
Consumer caution throws global packaging into turmoil
Packaging volumes are suffering due to consumer caution
News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology

Packaging volumes are suffering due to consumer caution

Nestlé’s set to cut more than 450 UK jobs as global restructuring begins

Move affects 90% of store assortment as private-label-focused retailer responds to consumer ingredient concerns

Nestlé overcomes infant formula recall to deliver solid Q1 growth, powered by Coffee and Confectionery

Unilever’s $40bn food deal is supposed to sharpen focus. Instead it’s unsettled stakeholders, raising questions over the success of Big Food consolidation

From “high protein” to “supports muscle mass” claims, brands are coding GLP-1 benefits without naming the trend outright

From emerging ingredients to protein power, discover the nutrition trends shaping the future of food and beverage

From New Coke to Crystal Pepsi, even the biggest brands can fail fast

Unilever’s $44.8bn decision to merge its Foods business with McCormick has rattled investors and raised regulatory questions

The escalating Middle East conflict is pushing food inflation, energy prices and consumer confidence to a breaking point

What started as an energy shock is fast becoming a food crisis, with stranded cargoes and fertiliser shortages threatening global supply chains

Investors are losing patience as volume growth stalls and food giants tear up the playbook

Kids and teens power next growth phase for functional foods and beverages

From regulation changes to supply chain pressures, reformulation is reshaping Big Food – fast

Low and no loses its shine as consumers reject restriction in favour of real ingredients, richer flavours, and products that prioritise pleasure

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

Sales are steady and margins remain under pressure, but attention has shifted firmly to a potential tie-up with Unilever.

Unilever separates Foods, McCormick scales-up – a new force in food and beverage emerges

Unilever edges closer to a deal with McCormick in a move that would reshape its future and redefine the global food landscape

As Unilever edges towards a Foods division sell‑off, Big Food braces for the impact

Unilever and McCormick edge closer to a major food‑unit deal that could reshape the future of the global flavour sector

Kraft Heinz’s stock has plunged to a six‑year low, exposing long‑term structural problems

Consumers seek comfort and familiarity from food

Future Food-Tech San Francisco
The expectations, red flags and structural hurdles shaping food‑tech fundraising in 2026

Nestlé’s latest AI pilot reveals how real-time data can boost efficiency and unlock revenue

Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Industry leaders at Future Food-Tech San Francisco say lower investment levels are giving rise to an era of deeper cooperation among stakeholders focused on creating healthier products

Nestlé’s new chief has steadied the ship – but can he accelerate fast enough to outrun the industry’s most agile challengers?

The gut health trend is entering its next phase – one shaped by sharper science, smarter consumers and big opportunities

The deal would have put Heinz ketchup and Hellmann’s mayonnaise in the same company

Unilever in talks with McCormick over potential Foods separation, raising fresh questions about the future of some of its best‑known brands

From halted breakups to billion-dollar buyouts, the world’s biggest food groups aren’t just tweaking products, they’re rethinking how growth works

Unilever’s latest shake‑up could transform the future of food and drink. Here’s what the potential sell‑off means for the CPG giant, and the wider industry

Israel and US attacks on Iran have long-lasting implications for global food and drink industries. Here’s the latest

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
From AI to reformulation, the agribusiness giant’s CTO Florian Schattenmann talks future tech, passing fads and where Cargill is stepping up focus

New research challenges a long‑accepted belief about consumer decision‑making. What does this mean for food and drink?

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway signals support for Kraft Heinz, following separation update

From premiumisation to supply-chain control, Ferrero’s strategy is redefining the competitive landscape

Mars invests in community resilience worldwide, starting with cocoa growers

Swiss food and beverage giant unveils bold new strategy for the future

Big Food is tearing up the rulebook – but what’s driving the sudden rush to rebrand, reformulate and reinvent?

As consumer appetite changes and nutrient scrutiny intensifies, protein is moving from differentiator to design standard

Opinion
To understand how processing affects food consumption, don’t caricature either side of the debate

CEO scandals and surprise shake-ups – the world’s biggest food and drink giants are undergoing a leadership overhaul. But is this a moment of crisis or a chance for positive change?

Critics of ultra-processed foods say they are ‘hyperpalatable’ - but what does this mean?

Nestlé celebrates strong results and a sharper strategy, but crisis casts shadow over the food and beverage giant’s future

Food-Tech Solutions For A More Sustainable And Secure Food System
CPG brands must restructure product data and APIs to stay visible as AI pushes deeper into agentic commerce

A paused split, a new CEO and Berkshire Hathaway heading for the exit – all eyes are on Kraft Heinz’s next move

The next wave of functional innovation is coming. Here are four key need states to watch

Following its purchase of TreeHouse Foods’ meal-prep business for $950M in 2022, Investindustrial returns to purchase the rest