AI

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.

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

FN+Walmart’s promise on ‘surveillance pricing’ sets the tone for retail

Dynamic pricing is nothing new, but shoppers and lawmakers are challenging personalized grocery prices – and Walmart is promising not to use them

Can AI stop seasonal promotions wasting money?

AI can help brands create seasonal campaigns and check whether stores deliver them, but faster marketing won’t rescue an offer shoppers can’t find or don’t want

AI shopping assistants could become the next retail media battleground

The technology promises convenience and personalization, but critics say it may deepen existing pay-to-play dynamics between retailers and brands

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

Spins leverages vast datasets with new AI product discovery tool

As AI assistants reshape product discovery, the retail analytics firm is using its datasets to help CPG companies improve their visibility in AI-driven shopping results

FN+Inside Kraft Heinz’s product content strategy for AI shopping

Reusable product-title components, automated workflows and human oversight are central to the food giant’s approach to evolving product discovery

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

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+Mondelēz reveals the trends shaping the future of confectionery and snacking

What does the future hold for confectionery and snacking? Richie Gray of Mondelēz SnackFutures shares his thoughts on the trends and technologies shaping the sector

FN+Agentic AI in food boosts decision-making – but can enhance risks too

Agents make operations more efficient, but if used wrongly they can distance decision-making from humans

Are consumers really asking AI what snacks to eat?

From protein targets to dietary restrictions, shoppers can now describe what they need and get a shortlist of snacks in return but the effect on sales is still unclear

Flavors of the future: global inspiration meets local innovation

Flavor via fermentation reaches new efficiency with AI

AI simulations could help Crush Dynamics reduce energy use by an expected 30% while optimizing fermented grape purées and powders used to reduce sugar and sodium in food formulations

Walmart’s tech expansion a boon for startup CPGs

Upgrades to the retail giant’s distribution network and increased adoption of its AI chatbot Sparky are enabling a broader product assortment

FN+Mars’ cocoa strategy centers around new tech and cloning

Mars’ next phase of cocoa sustainability puts productivity, technology and climate resilience at the forefront

FN+Grocery shoppers embrace AI research, but not AI buying agents

Consumers increasingly use AI to compare food and beverage products and find deals, though most remain reluctant to let AI agents reorder groceries or complete purchases

FN+Mondelēz ramps up investment to drive global growth

Confectionery and snacking giant shifts focus to drive next phase of growth

FN+Coca-Cola brings innovation back with new strategy

After pruning its portfolio during the pandemic, Coca-Cola is taking a more targeted approach to product development while using digital tools, data and AI to sharpen its connections with consumers and customers

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

Gen Alpha’s early eating habits offer a roadmap for the future of snacking

NIQ research finds that children are already thinking about ingredients, nutrition and the benefits they want from snacks, which could shape the category as they gain purchasing power

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

Walmart to deploy 90 million Wiliot IoT tags by end of 2026

Driven by next-generation IoT pixels that monitor cold chain compliance for perishables, Wiliot cements its status as a retail logistics powerhouse

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

The new beverage battleground is in AI recommendations vs. shelf space

AI is recognizing brands that solve a problem, according to new data

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?

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%

FN+Coca-Cola confirms cyberattack as Fairlife operations halted

Coca-Cola confirms ransomware attack on dairy subsidiary Fairlife

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

FN+Why AI overviews hit differently in food and drink

Research reveals an unexpected twist in how AI is reshaping food and drink searches

Whey boom fuels surge in protein processing expansion

From WPC80 to lactoferrin, dairy companies globally are investing in premium protein capacity to capture growth in the high-end sports nutrition and functional food space

Tate & Lyle, Ingredion and the new ingredients land grab

The Ingredion-Tate & Lyle deal signals a shift in the ingredients industry, where technical expertise is becoming as valuable as the ingredients themselves

Global Food Tech Awards

Why next gen alt protein startups will be built on access, not just science

In protein, the real challenge isn’t invention – it’s getting to market and staying there

Walmart and Amazon’s rapid-delivery war raises consumer expectations

Rapid and same-day delivery are accelerating the shift to online grocery, with omnichannel shoppers spending more and delivery outpacing pickup

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?

Precision fermentation scale-up: Inside a pilot plant for next-gen food ingredients

The University of Illinois is helping food companies move from lab breakthroughs to commercial production, working with partners like ADM and Primient

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

The state of fermentation and cultivated ingredients: Where are we now?

Could adding light to fermentation unlock cell cultivation’s full potential?

Climate biotech Brevel is testing its ‘illuminated fermentation’ platform across coffee, cocoa and bioactive ingredients as it seeks to scale plant-cell-based production beyond the lab

Anterra Capital closes fund to back AI-powered food startups

VC firm targets scalable, science-backed startups across food and agriculture as investment shifts from hype to discipline

Indoor ag firm AeroFarms finds new lifeline with Palm Ventures

Investment firm bets on vertical farming, retail traction and GLP-1-driven demand as industry shifts toward profitability

Tips for brands to win with agentic commerce

Agentic commerce is redefining how decisions are made, not just how products are found

Global Food Tech Awards

Global Food Tech Awards EMEA heat opens: Why startups should apply and how to stand out

Calling all EMEA food and beverage startups - applications are now open and entry is free

Doritos without drivers? PepsiCo’s autonomous truck rollout sparks logistics debate

PepsiCo’s driverless truck experiment promises faster, cheaper deliveries, but it’s also exposing a growing battle over jobs, safety and the future shape of food supply chains

Can infant formula catch up to breast milk?

A new generation of infant formula that recreates the immune, digestive and developmental benefits of human milk is creating regulatory challenges

East meets West: How AI and social commerce are reshaping the future of retail

Social commerce and agentic AI are colliding to create a new commerce paradigm – and NielsenIQ says manufacturers and retailers need to get ahead of it now

Where brands should focus their AI strategy now

AI’s real value may lie in helping consumers choose – not discover

FN+Will cocoa alts ever be sexy? Hershey backlash opens the debate

As cocoa markets fluctuate, Hershey’s controversy shows that while alt-chocolate is advancing fast, taste and transparency remain make-or-break for consumers

FN+Sweet proteins gain global momentum with latest regulatory win

Amai Proteins’ sweet protein secures regulatory approval in Singapore after recent US nod

AgNavigator: same agtech backbone, bigger industry picture

William Reed, publisher of FoodNavigator, has unveiled a new title for its market-leading agtech and agrifood title

FN+Beyond protein: Why wellness platforms are the real deal

Protein remains big business, but with functional trends evolving at pace, it’s time to think bigger