Has the cocoa crisis changed chocolate forever?
The cocoa crisis is forcing chocolate manufacturers to rethink everything - from sourcing and compliance to innovation and consumer trust
R&D
Patents plummet in alt proteins: Has innovation ground to a halt?
Alternative proteins have lost a lot of popularity in recent years, and this is reflected in IP activity
Is mycoprotein too weird to win over consumers?
Despite its sustainability and health credentials, mycoprotein is losing ground. Is this an image problem - or something else entirely?
5 ingredients fuelling the functional coffee trend
Functional coffees that promise more than a straightforward energy boost are surging in popularity
How TikTok food trends are inspiring brand innovation and limited-edition flavors
Viral flavors on TikTok are reshaping the food and beverage industry, accelerating product development and redefining how brands connect with consumers
Brewing loyalty: How coffee is powering bakery footfall
Coffee’s not just a pick-me-up anymore. It’s helping bakeries pull ahead in a slowing market
Packaging news: From smart labels to PPWR ranges
A round-up of some of the latest packaging stories
Women are shaping the next frontier of protein innovation
Protein’s health halo attracts female consumers to various products from food and drink to supplements. Here’s what’s driving demand
Nestlé’s Q3 results: What to look forward to
The CPG major will report its nine-month financials later this week – here’s what to look forward to
Top trends and formats driving innovation in dairy
Protein is the biggest buzzword, but what else is shaping new product development?
The big UPF myth: Why consumers say one thing and eat another
Do manufacturers really need to navigate out of the ‘dirty’ UPF world? Perhaps not, as exclusive research shows consumers’ perception of UPF is very different to their reality
GLP-1 fuels new wave of confectionery innovation
GLP-1 drugs are transforming consumer snacking habits, and confectionery brands are responding
Could 3D food printing be moving one step closer to mainstream adoption?
3D food printing is moving rapidly into commercial applications, but scientists stress that the next breakthroughs will depend on advances in printability, adaptability, safety, and consumer trust
Sustainable September
Space tech explores a new dimension in methane mitigation
Time2Graze uses satellites to optimize pasture-based grazing in a world-first initiative
Leaf-powered protein: Leaft blazes new trail in APAC with Lacto Japan
Exclusive: New Zealand-based Leaft Foods partners with Lacto Japan to bring its leaf protein into staple categories such as bakery and dairy foods
Just launched: Matcha drink, Angel Hair ice cream and more new products
Here’s what’s new in dairy in September 2025
The new rules of snacking: How to navigate a $150bn market in flux
Data from Conagra and Circana shows how shifting tastes, wellness demands and convenience are rewriting the playbook for snack makers worldwide
Meat juggernaut JBS launches new plant-based company
The world’s biggest meat company is launching a ‘new leader in European plant-based food’
Could grapevines hold the key to creating biodegradable packaging?
Old grapevine canes could be converted into a plastic-like film that is stronger than traditional plastic and decomposes quickly
From regenerative to organic: How eco-friendly claims fuel growth
Natural food and drink products with sustainable label claims are flying off the shelves in the US: here’s why
Food’s answer to Ozempic? New ingredients mimic GLP-1 without the pharma price tag
Once everyone’s had enough of injections, side effects, and the vast expense of GLP-1 drugs, it could be natural alternatives’ time to shine
Top trends shaping plant-based meat and dairy in 2025
Plant-based trends are rising to the surface as the year hits its halfway mark
What every food and drink brand must know about AI and innovation
AI can speed up your pipeline – but it won’t tell you why everyone still picks chocolate. Here’s how to innovate without losing your edge
4 natural food ingredients that boost GLP-1
It’s not only drugs that induce the satiety-causing hormone
Future Food-Tech Chicago
Investors’ appetite for food-tech enters new era with shifting interest in alternative ingredients
The investment landscape for food-tech remains chilly, but there are bright spots for alternative fats and oils and some appetite for sweeteners as well as alt protein with proven business models
What is ‘super ultra-processed food’?
A new UPF classification system has been developed by scientists for consumers
5 ingredients powering the high-protein craze
Protein is popping up in everything. Which ingredients promise to further propel this powerful trend?
Positive Nutrition
Beyond the noise: Ethan Brown on plant-based meat’s next chapter
With consumer skepticism around ingredient transparency, faltering retail momentum and backlash from the meat industry, the company finds itself at a crossroads – one it is determined to navigate with what CEO Ethan Brown calls “radical transparency.”
