What if chocolate’s flavour was never really about cocoa?
As cocoa markets spiral through another year of chaos, cocoa-free alternatives are shifting from novelty to necessity
Suppliers
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
AgNavigator: same agtech backbone, bigger industry picture
William Reed, publisher of FoodNavigator, has unveiled a new title for its market-leading agtech and agrifood title
Mars powers production growth with $253.6m smart factory investment
Mars bets on smart manufacturing, using £190m UK factory upgrade to boost output and strengthen grip on global confectionery and snacking market
Sustainable sourcing: From upcycling to carbon neutral to sustainable packaging
Non-GMO Project: Ultra-processed foods are harming the planet, not just our health
GMOs and ultra-processed foods are “nested” in the same industrial food chain, warns the Non-GMO Project’s Hans Eisenbeis, who argues that monocrop agriculture and food waste make UPFs an environmental liability
Letter from the editor
Sustainability at a crossroads
From upcycling to carbon-neutral claims, the food industry weighs real progress against rising costs, scrutiny and skepticism
Sales stall, shares fall: What’s next for Barry Callebaut?
Barry Callebaut’s size has long been its strength. But with volumes down and shares under pressure, cracks are starting to show
The packaging crisis about to hit food and beverage
Attacks on the world’s busiest oil shipping channel are set to drive unavoidable spikes in plastic packaging prices
Chocolate without trees? The science racing to reinvent cocoa
From cacao cells grown in bioreactors to fermentation-built chocolate flavours, scientists and startups are experimenting with ways to produce cocoa ingredients without growing cacao trees
Confectionery sector braced for shortages as Iran conflict escalates
As conflict disrupts key trade routes and energy supplies, the confectionery sector is among the first to feel the strain. How vulnerable are manufacturers, and what can be done to protect the industry?
Vietnam’s coffee crisis threatens to upend global supply chains
Despite consumer coffee prices slipping, Vietnam’s brewing supply‑chain crisis threatens a painful whiplash for manufacturers as climate chaos, shrinking yields and land pressures trigger a new wave of cost volatility
Cocoa whiplash: How a record price spike turned into a demand slump
The market has swung from historic shortage to surplus projections for 2025/26 in under two years
Iran Conflict: What does this mean for global food sector?
The ongoing tensions in Iran could disrupt supply routes and drive volatility across key food commodities such as rice and meat
Cheap virgin plastic and imports squeeze US PET recyclers
Experts warn low-cost virgin PET and rising imports are hurting US recycling programs and driving prices to record lows
Boardroom clash behind Barry Callebaut CEO shake‑up
Leadership shake‑up at Barry Callebaut reveals deeper strategic tensions at the world’s biggest chocolate maker
Barry Callebaut appoints ex‑Unilever boss as new CEO
Barry Callebaut shakes up its leadership as Hein Schumacher steps in during a pivotal moment for the world’s largest chocolate maker
Cocoa crunch: How shortages are rewriting chocolate’s future
As climate, disease and regulation strain global cocoa supply, manufacturers are turning to low‑cocoa and cocoa‑free innovations to protect margins and future-proof their portfolios
China taps tourism and e-commerce to boost rural tea and oranges
China promotes tea and navel oranges in its latest round of belt and road initiatives to boost rural economies in days leading up to the festive season
Dairy and dementia: Could cheese protect brain health?
A new study adds important insights to the debate about dairy’s role in cognitive health
Chocolate is front-running US-Canada trade breakdown
As US-Canada tariffs grind on with no obvious exit, chocolate makers are quietly redrawing supply chains and exposing a deeper fault line running through food
EU dairy hit by Chinese tariffs: All you need to know
EU dairy exporters face new border duties as China seeks to shield its domestic industry amid oversupply and falling prices
France bans imports of foods containing EU-prohibited pesticides
The measure aims to protect French farmers from ‘unfair competition’
Naked Life’s US expansion strategy
Already the dominant force in the Australian non-alcoholic cocktail market, Naked Life has teamed up with Molson Coors to replicate its success in the US
Healthy beverages
What’s the buzz around instant coffee?
