Health & wellness

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

How pantry staples are seeing a glow up

While the products differ, food and beverage founders are encouraging consumers to rethink what pantry staples can do

Obesity in retreat as GLP-1 use nearly quadruples: New data paints a different picture for manufacturers

America’s obesity rate is falling as GLP-1 use reaches record highs, with similar trends emerging elsewhere and raising fresh questions about the future of food demand

Summer Fancy Food Show

Can new formats reinvent the olive oil category?

Established brands are reimagining how consumers use, and think about, olive oil through wellness-focused formats and packaging innovation

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 NielisenIQ’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

Consumers stock up on GLP-1-coded protein shakes on Amazon Prime Day

Shopper satisfaction dips nine percentage points, as consumers reduce spending year over year

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

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

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

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

Can regenerative agriculture become food’s next big growth story?

Kiss the Ground CEO Evan Harrison and FOND Regenerative founder Alysa Seeland explain why rising consumer awareness is attracting retailers and what must happen before regenerative products can scale

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

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

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

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

Clean protein shakes up RTD beverages

Elmhurst 1925 extends clean-label portfolio with RTD plant protein shakes

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

Fermentation finds its footing even as food-tech funding cools

Startups producing colors, proteins, sweeteners and specialty ingredients through fermentation are attracting investment, regulatory approvals and commercial partnerships as manufacturers seek alternatives to constrained conventional supply chains

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

Walmart, Target rollout fuels animal-free egg white boom at Every Company

Precision fermentation player scales OvoPro production, with 550% growth in first four months of 2026

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

Functional snacks on social media aren’t replacing indulgence, they’re justifying it

If functional snacks are booming, the ingredients powering them show a category in transition

Danone deepens consumer trust in Danimals with reformulation and education strategy

As parents seek foods with multiple health benefits, Danone is updating its iconic kids yogurt brand with a reformulated recipe, refreshed identity and educational summer campaign

Is ‘healthy enough’ the new ‘better for you?’

Winning brands balance health, indulgence and convenience

Kennedy signals new course for food labels as FDA nears definition for ultra-processed food

A forthcoming federal definition for ultra-processed foods could influence front-of-pack nutrition labeling requirements, product reformulation efforts and compliance timelines across the food industry

Walmart’s Aloha reset highlights how snack bars are overtaking center store

The move reflects a broader industry shift as protein bars – and better-for-you snacking – continue to move into the mainstream

Iran-US peace deal: What it means for food

The deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Nestlé USA eliminates artificial colors as part of broader reformulation overhaul

While Nestlé has reached this particular milestone ahead of schedule, it positions the achievement as one step in a longer-term strategy focused on cleaner labels, product innovation and greater consumer trust

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

What happens when apple growers spend more on labor than their crop is worth?

That question, and concerns about nutrition programs, food safety oversight and packaging mandates, was at the center of the produce industry’s lobbying push on Capitol Hill last week

Beech-Nut bets on the overlooked preschool snacking market

US rollout aims to fill gap between toddler food and traditional snacks for kids 4 years-plus

Fed Up! campaign takes aim at UPFs, but the science debate persists

A new campaign on ultra processed food education highlights systemic nutrition barriers, while food science experts stress the need to define the polarizing term before linking it to health outcomes

Can Ebola disrupt coffee prices and stocks?

The border closure between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has raised concerns over potential disruption to coffee trade - but is there a risk to global coffee prices?

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

Whole Foods’ top supplier says natural and organic grocers gaining ground on national chains

UNFI highlights two decades of growth for natural and regional retailers while rolling out AI supply chain tools and its Endless Aisle platform

Taste still rules, but may no longer be enough to win in the snack aisle

New Circana data shows consumers increasingly expect functional benefits alongside flavor, driving a shift from ‘better-for-you’ to ‘nutritious and delicious’ snacks, like those showcased at Sweets & Snacks Expo by Barebells, Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn and...

Snack bar startups draw capital around protein, function and format

Stars + Honey’s recent funding to scale its collagen protein snack bars reflects broader capital investment towards nutrition, functionality, clean label and format innovation in the snack bar category

What foods do GLP-1 users actually like?

Despite reduced appetites, those using GLP-1s still care about taste

ThaiFex-Anuga Asia 2026

Betagro turns chicken into noodles to double protein per meal

Betagro has created noodles made out of chicken breast, offering consumers a new way to double up on protein and satisfy tapping demand for high-protein innovation

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

Are marketers misreading women?

Women drive 85% of consumer spending, but new research from NIQ discussed in the latest episode of Soup-to-Nuts podcast suggests outdated assumptions about women shoppers are giving way to more individualized ‘micro-realities’ that are influencing the...

Monster chases global energy drink growth with Coca-Cola distribution muscle

Monster executives say the company still has a long runway outside the US as it rolls out market-specific products, affordable brands and female-focused lines such as FLRT, while international sales climb to 45% of revenue

Snack trends: Nutrient-dense grazing hitting its stride

Snack brands are targeting fluid eating occasions with products that deliver nutrition in smaller portable formats, aligning with healthier snacking trends to suit busier lifestyles

Energy drink company Celsius faces investigation over youth marketing

Texas attorney general’s office is looking into whether the energy drink giant misled customers, following death of teenager

McCormick and Unilever ‘well underway’ with $40 billion merger despite investor fears

More than 200 employees are meeting in Baltimore this week to blueprint the integration as executives tout growth, margin expansion and up to $600 million in synergies

Ingredion acquires upcycled prebiotic fiber amid $3.7 billion Tate & Lyle bid

Upcycled carrot prebiotic aligns with the company’s push into health-focused ingredients

Can better-for-you deliver candy cravings?

Better-for-you candy is entering a new phase where bold flavor and real ingredients - not just reduced sugar - are driving consumer interest across the snacking landscape

ThaiFex-Anuga Asia 2026

3 make or break factors for Asian brands in the West

The western world is home to many of the world’s most established food brands, so what strategies can Asian brands use to crack desirable markets like Europe or the US?

News Bites

How consolidation, new sweeteners and retail pressure are redefining food

Companies are getting bigger, ingredients are getting smarter and the definition of “better-for-you” is getting narrower

Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you trends and indulgence

What’s driving the new era of chewing gum?

Function, flavor and fun continue to drive gum’s trajectory within the broader confectionery space

Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you trends and indulgence

Can candy revive RTD tea?

Candy-inspired nostalgia could give RTD tea a much-needed spark, as brands like Ryl Tea use confectionery flavors to attract younger, health-conscious consumers into the category

Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you trends and indulgence

Cargill joins alternative chocolate race with Barry Callebaut and Nestlé amid cocoa volatility

By upcycling grape seeds, Cargill’s new NextCoa offers CPG brands a vegan, allergen-free option as major manufacturers hedge against soaring cocoa costs

Energy drink trends: US startup PHX blends hydration and energy

Florida-based functional drinks firm PHX has launched a hydration-energy drink designed to meet growing demand for multifunctional beverages

Inside the science of making healthier food consumers will actually buy with ADM

ADM argues food makers can no longer tackle sugar, sodium or clean label goals one at a time without risking taste, texture and cost