Vit D food fortification a ‘major industry challenge’ - until now
The problem of fortifying food and drink with sensitive ingredients is well known to industry. How can innovation help solve it?
Hue got it: The colour psychology behind top snacks
Before we even take a bite, colour tells our brain what to crave. And it’s not just the frosting that’s doing the talking – it’s psychology, marketing and a bit of regulatory drama
Eat chocolate, lower risk? New research fuels healthier indulgence
Can chocolate really improve blood pressure and reduce heart disease risk? Emerging research suggests it might – and the findings are sweet news
Meat alts face unfair UPF slap despite low artificial ingredients
Plant-based meat’s heavy UPF criticism may be unfairly placed as exclusive research uncovers what ingredients go into some of the market’s most popular products
R&D insights: How to make a trendy dairy product
From high protein to sugar reduction, how is one of dairy’s major players leveraging its R&D might to address industry trends?
Five top coffee trends for 2025
What’s driving the coffee category forward in 2025? Here are five top trends to watch
Striking a balance: How food producers can thrive in the GLP-1 era
Consumers want to shed, gain or simply maintain weight. What does that mean for core food and drink categories - and is there still a place for permissible indulgence?
Big Interview
Nestlé’s nutrition head on declining birth rates and ageing populations
From niche health needs for infants to catering for an ageing population, Nestlé’s head of nutrition has a vast and changing portfolio to grapple with
Top 10 rising food and beverage trends for 2025
Food and beverage is awash with new and growing trends. We discover what consumers are craving in 2025
AI is taking over snack production: Revolution or risk?
AI is streamlining everything from recipe development and quality control to supply chain efficiency and sustainability. But as intelligence reshapes the way we produce food, how will manufacturers balance innovation with transparency, cost and consumer...
CBD-infused beverage sales to skyrocket
CBD-infused beverage industry entering period of strong growth. What NPD opportunities does this create?
AI with robotics: The next frontier in packaging optimization
Packaging has a lot to gain from AI - but steep upfront costs mean businesses must consider which parts of their operations need it the most
Sorghum cereal and probiotic combination improves gut health in kidney disease patients
A symbiotic meal consisting of a breakfast cereal made of sorghum BRS 305 associated with a probiotic containing Bifidobacterium longum improves gut health, reduces body weight and reduces uremic toxin serum levels in people with chronic kidney disease...
Is macauba a rainforest-friendly alternative to palm oil?
Palm oil is cheap to produce in large quantities but unsustainable production methods, notably deforestation, means the bad can far outweigh the good. As a result, brands are increasingly distancing themselves from the use of irresponsible palm oil in...
Animal proteins... made by plants? 'Molecular farming’ co Moolec Science to go public via SPAC
Moolec Science – which has developed a ‘molecular farming’ platform to produce plants that express animal proteins – is going public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)* in a deal expected to close later this year.
Forgotten fermentation: Uncovering Mexico’s traditional beverages
Could Mexico’s traditional fermented beverages offer inspiration for healthy beverages today? Researchers are calling for the recovery and conservation of ancient fermented drinks, which could offer an 'outstanding reservoir' of genetic resources such as...
Food pairings 'ripe for innovation' as immunity mega-trend rolls on
Exploring unique food pairings offers food brands the chance to tap into consumer desire to improve immunity via functional food, according to a report.
‘Coffee pulp can be a cost-effective forest restoration strategy’
Coffee pulp – a waste product in coffee production – could be used to speed up recovery of tropical forests on post-agricultural land, according to researchers.
Modified starch ‘ink’ developed for 3D printing: ‘They’re simple, cheap and easy to implement on an industrial scale’
‘Ink’ used to make foods and novel materials by additive manufacturing have been developed by food engineers from modified starch.
Custom-designed yeast can make food healthier, says biotech start-up
A Brazilian biotech start-up is custom-designing novel, natural yeast strains that can be used to make plant proteins, replace artificial additives and boost the bioavailability of minerals.
Grupo Bimbo goes electric in Mexico
The Mexican bakery giant has invested $146m into its initiative to grow its electrically powered fleet to make emissions-free deliveries in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Probiotic ice cream promotes health benefits in Chile
Ice cream is a treat for most children, but a startup in Chile is incorporating a strain of probiotics as a healthy supplement in the form of a daily snack.