Processing & packaging

Plastic-free confectionery packaging? It’s complicated

Confectionery’s plastic addiction is under scrutiny, but there are no easy solutions

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

Are investors still interested in precision fermentation?

Products derived from this method still face significant barriers

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

Kraft Heinz reinvestment: is it the right decision?

The company is putting money back into its operations while the split remains paused and the verdict is positive

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

Heatwave winners and losers: what’s selling when temperatures rise?

Clear food and beverage trends emerge during a heatwave

6 ways to keep microplastics out of food and drink

Microplastic contamination poses significant risks for consumers

Up the food chain

Mosa Meat’s Mark Post on the first lab-grown burger and the future of cultivated meat

The Mosa Meat CSO talks about the early days of cultivated meat, overcoming its technical challenges and why the world needs it

Hidden plastics: tackling the drinks packaging problem

Drinks packaging may seem plastic-free, but hidden plastic remains widespread

Up the food chain

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The secret duo shaping global FMCG innovation

They don’t front the brands, but this Nottingham duo is quietly shaping what the world eats next

Tate & Lyle agrees £2.7bn takeover by Ingredion

The deal between the two ingredients companies creates a global powerhouse

Climate Smart Food: Is sustainability good for business?

FoodNavigator and AgNavigator’s new event will explore the business case for sustainability

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’

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What do consumers think of cultivated meat?

Attitudes towards the category, which has not yet arrived on European shelves, are still developing

Kraft Heinz ploughs investment into major brands as split remains paused

The company is putting money into pricing and reinvesting in its biggest names

Nestlé doubles down on growth in bold strategy shift

Nestlé resets growth strategy with shift away from price hikes and back towards volumes, brands and execution

Nestlé Waters crisis deepens as new footage exposes scale of alleged plastic dumping

Nestlé Waters under mounting pressure over alleged plastic dumping and water contamination

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

Mars taps reality TV for experiential M&M’s push

Confectionery brands are ditching traditional ads for immersive experiences as culture‑led campaigns reshape how sweets engage shoppers

Is shrinkflation illegal now?

A recent court case involving Mondelēz suggests FMCGs could be penalised for reducing pack sizes. But is this really the case?

Hershey’s profit surge masks deeper struggles

Hershey’s profits surge may look like a comeback, but rising prices, falling volumes and volatile cocoa costs reveal a more complex story

Can renewable energy make food production easier?

In Iceland, geothermal energy powers the food sector

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

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

Why packaging decisions can’t be left to the last minute

Packaging isn’t just a container, it’s a decision that affects cost, brand, sustainability and compliance, so it should be planned early, not tacked on later

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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

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Can foods make consumers feel full like GLP-1s?

Many hope to replicate the impact of GLP-1s on satiety through food

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Nestlé Waters sites raided over alleged “deceit”

Nestlé Waters sites raided in France amid fraud claims

Mondelēz, Unilever, FrieslandCampina and others commit to regenerative agriculture acceleration

Forty major food companies pledge to accelerate regenerative methods across their supply chains

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Big players in cultivated meat: Who are the survivors?

Many cultivated meat companies have gone under – which ones are left?

Kraft Heinz split in doubt as weak performance blunts break-up case

With performance still lagging, Kraft Heinz’s paused split looks increasingly uncertain

Taste and texture: Confectionery’s biggest power players

From the melt of a chocolate bar to the tang of a gummy, taste and texture are top when it comes to keeping consumers coming back

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

Hershey’s bets on AI to power growth

From marketing spend to manufacturing and innovation, AI is quietly reshaping confectionery

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10 ingredients for healthy ageing – What manufacturers need to know

What ingredients do older consumers need?

Do UPFs pose greater risk of plastic packaging harms?

Chemicals from single-use plastics may increase health risk to consumers

Why is plant-based dairy doing so much better than plant-based meat?

While the two formats both provide vegan alternatives to animal-sourced products, one is a clear winner in terms of market share

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

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Kraft Heinz defies CPG cost-cutting playbook and bets on investment for turnaround

As other food and beverage companies cut costs and slash staff, Kraft Heinz is investing $600 million in people, pricing, promotion and innovation – offering an alternative blueprint for growth in a turbulent period

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…

Excess sells - so why are manufacturers holding back?

From freakshakes to functional chocolate, ‘more is more’ is supercharging foodservice sales, but manufacturers continue to play it safe

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Mars takes first step into cocoa-free category

The world’s biggest confectionery company is making its cocoa-free debut

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Instant coffee now included in EUDR

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

PepsiCo’s second restaurant gamble is bigger, bolder and riskier

Following its first foray into hospitality in Madrid, PepsiCo is doubling down in Shanghai to test just how far a snack brand can stretch

Rethinking the coffee replacement

Coffee alternatives are rising not as replacements, but as functional upgrades

Unleashing the Cow: Behind Bel’s plan to reignite its iconic brands

Bel wants its brands enshrined into American pop culture. Here’s how the company is planning to make it happen

Time’s ‘10 Most Influential Food Companies’ list misses some of the real disruptors

The 103-year-old magazine’s latest picks highlight companies on the move, but some of the forces genuinely reshaping food in 2026 sit beyond that shortlist

Microplastics: Rethinking packaging, manufacturing and storage

Pack design and manufacturing methods can make a surprising difference