Processing & packaging

Why the smartest food marketing begins when everything goes wrong

From stolen chocolate to monochrome packaging, some of the food industry’s most effective marketing campaigns have grown out of operational problems rather than creative briefs

Supermarkets globally ramp up investment in own-label alcohol ranges

Supermarkets globally are pouring investment into their own brand food and drink ranges as they look to capture more customer spend, with alcohol becoming an increasing important part of the mix

UAE’s Nutri-Mark nutrition labelling system goes digital

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has launched an app to bring its national nutritional labelling system to the next level

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

Iran-US peace deal: What it means for food

The deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Packaging Happenings: Portable formats, Nestle KitKat and jelly sticks

Portable formats, Nestle KitKat, jelly sticks and more feature in this edition of Packaging Happenings

Who’s winning the World Cup before kick-off?

With FIFA forecasting a record $13bn in revenue from World Cup 2026, snack manufacturers are betting that football’s biggest tournament can deliver equally outsized returns

East meets West: How AI and social commerce are reshaping the future of retail

Social commerce and agentic AI are colliding to create a new commerce paradigm – and NielsenIQ says manufacturers and retailers need to get ahead of it now

Nestlé and Danone: Baby food pouches under fire as microplastics found

Microplastics detected in Nestlé and Danone baby food pouches spark safety concerns

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Will cocoa alts ever be sexy? Hershey backlash opens the debate

As cocoa markets fluctuate, Hershey’s controversy shows that while alt-chocolate is advancing fast, taste and transparency remain make-or-break for consumers

Science Shorts: Alt dairy 2.0, personalised nutrition, and smart innovation

Alt dairy 2.0, personalised nutrition, and smart innovation feature in this edition of Science Shorts

Why thinking like an AI agent matters to marketing

Generative engine optimization is reshaping how brands get discovered

Iran conflict drains the colour from snack packs

Calbee’s decision to strip colour from its packaging amid naphtha shortages is an early warning that the Iran conflict is beginning to fracture the petrochemical supply chains underpinning the global food industry

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Mars, Mondelēz, Ferrero, Nestlé and Hershey: Rethinking confectionery innovation

From viral chocolates to cultural collaborations, confectionery innovation is entering a new experience‑led era

パッケージング ハプニング：一口サイズのバター、日本の栄養表示

今月のPackaging Happeningsでは、一口サイズのバターや日本の栄養表示などを取り上げています。

Beyond Meat prepares for drinks launch as losses begin to slow

Sales continue to fall, particularly in foodservice, but the company sees some signs of recovery

The world’s oldest food and drink brands and how they’ve survived

Is there a recipe for long-term food and drink brand success? Let’s explore…

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Instant coffee now included in EUDR

And a ‘no-risk’ benchmarking category is off the table

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How Coca-Cola is winning in a K-shaped economy

Coca-Cola enjoyed a strong start to the year with net revenues up 12% in Q1. What is the beverage giant doing right?

UP THE FOOD CHAIN

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‘Consumers want more’: Tetra Pak on keeping up with rapid global change

Against a backdrop of global uncertainty and rapidly evolving consumer demands, Tetra Pak’s global VP Marketing Julia Luscher reveals the company’s key focus areas to stay ahead

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How big a problem are microplastics?

The first global study of its kind quantifies the problem in the food and drink industry

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From coffee to soda: How protein is making waves in beverage innovation

Drinks are a new frontier for protein innovation

The ‘warming’ buzz for alcohol-free booze is finally cracked

Industry players, academics and researchers have cracked the code for better tasting alcohol-free drinks - in different ways

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PepsiCo proves new playbook works as price cuts and innovation drive sales

Price cuts, cleaner ingredients and bold flavors drove Q1 gains for PepsiCo as consumers seek affordability, function and comfort

Inside Häagen‑Dazs’ global manufacturing hub

General Mills’ Arras ice‑cream plant plays a central role in the company’s sustainability strategy. Here’s what goes on behind the scenes

Protein soda: Why the new craze is going from strength to strength

Gone are the days where protein drinks meant serious whey shakes at the gym. Protein soda is making the category much more fun

When demand falls but prices rise, who really pays?

