Will the UPF lawsuit be successful?
The ultra-processed foods lawsuit could completely shake-up the food and beverage industry, if successful. But will it be?
Beverage
Which food and beverage predictions came true in 2024 - and which didn’t?
How accurate were predictions on food and beverage this year?
Biggest trends of 2024 and what to expect in 2025
2025 coffee trends: Cold brew, private label heat up
Coffee culture, cold brew and private-label varieties are stirring up the category, as consumers experiment with flavors to recreate the café experience at home
Biggest trends of 2024 and what to expect in 2025
What defined consumers’ plates in 2024, and what’s next for 2025?
From Swedish candy to marry me pasta, consumers’ palettes stretched across the globe in 2024.
Are diet drinks damaging to gut health?
The diet drinks industry is booming, but could links to gut damage threaten its success?
How brands can balance health, indulgence & convenience in the morning
Convenience wakes up the morning routine for consumers, with 90% of morning meals prepared in under 15 minutes, according to Circana.
Sojo Industries' mobile manufacturing tech cuts packaging, freight costs
Sojo Flight addresses manufacturing complexities for multi-packs with flexible, mobile lines.
Unilever, Nestlé, EUDR, UPF and commodity hikes. FoodNavigator reviews 2024
Food and beverage was not short of drama or two in 2024, with some of the biggest stories gripping the sector almost from day one.
Aesthetic appeal: Social media culture driving increasing demand for ‘better-looking’ food and beverage products
The importance of social media and online food photography have rapidly increased consumer demand for ‘better-looking’ food and beverage products in the Asia Pacific region, with a focus on elements such as clarity and colour.
Can beverages be made less sweet?
The easiest way to reduce sugar in beverages is simply to put less in. But how far can you go before consumers no longer accept the taste?
Startup Spotlight
Throne Sport Coffee shares why investing in a team is essential to achieve CPG dream
To keep overhead low, entrepreneurs often wear multiple hats and work long hours with a skeleton crew when first launching a business, but the founder of the ready-to-drink coffee startup Throne Sport Coffee suggests this may be penny-wise, but...
Revolutionizing soda: The emergence of a new Modern Soda category
Walmart has introduced its new ‘Modern Soda’ category: featuring innovative, better-for-you brands that are far from the traditional sugar-packed drinks loved by previous generations. So what is Modern Soda – and how big is its potential?
Apothékary secures additional funding, bridges beverage, beauty categories
Apothékary continues its expansion in the wellness space, securing additional funding for its Series A round from global Japanese beauty brand Shiseido and launching on Ulta.com as the retailer’s first alcohol alternative product.
A force for good: The successful beverage brands driving positive change in the world
How can beverage brands embrace a solid, focused mission to be a driving force for good – yet balance that with being a commercially successful business with long-term potential?
How to choose a name for a new beverage brand
For some, it's the most difficult part of beverage NPD...
Nestlé to spin off water brands into a standalone business
Nestlé's water brands will be separated into a standalone business as of January 1, 2025, the company announced this morning.
2025 Beverage trends to watch: Circana expects growth in water enhancers, functional drinks
Hydration-boosting, functional and non-alcoholic (non-alc) beverages will continue their growth in 2025, but generations are seeking out different drinks to meet their health and nutrition needs, according to a recent Circana webinar.
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
Innovative brands awaken the sleep-support food & beverage set with function, flavor & convenience
A third of American adults consider sleep one of their top three health priorities, and while most of them prioritize behavioral and lifestyle strategies to fall and stay asleep, there is an opportunity for “naturally helpful” and “functional” food and...
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
When function meets convenience: how mood foods are shaping F&B NPD
High quality nutrients – from vitamins and minerals to botanical extracts – drive consumers’ purchasing decisions, while the line between function and form continues to blur as brands develop foods and beverages that deliver targeted health benefits and...
Innovation watch: Natural clean energy drinks
Health conscious consumers don’t want sugar-laden, taurine energy drinks: but they still want a burst of energy to keep them powering through their day. How are brands providing that better-for-you buzz?
Nestlé’s top six 2025 food and drink innovation trends revealed
Nestlé has revealed the top food and drink trends that will drive its research, development and innovation in 2025, with speed, personalisation and fusion taking centre stage.
The push for PHA: How Mad Tea’s compostable pods shift packaging standards
Mad Tea’s 100% compostable tea pods, made from a blend of PHA and other compostable bioplastics, aim to satisfy consumer demand for sustainable packaging, yet experts warn that high production costs, limited infrastructure, and regulatory confusion pose...
FDA’s Human Foods 2025 goals: Microbiological safety, food chemical safety & nutrition
FDA’s fiscal year 2025 priority deliverables for the Human Foods Program emphasize transparency and accountability amid state funding cuts and resource constraints.
Millie's disrupts tea, broth category with convenient tea bag broth format
Millie’s tea bag broths, made with herbs, spices and dehydrated vegetables landed in 2,000 Walmart stores last month, marking a major milestone for the brand as it disrupts the tea and broth categories.
FDA limits phthalate ban to nine compounds
The FDA’s recent decision to remove 23 phthalates from food-contact uses while conducting safety assessments on remaining compounds has sparked both industry support for targeted regulation and advocacy calls for a total ban.
Organic sales hit record as regenerative organic sees growth, investment
Industry leaders are emphasizing the integration of regenerative agriculture alongside established organic practices, as demand for sustainable food and beverage products continues to rise.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic set to shake the global food industry
Originally intended as a treatment for diabetes, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic could be set to turn the food and drink industry upside down.
