5 food and drink innovations shaping the industry’s next growth wave
Smart insight is driving innovation to the next level, whether it’s how to better tap into GLP-1 nutrition or the rise of frozen snacks, manufacturers are getting clever
Innovation & NPD
The next matcha? Ube surges in popularity
Health, clean-label status and recognisability have made the ingredient stand out
New product development
Just launched: Aldi, meat-free, avocado pots, protein cheese and more…
Functional dairy, hybrid comfort foods and plant-based reinvention showcase how brands are leaning into nutrition-led indulgence, playful formats and new consumption occasions
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
Meat substitutes are only a small part of the plant-based market
Plant-based meat gets all the attention, but it’s actually traditional foods that dominate the sector
10 iconic food and drink brands that flopped worldwide
From New Coke to Crystal Pepsi, even the biggest brands can fail fast
Parima gets green light for cultivated duck
The French company has achieved its second regulatory approval in Singapore
Gen Alpha and Beta: Functional food and beverage’s next big bet
Kids and teens power next growth phase for functional foods and beverages
Opinion
Fermentation waste could be food industry goldmine
What if fermentation waste became the most valuable fibre source yet
Flavour trends in 2026: What’s up and what’s down?
Consumers are seeking bold and brash flavours and combinations
New product development
Just launched: Nestlé Nesquik plus battle of the meat-free steaks…
From plant-based steaks and free-from biscuits to nostalgic cereals and sustainable formats, brands are doubling down on indulgence, functionality and inclusivity as innovation across food and drink accelerates
Can fermentation solve the cocoa crisis?
Cocoa innovation opens up new possibilities for manufacturers
‘More is more’ spells the end for low and no
Low and no loses its shine as consumers reject restriction in favour of real ingredients, richer flavours, and products that prioritise pleasure
10 global trends shaping F&B
What trends are driving changes in the F&B industry?
Texture innovation: Confectionery’s next frontier
From freeze‑dried sweets to ultra‑indulgent chocolate, texture is taking centre stage
Do GLP-1s have a future in Europe?
Consumer scepticism, as well as the structure of healthcare, makes adoption lower than in the US
Just launched: Yeo Valley bumper NPD, Myprotein, Tesco and more…
A wave of NPD across meat, dairy, snacking, bakery, pet food and packaging shows brands leaning into protein, collaborations, sustainability and bold flavour innovation to drive incremental growth in 2026
Retro and nostalgia: Why consumers are looking to the past
Consumers seek comfort and familiarity from food
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
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?
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
Nestlé leans into ‘convenient indulgence’ as the fourth wave of coffee accelerates
Nestlé is doubling down on cold, convenient and customizable coffee solutions as Gen Z drives the rise of fourth‑wave, at‑home café culture
EFSA novel food approval: 5 things to know before an application
Submissions for the famously stringent novel food assessment can be made easier through preparation
Up the food chain
Givaudan’s head of front-end innovation on AI and the future of food
An engineer at heart, Alexandre Bastos brings a problem‑solver’s mindset to the front lines of food innovation
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
New product development
Just launched: Mondelēz packaging, Harry Potter ft Maryland, posh bacon and more…
From premium brunch bacon to whole‑food mushroom steaks, the latest new product development (NPD) reveals indulgence, clean‑label innovation and seasonal creativity shaping 2026’s biggest launches
Cultivated meat still stalled by regulation, but change may be on the horizon
Stringent regulations put some investors off, but rules could be streamlined
Mondelēz boosts Toblerone production with $83m investment
A year into its investment, Mondelēz unveils a major milestone at Toblerone’s Swiss home
Lindt reports record growth as rivals stumble
Lindt defies industry headwinds with soaring profits, strong growth and a premium strategy that’s paying off
Alt protein investors are tired of waiting - they want confidence in the future
As the initial hype dies down, investors in meat alternatives want a return on their investment
Beyond Meat is now Beyond
The plant-based meat manufacturer has been diversifying for a while, but now it has fully rebranded
EU ‘meaty’ names ban agreed, ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’ exempt
The ban will go ahead, but certain words will be allowed
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
Mondelēz’s meteoric rise: The strategy behind the superpower
Strategic deals, powerhouse brands, and disciplined growth – inside Mondelēz’s journey to global leadership, and its vision for the future
Ferrero’s next move: Reshaping confectionery and snacking
From premiumisation to supply-chain control, Ferrero’s strategy is redefining the competitive landscape
Do consumers want hybrid meat?
The hybrid meat market aims to provide consumers a happy medium between meat and plant-based
Nestlé’s new power play: Four Pillars, one direction
Swiss food and beverage giant unveils bold new strategy for the future
What US tariff ruling means for European F&B
It turns out much of the US’s tariff policy wasn’t legal. What does that mean for European food business?
Is Magnum winning from the Unilever ice cream spin-off?
The newly created ice cream giant is charting a different course from its erstwhile parent
New product development
Just launched: PepsiCo soups, McCartney mince and more…
Innovation is moving at pace as brands respond to changing dietary needs, convenience demands and evolving consumer wellness habits
Why Nestlé is selling ice cream to Froneri
The move echoes a broad industry shift and would strengthen an already high-performing JV
Nestlé sharpens focus on coffee as key growth engine
Nestlé’s new coffee pillar brings together global power brands Nescafé, Nespresso and Starbucks. And RTD coffee will be a feature for all three...
Food-Tech Solutions For A More Sustainable And Secure Food System
Why CPGs need to design for AI discovery now
CPG brands must restructure product data and APIs to stay visible as AI pushes deeper into agentic commerce
5 trends powering chocolate’s $245bn boom
Trends shaping the future of chocolate and the opportunities they create for the confectionery industry
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
Nestlé: Confectionery innovation on a global stage
Nestlé is redefining the confectionery landscape with smarter technologies and progressive innovations that keep its brands leading worldwide
Unilever commits to food growth after strong 2025 performance
After shedding much of the food portfolio, Unilever is championing its remaining business in the segment