From $7 chips to $8 cereal, food pricing is starting to defy logic – and the consequences aren’t falling neatly on one side

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Packaging Happenings: Bite-sized butters, Japan nutrition labels and more

Bite-sized butters, Japan nutrition labels and more feature in this edition of Packaging Happenings

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Iran conflict: Is ceasefire too little, too late for global food?

A two-week ceasefire is now in place in the war between US-Israel and Iran, but much is still uncertain about how long-lasting the impacts of damage done thus far will be and what still lies ahead for the global food sector

Animal-plant mince key to revive APAC alt-protein push: NECTAR study

Blended chicken-plant mince has outperformed real meat in APAC taste tests, though gaps remain across the category in flavour, appearance and compositional balance

Japan Focus: Sodium labelling shift, Asahi cyberattack, silkworm protein, and more

This edition covers Japan’s sodium labelling shift, Asahi’s profit dip post-cyberattack, silkworm protein for health, and more

Opinion

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Nestlé’s alt chocolate bet is make-or-break for cocoa-free

This is no ordinary product launch. The stakes are high for cocoa-free chocolate

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Why upcycled ingredients struggle to scale in Asia Pacific

Despite growing interest, high costs, complex supply chains and uneven demand continue to limit large-scale adoption of upcycled ingredients across Asia Pacific

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Iran at war: What food and beverage needs to know

Israel and US attacks on Iran have long-lasting implications for global food and drink industries. Here’s the latest

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Is Asia the next GLP‑1 boom market and what it means for F&B?

After a slow start, Asia’s GLP‑1 weight‑loss market is poised for explosive growth as China and India tackle obesity and food and drink brands race to become essential GLP‑1 companions

Science Shorts: Rice for weight control, functional dairy tech and more

Rice for weight control, functional dairy tech and more feature in this edition of Science Shorts

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Bakery, snacks and cereals: The next cost shock may start in the Gulf

Geopolitics rarely stays confined to energy markets. Sooner or later, it reaches the food system

The tale of two spin-offs: What the Kellogg breakup really achieved

Kellogg’s 2023 split was sold as a focus play. Less than two years later, both companies had been sold. So what was the split really for?

Crunch appeal: Japanese snack brand revamps karinto for overseas growth

Heritage snack firm Asahi Seika reimagines traditional karinto with longer shelf life and trending flavours while retaining its signature crunch and sweetness

Why Mars is powering up M&M’s as it reshapes its global growth strategy

As Mars expands through mega‑deals, sustainability pushes and portfolio diversification, the company is placing a bigger strategic bet on M&M’s to anchor growth and relevance in a changing global snacking landscape

Does plant-based meat still dominate the meat-free sector?

Meat alternatives are in trouble, but traditional plant-based and vegetarian foods will not necessarily replace them

From trash to toast: How sunflower oil waste could become bread’s next health upgrade

Research into sunflower oil byproducts suggests an overlooked ingredient could help bakers lift protein and fiber levels while supporting sustainability goals and easing pressure on wheat-based formulations

Kraft Heinz hits pause as Berkshire Hathaway eyes exit – what now?

A paused split, a new CEO and Berkshire Hathaway heading for the exit – all eyes are on Kraft Heinz’s next move

The hottest need states driving functional food and drink

The next wave of functional innovation is coming. Here are four key need states to watch

Dole Specialty Ingredients scales upcycling amid cost pressures

Dole Specialty Ingredients says upcycling fruit side streams into functional ingredients has nutritional and economic promise, but high costs still limit adoption

Packaging Happenings: Gamification, child obesity and more

The influence of gamification, child obesity and more on the packaging sector feature in this edition of Packaging Happenings

Sustainability spotlight: Our Top 10 Sustainability stories from the past year

Here are our top 10 sustainability stories of 2025, spanning corporate strategy, upcycling innovation and the practical challenges facing the food and beverage industry

Clearer and more flexible: India’s 2026 alcohol regulations

India’s new alcohol regulations include mandatory labelling and expanded category definitions, signalling greater consumer transparency and flexibility for producers

World’s biggest snack companies: who’s really got the crunch in 2026

In a near-$700bn global market, a handful of companies now decide what scales, what sticks and what survives, and in 2026, the power gap is only widening

TikTok’s influence on food: How online trends blow up

The social media platform can drive food trends to the point where they move markets