Protein

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

Creatine as a food ingredient remains popular with steady stream of new products

The ingredient once known as a sports nutrition supplement is increasingly making its way into food and beverage

FN+Lost confidence in nutrition information offers CPG makers opening to rebuild trust

The latest IFIC Food & Health Survey finds consumers increasingly unsure what, or whom, to believe as self-assessed health declines, but also points to a path for food companies to rebuild trust with credible facts, practical guidance and scientific evidence

FN+High grocery prices push shoppers to spread spending across store formats

NIQ finds consumers spreading their dollars to club and mass outlets, trading down on brands and selectively splurging on functional products

Lumina Intelligence insight

FN+Exclusive study reveals consumers want capability not immortality

Exclusive global consumer research reveals that ageing well is no longer about adding years to life, but maintaining the strength, mobility and independence to keep living on your own terms

Hormel’s $1B Brakebush deal would nearly triple chicken’s share of its protein portfolio

The deal would add a $1.2 billion foodservice chicken business as Hormel reshapes its portfolio around higher-growth opportunities

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

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

FDA’s GRAS overhaul could add pressure to agency – can AI help?

SciPinion says its new SciBridge Safety Suite can help companies identify and document similarities between new ingredients and substances FDA has previously reviewed, potentially easing pressure on an already resource-constrained agency

Flavors of the future: global inspiration meets local innovation

Functional chocolate puts formulation innovation into overdrive

Demand for protein-forward, reduced-sugar and plant-based indulgence is forcing formulators like Luker Chocolate to balance nutrition claims with the taste and texture consumers expect

Flavors of the future: global inspiration meets local innovation

Letter from the editor: Flavors of the future

From Filipino ube to North African harissa – how are global flavors shaping CPG innovation and what ingredients are leading the charge?

One halal standard to rule them all? Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar bet

A Saudi-led push to harmonise halal rules could reshape global food trade

How bone broth is aligning with clean label and women’s health trends

Bone broth may find new relevance as consumers seek protein, simplicity and nutrient density

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

Once Upon a Farm Bets on innovation, coolers and category expansion to reach $1 billion

Since it’s IPO earlier this year, Once Upon a Farm aims to strengthen household penetration by innovating its core business and consistently entering new, emerging categories

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+Kraft Heinz sees early gains from $700M brand investment

Condiments have returned to growth and Philadelphia and Capri Sun offer innovation opportunities, but the company still has work to do on Oscar Mayer

FN+General Mills pairs cost cuts with cautious capital strategy

The food giant plans $3 billion in cost cuts over four years, favoring debt reduction over stock buybacks and acquisitions

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

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

Can plant-grown proteins bring down the cost of cultivated meat?

Advocates of molecular farming say plants could serve as low-cost bioreactors for producing growth factors, a key and often expensive ingredient in cultivated meat production

FN+Beyond Meat, Daring Foods and Impossible Foods expand plant protein into new occasions

As consumers sour on traditional meat alternatives, Beyond Meat, Daring Foods and others are expanding into protein drinks, bars, powders and complete meals to create new occasions for plant protein

Applegate Farms explores regenerative agriculture’s next selling point: Nutrition

After finding that regenerative messaging alone was not enough to drive purchases, Applegate is investigating whether farming practices can influence the nutritional composition of food and whether that could give consumers a more personal reason to...

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+Barilla’s Goodles acquisition reflects growing health food M&A trend

Barilla’s acquisition of Goodles signals the strategic players’ interest in emerging wellness food brands

FN+The top 3 areas winning private label right now

Private label’s glow-up is winning shoppers with clean labels, high-protein products and trend-driven innovation that goes far beyond bargain pricing

Why are consumers choosing simplicity in meals?

Five-minute meals and protein drive 2026 eating trends

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

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

Raising the functional beverage bar: Drinks are becoming more specific and creative

As consumers look beyond generic energy and wellness claims, emerging brands are creating drinks tailored to specific needs, from focus and calm to protein and recovery

News Bites

Food’s new rules: Regulation, reformulation and the reinvention of legacy brands

Transparency, health and regulation emerged as the defining forces shaping the food industry this month

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

Hormel’s retail segment hit by Q3 commodity turkey and snack nut declines

Mixed fiscal Q3 results show a 2% decline in organic net sales as Hormel Foods navigates planned business exits and price elasticity

Uncrustables sales rise 12% as JM Smucker expands production

The billion-dollar peanut butter and jelly sandwich brand growth in JM Smucker’s first quarter comes from strong volume, expanded distribution and new fridge-friendly and morning protein products

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

Cultivated protein’s next phase? Integration over invention

The sector is entering an integration phase, according to Ever After Foods’ CEO Eyal Rosenthal, where partnerships, acquisitions and platform-based business models could help tackle persistent cost and scaling barriers that have slowed commercialization

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

Instant without compromise: 3 startups reimagine convenience food for more than speed

From chef-inspired pasta sauces to protein-packed power bowls and nutrient-dense children’s meals, a new wave of food startups is proving that convenience doesn’t have to mean compromising on flavor, nutrition or quality

FN+Ferrero Group to buy better-for-you US breakfast company Purely Elizabeth

The food manufacturing giant is growing its breakfast portfolio, following last year’s purchase of WK Kellogg Co.

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

FN+Why China should matter to every alt protein company

Despite the geopolitical tensions, all alternative protein companies globally need to factor China in their production strategy to scale, compete and reduce costs. Here’s why

Kraft Heinz adds $100m to marketing push as breakup plan remains paused

Kraft Heinz is spending to rebuild US retail share, splitting Taste Elevation from Away From Home and consolidating supply chain and procurement

FN+Beyond Meat’s decline continues, but Europe and Canada see growth

The plant-based meat company will invest in its international successes

GLP-1 for weight loss exceeds use for diabetes management

Numerator and Kantar data show weight loss has become the dominant reason for GLP-1 use in the US and globally

FN+BellRing’s 4-part playbook for growing in a crowded market and maintaining a pole position

As competition intensifies in ready-to-drink protein, Premier Protein maker BellRing Brands tries something to new to drive future growth

IFT FIRST

Ingredion: Better-for-you foods hinge on texture as much as nutrition

As consumers push for less sugar and cleaner labels, thin beverages and chalky proteins can derail a product’s success

From Nestlé to Mars: Why Big Food is embracing contract manufacturing

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

Tyson Foods says value-added chicken playbook shields profits from commodity price swings

The company’s years-long shift toward branded, retail-ready chicken products and strategic customer partnerships helped insulate its poultry business from falling commodity chicken prices, offering a potential roadmap for other processors

A new protein contender emerges as whey prices surge

ADM and The Every Company are scaling up US production of a fermented egg white protein pitched at formulators tired of whey’s price swings