Can plant-based overcome UPF links to avoid future trust issues?
Plant-based diets remain popular, but associations with UPF and low-quality ingredients has shaken consumer trust in alt meat, fish and dairy brands. So, what can the sector do to restore public opinion?
Mondelēz International joins Unilever and Danone with strong Q3
Confectionery and snacking giant Mondelēz International has driven revenues and profits above expectations, through higher volume sales as both Unilever and Danone also showed this month.
Brand Alchemy
How F&B brands can boost their ROI with a diversified media strategy
Today’s marketing strategies need flexible adjustments and a blend of channels to keep pace with rapid shifts in media consumption, unlike the fixed annual media plans of yesteryear.
How to identify and engage with your target market
Creating and building brand awareness, with potential customers, is essential to success. Here’s how to recognise and connect with your target market.
NOVA reform: The flawed UPF classification system requires change
Some nutritious foods under the current NOVA system could be demonised alongside unhealthy variants. Industry's calling for reform, but what would the next generation look like?
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
How would eliminating ultra-processed foods and products high in sugar, fat impact diet, health?
Diets that exclude foods high in added sugar and saturated fat, like sugary drinks, snacks and processed meat, still provide sufficient levels of essential nutrients, like vitamins, minerals and fiber, according to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.
Milk alternatives lead plant-based dairy category
Milk alternatives are the most consumed product in the plant-based dairy category, particularly among Gen Z consumers, while hybrid dairy products help narrow the gap for those skeptical of plant-based options' taste, texture and nutritional profile.
11 startups disrupting dairy across categories from the farm to store shelf
Dairy’s nutrient density and decadent eating experience create a powerful canvas for startups innovating across categories to offer better-for-you moments of permissible indulgence while simultaneously supporting the health of consumers, the planet and...
Unmet need in plant-based dairy revealed with rise of low-FODMAP diet
The influx of plant-based milk in recent years could provide relief and stability for consumers suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, but there remains a significant unmet need for clean-label, allergen-free options, according to one registered...
Coca-Cola to deliver on full-year guidance with ‘all-weather strategy,’ despite Q3 volume slowdown
Coca-Cola beat Wall Street estimates for its third quarter despite volumes and revenue declines, as the beverage giant pursues an “all-weather strategy" and offsets challenges with innovation in Sprite, Fanta and Topo Chico, company CEO James Quincey...
Keurig Dr Pepper to acquire energy drink business GHOST
Keurig Dr Pepper is making its largest investment to date with the acquisition of GHOST: a sports nutrition business led by GHOST Energy.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans
DGAC recommends more repeated exposure to healthy foods for kids
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recommended introducing a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains at appropriate ages does not adversely impact growth or increase obesity risk in young children.
Video
Ask the experts: What do F&B start-ups get wrong?
What do food and drink start-up businesses get wrong? It’s the big question facing many fledgling businesses. FoodNavigator speaks to nine industry experts to find out.
Growing functional food and beverage trend is an industry goldmine
Brands are reformulating to create functional foods and beverages, catering to everything from gut health to improved sleep. So, how is the sector evolving to meet consumer demand?
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
Nutrition experts reveal Healthy US-style dietary pattern – but is it flexible enough?
The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recommends consolidating various dietary patterns into a single, inclusive Healthy US-Style Dietary Pattern that includes nutrient-dense, plant-based foods and which is accessible for all Americans.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
4 flavor, color trends for 2025 that focus on simplicity, comfort & rediscovery
After a year of “unapologetically” embracing luxury, indulgence and whimsy through vivid colors and unexpected flavor combinations, consumers will rediscover and recenter themselves in 2025 by choosing taste profiles and hues that more realistically...
Kabrita USA's goat milk infant formula expands in retail, backed by its own supply chain
Kabrita USA's vertically-integrated supply chain, managed by its parent company Ausnutria, helped the brand secure US regulatory recognition and retail expansion, Jacqueline Lipiec, general manager, Kabrita North America, told FoodNavigator-USA.
Gut health: What’s next for this major F&B trend?
Consumer demand for ‘gut-friendly’ foods and beverages is growing fast, and industry is innovating just as quickly to meet it. So, what’s next for this seemingly unstoppable trend?
Superguts' Target expansion underscores new retail playbook for addressing Ozempic era demands
Demand for GLP-1 support products helped gut-health brand Supergut triple sales in the last year and opened retail doors, including at Target.
REBBL bulks up protein offerings with 26-gram shake, featuring upcycled EverPro ingredient
Functional beverage brand REBBL is delivering on consumer demands for sustainability and enhanced macronutrient content with its new shakes that contain 26 grams of plant-based protein blend, including an upcycled barley.
Sustainability victory: PepsiCo eyes thermal energy collaboration with new Greenhouse Accelerator APAC champion
Global food and beverage giant PepsiCo has granted the winner of its 2024 GreenHouse Accelerator APAC programme Alterno US$100,000 to develop its thermal energy solution, with an eye on further collaboration with the firm in this area.
Consumers turn to mood-elevating zero-proof beverages, as product launches slowdown, SPINS finds
Sober-curious and -conscious consumers are pushing the non-alcoholic alternative market to new heights, creating market sub-categories focused on functionality, despite recent slowdowns in product innovation, SPINS shared in a recent report.
Why shoppers are turning towards costly organic food and drink
More consumers are buying pricier organic food and drink, despite continuing cost-of-living pressures, with sales expected to rocket as governments push to make organic farming central to future sustainability strategies.