Shoppers embrace personalization – but draw the line at AI taking control
While personalized pricing and in-store tech gain approval, nearly half of consumers reject fully agentic AI shopping experiences, according to a new Dunnhumby report
Brands & manufacturers
Tariffs on trial: Pending ruling could impact supply costs and grocery prices
Burlap & Barrel’s challenge to the Trump administration’s tariffs in the US Court of International Trade could define how far presidents can stretch decades‑old trade statutes
Aldi ramps up clean-label push with 44 new ingredient bans
Move affects 90% of store assortment as private-label-focused retailer responds to consumer ingredient concerns
Why overwhelmed shoppers may drive a reset in natural food marketing
Go Raw’s first brand campaign starts with a simple premise: snacks have become too complicated
Nestlé weathers formula crisis to deliver strong Q1 growth
Nestlé overcomes infant formula recall to deliver solid Q1 growth, powered by Coffee and Confectionery
Why Unilever’s $40bn food merger is raising red flags
Unilever’s $40bn food deal is supposed to sharpen focus. Instead it’s unsettled stakeholders, raising questions over the success of Big Food consolidation
Sustainable sourcing: From upcycling to carbon neutral to sustainable packaging
Certified giving emerges as a quiet sustainability strategy driving brand growth
As companies scale back public climate commitments, third-party verified programs, like 1% for the Planet, could offer a safer, credibility-backed path to stronger consumer trust, and higher revenue
Sustainable sourcing: From upcycling to carbon neutral to sustainable packaging
Bel Group accelerates the shift to paper packaging by taking a holistic transition approach
As plastic comes under growing scrutiny, Bel Group is redesigning its iconic Babybel packaging around a 5Rs framework, with paperization pilots highlighting both opportunity and technical complexity
Sustainable sourcing: From upcycling to carbon neutral to sustainable packaging
Upcycled Food Association launches Canada hub to unify, scale upcycled food sector
Backed by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, the UFA-led hub aims to connect fragmented stakeholders and accelerate growth in the category
FTC to rein in hidden grocery delivery fees after multimillion-dollar settlements with Walmart, Instacart, Grubhub, Amazon
Public comment period opens after investigations found misleading pricing, subscription tactics and driver pay practices
GLP-1-friendly foods are booming – but the label is still taboo
From “high protein” to “supports muscle mass” claims, brands are coding GLP-1 benefits without naming the trend outright
Nestlé’s 5-point turnaround plan targets leaner growth under new CEO
Coffee, petcare, nutrition and snacks take center stage as CEO rolls out five-part turnaround plan and trims workforce.
Beyond the candy bar: Is confectionery redefining frozen novelties?
Candy companies increasingly are treating the freezer as a growth channel – one that allows gummies, chews and fruit candies to evolve into entirely new frozen formats
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
3 strategies to help CPG marketers drive breakthrough results with less money
Tighter budgets, fragmented media and shrinking attention spans are forcing brands to rethink marketing success
10 iconic food and drink brands that flopped worldwide
From New Coke to Crystal Pepsi, even the biggest brands can fail fast
Kerrygold drives profit growth at Ornua
Brand power pays off for the Irish dairy major, which has navigated a turbulent year to come out stronger
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
CEO churn exposes growing cracks in Big Food’s growth model
Leadership changes across Big Food are starting to look less like succession and more like a response to cracks in the growth model.
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.
From Reese’s PB&J cups to Jolt root beer, nostalgia is driving CPG’s latest launches
Limited-time candies, revived sodas and refreshed pantry staples show how brands are using retro flavors and recognizable designs to stand out in a crowded market
Hershey US president exits amid profits slide and brand backlash
Andrew Archambault’s unexpected departure comes as Hershey grapples with profit declines and reputational pressures
General Mills’ $697m Brazil hit shows how fast Big Food has changed
General Mills’ sale of its Yoki business in Brazil underscores a broader shift across the food industry as global players move away from expansion and towards tighter, margin-led portfolios
Will Sazerac sweep in to create a US spirits giant with Brown-Forman?
