Mars joins Hershey and Ferrero in race for the digital impulse purchases
Mars taps into Instagram Shop in time for Halloween to reach billions of global users, following its predictions on digital commerce’s influence on product discovery.
Snacks
UPF classification doesn’t tell the whole story about nutrition, study reveals
Analysis by IFIC and NIQ of more than 40,000 US grocery products finds nutrient density varies widely among ultra-processed foods, raising questions about the relationship between processing, nutritional quality and affordability
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
Is snacking too obsessed with Gen Z?
Manufacturers chasing younger consumers could be putting an unnecessary age limit on their next bestseller
Less is more for food brands trying to meet modern shoppers’ health & safety needs
New research suggests familiar ingredients, minimal processing and shorter ingredient lists could give food brands an opportunity to capture a premium
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
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
Are snack suppliers stuck between meals?
Gen Z’s shifting meal routines, Millennials’ appetite for solo dining and competition from retail are challenging what snacks sold through cafés and takeaway outlets should deliver
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
Could PepsiCo’s snack turnaround offer a blueprint for its struggling beverage business?
As pricing changes, portfolio innovation and renewed investment help revive North American snack volumes, CEO Ramon Laguarta is looking to improve soft-drink performance through increased marketing, focused innovation and stronger execution
What makes a snack worth the price?
Savory snacks win on health, while sweet snacks win on fun
A celebrity event designer’s playbook for Halloween launches
Edward Perotti argues that brands must move beyond predictable colours and seasonal sprinkles if they want their Halloween launches to command attention
Mars predicts a future of automated and immersive retail
Agentic technology is increasingly shaping what consumers expect from their shopping experience as household staples are relegated to automated replenishment while immersive spaces are designed to drive discovery and spotlight viral trends
The meteoric rise of General Mills’ Dana McNabb to CEO
McNabb named to lead the company just five months after being named COO
Mondelēz sustainability scheme goes solo: Is this the new industry standard?
Harmony project enters a new era as it becomes an independent certification. But, could it become the new industry standard?
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
General Mills rebuilds retail momentum with price cuts, innovation & marketing
After cutting prices to win back inflation-weary shoppers, General Mills is leaning on product renovation, innovation and stepped-up marketing to reignite growth
Restaurants recovering from sales slump with CPG brands
Restaurant spending rose 3.3% year over year in July, according to Bank of America Institute, but chains including Momofuku, Buffalo Wild Wings and Popeyes are still expanding their grocery-store presence
Flavors of the future: global inspiration meets local innovation
Why apple pie could be fall’s next breakout flavor trend
Apple’s rise in protein bars and social-first beverage content points to shifting trends in fall flavors beyond pumpkin spice
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?
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 fun to function: Hershey’s adopts innovation strategy to drive year-round engagement
Hershey is accelerating product development, expanding into functional snacking and tapping cultural moments beyond major holidays to create more consistent, sustainable growth
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
Cadbury x Oreo: Do collaborations and health claims still drive growth?
Cadbury and Oreo embrace collaboration trend with Cadbury Delights Oreo launch, but do health claims go a step too far?
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
Campbell’s Co slashes dividend, cuts jobs and raises prices in $500M savings push
The Campbell’s Company expects another year of declining sales and earnings as it launches a savings program, reshapes its portfolio and steps up investment behind its strongest brands
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
