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
Labeling, marketing & advertising
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
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
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
How audio ads are behind food and drinks’ next sales boost
Audio’s reach and ROI are pushing food and beverage marketers to rethink its role in the media mix
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
How dairy can seize its World Cup moment
With global audiences shifting to digital and wellness on the rise, is dairy ready to compete with Big Soda for World Cup visibility?
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Inside the race to create the next viral flavor in snacking
Executives from Just Born, Hawaii Host, SNAX-Sational Brands and Xaca Cantina share how they use heat, global flavors, strategic collaborations and accessible formats to turn consumer curiosity into repeat purchases
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
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
What’s driving the new era of chewing gum?
Function, flavor and fun continue to drive gum’s trajectory within the broader confectionery space
Letter from the editor
The new candy aisle: Where wellness meets whimsy
Consumers are demanding cleaner labels and functional benefits from confectionery, but taste, texture and fun still rule, creating opportunities for brand to balance better-for-you innovation with indulgence
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
Cracks in chocolate’s ‘affordable luxury’ status could signal broader shopper shifts
Chocolate is still growing in dollars, but the real story is what unit declines and demographic shifts may reveal about changing confection preferences
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
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
Is shrinkflation illegal now?
A recent court case involving Mondelēz suggests FMCGs could be penalised for reducing pack sizes. But is this really the case?
Processed foods aren’t going away, but they are evolving
In the gap between consumers’ intention and reality, is there room for processed food in a healthy diet?
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
When an ingredient goes viral, can the supply chain keep up?
As ingredient hype cycles accelerate, so do the risks of shortages, consistency and cost
Why packaging decisions can’t be left to the last minute
Packaging isn’t just a container, it’s a decision that affects cost, brand, sustainability and compliance, so it should be planned early, not tacked on later
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
What sustainability looks like in olive oil today
How does a sustainable supply chain work in a category rooted in ancient agriculture but facing modern global demand?
How connected packaging is closing the private label gap
The package is now the platform
The most creative beverage packaging innovations
Looking for beverage packaging inspiration? We explore some of the most innovative ideas from across the beverage universe
Food retail trends 2026: Why Gen Z no longer shops by aisle
Younger consumers aren’t just swapping meals for snacks – they’re tearing apart the traditional rules that have shaped food retail, product development and brand strategy for decades
Why thinking like an AI agent matters to marketing
Generative engine optimization is reshaping how brands get discovered
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
Why Danone invests millions in regenerative agriculture
Danone has made regenerative agriculture a central pillar in its sustainability strategy. What value does it bring?
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?
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
Iran war fallout hits grocery aisles as food inflation surges and shoppers pull back
Higher fuel and fertilizer costs tied to Strait of Hormuz disruptions pushed at-home food prices up 0.7% in April, while consumers increasingly weigh purchases item-by-item in search of value
Hain Celestial bets on functional-food innovation to power next phase of turnaround
After years of cost cuts and portfolio pruning, the better-for-you baby food, beverage and yogurt business is focusing on functional wellness innovation, including protein- and immunity-forward products to reignite growth of a simplified portfolio
How cottage cheese reinvented itself
Cottage cheese is being reinvented through new formats, younger consumers and rising global demand – and brands are only just getting started
Omnichannel grocery fuels shopper choice – but fragments retailer loyalty
As omnichannel expands shopper choice, retailers and brands must balance availability, personalization and execution to stay top of mind
The next gen in produce moves beyond fresh to ‘alive’
Wild About Sprouts’ campaign aims to rethink fresh produce and reconnect consumers with the origins and functionality of their food
Kraft Heinz defies CPG cost-cutting playbook and bets on investment for turnaround
As other food and beverage companies cut costs and slash staff, Kraft Heinz is investing $600 million in people, pricing, promotion and innovation – offering an alternative blueprint for growth in a turbulent period
The world’s oldest food and drink brands and how they’ve survived
Is there a recipe for long-term food and drink brand success? Let’s explore…
Coca-Cola to Funfetti: Food brands celebrate America’s 250th birthday with limited-edition products
US grocery shelves are getting a patriotic makeover this summer as food manufacturers launch limited-edition products
Is the retail media network gold rush over?
In this next phase, marketers aren’t abandoning retail media – they’re simply demanding that it grow up
Rethinking the coffee replacement
Coffee alternatives are rising not as replacements, but as functional upgrades
FBIF 2026
Kraft Heinz insights: Is the concept of consumer brand loyalty dead?
In an era where consumers are bombarded with new products at every turn and purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by technology, is brand loyalty no longer a thing? There is hope yet, says Kraft Heinz
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Better-for-you foods face rising trust challenges
Shoppers want proof, retailers want performance and better-for-you products must deliver both to win in a more skeptical, value-driven market, according to new research from Eat Well Global