Clear whey drives functional drinks boom amid tightening WPI supply
Active consumers want high-protein drinks that are both nutritious and refreshing. Clear whey has become a key ingredient for such formulations
Functional foods
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...
Why dairy giants see growth in meal replacement brands
Danone, Nestlé and Lactalis have all jumped onto the ‘smart food’ bandwagon via bolt-on acquisitions. Why is the segment so strategically important?
Nestlé’s global footprint extends reach of startup Helaina’s protein
The partnership is a crucial milestone toward meeting infants’ nutritional needs in larger populations given Nestlé’s global footprint that would be difficult for the startup to achieve independently
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
Up the food chain
Mondelēz International R&D VP Ian Noble: Food must innovate or decline
The snacking giant’s innovation lead talks sustainability, the future of cocoa and his love of ‘how things work’
How Lactalis’ Protein Works deal sharpens its active nutrition focus
Lifestyle nutrition has become a major CPG bet – and dairy’s richest player just took a slice
Nestlé snaps up smart food brand Yfood
The first acquisition under new CEO Philipp Navratil comes just two months after Danone announced its acquisition of Huel
Opinion
How the Arla–DMK merger will strengthen Europe’s whey power
With Arla and DMK merged, Europe’s whey processing power will be even more formidable
Can renewable energy make food production easier?
In Iceland, geothermal energy powers the food sector
Added fibre: Why fortification is harder than it looks
Adding fibre to foods and beverages could help close the ‘fibre gap’, but reformulation challenges threaten taste and texture
Can foods make consumers feel full like GLP-1s?
Many hope to replicate the impact of GLP-1s on satiety through food
Functional boom reshapes health as supplements hold firm
As food, drink and supplements converge, brands that prove real benefits and earn trust will win in a fast-expanding, scrutiny-heavy health market
10 food megatrends in Europe, and who’s following them
What trends are dominating Europe, and which countries are they most popular in?
Amazonian cocoa’s untapped health benefits revealed
Could cocoa fermentation be doing more than shaping flavour? New research hints at untapped nutritional potential in Amazonian beans
Winners and losers of the UPF backlash
Who is benefitting from consumer scepticism around UPFs - and who isn’t?
5 big food trends in Ireland
What do Irish consumers want in food and drink?
Gen Alpha and Beta: Functional food and beverage’s next big bet
Kids and teens power next growth phase for functional foods and beverages
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
4 big food trends in The Netherlands
What do Dutch consumers want?
Why Danone bought Huel: and what’s next for meal replacements
Danone is fast-expanding into meal replacements. What does its Huel deal mean for the category?
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
Olipop ramps up focus on flavour innovation as functional beverages boom
Flavour innovation is top-of-mind for the gut health superstar as US consumers value taste above all
Why the sleep crisis is food and drink’s next big global battleground
Sleep deprivation is becoming big business as consumers obsess over how much shuteye they’re getting, but how is the market responding?
Beyond Meat is now Beyond
The plant-based meat manufacturer has been diversifying for a while, but now it has fully rebranded
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
Inside the $330bn functional food frenzy fuelled by PepsiCo, Coke & Nestlé
From PepsiCo to Nestlé, global giants are racing to cash in on the booming functional food craze, but with trends shifting fast, the stakes have never been higher
Why food giants are pivoting to beauty
FMCGs and ingredients suppliers see the beauty market as an attractive alternative
Fibremaxxing out, diversity in: Why fibre sources matter
The type of fibre consumed, rather than just the amount, is important for consumers to take into account
5 big food trends in Italy
What do Italian consumers want from food?
The ‘untapped potential’ of functional chocolate
Functional chocolate is stepping into the spotlight. Discover the ingredients, trends and early innovators reshaping the future of indulgence
Food makers must listen to ageing populations - or be left behind
As the population changes, food will have to reshape itself around the needs and preferences of its demographics
Clean label vs. functional foods: Can the two trends coexist?
Functional foods are often ultra-processed – but can they be clean label?
Are GLP-1 ranges healthy? What food brands must know
Top food brands are embracing GLP-1-friendly ranges. But are these products nutritionally-sound?
Whole grains: A functional, clean label treasure trove?
Natural, whole and ancient grains boast strong nutritional benefits and minimal processing
Pet food in 2026: Premiumisation and ‘humanisation’ drives growth
The market expands as consumers increasingly see pets as equal parts of the family
Rapid hydration: 6 factors driving the trend
The expanding trend has appeal beyond sports nutrition
The big 5: Functional confectionery trends to watch
From protein bars to gut-friendly gummies, functional confectionery is exploding, and it’s changing the game for indulgence
Medjool dates, saffron and cardamon seeds: Entrepreneur creates flavorful functional alternative to traditional milkshakes
Finance professional turned food entrepreneur Masuma Zahara Bukhari brings an exotic flair to the fast-growing functional dairy-free category
The Big Shift: Five trends transforming food and beverage
Discover the breakthrough ideas redefining how food is created, regulated and trusted
The future of chocolate: An era of bold innovation and ultra indulgence
Chocolate is undergoing a dramatic transformation. From cutting‑edge cocoa‑free innovation to the rise of premium indulgence, discover how makers and brands are reinventing the world’s favourite treat
Battle of the F&B Trends 2026: Contenders Announced
Three major food and beverage trend battles are set to define 2026, but which will triumph, and which will be left behind?
How protein powers CPG majors’ expansion plans
Protein remains a cornerstone of innovation for food and beverage brands. Here’s how Danone, PepsiCo and General Mills are exploring the global megatrend
Meet the futuristic functional ingredients reshaping human health
From the mental health crisis to keeping an ageing population active, state-of-the art ingredients promise to help humanity bio-hack its way to peak performance. Here’s how
3 food predictions that came true in 2025 (and 3 that didn’t)
What predictions were right, and which ones didn’t come to pass?
Gut health: Innovations shaping a $51bn industry
From microbiome-first foods to AI-powered diagnostics, discover the innovations shaping the future of wellness
GLP-1: Threat or opportunity for food manufacturers?
At this early stage in the market, not all manufacturers know how to respond
Brain boom: 3 ingredients boosting cognitive health
Functional ingredients are aiming to boost brain health and wellbeing
CBD in food and drink: Inside the regulation holding it back
Despite market potential, CBD is restricted in the EU
Top 5 F&B ingredients trends driving market growth towards $560bn
The global food and beverage ingredients market is booming. But what are the trends powering industry growth?