The future of sustainable food may lie less with brands and more with their suppliers, which are investing in regenerative agriculture, traceability and climate-smart infrastructure to build more transparent and resilient supply chains.
The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is applicable from 12 August. The regulation introduces PFAS limits, aims to harmonise recycling and pushes for packaging to be designed for recyclability. The regulation may be costly, but the EU predicts that it will lead to long-term savings.
Why is private label growing globally?
Private label products continue to gain market share as consumers seek value and retailers look for higher margins, greater control over supply chains and stronger differentiation from competitors. In some Western European markets, private label now accounts for more than half of supermarket sales.
Where are private label products made?
Most private label manufacturing remains close to end markets, particularly in the US and Europe, where domestic suppliers can respond quickly to retailer demands. However, countries including China, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam are becoming increasingly important manufacturing hubs thanks to competitive costs, export capabilities and growing technical expertise.
Which regions are emerging as private label powerhouses?
Europe remains the global leader in private label penetration, while Southeast Asia is attracting growing interest from retailers and brand owners seeking alternative sourcing locations. Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam are particularly well positioned due to strong agricultural supply chains, export infrastructure and food manufacturing capabilities.
What does this mean for food and drink manufacturers?
The growth of private label is creating opportunities across the supply chain, from ingredient suppliers and co-packers to specialist manufacturers. At the same time, competition is intensifying as retailers increasingly demand innovation, premium products and faster product development from their manufacturing partners.
What are functional drinks?
Functional drinks are beverages designed to provide benefits beyond hydration, such as supporting gut health, energy, recovery, relaxation, immunity or cognitive performance. Popular categories include protein drinks, electrolyte beverages, probiotic and prebiotic products, and drinks containing vitamins, minerals, adaptogens or nootropics.
Why is the market growing?
Consumers increasingly view wellness as a daily priority and are looking for convenient products that support specific health goals. As a result, brands are developing drinks that target hydration, digestion, muscle health, focus, stress management and sleep.
Can functional drinks actually deliver health benefits?
Many functional ingredients are supported by scientific research, but effectiveness depends on factors such as dosage, formulation and the quality of evidence behind a claim. Industry experts increasingly argue that successful products will be those built around science-backed benefits rather than marketing hype.
What challenges do beverage brands face?
Regulators in major markets including the EU, UK and US are scrutinising health claims more closely. Brands must ensure claims are supported by credible evidence and communicated accurately, while also delivering on consumer expectations for taste, convenience and transparency.
Which functional drink categories are growing fastest?
High-growth areas include protein beverages, gut-health drinks, electrolyte products, cognition-support beverages and relaxation drinks containing ingredients such as magnesium, adaptogens and botanicals associated with stress management.
GLP-1 drugs including semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide may be linked to more than 150 deaths and thousands of adverse reactions, according to the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), specifically data collected by its Yellow Card biobank. Alongside deaths, the drugs are suspected of having been linked to gastrointestinal symptoms, psychiatric disorders and nervous system disorders.
The price of whey is still rising. How much could this affect the production of baby formula, which often uses whey as several key nutrients for babies are contained within it?
FDA submitted its proposed ultra-processed food definition as a white paper instead of a rule. Here’s what that means for food labeling, reformulation and future regulations.
Why is the world's first floating dairy farm closing?
Floating Farm in Rotterdam has been put up for sale after its owners became embroiled in a regulatory dispute over a replacement emissions-reducing floor that was not certified for use in the Netherlands, despite meeting environmental performance requirements.
What is Floating Farm?
Launched in 2019, the €4m project was designed to demonstrate how food could be produced closer to consumers without relying on traditional farmland. The three-storey floating facility houses dairy cows, automated milking systems, manure management technology and on-site dairy processing.
Why does it matter?
Floating Farm became an internationally recognised example of urban agriculture and climate-resilient food production. Its closure highlights the challenges innovative food systems can face when regulations struggle to keep pace with new technologies and business models.
What happens next?
The farm is being marketed for sale and has attracted international interest. While it could potentially be relocated elsewhere in the Netherlands, any new site would require significant infrastructure and regulatory approvals to support dairy production and processing.
BellRing Brands outlines how Premier Protein plans to sustain growth through innovation, new channels, operational discipline and pricing amid rising competition.
