Snacks

Inside Big Chocolate’s Cocoa Plan B

Confectionery’s biggest names are no longer just watching the alternative cocoa space – they’re shaping it

Nestlé to axe artificial colours worldwide in industry first

Nestlé to remove artificial food colourings from all products globally by the end of the year

Mars invests €1.5m in the future of science

Confectionery giant invests €1.5m in young scientists through Mars Impact Fund

Private equity tightens hold on Big Food

Private equity is reshaping food and beverage, but rising costs raise questions over just how far it can go

How are Nestlé, Danone and Muscle Milk rethinking reformulation?

Additives and artificial colors and flavors continue to be axed from formulas as the industry balances a meeting consumers’ health goals with nutrition policy

Red, white and chew: The limited edition treats marking America’s 250th birthday

America’s biggest birthday party is inspiring a summer of patriotic flavours, nostalgic treats and celebratory packaging

Mondelēz reveals taste is no longer king in snacking

Consumers aren’t simply looking for something tasty. Mondelēz International’s latest report suggests they increasingly want food that entertains, comforts and gives them something worth talking about

Iran-US peace deal: What it means for food

The deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Nestlé USA eliminates artificial colors as part of broader reformulation overhaul

While Nestlé has reached this particular milestone ahead of schedule, it positions the achievement as one step in a longer-term strategy focused on cleaner labels, product innovation and greater consumer trust

Fed Up! campaign takes aim at UPFs, but the science debate persists

A new campaign on ultra processed food education highlights systemic nutrition barriers, while food science experts stress the need to define the polarizing term before linking it to health outcomes

Can Ebola disrupt coffee prices and stocks?

The border closure between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has raised concerns over potential disruption to coffee trade - but is there a risk to global coffee prices?

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

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

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

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

Processed foods aren’t going away, but they are evolving

In the gap between consumers’ intention and reality, is there room for processed food in a healthy diet?

Added fibre: Why fortification is harder than it looks

Adding fibre to foods and beverages could help close the ‘fibre gap’, but reformulation challenges threaten taste and texture

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Oral GLP-1 breakthrough: What it means for impulse-driven food categories

Food and beverage brands face consumers staying on appetite-suppressing drugs for longer

Mars signals new era for confectionery with bold launches and digital focus

Mars redefines confectionery with innovative flavours, new formats and a digital-first shopping strategy

Mars powers production growth with $253.6m smart factory investment

Mars bets on smart manufacturing, using £190m UK factory upgrade to boost output and strengthen grip on global confectionery and snacking market

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Big Food’s leadership crisis: Why CEOs are falling faster than ever

C-suite exits are mounting across Big Food, but behind the scandals lies a deeper performance and innovation problem

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…

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

Hershey’s new sustainability strategy offers blueprint for balancing business & ESG needs

Hershey breaks lofty ESG ambitions into practical, data-driven strategic steps that help embed sustainability into sourcing, operations and product innovation

Sales stall, shares fall: What’s next for Barry Callebaut?

Barry Callebaut’s size has long been its strength. But with volumes down and shares under pressure, cracks are starting to show

Cracking TikTok: What FMCGs need to do to win

There’s real opportunity for FMCGs to sell big on TikTok - with the right tips and tricks on-hand

PepsiCo, Nestlé and Coca-Cola double down on Mexico as food players chase growth and stability

Mexico is drawing billions from the world’s biggest F&B companies, but behind the investment wave sits a more complex mix of cost pressure, regulation and an increasingly competitive domestic landscape.

FIC 2026

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‘There are no bad additives, only bad humans’: Experts urge fairer view of processed foods

Top Chinese food science leaders have urged consumers and industry to make fairer judgements of processed foods and additives, calling the sector badly misunderstood

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Could the GLP-1 boom open the door to shrinkflation?

Users of the drugs want smaller portions - this could help food companies save money

FDA extends deadline as hidden gluten puts regulatory fine-tuning under the spotlight

A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consultation on gluten labelling – now extended – raises fresh questions about how clearly food makers communicate risk

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California pushes ‘non-UPF’ seal as certifications multiply and confusion grows

A proposed state-backed label aims to simplify ultra-processed food choices, but could competing definitions and private certifications risk muddying the message for consumers and complicate reformulation efforts?

Gulfood 2026

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Açai leader SAMBAZON eyes Japan, Middle East to drive next growth phase

World’s largest açaí brand SAMBAZON is building on rapid growth in Japan and the Middle East to establish açaí as a lifestyle in the region

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Unilever closer to mega food spin‑off as McCormick talks advance

Unilever and McCormick edge closer to a major food‑unit deal that could reshape the future of the global flavour sector

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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

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Food and mental health in China: 2026 trends that brands should watch

China’s growing focus on mental wellness is shaping food trends, driving demand for fresh foods, dairy and lower-sugar options that balance health and indulgence

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Gut health trend enters new era

The gut health trend is entering its next phase – one shaped by sharper science, smarter consumers and big opportunities

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Unilever confirms Foods merger talks with McCormick

Unilever in talks with McCormick over potential Foods separation, raising fresh questions about the future of some of its best‑known brands

The Big 5: Power players defining confectionery’s future

Five giants dominate confectionery. What gives them the edge, and keeps them on top?

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Ferrero’s Bold Snacks deal signals strategy shift

Ferrero’s Bold Snacks acquisition hints at where industry is headed

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Ferrero joins the big F&B CEO shake-up

Ferrero scraps traditional CEO role amid sweeping food and beverage leadership shake-ups

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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

The Big One: Cyberattack that could cripple food and drink

Cyberattacks are closing in on the food and drink sector, and the next one could be catastrophic. Is the industry ready for The Big One?

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Sweeteners under fire as scientists probe neurological risks

New research linking popular sweeteners to cognitive decline has again raised concerns over their safety. What does this mean manufacturers?

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Confectionery sector braced for shortages as Iran conflict escalates

As conflict disrupts key trade routes and energy supplies, the confectionery sector is among the first to feel the strain. How vulnerable are manufacturers, and what can be done to protect the industry?

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Iran Conflict: What does this mean for global food sector?

The ongoing tensions in Iran could disrupt supply routes and drive volatility across key food commodities such as rice and meat

More with less: Hormel and Utz downsize to grow efficiently

Strategic downsizing at Hormel, Utz and peers shows how fewer brands and plants can unlock efficiency, margin expansion and sustainable growth in packaged food

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Ferrero’s next move: Reshaping confectionery and snacking

From premiumisation to supply-chain control, Ferrero’s strategy is redefining the competitive landscape

Inside the $330bn functional food frenzy fuelled by PepsiCo, Coke & Nestlé

From PepsiCo to Nestlé, global giants are racing to cash in on the booming functional food craze, but with trends shifting fast, the stakes have never been higher

Kraft Heinz details $600M investment plan to reignite US growth, scale global ‘blueprints’

Kraft Heinz outlined a $600 million investment plan across pricing, R&D, marketing and sales to revive US market share, accelerate innovation and scale successful models from Canada, Europe and emerging markets.

Hershey blasted by Reese’s family over core ingredient changes

Reese family sends open letter to Hershey, challenging whether the confectionery giant is protecting the Reese’s legacy

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