Summer Fancy Food Show
Startups revive nostalgic snacks for the frozen aisle
How two founders are reviving classic snacks (or meals) in a frozen format with a fun twist
Reformulation
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
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
The coming UPF regulation revolution
The regulatory landscape surrounding ultra-processed foods is changing rapidly. Here’s what has already happened, what’s coming next and why manufacturers should be paying attention
Reformulation isn’t simply about replacing cocoa
The cocoa crisis has exposed a much bigger challenge for manufacturers – preserving flavour, texture, quality and consumer trust while navigating a volatile ingredient market
Summer Fancy Food Show 2026
Bone broth breaks out of the soup bowl
Bone broth’s versatility across beverage formats reveals there’s more to it than a functional, savory drink
Inside Big Chocolate’s Cocoa Plan B
Confectionery’s biggest names are no longer just watching the alternative cocoa space – they’re shaping it
Consumers stock up on GLP-1-coded protein shakes on Amazon Prime Day
Shopper satisfaction dips nine percentage points, as consumers reduce spending year over year
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
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.
Tate & Lyle, Ingredion and the new ingredients land grab
The Ingredion-Tate & Lyle deal signals a shift in the ingredients industry, where technical expertise is becoming as valuable as the ingredients themselves
How Danone is repositioning itself in APAC
Made Group’s acquisition is Danone’s first major EDP move in APAC in more than a decade. It’s a sign of things to come
GLP‑1 use is fueling trends already in motion
GLP‑1 adoption is scaling rapidly and the brands that win are focusing on delivering nutrition for broader appeal rather than a niche segment
News Bites
How CPGS are rewriting ‘better-for-you’
Cleaning up labels is no longer enough – value-driven consumers are forcing the industry to rethink the balance of price, health and convenience
Why food scientists still can’t crack the perfect natural red
Creating a heat-stable natural red remains one of food science’s toughest colour challenges
Function beats fame: why big food brands are losing their edge
Consumers want their problems solved and that’s how brands can grow
Kellanova’s latest launches reveal a new innovation strategy
As consumers become more selective about calories and spending, Kellanova is building snacks around specific occasions and need states—using protein-packed RXBAR launches and sensory-driven Cheez-It Crunch as examples of a broader innovation strategy
Mars’ artificial-dye-free push hits major reformulation hurdles
Mars to introduce artificial-colour-free M&M’s but reformulation challenges leave two colours out in the cold
Clean protein shakes up RTD beverages
Elmhurst 1925 extends clean-label portfolio with RTD plant protein shakes
How a better-for-you chip brand is raising the stakes in the category
Former better-for-you candy disruptor moves to the savory aisle with a healthier take on the classic potato chip
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
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
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
趋势追踪：果冻条、药食同源与格力高洞见等
本期“趋势追踪”包含果冻条、药食同源与格力高洞见等专题报道
Do GLP-1 users like artificial sweeteners?
Users perceive sweeteners differently to sugar
Functional snacks on social media aren’t replacing indulgence, they’re justifying it
If functional snacks are booming, the ingredients powering them show a category in transition
Is ‘healthy enough’ the new ‘better for you?’
Winning brands balance health, indulgence and convenience
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
Neapolitan reigns: Dessert experts highlight classic flavours for growth
Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice creams continue to outperform flavour and health trends
Are reformulation demands moving faster than brands can respond? Hear from PepsiCo and industry leaders
As the reformulation goalposts continue to move, experts from PepsiCo, the European Snacks Association, the American Bakers Association, 210 Analytics and FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Programme ask whether manufacturers can keep pace
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
Beech-Nut bets on the overlooked preschool snacking market
US rollout aims to fill gap between toddler food and traditional snacks for kids 4 years-plus
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
Zero-risk food safety goals ‘undesirable’, say experts
Zero-risk food safety goals are both undesirable and unachievable as these can increase food waste and strain food systems, according to researchers
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
Kids’ juice looks to protein as next frontier
With sugar reduction now table stakes, brands in the kids’ juice aisle are pushing into functional nutrition to differentiate and drive the next phase of growth
Muscle Milk undergoes it’s ‘biggest transformation’ with Pro lineup
For Muscle Milk, the challenge – and opportunity – is to meet consumers’ varied needs with simplicity and nutrient density
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
Awareness of FFCs high but more needs to be done to raise uptake – Japan survey
Tokyo-based market research firm MyVoicecom has released results from its survey on Foods with Function Claims (FFCs), which indicate that though awareness of these products is high, more work is needed to increase consumption rate.
FDA clears key hurdle for animal-free dairy protein
FDA’s acknowledgment of GRAS notice puts Formo and Those Vegan Cowboys one step away from a no-questions letter
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
Can candy revive RTD tea?
Candy-inspired nostalgia could give RTD tea a much-needed spark, as brands like Ryl Tea use confectionery flavors to attract younger, health-conscious consumers into the category
Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you trends and indulgence
Mondelēz’s Hu Chocolate takes premium, paleo-friendly bites to Target
Co-founder Jordan Brown says the brand’s retail expansion proves clean-label ingredients and premium indulgence are no longer niche consumer demands
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
Energy drink trends: US startup PHX blends hydration and energy
Florida-based functional drinks firm PHX has launched a hydration-energy drink designed to meet growing demand for multifunctional beverages