Can adults eat full-fat dairy every day without harming health?
A new 12-week study from researchers at the University of Toronto found that adults consuming three daily servings of full-fat dairy experienced no significant changes in body weight, body fat or cholesterol levels compared with those consuming less dairy.
Why does the research matter?
Many dietary guidelines recommend low-fat dairy because full-fat products contain saturated fat, which has traditionally been linked to higher cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. The new findings add to growing evidence suggesting dairy fats may behave differently from saturated fats in other foods.
What is the dairy matrix hypothesis?
Researchers argue that dairy's unique structure, known as the dairy matrix, influences how fats and nutrients are digested and absorbed. The interaction between dairy proteins, fats and micronutrients may help explain why some studies find neutral or even positive health outcomes from full-fat dairy consumption.
What else did the study find?
Participants consuming more dairy recorded higher intakes of calcium, protein and vitamin D, alongside lower blood pressure, suggesting potential nutritional benefits beyond simply providing energy and fat.
Interest in bone health is increasing, and as the world's population ages, it is becoming more relevant by the day. What are the key ingredients that consumers need for bone health, and how can manufacturers incorporate these into food products?
Ice cream is proving resilient in the GLP-1 era, with users still seeking indulgence, smaller portions and functional benefits such as high protein and lower calories
Colostrum has potential as a functional food. However, it remains controversial. While some research exists linking it to functional benefits, many believe that the evidence is not yet strong enough. Furthermore, it does not have a good reputation when it comes to animal welfare and is associated with cruelty, as it is diverted away from newborn calves that need it.
What has happened?
Danone and Arcor have finalised a jointly controlled dairy business in Argentina by combining Danone's local operations with dairy producer Mastellone Hermanos. The deal gives the partners equal ownership and includes the integration of logistics subsidiary Logistica La Serenísima.
Why is it significant?
The transaction deepens a long-standing partnership between Danone and Arcor and creates a more integrated dairy platform focused on innovation, distribution and higher-value dairy products. It also increases Danone's exposure to one of its key Latin American markets.
What does it mean for the dairy sector?
The move comes at a time of significant change in Argentina's dairy industry. With Saputo reducing its presence and SanCor continuing to struggle financially, Danone and Arcor are positioning themselves to capture market share and strengthen their competitive advantage in the region.
What is the new whey-to-bioethanol breakthrough?
Scientists at Heriot-Watt University and start-up Take Root Bio have developed a process that converts sugars found in whey into bioethanol, creating a potential new use for a dairy byproduct that has traditionally been difficult and costly to manage.
Why is it significant for the dairy industry?
Whey has become increasingly valuable due to booming demand for protein ingredients, with prices rising sharply in recent years. If bioethanol production becomes commercially viable, it could create another source of demand and further increase competition for whey supplies.
What are the sustainability benefits?
The technology aims to upcycle dairy byproducts into renewable fuel, helping manufacturers extract more value from waste streams while reducing disposal challenges. Researchers are also exploring whether similar approaches could be applied to fruit, vegetable and agricultural processing waste.
From Coca-Cola to Co-op, cyber attacks are hitting the food and beverage industry harder than ever. Here's how companies can tackle the growing threat.
Why is Yili calling for a new global dairy ecosystem?
Yili Group chairman and president Pan Gang has called on the global dairy industry to collaborate more closely through three new ecosystems focused on innovation, digital intelligence and green development. Speaking at the World Dairy Conference, he said the sector must work together to address future challenges and create shared value across the dairy supply chain.
What are Yili's proposed ecosystems?
The Chinese dairy giant outlined plans for a digital intelligence ecosystem, supported by its Dairy Data Intelligence Hub, alongside initiatives for greener dairy production and broader industry innovation. However, few operational details were provided on how these ecosystems would function in practice.
Why does it matter?
As one of the world's five largest dairy companies, Yili's vision highlights China's growing influence in global dairy. The company's push for industry-wide collaboration, data sharing and sustainability could shape future discussions around dairy innovation, emissions reduction and supply chain transformation.
Exosomm says its proprietary process preserves naturally occurring milk exosomes that are typically destroyed during processing, creating a functional dairy ingredient for gut health, immune support and medical nutrition.
Stress-relief, mood-support and relaxation drinks are emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments in functional beverages, fuelled by rising consumer demand for emotional wellbeing, stress management and holistic health solutions.
