims, focus on nutrition facts

The GLP-1 consumer is reading labels more closely than marketing messages

Canada’s tariff retaliation puts US food and agriculture industries in a bind

Dairy and steel groups back aggressive US trade action, while broader agriculture groups warn that escalating tariffs and retaliation could threaten critical export markets

FN+Allulose-containing products claiming zero sugar threatened with growing litigation

A wave of proposed class actions targeting “zero sugar” and “sugar free” claims is putting allulose-containing products in the crosshairs, following a pivotal Seventh Circuit ruling involving Chobani

Foremost Farms to shut major cheese site

Shifting consumer demand and changing market dynamics have led the co-op to re-think its product mix

FN+Federal funding for healthier school meals creates new product and procurement opportunities for CPGs

Federal school nutrition initiatives aiming to reduce or replace highly processed foods signals potential growth for CPG suppliers

Beyond ‘GLP-1 friendly’: The nutrition opportunity food brands are missing

Health experts point to muscle, bone and cardiovascular health as key priorities for consumers taking GLP-1 medications and navigating midlife, creating opportunities for food and beverage brands to connect functional nutrition with consumer education

FN+Chobani buys back Keurig Dr Pepper’s $800M stake as it invests $1.2B in Pennsylvania plant

The investment is part of Chobani’s $4 billion manufacturing network expansion

FN+Abbott settlement and Kendamil case add to formula industry scrutiny

The infant formula industry is still reckoning with safety, supply and legal pressures as Abbott Nutrition settles serious injury claims and Kendal Nutricare faces scrutiny over advertising claims

Top 10 shortlist announced for FoodNavigator’s Global Food Tech Awards EMEA heat

The 2026 shortlist of startups take on industry challenges around scalable food waste reduction, nutrition and food safety

Judge dismisses most of Ben & Jerry’s claims against Unilever

A federal judge dismissed most claims in Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit against Unilever, while allowing payment and board-governance disputes to proceed, leaving Magnum as the principal defendant

FN+Could climate change force a rewrite of the world’s recipes?

Manufacturers are racing to diversify ingredient sourcing as climate shocks threaten some of the world’s most important food commodities

FN+FDA tracks progress as brands ditch artificial colors

CPG companies and private label brands are cutting petroleum-based dyes and they want credit for it

Canadian dairy groups urge Government to protect food sovereignty in US trade talks

Dairy groups in Canada have urged the Government to defend the sovereignty of its food production while in negotiations with the US.

FN+How will a new definition of gut health impact food industry?

What is gut health? Scientists move toward a consensus definition

Louis Dreyfus Company targets pea protein off-notes with new isolate

As demand for plant-based dairy and protein sodas surges, a new large-scale Canadian facility is producing purified pea protein isolates to eliminate sensory off-notes and support emerging dietary needs

The frozen dessert aisle’s next growth driver isn’t protein – it’s discovery

Frozen treats thrive on convenience, value and discovery, while nutrition remains a secondary consideration

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

Gay Lea Foods invests $200m to boost cottage cheese production amid Canadian shortage

Canadian dairy co-operative Gay Lea Foods is to invest more than $200 million to help address the country’s cottage cheese shortage

The a2 Milk Company’s new research findings to drive US growth, innovation pipeline

New Zealand dairy nutrition firm The a2 Milk Company’s recently released research results are set to drive growth in the US market and shape its innovation pipeline.