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
Snacks
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 spins-off food as McCormick megamerger confirmed
Unilever separates Foods, McCormick scales-up – a new force in food and beverage emerges
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
Unilever closer to mega food spin‑off as McCormick talks advance
Unilever and McCormick edge closer to a major food‑unit deal that could reshape the future of the global flavour sector
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?
Kraft Heinz shares tumble as investor uncertainty grows
Kraft Heinz’s stock has plunged to a six‑year low, exposing long‑term structural problems
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
Can brands cut sugar without killing taste, texture or trust?
As sugar shifts from ingredient to liability, food and drink manufacturers are rebuilding sweetness from the ground up using rare sugars, fibres and fermentation-driven innovation
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
PepsiCo is in the middle of its biggest snack reset in years
From SKU cuts and factory closures to functional launches and acquisitions, PepsiCo is moving fast to streamline and prove its snack empire still matters
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?
Gut health trend enters new era
The gut health trend is entering its next phase – one shaped by sharper science, smarter consumers and big opportunities
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
Unilever and Kraft Heinz previously discussed food merger, reports suggest
The deal would have put Heinz ketchup and Hellmann’s mayonnaise in the same company
Unilever confirms Foods merger talks with McCormick
Unilever in talks with McCormick over potential Foods separation, raising fresh questions about the future of some of its best‑known brands
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
Unilever eyes major food split
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
Hershey: Strategy shake‑up and leadership reset
Hershey is shaking up its strategy and its structure
Ferrero joins the big F&B CEO shake-up
Ferrero scraps traditional CEO role amid sweeping food and beverage leadership shake-ups
Is Asia the next GLP‑1 boom market and what it means for F&B?
After a slow start, Asia’s GLP‑1 weight‑loss market is poised for explosive growth as China and India tackle obesity and food and drink brands race to become essential GLP‑1 companions
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
Opinion
The new paradox: Protein vs processing
Protein is the snack industry’s hottest claim but if the foods delivering it are still ultra-processed, the sector may be building its next health halo on shaky ground
Inside PepsiCo’s first-ever restaurant - where crisps are the main ingredient
The soda and snacks giant can now add another feather to its cap: it’s becoming a restaurateur
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?
Lindt reports record growth as rivals stumble
Lindt defies industry headwinds with soaring profits, strong growth and a premium strategy that’s paying off
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?
Opinion
Food and beverage still has a gender problem
Women can make it big in Big Food, but its most powerful seat still skews male
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?
Up the food chain
Fox’s Burton’s Companies factory chief: “I was told being a woman would hold me back”
Ahead of International Women’s Day, the manufacturing leader behind millions of Jammie Dodgers reflects on sexism on the factory floor and why emotional intelligence matters more than bravado
Buffett bets on Kraft Heinz as shock split suspended
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway signals support for Kraft Heinz, following separation update
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
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