Gen Z and Millennials are embracing the low-cost counterpart to ground and whole bean
World’s biggest chocolate supplier makes move away from cocoa
Barry Callebaut explores cocoa alternatives amid rising costs and climate pressure
Yuka brings aspartame fight to the US
Report calls for ban on ingredient found in thousands of common food and beverage products
Sweeteners in focus
Sugar isn’t the only sweet solution: How modern sweeteners are changing the game
Kerry Group and NotCo show how advanced sweetening systems can overcome many of the technical, sustainability and cost barriers with sugar reduction
Seafood Expo Asia 2025
Seafood sector pivots to Asia amid rising demand and US tariff woes
Asia’s seafood appetite offers growth as exporters diversify from US tariff-hit markets, experts say at Singapore Seafood expo
Sustainable September
Nanoplastics in vegetables threaten consumers
The dangerous, microscopic plastic particles can accumulate in the edible parts of veg, study suggests
Britain’s babies fed a diet of ultra-processed cereals and snacks, say researchers
A University of Leeds study found baby cereals and snacks dominated by UPFs (ultra-processed foods), with sugar-laden puffs and bars misled as ‘healthy’, leaving parents duped and kids primed for poor health
Almond yields could be lower than predicted
The USDA predicts an abundant almond crop for California. Growers say the number is too optimistic
Brazil nuts: Boosting health, forests, and livelihoods
Brazil nuts offer more than nutrition – they also protect rainforests and support local communities
Tomato leaves: The next miracle protein?
They’re protein dense, but could tomato leaves translate into a functional ingredient?
Could climate change affect the taste of gin?
It all depends how juniper berries – the key botanical which is responsible for gin’s distinctive taste – are affected by changing weather conditions
Can AI protect future food security?
Climate change is threatening the world’s food supply, but could AI be the unexpected hero?
Have cocoa prices hit chocolate?
The price of cocoa may be high, but has this hit consumers?
Social media cuts food waste but fuels impulsive buying - study
New research reveals that social media can help reduce food waste but also increases impulsive consumer food purchasing behaviour
Colgate-Palmolive poaches Danone CEO Americas Shane Grant
Grant will oversee North America and LATAM at the personal care group
Who tops the list of the world’s most valuable beer brands?
Budweiser, Corona and Michelob Ultra are all jostling for the top spot: who emerges as the world’s most valuable beer brand?
Spin, slump, SPOONS: Inside WK Kellogg’s make-or-break cereal play
Post-spin, WK Kellogg is making a bold play to redefine cereal as a health food. But can a marketing framework overcome falling sales, tariff pressures and consumer scepticism?
Future Food-Tech
3 food tech companies creating a more sustainable and healthier LATAM
Upcycling Solutions, Future Biome and Kresko RNAtech will share their stories at an upcoming Future-Food Tech and FoodNavigator event in São Paulo
Snacking on thin air: Fazer’s futuristic treats powered by protein from the sky
The Finnish food experience company has launched snacks powered by Solein - a revolutionary protein literally made from thin air. Could this be the future of sustainable snacking?
Brazzein sweetener gets FDA green light as sugar-reduction momentum grows in confectionery
Bestzyme’s next-gen sweet protein secures GRAS status, unlocking new potential for sugar-reduced chocolate and confectionery innovation as brands meet demand for healthier indulgence
Reaching Net Zero
Cocoa complicated: Luker Chocolate addresses volatility with sustainability
Disease and climate change drove cocoa volatility in 2024, as trade tensions and tariffs complicate the commodity’s price in 2025
Pricing pains: Japan government to set system for food price hikes
The Japanese government will establish a mechanism for food price hikes in an attempt to the limit the backlash when cost increases are passed on to consumers.
Corn crisis: Manufacturers prepare for price hikes as global stocks fall
Manufacturers prepare for shortages and price rises as vital grain stores in global decline
Palm oil paradox: ‘Realistic’ approaches and not silver bullets needed in global vegetable oils market
Markets worldwide need to put their faith in ‘realistic’ approaches for the vegetable oils market as opposed to seeking out silver bullets, as the stability of the global food supply hangs in the balance, according to industry experts.
CenSea’s acquisition of Ocean Garden aims to modernize the seafood industry
By acquiring Mexican and Ecuadorian shrimp specialist Ocean Garden, Asian shrimp and seafood distributor CenSea strengthens its ability to meet the rising demand for year-round, sustainable seafood
FDA calls for input on PFAS levels in seafood
FDA’s request this week for information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seafood is part of the agency’s investigation into the potential health impact of PFAS exposures, which may be higher in seafood according to sample data.
Neohedonism: IFF pursues the pursuit of pleasure to shape food & beverage
Flavors & ingredients company IFF is using a proprietary tool to generate insights into how trends like neo-hedonism resonate with current and future consumer needs and aspirations.