Summer Fancy Food Show
How pantry staples are seeing a glow up
While the products differ, food and beverage founders are encouraging consumers to rethink what pantry staples can do
Ingredients
Barry Callebaut returns to growth after two-year slump
Barry Callebaut posts first quarterly volume growth in two years, amid ongoing weakness in the global chocolate market
The rise and rise of precision-fermented lactoferrin
Lactoferrin is breaking into the mainstream as precision fermentation makes the ‘miracle molecule’ scalable, animal-free and more affordable
Summer Fancy Food Show
Can new formats reinvent the olive oil category?
Established brands are reimagining how consumers use, and think about, olive oil through wellness-focused formats and packaging innovation
New Culture targets $50 billion cheese market with new patent
New Culture expands its animal-free casein portfolio with mozzarella patent
Grupo Bimbo claims category first with US clean label overhaul
The world’s biggest bakery company says it will become the first in its category to remove artificial colours, flavours, preservatives and emulsifiers across such a broad portfolio of everyday baked goods by the end of 2028
Ferrero advances certified sourcing and supplier compliance
Confection giant reports 99% certified cocoa, certified palm oil and growing supplier code adoption in its latest sustainability update
The alt cocoa boom: Big Chocolate’s new obsession
Volatile cocoa markets and growing supply concerns fuel the rise of alt cocoa as manufacturers fight to futureproof chocolate
Private-equity firm acquires $1.6 billion Irca as Dubai chocolate trend fuels growth
The Italian baking, chocolate and ice cream ingredients maker will focus on M&A, supply chain optimization and international expansion
‘The media’s bad guy’: Creatine in need of an education refresh, say experts
Social media misinformation is blurring the line between supplements like creatine and controversial performance-enhancing drugs, making it harder for young people and parents to make informed decisions.
5 food trends driven by lifestyle shifts around the world
Convenience, wellness and cultural identity are reshaping what people eat, driving five global food trends influencing brands today
Growth Asia Summit 2026: Retailers JD Health, Guardian, Alpro Pharmacy join major brands next week
There is still a week left until the Growth Asia Summit 2026 and we can confirm the attendance of retailers active in the region’s health and nutrition space, including Alpro Pharmacy, China’s JD Health and Guardian Singapore.
Mexican flavors, value packs and Unilever deal power McCormick’s Q2 performance
At‑home cooking, Latin‑inspired launches, a larger McCormick de Mexico stake and the ongoing Unilever integration shaped the quarter
Function beats fame: why big food brands are losing their edge
Consumers want their problems solved and that’s how brands can grow
The state of fermentation and cultivated ingredients: Where are we now?
Precision fermentation reshapes how sweetness is made
The future of sweetness may not be about replacing sugar with a single ingredient, but about redesigning how sweetness itself is built
聚焦中国：功能性食品创新、KitKat 本土化战略、中国品牌在东南亚的崛起等
本期探讨本土化、功能创新与高端化如何助力品牌赢得亚洲各地消费者
China Focus: Functional food innovations, KitKat’s localisation strategy, and the rise of Chinese brands in SEA
This edition examines how localisation, functional innovation and premiumisation are helping brands win consumers across Asia
Creatine storms functional drinks but can it really deliver?
As formulators race to stabilise creatine for RTD formats, the ingredient is moving beyond sports nutrition into mainstream wellness, yet evidence gaps and dosing challenges could shape its true potential
PepsiCo, Danone & Nestlé: how AI is powering F&B growth
AI is transforming how F&B giants cut costs, boost efficiency and innovate faster — turning data into a powerful competitive edge
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
4 ways food brands can win in China’s ‘conscious indulgence’ era
Chinese consumers are among the most discerning in the world, and guilt-free indulgence is leading local innovation trends. Here are four ways food firms can capitalise
Heatwave winners and losers: what’s selling when temperatures rise?
