Big Food’s big sell off: Who’s cutting loose and who’s cashing in
From shock splits to billion‑dollar buyouts, Big Food is making big changes. Here’s what’s driving the chaos, who’s cashing in, and who could be next
Confectionery
Opinion
Nestlé’s alt chocolate bet is make-or-break for cocoa-free
This is no ordinary product launch. The stakes are high for cocoa-free chocolate
Hershey u‑turns as real chocolate makes a comeback
Hershey says it’s bringing real chocolate back to parts of its portfolio – could this small switch signal something much bigger for the confectionery industry?
Texture innovation: Confectionery’s next frontier
From freeze‑dried sweets to ultra‑indulgent chocolate, texture is taking centre stage
Unilever says McCormick deal could close today
Unilever edges closer to a deal with McCormick in a move that would reshape its future and redefine the global food landscape
Unilever joins Big Food shake-up
As Unilever edges towards a Foods division sell‑off, Big Food braces for the impact
KitKat heist sends urgent warning to CPG sector
Over 400,000 KitKats have vanished in transit, highlighting the increasing threat of cargo crime
Confectionery sales surge as market races towards $295bn
Confectionery sales are soaring. But what’s driving growth and which brands are best positioned for the future?
EUDR: Is cloud cover a problem for compliance?
Satellites provide long-term data on land use
Gut instinct: The 10 functional ingredients gaining ground in 2026
Dietitians’ latest data points to a more grounded approach to functionality, where gut health, cost and credibility matter as much as claims
Barry Callebaut, Ferrero, Hershey & Tony’s Chocolonely join Cocoa Coalition
Global confectionery giants join NGOs and major retailers to create UK Cocoa Coalition
Mars accelerates expansion following landmark Kellanova acquisition
Mars Snacking announces new jobs as company signals major growth
Nestlé trials AI technology to tackle factory food waste
Nestlé’s latest AI pilot reveals how real-time data can boost efficiency and unlock revenue
Lindt: The premium strategy driving record growth
Strong growth and expanding global reach are cementing Lindt’s position as the premium market leader
Nestlé under Navratil: The fight to stay ahead
Nestlé’s new chief has steadied the ship – but can he accelerate fast enough to outrun the industry’s most agile challengers?
Sweet proteins promise a sugar reset but new questions are emerging
Oobli’s CEO is betting on protein-based sweetness to cut sugar at scale, but the shift raises uncomfortable questions for regulators, manufacturers and the supply chain
The Big 5: Power players defining confectionery’s future
Five giants dominate confectionery. What gives them the edge, and keeps them on top?
Ferrero’s Bold Snacks deal signals strategy shift
Ferrero’s Bold Snacks acquisition hints at where industry is headed
Why Big Food is reformulating growth not just recipes
From halted breakups to billion-dollar buyouts, the world’s biggest food groups aren’t just tweaking products, they’re rethinking how growth works
Cocoa prices climb following market collapse
Cocoa prices climb as supply expectations shift and demand struggles to recover
The raisin squeeze: Iran tensions expose a fragile ingredient supply chain
Raisins sit quietly inside thousands of everyday foods, but the global trade behind them is far more concentrated than most manufacturers realise
Future chocolate: Mondelēz, Lindt and Barry Callebaut reshape taste
From Mondelēz and Barry Callebaut to Lindt, the future of chocolate is being defined by bold flavour innovation, smarter formulations and a refusal to compromise on indulgence
Hershey: Strategy shake‑up and leadership reset
Hershey is shaking up its strategy and its structure
Ozempic’s chocolate contradiction: Indulgence isn’t disappearing, it’s trading up
As appetite-suppressing drugs take hold, the real shift in snacking may not be how much people eat but how deliberately they choose to indulge
Ferrero joins the big F&B CEO shake-up
Ferrero scraps traditional CEO role amid sweeping food and beverage leadership shake-ups
The Big One: Cyberattack that could cripple food and drink
Cyberattacks are closing in on the food and drink sector, and the next one could be catastrophic. Is the industry ready for The Big One?
Up the food chain
Cargill’s CTO on AI, innovation and where R&D is going
From AI to reformulation, the agribusiness giant’s CTO Florian Schattenmann talks future tech, passing fads and where Cargill is stepping up focus
Hershey: The secret to success and what’s next
With new markets to enter and new categories to conquer, Hershey’s next wave of growth could be its most exciting yet
Mondelēz boosts Toblerone production with $83m investment
A year into its investment, Mondelēz unveils a major milestone at Toblerone’s Swiss home
200‑decision myth collapses – what next for manufacturers?
New research challenges a long‑accepted belief about consumer decision‑making. What does this mean for food and drink?
New light-scattering additive to replace shunned titanium dioxide
Safer whitening may be on the horizon for confectionery, bakery and dairy, thanks to a new alternative to one of food’s most controversial additives
Lindt reports record growth as rivals stumble
Lindt defies industry headwinds with soaring profits, strong growth and a premium strategy that’s paying off
Nestlé bets big on cocoa-free chocolate: Inside its new launch
The final confectionery giant to invest in alternative cocoa is now the first to launch a permanent product
Chocolate without trees? The science racing to reinvent cocoa
From cacao cells grown in bioreactors to fermentation-built chocolate flavours, scientists and startups are experimenting with ways to produce cocoa ingredients without growing cacao trees
Sweeteners under fire as scientists probe neurological risks
New research linking popular sweeteners to cognitive decline has again raised concerns over their safety. What does this mean manufacturers?
Confectionery sector braced for shortages as Iran conflict escalates
As conflict disrupts key trade routes and energy supplies, the confectionery sector is among the first to feel the strain. How vulnerable are manufacturers, and what can be done to protect the industry?
The clean label chocolate revolution has begun
Clean label chocolate is gaining momentum, and reshaping indulgence
Nestlé’s F1 move signals bold new brand strategy
KitKat’s latest Formula 1 collaboration is more than a viral stunt, it’s a strategy shift
The future of chocolate: Innovation surges as expectations shift
From rising innovation to shifting consumer demands, chocolate is entering a new era
How inflation is changing premiumisation
Consumer demand for affordable luxury is driving food to premiumise
5 innovations desperately needed for EUDR compliance
Adhering to EUDR’s complex requirements isn’t easy, but the right innovations can help
Chocolate isn’t doomed, but it’s changing fast
It may be the end of chocolate as we know it
Cocoa whiplash: How a record price spike turned into a demand slump
The market has swung from historic shortage to surplus projections for 2025/26 in under two years
Food cravings on GLP-1s? What formulators need to know
It’s a common misconception that GLP-1 drugs erase food cravings. Actually, they alter them
Ferrero’s next move: Reshaping confectionery and snacking
From premiumisation to supply-chain control, Ferrero’s strategy is redefining the competitive landscape
Mars launches Impact Fund with cocoa farmers first to benefit
Mars invests in community resilience worldwide, starting with cocoa growers
Nestlé’s new power play: Four Pillars, one direction
Swiss food and beverage giant unveils bold new strategy for the future
Big Food’s race to reinvent as market shifts
Big Food is tearing up the rulebook – but what’s driving the sudden rush to rebrand, reformulate and reinvent?
Top 5 innovations fuelling Ferrero’s growth - and what’s next
Ferrero is growing steadily, with new products and expanding brands helping to drive sales. How do we predict the pipeline to evolve?
Blurred lines: Confectionery and sports nutrition collide in snacking revolution
From protein‑packed chocolate bars to big‑brand collaborations, sports nutrition and confectionery are merging fast