Top confectionery trends for 2026
Top trends driving innovation in confectionery include personalisation, premiumisation, and ultra-limited editions
Diet & health
5 tips to achieve regulatory approval for novel foods
How can applicants prepare for the all-important approval process?
The health trend: Functionality and clean label in 2025
Consumers are paying more attention to health than ever
UPFs are not the devil to clean-label’s angel
Are ultra-processed foods really the enemy?
Consumers prioritise food safety in purchases
More consumers understand food safety than ever before, according to EFSA
The big UPF myth: Why consumers say one thing and eat another
Do manufacturers really need to navigate out of the ‘dirty’ UPF world? Perhaps not, as exclusive research shows consumers’ perception of UPF is very different to their reality
Functional gummy mania sends confectionery sales soaring
Functional gummies are exploding in popularity - blending indulgence with wellness, and appealing to everyone from Gen Z to Boomers
Sustainable September
Nanoplastics in vegetables threaten consumers
The dangerous, microscopic plastic particles can accumulate in the edible parts of veg, study suggests
Cocoa crisis: Production threatened by black pod disease
Black pod disease is the latest infection to impact production of the beloved bean
Unilever, Mars, Ferrero & Kraft Heinz: A story of spin-offs, splits, mergers & acquisitions
From Kraft Heinz’s split to Mars and Kellanova’s mega-merger, the world’s biggest food brands are reshaping the industry
Opinion
Health is the next frontier for meat alternatives
Companies are aiming to give consumers what they want
Keto’s collapse: The end of a diet era
Once a weight-loss juggernaut, the high-fat, low-carb keto diet is losing consumer interest
GLP-1s may pose risk to athletes
By limiting food intake, athletes could lose out on essential nutrients they need for peak performance
How do GLP-1 drugs impact gut health?
As GLP-1 weight loss drugs skyrocket in popularity, their impact on gut health is raising questions
Top confectionery trends driving sales in 2025
From timeless favourites to viral treats, discover how price, innovation, and better-for-you options are reshaping the confectionery aisle
Calls for EU allergen regulation to expand
Goat’s and sheep’s milk, buckwheat, peas and lentils, and pine nuts are in the spotlight
Common UPF ingredients linked to death
Some ingredients frequently found in ultra-processed foods are linked to all-cause mortality
UPFs linked to impaired fertility
Ultra-processed foods have been found to have a detrimental effect on reproductive health
GLP-1s can boost gut health
Gut health is an important consideration for those using GLP-1s
Top 5 functional confectionery ingredients
Functional confectionery is booming. Find out which ingredients are driving the trend
UK updates baby food guidelines
The government is pushing to reduce salt and sugar for babies
Food and beverage trends 2025: What’s hot and what’s not
Snacks are surging, alcohol is slipping, and flavour is king. Discover the biggest consumer shifts in food and drink in 2025
The sweetener trust crisis brands can’t ignore
Consumers are turning away from sweeteners amid rising health concerns and distrust. What does this mean for the future of food and beverage?
3 megatrends disrupting food and beverage
As consumer priorities shift, food and beverage businesses must adapt fast to survive
Consumers overeat because of nutrients, not UPF status
Research suggests the nutritional content of food is linked to overeating
Older people have different gut health needs - here’s how to meet them
For older consumers, it’s important to feed the right nutrients to the gut
Water kefir: A new gut-health growth opportunity?
Kefir’s dairy-free twin has enormous growth potential
Top 5 food trends for Autumn/Winter 2025
Bold flavours, indulgence, flexitarianism, and wellness are reshaping consumer demand as 2025 draws to a close
Sweet speculation: GLP-1s could already be nibbling at confectionery sales
As enthusiasm for the confectionary sector declines, could weight-loss drugs have a role to play?
Nestlé facing “Watergate” as scandal deepens
Nestlé is under fire in France over claims it used banned filtration to hide contamination in its mineral water
How is GLP-1 changing eating habits in Europe?
As GLP-1s begin to make themselves known on the continent, consumers’ habits are starting to change
Functional coffee market surges to $4.5bn
Functional coffee market growing fast as clean label and consumer wellness trends drive demand
Consumers want functional health from their bread
Demand for bakery products, like many other foods, is becoming more dependent on their functional health benefits
Gluten-free market to hit $13.67bn by 2030
Gluten-free is no longer niche. With the market growing fast, brands are racing to overcome production hurdles for new product development
Aquaculture: Sustainability win or animal welfare nightmare?
Aquaculture is often touted as the solution to overfishing, but its animal welfare implications remain underexplored
Plant-based egg market to hit $834m by 2035 amid ethical eating boom
Global plant-based food market thriving, with plant-based eggs emerging as fast-growing sector
Are ultra-processed foods addictive?
Whether or not UPFs can lead to genuine addiction has long been the subject of fierce debate
Why creatine is the hottest ingredient in functional food and beverage
With a projected CAGR of 25.2%, creatine is a breakout ingredient in functional food and beverage
Stevia’s functional edge: Fermentation unlocks cancer-fighting potential
As demand for natural sweeteners grows, stevia’s health potential could be a game-changer
Cans to be canned? Consumers turn away from shelf-stable food
Del Monte’s bankruptcy has brought the decline of canned food into focus
Meat and dairy rebound as plant-based stalls
As consumer focus shifts from ethics to health and taste, meat and dairy are making a comeback
Olive oil industry bounces back following drought and disease
After years of crisis, the olive oil industry is recovering with a strong harvest and bold sustainability moves
Bottled water thrives in the face of health drive
As consumers turn away from soft drinks and alcohol, they’re being drawn to another beverage - water
How brands can bank on yogurt’s health halo
The wellness trend is driving demand for functional, protein-rich foods like yogurt. Here’s what’s fueling growth in the category
Gut health market to hit $270bn by 2034 as trend dominates F&B
Gut health market shows no signs of slowing as consumer interest proves unstoppable
UPF linked to 10% higher mortality risk in high consumers
Major new study links ultra-processed foods to early death, intensifying consumer concern and putting pressure on the food industry to act
Could anti-ageing discovery boost B3 fortification in F&B?
Vitamin B3 linked with the holy grail of benefits - anti-ageing
Electrolytes become must-have for fitness fanatics
Electrolytes take on protein as essential aid to sporting success
Is meat consumption still declining?
Cost pressures are driving both the uptake of meat, and its decline
Nestlé offices searched as investigation intensifies
Multinational’s French headquarters searched by authorities