Clear food and beverage trends emerge during a heatwave
ThaiFex-Anuga Asia 2026
Thai Union rides protein and whole-food waves with MONORI snacks
Seafood giant Thai Union has ticked multiple snacking checkboxes with its MONORI brand, tapping ongoing megatrends such as protein, whole foods and convenience
Japan Focus: KitKat’s localisation strategy, food security, Glico at Growth Asia Summit, and FFC trends
This edition explores how KitKat became a Japanese icon, efforts to strengthen food security, Glico in Growth Asia Summit, and FFC consumption trends
Fair pricing and sustainable diets: Safeguarding Japan’s food security
Japan has amended its Food System Act to introduce cost-based pricing benchmarks as concerns grow over the long-term resilience of its food system
Wegovy oral GLP-1 approved for use in the UK
The Wegovy semaglutide pill will be available for private prescription in the coming weeks
GLP‑1 is no longer just a weight‑loss story – it’s a full‑scale reset for food & beverage
Emerging research suggests GLP-1 drugs could move beyond diabetes and metabolic health to treat multiple diseases, meaning millions more consumers will rethink how – and what – they eat
Whole Foods’ top supplier says natural and organic grocers gaining ground on national chains
UNFI highlights two decades of growth for natural and regional retailers while rolling out AI supply chain tools and its Endless Aisle platform
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?
Monster chases global energy drink growth with Coca-Cola distribution muscle
Monster executives say the company still has a long runway outside the US as it rolls out market-specific products, affordable brands and female-focused lines such as FLRT, while international sales climb to 45% of revenue
Tate & Lyle agrees £2.7bn takeover by Ingredion
The deal between the two ingredients companies creates a global powerhouse
Snack trends: Nutrient-dense grazing hitting its stride
Snack brands are targeting fluid eating occasions with products that deliver nutrition in smaller portable formats, aligning with healthier snacking trends to suit busier lifestyles
How sustainability is becoming ice cream’s next growth ingredient
Premium indulgence and snacking are driving momentum at ice cream major Froneri – and sustainability is underpinning both trends
Coca-Cola navigates K-shaped economy with AI
President and CFO John Murphy says the company is moving beyond a pre-COVID volume mindset to stay relevant with both premium and value shoppers
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
Behind the rise of protein-rich peanut butter snacks
Global peanut butter sales are projected to reach $8.5B as CPG brands roll out better-for-you, portion-controlled innovations
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
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Inside the race to create the next viral flavor in snacking
Executives from Just Born, Hawaii Host, SNAX-Sational Brands and Xaca Cantina share how they use heat, global flavors, strategic collaborations and accessible formats to turn consumer curiosity into repeat purchases
Unleashing nutrient potential: Why the food matrix matters for bioavailability
The food sector must understand how nutrients are absorbed if it is to produce products that fulfil their health potential
IFF sells bulk of food ingredients business to refocus on health and wellness
The global ingredient supplier’s deal reflects a broader trend of how companies are streamlining their businesses to meet shifting health and wellness preferences
Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you trends and indulgence
Cargill joins alternative chocolate race with Barry Callebaut and Nestlé amid cocoa volatility
By upcycling grape seeds, Cargill’s new NextCoa offers CPG brands a vegan, allergen-free option as major manufacturers hedge against soaring cocoa costs
Young and sweet: Apple cider vinegar reinvented as RTD drinks
Shandong-based Lv Jie launches RTD apple cider vinegar with apple juice and prebiotics – a younger, tastier makeover to attract younger consumers
Old-school soy, new-school appeal: Oatside’s fresh soymilk take
Oatside is repositioning soymilk for younger Asian consumers with a high-protein, clean-label offering focused on taste and wellness
Does cultivated coffee have a future?
With pressure on conventional coffee production, coffee grown in a lab is one alternative that could ease demand
Unilever McCormick deal under pressure as backlash builds
Unilever’s $40bn Foods deal with McCormick is facing mounting backlash as questions over strategy and valuation put the deal under pressure