Time's 2026 list highlights the food companies on the move, but some of the real disruptors reshaping how we eat, shop and think about food sit beyond it.
Paperisation is reshaping food packaging as brands like Babybel switch to paper, revealing benefits, costs, recyclability limits and why plastic still matters
As ‘healthy’ evolves beyond sugar and salt reduction, snack makers are rethinking flavour, texture and sensory design to keep better-for-you products appealing.
Savencia’s net profit dropped more than 30% in FY25 as milk price inflation, FX headwinds and market volatility hit margins. Cheese proved resilient, while ingredients and foodservice remain key to the group’s long‑term strategy.
Coca-Cola exceeded analyst expectations in Q1 with net sales up 12%, attributing its success to a strategy that balances value-oriented and premium offerings to address a K-shaped economy.
The five food and drink innovation trends set to outlast hype in 2026, spanning GLP‑1 nutrition, functional drinks, creatine, ube and viral frozen snacks.
As SNAP policies continue to evolve, Ibotta’s findings suggest eligibility rules are no longer a peripheral consideration for sugary categories, but a factor increasingly shaping demand, loyalty and category strategy.
Cinco de Mayo’s Taco Tuesday timing is inspiring playful gear from Old El Paso, high-protein beans and sauces from Somos and at-home recipe ideas from V&V Supremo to celebrate Mexican flavors.
Big chocolate brands are backing alternative cocoa as prices surge, from fermented carob to cocoa‑free and cell‑based ingredients, signalling momentum despite regulatory and demand challenges
Industrial bread is moving into artisanal territory – and if consumers can no longer tell the difference, the category’s traditional hierarchy starts to shift.
Danone is scaling Oikos into ambient protein shakes to tap booming RTD demand, expand beyond refrigeration and strengthen protein‑led growth across formats.
Elina Roine of the European Investment Bank discusses packaging resilience, energy risk, innovation and how policy can strengthen Europe’s supply chains.
A new study from Earth Action and rePurpose Global reveals that around 1,000 tons of microplastics and nanoplastics are released annually from packaging into food and drinks, with PET bottles being a major contributor.
After refusing to raise prices, the spice importer is waiting on a Court of International Trade decision in its challenge to what it calls an illegal expansion of a narrow 1970s trade law.
UK-based CBD brand Trip has expanded its night-time offering with the launch of its new Dream Blend range, comprised of Dream Gummies and Dream Powder.
Anzac biscuits may be steeped in tradition, but Australia’s $3.8bn biscuit market is shifting fast, shaped by Arnott’s dominance, premium growth and evolving consumer demand.
Fibre is moving from back-of-pack to front-of-mind as gut health, microbiome science and TikTok trends reshape food and drink innovation, reformulation and brand strategy.
Ube, the bright-purple, viral Filipino yam, is already seeing such popularity that farmers are struggling to keep up with demand. How popular could the ingredient, which is used in desserts, drinks, and even cheese, get?
Hershey’s stock slumps as profits fall 60%, leadership changes mount and the Hershey Trust trims its stake, signalling tougher times for Big Confectionery.
Aldi is increasing its restricted ingredient list from 13 to 57, impacting most of its private-label assortment as consumer demand for transparency grows.
Snack brand Go Raw’s first national campaign, titled Uncomplicate Snacking, positions the seed brand as a simple solution for consumers overwhelmed by modern snack choices.
Butter prices are down sharply year on year, squeezing farmers while offering relief to bakers and manufacturers. Who wins, who loses, and what’s next?
How ready is palm oil for the EUDR? The sector has continued efforts to improve traceability systems, databases and other compliance systems. However, smallholder farmers still face strong barriers. Uncertainty abounds around implementation details, the scale of the documentation required, and limited access to geolocation tools in remote areas.
Unilever’s planned $40bn Foods merger with McCormick has sparked market backlash and employee concern, raising fresh questions over strategy, value creation and industry‑wide restructuring risks.
As governments and companies respond to growing scrutiny of how unhealthy foods are advertised to kids, UNICEF’s 2023 toolkit reads less like dated guidance and more like a roadmap the system is still trying to catch up to.
QR codes are rising on food packaging, but new research shows they’re used more for marketing than nutrition. What does this mean for brands, regulators and consumer trust?
Regenerative farming is already proven, so why isn’t it scaling? Matthews Cotswold Flour's Bertie Matthews says the food industry has a commitment problem.
Mondelēz teams up with Celleste Bio to produce chocolate bars made with cell‑cultivated cocoa butter, designed to tackle climate risk and price volatility.
Fibre is exploding from TikTok trend to mainstream food innovation, as gut health, GLP‑1 diets and high‑fibre claims drive rapid growth across snacks, drinks and staples worldwide.
Nestlé’s new CEO rolls out a five-part strategy to streamline its portfolio, boost innovation and cut 16,000 jobs as the company pivots to core growth businesses.
Barry Callebaut posts CHF 14bn+ revenues but falling volumes, weaker demand and a sliding share price raise questions over recovery as cocoa prices ease.