British dairy farmers say processors are failing to pass on rising market returns despite a heatwave-driven milk shortage. The NFU warns some producers remain below the cost of production as spot milk prices climb.
Protein, fibre and collagen have dominated the functional ingredients space for some time. But which ingredients could take the industry by storm next?
A US team developing a “first-of-its-kind” sweetpotato milk has received the backing of local farmers in its bid to build a new market for waste veg and “stabilise the regional economy”.
The Coca-Cola Company says Fairlife has resumed the majority of production, 10 days after a ransomware attack disrupted operations, as the company investigates potential data theft and cybersecurity risks.
Dairy farm profits in the UK are expected to fall by two-thirds over the next year due to weakening milk prices and rising costs, a new report has concluded.
Ireland is a significant player in the European dairy market, accounting for 6.3% of EU dairy exports last year. It is a particularly important supplier to the UK, where any drop offs in production will be felt most.
As protein claims become commonplace, ingredient suppliers are shifting beyond fortification to improve satiety, texture, nutrition and product performance.
Globally, demand for whey is insatiable. The US's production capacity has essentially been soaked up by the domestic market, and it is unclear if markets elsewhere can cope with the demand. Whey, as well as adding protein to food, provides a great many functional benefits to manufacturers, from emulsification to binding. What alternatives can industry use to the rockstar protein?
SNAP participation fell by roughly two million households over the past year, reducing the program’s share of grocery spending and forcing retailers and manufacturers to adapt to a shopper base that is smaller, more budget-constrained and increasingly focused on essentials, according to recent Circana data.
The global cheese market could be impacted by the focus of the big 7 dairy producers looking to produce more of the product as the sector struggles with lower milk prices
FrieslandCampina, Ripple Foods and Tetra Pak have backed new industry guidance to help suppliers control bacterial spores in plant-based drink ingredients and improve food safety.
Israeli food tech startup Plantopia has raised $9m to launch commercial production of oat-grown casein, targeting scalable, animal-free dairy ingredients for food manufacturers.
How a strengthening El Niño could trigger the next wave of food inflation, disrupting ingredients, packaging, freight and procurement strategies into 2027.
From freezer-friendly convenience to limited-edition flavours and viral marketing, discover how Oreo, Dippin' Dots, Over the Moo and others are reshaping the frozen snacks category this summer.
Artificial food colours have been a topic of much controversy in the US, with brands and lawmakers aiming to phase them out. But in the EU, a distinction is not made between 'natural' and 'artificial'. All food colours are considered additives, and are therefore strictly regulated.
Artificial food colours have been a topic of much controversy in the US, with brands and lawmakers aiming to phase them out. But in the EU, a distinction is not made between 'natural' and 'artificial'. All food colours are considered additives, and are therefore strictly regulated.
Yili is blending traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), flavour innovation and age-friendly design to for elderly nutrition products in China’s ageing market.
Coca-Cola confirms a ransomware attack on dairy subsidiary Fairlife, forcing a temporary suspension of US production operations as investigations continue.
Comments from FDA and USDA’s 2025 RFI for a UPF definition suggest the main debate is no longer whether UPFs exist, but whether FDA should define them either through processing methods, ingredients and nutrient composition, or a combination of all three.
Key bodies around the world are drawing up definitions of ultra-processed food. But creating a regulatory framework will not be easy, because such a definition must be workable.
Record grain crops in Argentina and South Africa are boosting supply, but falling stocks, regional shortages and rising import demand could keep dairy feed prices firm in 2026/27.
As protein demand surges, dairy processors are using CIP optimisation, membrane efficiency and AI tools to increase whey production without major capital investment.
Middle East tensions could keep fertiliser prices elevated, raising nitrogen costs and increasing pressure on dairy forage production and farm margins.
New Zealand startup Four Leaves Co is elevating functional dairy through Lullaa, a clean-label milk blending prebiotics, collagen, botanicals and mānuka honey.
Lifeway dominates the fast-growing US kefir market, benefiting from demand for gut health, protein-rich nutrition and probiotic foods as functional dairy moves mainstream.
High-protein dairy is outperforming the wider market, with strong growth in yogurt, cottage cheese and milk as consumers seek premium nutrition and functional benefits.
