General Mills sees soft demand ahead, but also pockets of opportunity
Executives expect consumers to remain value-conscious, but believe investments in “remarkability” can boost growth across key categories
Brands & manufacturers
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
McCormick and Unilever ‘well underway’ with $40 billion merger despite investor fears
More than 200 employees are meeting in Baltimore this week to blueprint the integration as executives tout growth, margin expansion and up to $600 million in synergies
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
Keurig Dr Pepper’s meteoric rise in energy offers blueprint for CPG category expansion
From partnerships to acquisitions, Keurig Dr Pepper’s ‘build-buy-partner’ model underpins its rapid rise in energy drinks and signals how large beverage companies may enter future growth categories
Kraft Heinz ploughs investment into major brands as split remains paused
The company is putting money into pricing and reinvesting in its biggest names
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
Can better-for-you deliver candy cravings?
Better-for-you candy is entering a new phase where bold flavor and real ingredients - not just reduced sugar - are driving consumer interest across the snacking landscape
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
Mars doubles down on premiumisation to drive growth
Mars is ramping up its premium strategy as demand for high-quality indulgence accelerates
How PepsiCo plans to grow a 220-year-old nut brand
PepsiCo is betting on premiumisation, protein, new consumption occasions and younger consumers to fuel Duyvis’ next chapter
Which brands could Nestlé axe next?
Nestlé wants to become a leaner business. As it weighs its priorities, could brands like Coffee Mate and Carnation become dispensable?
Pioneers
Cottage cheese ice cream is here - and Smearcase wants the shelf
Cottage cheese isn’t just disrupting the fresh aisle – it’s scooping out its own niche in frozen, too
Hershey appoints new CSCO in C-suite reset
Confectionery giant recruits new chief supply chain officer from rival snack brand
Hormel’s Q2 earnings beat fueled by Jennie-O, Applegate, SPAM and Pepperoni
The Skippy and SPAM maker beat consensus EPS and revenue estimates, with its stock climbing nearly 13% on the news
News Bites
How consolidation, new sweeteners and retail pressure are redefining food
Companies are getting bigger, ingredients are getting smarter and the definition of “better-for-you” is getting narrower
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
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
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
Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you and indulgence
Barry Callebaut bets on cocoa-free chocolate
The launch of ChoViva in North America at the Sweets & Snacks Expo last week reflects a growing push to diversify beyond traditional cocoa amid climate and pricing pressures
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2026
4 forces forging the future of sweets and snacks
The latest innovations in candy and snacks reveal how consumers are redefining fun, flavor and function
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
Danone bets on protein coffee to shake up RTD nutrition
As the company expands its ambient protein shakes range in North America, it quietly backs an emerging category. Would consumers respond?
Where brands should focus their AI strategy now
AI’s real value may lie in helping consumers choose – not discover
Bob’s Red Mill redesign highlights new rules of shelf visibility
Bob Red Mill’s first redesign since the ’90s makes its products easier to find and more compelling to loyal and new consumers
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
5 CPG brands fueling the regenerative agriculture surge
With major food manufacturers pledging support and new certifications taking root, brands like Simple Mills and Tractor Beverage are accelerating their regenerative organic product rollouts
Nestlé and Danone: Baby food pouches under fire as microplastics found
Microplastics detected in Nestlé and Danone baby food pouches spark safety concerns
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
Wonka returns as Ferrero taps into experiential marketing boom
Ferrero is bringing Wonka back in bold new strategy – blending limited-edition treats, cross-category innovation and a major new Netflix partnership
Mondelēz, Unilever, FrieslandCampina and others commit to regenerative agriculture acceleration
Forty major food companies pledge to accelerate regenerative methods across their supply chains
Danone walks away from Lifeway with $67.4m stake sale
The two companies are drawing a line under a long-running and fractious relationship
The most creative beverage packaging innovations
Looking for beverage packaging inspiration? We explore some of the most innovative ideas from across the beverage universe
FBIF 2026
Not Just a Flavour Strategy: How KitKat Embedded Itself in Japanese Culture
From ‘Japanisation’ to deep cultural alignment, Nestlé KitKat is one of the few foreign brands to have thoroughly cracked Japan’s competitive chocolate market
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Why consumers pay more for certain brands even in a tight economy
Kantar BrandZ’s Ellie Thorpe explains why brands like Coca-Cola, Red Bull and Walmart continue gaining loyalty, pricing power and market share despite inflation, cautious spending and growing consumer uncertainty
Beyond Meat: Why is foodservice doing worse than retail?
The plant-based major has seen severe divergence between channels
New product development
Just launched: Maggi ready meals, Quorn, Ella’s Kitchen and more…
Plant-based innovation, next-generation kids food and elevated snacking are all key themes in this week’s NPD roundup
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
Why Danone invests millions in regenerative agriculture
Danone has made regenerative agriculture a central pillar in its sustainability strategy. What value does it bring?
Kroger sees surge in better-for-you sales – but who is winning and why?
Evergreen founder Emily Groden quit law to make veggie-packed frozen waffles her daughter would actually eat. Now she’s reshaping the kids’ breakfast category
Luna Bar returns to reclaim women’s snack bar set
What does it take for a legacy brand to win over Gen Z and Millennial women?
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
Bel’s Brainiac buy signals next wave in kids’ snacks
The Bel Group acquisition of Brainiac highlights a fast-growing category where nutrition science, parental anxiety and marketing ambition are converging
Chicken of the Sea tests sustainability waters, but will consumers bite?
Chicken of the Sea rolls out sustainability certification across its entire tuna portfolio, marking a milestone for a mainstream US brand – but the move is about more than environmental credentials
Tariff refunds are available - here’s how to get them right
High rejection rates and a tight 80-day filing window are turning what should be straightforward IEEPA tariff refunds into a high-stakes, error-prone process for small and mid-sized CPG brands
Unilever shaken by investor exit as McCormick deal unsettles shareholders
Unilever’s $40bn Foods merger with McCormick is facing mounting backlash, as shares slide and investors divest
Kraft Heinz split in doubt as weak performance blunts break-up case
With performance still lagging, Kraft Heinz’s paused split looks increasingly uncertain