
As food brands tweak child marketing rules, UNICEF’s playbook still holds
As food brands rewrite child‑marketing rules, experts say voluntary action isn’t enough
News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology

As food brands rewrite child‑marketing rules, experts say voluntary action isn’t enough

The first-ever milk chocolate bars made with cell-cultivated cocoa butter have been produced

Coffee, petcare, nutrition and snacks take center stage as CEO rolls out five-part turnaround plan and trims workforce.

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

From emerging ingredients to protein power, discover the nutrition trends shaping the future of food and beverage

Andrew Archambault’s unexpected departure comes as Hershey grapples with profit declines and reputational pressures

Cocoa innovation opens up new possibilities for manufacturers

Low and no loses its shine as consumers reject restriction in favour of real ingredients, richer flavours, and products that prioritise pleasure

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

Opinion
This is no ordinary product launch. The stakes are high for cocoa-free chocolate

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?

From freeze‑dried sweets to ultra‑indulgent chocolate, texture is taking centre stage

News Bites
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

Layered flavors and texture continue to shape Morinaga America’s ambitious business goals with the acquisition of My/Mochi frozen treats

Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Award-winning biotech Michroma is using fungi-based fermentation to tackle the cost, supply and performance challenges holding back natural colors

New product development
From organic gummies and dessert‑inspired sweets to licensed seasonal launches and confection–beauty crossovers. Brands are leaning on format innovation

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

From Mondelēz and Barry Callebaut to Lindt, the future of chocolate is being defined by bold flavour innovation, smarter formulations and a refusal to compromise on indulgence

Hershey is shaking up its strategy and its structure

When supply chain snarls and cautious consumers dominate, winners focus on health, convenience and mindful indulgence

For product developers, designing GLP-1 friendly foods will require new sensory approaches, emotional metrics and new nutritional architectures

Americans’ love of nostalgic, sensory-rich treats is boosting confectionery sales as brands balance innovation, tradition and mounting regulatory pressures

Clean label chocolate is gaining momentum, and reshaping indulgence

Strategic deals, powerhouse brands, and disciplined growth – inside Mondelēz’s journey to global leadership, and its vision for the future

The market has swung from historic shortage to surplus projections for 2025/26 in under two years

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

It’s a common misconception that GLP-1 drugs erase food cravings. Actually, they alter them

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

Mars invests in community resilience worldwide, starting with cocoa growers

Swiss food and beverage giant unveils bold new strategy for the future

Opinion
To understand how processing affects food consumption, don’t caricature either side of the debate

From protein‑packed chocolate bars to big‑brand collaborations, sports nutrition and confectionery are merging fast

As Mars expands through mega‑deals, sustainability pushes and portfolio diversification, the company is placing a bigger strategic bet on M&M’s to anchor growth and relevance in a changing global snacking landscape

The world’s biggest chocolate makers are working together to futureproof cocoa and support growers

Hershey’s rocky start to 2026 has raised questions about its long‑term direction

Comfort food now needs an edge

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

As consumers chase smarter nutrition, functional ingredients are shaping up the next frontier of dairy innovation

Cocoa prices plunge to two‑year low as surpluses reshape the market

Sugary cereals are no longer breakfast staples, but they’re not disappearing either

The cocoa crisis is winding down, but the biggest producers of chocolate still want to protect themselves in a volatile sector

Explore the new supertrend that’s reshaping snacking

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Climate change, disease pressure and record cocoa prices are forcing the chocolate industry to rethink ingredients, processing, and the future role of cocoa – but how will potential solutions impact farmers and consumers?

Coca-Cola, Campbell’s, General Mills and other CPG and fast-food companies expanded voluntary advertising restrictions across digital platforms after research found most children encounter unhealthy food branding on YouTube

New CEO Hein Schumacher enters a company in decline. Here are the five decisive moves that could put the world’s biggest chocolate maker back on track

The company’s 2025 full-year earnings point to substantial challenges, but changes in the cocoa market could be cause for optimism

The confectionery giant is changing fast, and setting the pace for the entire sector

Leadership shake‑up at Barry Callebaut reveals deeper strategic tensions at the world’s biggest chocolate maker

News Bites
The grocery value equation is evolving beyond simple price tags

As the company reopens applications for its R&D-led accelerator, the focus areas highlight mounting pressure around climate resilience, packaging constraints and shifting consumer expectations