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?
Snacks
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
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%
Over the Moo, Oreo and Dippin’ Dots chill out with summer’s coolest launches
This summer’s frozen launches are answering an industry-wide call for convenience that doesn’t compromise on quality
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
Can California almonds shed their water-hungry reputation?
Once criticized for their water use, almond growers are embracing precision irrigation, groundwater recharge and carbon-storing practices to position the crop as a more climate-smart ingredient
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
The next grocery battle isn’t price – it’s relevance
A new phase of grocery shopping is emerging, one that will push brands to compete on relevance rather than rely on inflation-driven dollar growth, private-label gains or consumers trading down
Three years on: Why Smucker’s $5.6bn Hostess bet still hasn’t paid off
“Tastes like growth” has become a punchline the jam giant would rather forget
Is beef tallow becoming food’s next billion-dollar ingredient?
The resurgence of beef tallow is forcing manufacturers to ask whether the MAHA movement has created a lasting reformulation trend or just food’s latest political fad
Lindt turns Dubai chocolate craze into ice cream
Lindt brings Dubai chocolate trend to ice cream as confectionery brands continue to diversify
PepsiCo doubles down on turnaround strategy as gas prices pressure consumers
Executives say higher gas prices, not flaws in the company’s affordability, innovation and away-from-home strategy, constrained volumes
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?
Summer Fancy Food Show
Gut health enters a new phase as brands move beyond probiotics
Consumer demand for more targeted digestive benefits for different usage occasions is driving innovation across yogurt, fermented foods and traditional botanicals, while raising the stakes for education
Summer Fancy Food Show
Startups revive nostalgic snacks for the frozen aisle
How two founders are reviving classic snacks (or meals) in a frozen format with a fun twist
Summer Fancy Food Show
Fragmentation reshapes grocery, creating new opportunities for specialty brands
NielsenIQ says shifting shopping habits, online growth and changing drivers of consumer trust are redefining the path to purchase and opening doors for specialty manufacturers
The coming UPF regulation revolution
The regulatory landscape surrounding ultra-processed foods is changing rapidly. Here’s what has already happened, what’s coming next and why manufacturers should be paying attention
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What it takes to earn a place in today’s snack cart
Economic pressure, growing health awareness and AI-powered product evaluation are making shoppers more selective, forcing snack brands to prove their value beyond price, says NielsenIQ’s Chris Costagli
General Mills embraces protein innovation and launches $3 billion savings initiative
The company outlines a four-year productivity push as it navigates inflation and invests in product innovation
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
Mondelez State of Snacking: The impossible innovation brief
Manufacturers have spent years responding to one consumer trend after another, but today’s snack has to satisfy every expectation at once
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
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?
Kellanova’s latest launches reveal a new innovation strategy
As consumers become more selective about calories and spending, Kellanova is building snacks around specific occasions and need states—using protein-packed RXBAR launches and sensory-driven Cheez-It Crunch as examples of a broader innovation strategy
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
How a better-for-you chip brand is raising the stakes in the category
Former better-for-you candy disruptor moves to the savory aisle with a healthier take on the classic potato chip
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
Red, white and chew: The limited edition treats marking America’s 250th birthday
America’s biggest birthday party is inspiring a summer of patriotic flavours, nostalgic treats and celebratory packaging
The next tobacco fight? Marketing to children enters UPF debate
Campaigners warn that food companies are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to build brand loyalty from childhood