Just two weeks ago, news broke of a potential tie-up between Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman. Now Sazerac and Brown-Forman are reportedly discussing a deal
Unilever and McCormick defend food tie-up after investor jitters
Executives from both companies reframe planned combination of food businesses as a ‘flavor-led’ growth strategy, despite sharp share price declines following the announcement
Private-label consolidation continues with CK Snacks’ purchase of Keystone Food Products
From Axium to Keystone, CK Snacks is stitching together a manufacturing network as private‑equity dollars pour into store‑brand suppliers
Alianza Team spends $36M to open first US plant
With a new blending and finishing facility in North Carolina, Alianza Team is helping U.S. food manufacturers reduce saturated fats and reimagine bakery and chocolate ingredients
How the Swedish candy craze helped save a San Francisco sweets shop
A year after flames gutted his Haight Street candy shop, founder Max Kolegue rebuilt the business through Amazon sales – and a viral boom in Swedish gummies
How Bel defied global snacking headwinds
The maker of Babybel has been on a sustained growth trajectory by leaning into new flavours, formats and ingredient trends
Cacao pods and ‘ugly’ potatoes powering the upcycled foods movement
Brands like Roots Farm Fresh, Blue Stripes and Salt and Straw are finding new value in food waste through upcycled snacks and frozen foods
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Danone bets on nutrient quality, not quantity, as consumers look to food for health
Danone’s R&D chief lays out why the future of food hinges on bioavailability, behavior change and nutrient quality – not just bigger numbers on the label
Stagflation is food manufacturing’s worst-of-both-worlds scenario
Costs are rising again just as consumers start to hesitate and that’s a far more difficult mix than inflation alone.
3 standouts in Whole Foods’ 14th annual Supplier All-Star Awards
Whole Foods Market recognizes trailblazing suppliers advancing transparency, innovation and ethical sourcing across food and beverage categories
Circana: Private label takes different paths in the US and Europe
With national brands leaning on promotions, retailers are betting on premium private label, better-for-you innovation and ESG commitments to build long-term trust and loyalty
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
How corporates, startups and farmers can share risk and drive resilience
A case for rethinking how the food system invests, scales and strengthens its most essential ingredients
CPG brands put a better-for-you spin on Easter favorites
This Easter, brands are offering indulgence with less guilt. From sugar-free marshmallows to plant-based chocolate, manufacturers are meeting demand for mindful sweets
Big Food’s big sell off: Who’s cutting loose and who’s cashing in
From shock splits to billion‑dollar buyouts, Big Food is making big changes. Here’s what’s driving the chaos, who’s cashing in, and who could be next
New product development
New beverage launches: Nestlé functional, MOMO and more…
From functional soft drinks and alcohol-free fizz to culture-led RTDs and traditional mead, brands are responding to moderation, wellbeing and authenticity as they push innovation across the drinks landscape
Strait of Hormuz: How are beverage commodities under pressure?
Oil is the headline issue: but what else is affected?
Keurig Dr Pepper appoints Rafael Oliveira as CEO of new coffee giant
The announcement comes as Keurig Dr Pepper completes the acquisition of JDE Peet’s
Fonterra settles over ‘misleading’ Anchor butter claim
The New Zealand co-op has settled a legal dispute with Greenpeace after admitting breach of fair trade laws
Opinion
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
Iran war forces small dairies to hedge like multinationals
Dairy SMEs are adopting big-business risk strategies as fuel shocks rattle the industry
Hershey courts Gen Z with premium, better-for-you snacking playbook
From holiday occasions to social-first indulgence, Hershey is using premiumization, permissible treats and a bigger salty and protein presence to future-proof its snacking portfolio
Hershey u‑turns as real chocolate makes a comeback
Hershey says it’s bringing real chocolate back to parts of its portfolio – could this small switch signal something much bigger for the confectionery industry?
McCormick’s results take a back seat as Unilever deal nears
Sales are steady and margins remain under pressure, but attention has shifted firmly to a potential tie-up with Unilever.
16 trends at Expo West: Convenience, function and ‘feel good’ food redefines innovation and marketing
From packaging breakthroughs and GLP-1-friendly formulations to regenerative claims and sensory-driven products, brands are balancing health, sustainability and indulgence in a rapidly evolving market
Unilever says McCormick deal could close today
Unilever edges closer to a deal with McCormick in a move that would reshape its future and redefine the global food landscape
Scaling precision fermentation: Why capital and collaboration remain the biggest hurdles
Industry experts cite massive CapEx, supply bottlenecks and regulatory complexity as key barriers
Fermentation growth collides with manufacturing shortage – iFAB aims to fix it
As Europe and Asia outpace the US in precision fermentation investment, an Illinois-based consortium backed by ADM and a $51 million federal grant aims to catch up
News Bites
From war‑driven inflation to GLP‑1 eating trends: What mattered in food this month
From international supply instability to GLP‑1s reshaping eating habits and a booming condiment category, this month’s roundup tracks the forces rapidly reshaping how food is made, priced and enjoyed