From the US and Europe to Asia-Pacific, lactose-free dairy is gaining momentum as consumers embrace premium, health-focused products, driving growth across multiple categories.
Gut health is evolving beyond probiotics as food brands at the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show introduce A2 dairy, kimchi and fennel-based products that offer targeted digestive health benefits.
Store brands outperform national brands in unit sales as loyalty declines and price sensitivity reshapes grocery buying, according to PLMA and Circana.
US obesity has fallen for the first time in decades while GLP-1 use has reached record levels, echoing signs of a broader slowdown across several high-income countries and posing new questions for food manufacturers.
Global milk growth is slowing in 2026 as Big 7 dairy exporters shift more milk into cheese, whey and higher-value proteins amid volatile export demand.
Global milk growth is slowing in 2026 as Big 7 dairy exporters shift more milk into cheese, whey and higher-value proteins amid volatile export demand.
Precision-fermented lactoferrin is unlocking scalable, animal-free production of a ‘miracle molecule’ with growing applications in infant nutrition, women’s health and sports nutrition.
Avalo, a US start-up founded by biologists Brendan Collins and Mariano Alvarez, uses AI-driven marker-assisted breeding to develop climate-resilient crops more rapidly and affordably than traditional methods. By leveraging advanced machine learning to identify complex genetic traits, Avalo aims to tailor seeds to specific regional and farm needs, already attracting partnerships such as one with Coca-Cola for sustainable sugarcane. The company seeks to disrupt an industry dominated by four major seed giants focused mainly on maximizing yield, while Avalo prioritizes sustainability and farmer profitability. Although still in early stages, Avalo aspires to become the world’s fifth-largest seed company by offering innovative, locally adapted crop varieties.
El Niño will push up temperatures, likely leading to droughts and changing rainfall patterns. A 'super El Niño' is even being predicted. How will the food industry be affected? Will can it prepare?
FDA definitions, state legislation, WHO proposals and growing litigation are reshaping the regulatory landscape for ultra-processed foods. Here's what manufacturers need to know.
Fonterra has unveiled a new leadership structure under CEO Richard Allen as it pivots to a B2B-focused model. Here’s what the appointments mean for Ingredients, Foodservice and future growth.
Consumers are cutting sugar and chasing protein across the grocery store - but confusion over how much protein they actually need and generational divides over where it belongs, are reshaping the trend.
Protein shakes tied to GLP-1 trends led Amazon Prime Day sales, offering a bright spot for CPG brands as overall shopper spend and satisfaction declined.
Nestlé will eliminate artificial food colourings from all products worldwide by the end of 2026, becoming the first major food company to make such a global commitment as consumer demand for clean-label products grows.
Experts say social media misinformation is fueling persistent creatine myths, despite decades of research supporting the supplement's safety, effectiveness and performance benefits, highlighting the need for evidence-based education for young athletes, parents and coaches. Speakers at the webinar The Young Athlete and Creatine: Safety, Science and Smarter Choices urged healthcare professionals to replace online misinformation with science-backed guidance, stressing that creatine use should be based on an athlete's readiness rather than age alone.
Nestlé, Calbee, Burger King, KFC and Heinz show how operational setbacks, from thefts to packaging shortages, can become award-winning marketing opportunities when brands respond with creativity and honesty.
Global dairy majors are expanding whey processing to boost WPC80 output, targeting growth in sports nutrition and functional food markets amid tight supply.
Ingredion's planned acquisition of Tate & Lyle reflects a wider shift in the ingredients industry as companies race to lead reformulation, fibre innovation and food technology.
Danone’s Made Group and Saputo deals mark its first food push in Asia-Pacific in years, as the company looks to diversify beyond specialised nutrition.
GLP‑1 adoption is expanding, but a start‑stop user base is accelerating existing shifts in how consumers eat and how food brands innovate, according to Numerator.
Many major food companies are setting big targets for regenerative agriculture. But many key companies are falling short, according to a new report by investor network FAIRR. Many targets are not quantitative or outcome-based, and lack a clear link to financial materiality. As sustainability goals are exposed to increased scrutiny, FMCGs must ensure their goals are clear and can be acted upon.
Feeding dairy cows unsold fruit, vegetables and bakery waste can maintain milk production while improving fibre digestibility, Penn State research finds.
