10 global trends shaping F&B
What trends are driving changes in the F&B industry?
Innovation & NPD
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
New product development
Just launched: GLP-1, Nestlé, MOMO, Potts and more…
Innovation across gut health, premium snacking, sustainability and reduced‑sugar reformulation lead the best of the new product launches
From plant-based to packaging: The future of sustainability in food
In some sectors, sustainability is declining; in others, it’s flourishing
Coca‑Cola defies sector struggles with strong profit growth
Coca‑Cola reports robust results as a new CEO prepares to steer beverage giant into next phase of growth
Big FMCG vs TikTok: Who leads trends and who can win?
Bubble tea, matcha, Dubai chocolate, cottage cheese, pistachio and hot honey: Just a small selection of products and flavours that have gone viral on social media in recent years
Barry Callebaut launches global chocolate innovation hub
Barry Callebaut has unveiled a new AI‑powered innovation hub, promising faster flavour creation and personalised chocolate experiences
AI drives new wave of confectionery innovation
From faster R&D to predictive product design, AI is transforming the future of sweets
Alternative proteins could still hold opportunities for industry
Could alt meat still have economic potential?
Schumacher’s strategy: Five moves to revive Barry Callebaut
New CEO Hein Schumacher enters a company in decline. Here are the five decisive moves that could put the world’s biggest chocolate maker back on track
Mars: The making of a confectionery powerhouse
The confectionery giant is changing fast, and setting the pace for the entire sector
Mars invests €1.4m to boost petcare R&D
The FMCG multinational is investing the cash into a new innovation centre for pet products
Scientists closer to solving sugar reduction’s taste problem
After years of compromise, sweetness without sacrifice may finally be within reach
New product development
NPD trend tracker: Nestlé lollies, Pepsico swaps and I <3 Baileys
From seasonal confectionery to flavour‑led snacks, major brands are leaning into consumer demand for affordable indulgence, familiarity and novelty
GLP‑1 demand: Are we already seeing a slowdown?
Is enthusiasm for GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs starting to fade?