Quaker Oats lawsuit sparks debate: Is ‘Simply Granola’ too simple?
Should food brands be held to higher standards of transparency in their marketing?
Labeling, marketing & advertising
Brand Alchemy
Brand Alchemy: How brands are turning influencers into storytellers
Authenticity is the new currency of successful influencer partnerships, as brands seek to connect with increasingly discerning consumers.
Confectionery giants amass almost $500 million in US advertising spend
One multinational confectioner dominates the spend total for campaigns in the US. Can you guess who it is?
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.
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.
National Advertising Division Case Reivew
Fruit snack advertising wars: When must manufacturers verify third-party reviews?
The advertising war continues between Welch’s Fruit Snacks’ maker Promotion In Motion (PIM Brands) and Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks’ maker General Mills with the BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division weighing in on the second dispute...
FDA evaluates labeling for plant-based milks, cell-cultured foods
FDA could strengthen labeling requirements for plant- and cell-based products to ensure consumers understand how their nutrition and production compare to that of their animal-based counterparts, agency officials told legislators last week.
FDA mulls standard date labels to reduce food waste
Confusion about whether food is safe to eat after “sell by,” “use by” and “best by” dates accounts for an estimated 20% of food wasted in the home, according to FDA, which is why the agency and USDA are considering whether and how to standardize date labels.
New products: From limited-time holiday offerings & everything mint-chocolate to garlic & gluten-free
New product launches this holiday season are all about limited time offerings, including a barrage of peppermint-chocolate flavor extensions, and a smattering of inclusive allergen-friendly and better-for-you options.
Dairy innovation trends: From weight management to protein
We narrow down the most important market and consumer trends that could influence dairy product innovation in 2025.
The butterfly effect: Non-GMO Project Verified out grow similar self-reported claims
CPG companies trying to make the most out of their non-GMO claims are finding market success through certification programs rather than making claims on their own, according to data shared in a recent SPINS webinar.
New Product Development from Toblerone to Hotel Chocolat
Staying up to date with the newest confectionery products, trends and flavour combinations on the market is key to keeping on top of the fast-paced and competitive sweet sector.
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?
On-the-go functionality: Snack brands like Mood Bars blend brain-boosting benefits, convenience
Consumer demands for on-the-go functionality are fueling growth in the nascent mood-support snack bar, with brands like Mood Bars and others differentiating themselves in a crowded category with the help of brain-boosting ingredients.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Consumers increasingly turn to food for ‘emotional wellness’
Emotional wellbeing is emerging as a top health concern for consumers across the generations, according to new research by the Hartman Group, which also found an increasing portion of people prefer to manage their moods with food, beverages 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.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What does USDA’s stricter definition for ‘pasture-raised’ chicken mean for industry?
A broadly-supported new definition for “pasture-raised” poultry proposed by USDA this fall could help level the playing field for small, independent farms and brands competing in the increasingly important, crowded and confusing humanely-raised chicken...
Beyond Meat grows in Q3 despite demand dip
Beyond Meat’s strategic decision to reposition its products as premium and rely less on discounts helped the company return its revenue to growth for the first time since 2022, but it cost the company volume, which continued to slide.
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.
Sugar reduction hits a wall in the US, as consumers prefer caloric sweeteners, IFIC finds
US consumers favor caloric sweeteners like honey, brown sugar and sucrose over their no- or low-calorie counterparts, despite shoppers acknowledging the health benefits of sweeteners like stevia, aspartame and erythritol, International Food Information...
Kellanova shareholders approve $35.9bn Mars merger amid shifting snack industry trends
The transformative takeover by Mars Inc. has been overwhelmingly approved, marking a pivotal moment in the snack industry. What does this mean for the future of snacking?
November Launch Pad
Holiday-themed launches for 2025 tap into nostalgia, balance health & indulgence
The holiday season is here bringing a slew of food and beverage launches to help consumers celebrate with seasonal products featuring nostalgic fall and winter flavors that make entertaining easier and warm consumers as the weather cools.
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.
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?
Kraft Heinz snips full-year forecast as demand drags
Kraft Heinz has cut its full-year 2024 forecast following a third-quarter net sales slump, as price hikes worked against the food major by dampening consumer demand.
ELAVI’s Costco expansion highlights demand for better-for-you options, innovative packaging
Better-for-you snack brand ELAVI doubled its Costco rotation to 30 Southern California stores in less than a year while addressing cocoa shortage and packaging changes.
Mars' Kellanova buyout the start of hefty snacking M&A
Mega deals within snacking are picking up pace after a quiet start to the year, with Mars’ Kellanova acquisition the tip of the iceberg as strong financial performances provide corporates with healthy cashflows.
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.
Bell Flavors & Fragrances’ consumer center is ‘where science meets senses’
Bell Flavors & Fragrances' new Consumer Science Sensory Center provides CPG companies with a space to develop innovative new flavors and products that resonate with consumers.
Dairy innovation and trends
Letter from the editor: Innovations, trends & startups reshaping the dairy category
The dairy case is no longer a limited selection of fat-free, low-fat or whole milk in generic white bottles or a bare-bones choice between just “orange” or “white” cheese – rather an explosion of innovation in recent years has dramatically multiplied...
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...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What is the business proposition for 100% grass fed dairy?
Research and advocates for 100% grass-fed dairy suggest the practice is better for people, the planet and animals – but is it better for business?
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...
Startup Spotlight
Fishwife reels in bold flavors, creative branding to revive canned fish category
Tinned fish brand Fishwife launched in response to the lack of innovation and bold branding in the multi-billion-dollar canned fish category, with a strategic focus on culinary-inspired flavors and artistically-driven packaging, CEO and Co-Founder, Becca...
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.
Standard serving size levels the playing field, NAD finds in tortilla advertising case
Size matters – at least when it comes to crafting nutrient content and health claims for food based on servings, according to a recent BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division decision for a challenge brought by Olé Mexican Foods against...
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...
Startup Spotlight
Tips to secure deals in writing: ‘A verbal commitment means almost nothing’
Long gone are the days when a deal was sealed with a handshake and verbal commitment, which is why the co-founder of veggie snack startup Theo’s advises entrepreneurs to be persistent – but not annoying – about securing commitments in writing before acting.
Will alternative meats thrive in frozen? Circana shows growth
Meat alternative sales dropped in the last four years, but all is not lost for the segment which has opportunity to thrive in the frozen department with a particular focus on convenience, value, ingredient quality, diverse formats and new flavors,...
Brands risk forgoing their cultural research – as Heinz recently learned
The slightest sniff of cultural insensitivity will generate social uproar, as Heinz recently experienced with a now withdrawn pasta sauce advert. But what is the real risk to FMCG brands of not doing their culture homework?
Hershey leans into value, flavor with Kit Kat, Reese's, Jolly Ranchers
The multinational candy maker aligns with shoppers’ interest in value-oriented products reflected through its Reese’s and Kit Kat brands, while Jolly Ranchers' brand refresh features new textures and formats.
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.
Beauty meets confectionery: A growing trend in functional wellness
Discover how beauty-enhancing ingredients like collagen and biotin are changing the confectionery industry with delicious, functional treats.