As budgets shrink and media fragments, CPG marketers face mounting pressure to prove ROI. In this episode of FoodNavigator-USA’s Soup-To-Nuts podcast, learn three key strategies driving breakthrough ad performance and sales.
Ferrero faces EU antitrust scrutiny after surprise “dawn raids” by the European Commission, raising questions over cross‑border chocolate sales and competition rules.
Which famous food and drink brands failed globally and why. A deep dive into high profile launches from Coca Cola, PepsiCo, McDonald’s and others that never won consumers.
Leveraging weight loss, gut and dental health trends, Chinese firms are increasingly creative in reframing artificial sweeteners as a health aligned choice.
Chinese consumers are driving demand for natural, gut-friendly and plant-based ingredients, mirroring global trends and boosting innovation in functional products.
Thailand’s TaoKaeNoi appoints Chinese star Chen Zheyuan as global ambassador as it taps rising demand for Asian snacks and builds its healthy positioning.
General Mills’ Arras ice‑cream plant plays a central role in Häagen‑Dazs’ global production, local dairy sourcing and decarbonisation efforts, combining quality, scale and circular energy systems.
CPG companies face a May 31 deadline to submit packaging data under new extended producer responsibility laws in seven states, including California, Oregon and Colorado. Learn what is required, who is affected and compliance strategies for this cross-functional business challenge.
US alcohol consumption is falling as consumers shift toward THC drinks, non-alcoholic options and functional beverages with adaptogens. New data shows younger generations driving the trend toward ‘controlled indulgence’
As missiles sound overhead in Israel, Celleste Bio CEO Michal Beressi Golomb explains why cultivated cocoa could help solve the chocolate supply crisis.
General Mills sells Yoki Brazil business for $153m, taking a $697m hit as global food companies move away from expansion towards margin-led strategies.
Why are Kraft Heinz, Unilever and Nestlé selling assets and reshaping portfolios? Slowing volumes, fragile margins and investor pressure are forcing Big Food into a structural reset.
GLP-1s are driving demand for smaller portions, due to reducing consumer appetites. Could this lead to smaller pack sizes? And if so, will companies be able to save money from reducing the size of their products?
Explore April 2026 new product launches from Walker’s, Coca-Cola, Drumstick and Cadbury, as brands turn to partnerships, events and activations to drive NPD.
The Iran conflict poses significant risks to the food and beverage industry with oil, transport and energy costs; disruptions to polyethylene and aluminum; the threat of cyber attacks; and ultimately inflation
Conflicting studies on artificial sweeteners are fuelling fresh debate across food and drink, as health risks, regulation and reformulation collide worldwide.
Consumers are prioritising fibre, gut health and clean labels. Danone explains how fibre, natural colours and simplified labels are shaping functional foods.
Food safety failures are becoming faster, costlier and harder to contain. From climate-driven contamination to complex supply chains, here’s why the risks are rising – and how companies can respond.
Unilever and McCormick defend their planned $20bn food business combination after a sharp market reaction, arguing the deal creates a flavor-led growth platform in condiments and seasonings.
The Grand Rapids snack maker adds Easton‑based Keystone to its lineup, strengthening its presence in private‑label production as competition intensifies in 2026.
Fermentation is booming, but what about the leftover biomass? How microbial fibre could close the fibre gap and turn waste into high‑value food ingredients.
The FDA is reviewing gluten labelling rules to tackle hidden gluten, improve transparency and reduce cross-contact risks for consumers with coeliac disease.
As global snack giants struggle, Bel Group is driving growth by sticking to healthy dairy and plant‑based snacks, regional investment and disciplined innovation.
California proposes a non-UPF certification as labels multiply, but inconsistent definitions of ultra-processed foods could confuse consumers and industry alike.
Experts reveal why most food-tech startups fail with big food companies – and what “readiness” really means, from economics and scale to internal alignment.
Circana data shows private-label growth outpacing brands worldwide. Learn how club, mass and discounter channels are reshaping pricing, premium tiers and sustainability.
Nestlé’s new cocoa‑free Choco Crossies marks a make‑or‑break moment for alt chocolate, with industry stakes high as investors and innovators watch the launch closely.
Companies showcased how seaweed stabilizers and yeast‑derived proteins can simplify labels, enhance functionality, and advance clean‑label protein innovation during Future Food-Tech San Francisco.
This roundup covers the latest food and drink releases of 2026, including high-protein air, a range of beers designed by an AI reconstruction of Johann Sebastian Bach, and baguette wraps. It also covers a new egg mayo-filled easter egg and London-style chocolate, which has the filling of egg, baked beans and bacon. April Fool's!
Clio CEO John McGuckin on the multipack pivot that ended the cash burn, the $120m revenue goal and his plan to build refrigerated yogurt-protein snacking
Discover our tongue‑in‑cheek forecast of 2027’s biggest food and drink trends — from fibre hype and quiet snacking to TikTok crazes and bubble booze — in this April Fool’s special.
FDA has delayed the effective dates for beetroot red and spirulina extract after GMO/Toxin Free USA objected to beetroot red and Obelisk Tech Systems filed safety objections to spirulina extract.
