News & Analysis on the Bakery and Snacks Industries
Ahead of FoodNavigator-USA’s free webinar ‘Fueling Fun: Connecting with Esports Enthusiasts and Everyday Gamers FTW’ (October 15), we look at how brands from Doritos to Heinz are stepping inside the $200bn gaming economy
A new lawsuit claims the citric acid in Frito-Lay’s Poppables isn’t natural but brewed from black mold and that PepsiCo misled consumers with its ‘no artificial flavors’ promise
Opinion
ESG’s under political fire in Washington, but the snack giants keep flexing. From Oreos to Doritos, their reports show that in today’s food industry, trust’s as valuable as profit.
Gluten-free cookies, sugar-free chocolate and GLP-1 diets are colliding. The world’s biggest food makers are scrambling to stay relevant
A wave of global flavors is storming the snack aisle. Yet research shows that for many consumers, the crunch on the outside matters just as much as the crunch inside the bag
PepsiCo and Unilever have decided it’s time to get serious about soil: their new STEP up for Agriculture program throws money and muscle behind regenerative farming
Heartland Craft Grains’ pact with Grown Climate Smart proves regenerative certification is becoming a supply-chain movement
Sustainable September
Shoppers swear they care about sustainability, but in the snack aisle it’s still price, taste and convenience that decide what goes in the basket. So are ‘climate-smart’ breads and biscuits set to stay niche or can they crack the mainstream?
A US judge tossed the first big UPF lawsuit, but with mounting science and regulators circling, bakery, snack and cereal brands shouldn’t breathe easy just yet
Beckham-backed honey snacks, Pringles-topped cookies and even a suitcase built for sliced bread — the latest wave of NPD pushes boundaries of fun, flavor and fandom
Opinion
Climate change isn’t just disrupting harvests - it’s coming for snack time
GROWTH ASIA SUMMIT 2025
Research shows that oats can lower age-related inflammation (iAge) in adults at risk for cardiovascular disease
PepsiCo leans into zero sugar, functional hydration and clean-label snacks as it refreshes marketing, innovation and execution to drive growth amid economic headwinds
The Lay’s and Sabra brand owner is leaning into functional innovation to revive slowing US snack sales
Here’s a cornucopia of ‘braticoqueta’-worthy snacks and sips that flirt, slay and satisfy
Major food companies like General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Conagra and Smucker are leading a sweeping shift away from synthetic colours. Here’s where the US food industry stands right now
One California shopper says it’s not what’s inside a PopCorners bag that’s the problem - but what isn’t
Strawberry jam Lay’s? Bratwurst Doritos? Behind the brands, PepsiCo chefs are taking experimental flavours to the streets
The snacking giant aims to build a more resilient food system from the ground up
Kellogg’s, PepsiCo, Mondelēz and Conagra are taking aggressive steps to defend their turf and redefine the rules of the snack aisle
Majors such as Danone, PepsiCo and Nestlé explain why they’re transitioning to regenerative farming
Clean label used to be the goal. Now it’s just the baseline and the smartest brands are going further, stripping out the fluff, tightening the science and telling a clearer story
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
PepsiCo is digging into regenerative agriculture with fresh purpose, rolling out a pilot programme that puts low-carbon potato farming at the centre of its climate strategy in Latin America
The snack aisle is facing a reckoning as appetite-suppressing drugs, rising costs and shifting consumer values take a bite out of growth. Is the global love affair with snacking finally starting to crumble?
PepsiCo is now sourcing sunflower oil from regenerative farms in Argentina through a landmark partnership with Syngenta. Could this signal a broader shift in how snack makers think about sustainable procurement?
Innovation watch
Snacking is getting smarter, bolder and more unexpected by the day, with innovators pushing the boundaries of flavour, function and form. Which of these boundary-breaking bites will lead the next big snack innovation wave?
The Trump Administration’s crackdown on artificial colours has manufacturers split: some gearing up for reformulation; others pushing back hard. Will industry cooperation or confrontation shape the future of food colour?
Investors are increasingly finding the sweet spot in startups that blend snacking with social and environmental purpose
To celebrate 4/20 - the unofficial cannabis holiday - JM Smucker is giving Hostess a puff of cultural relevance by cozying up to cannabis fans
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has accelerated the timeline for food manufacturers to eliminate synthetic dyes such as Red 40, setting a firm two-year deadline during a recent interview
Major US brands like Walmart and PepsiCo are facing a wave of consumer boycotts over rollbacks to their DEI commitments, while General Mills is under fire for allegedly selling overpriced, chemical-laden foods and contributing to worsening food insecurity
World Vanilla Day is back on 10 April and brands are celebrating with a wave of bold, creamy, vanilla-forward innovations
Snack prices are soaring and Americans are cutting back - leaving chips, crackers and cookies on the shelves. Is Trump’s chaotic trade policy to blame for crushing the snack market?
The UK is cracking down on advertising and promotions of products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) like never before. But are these tough new rules actually making Brits healthier or just making shopping more frustrating?
PepsiCo tries to shake off recent market challenges with a revamped better-for-you portfolio, acquiring Poppi, Siete Foods and Sabra
PepsiCo, Kellogg, General Mills, Smucker’s and Kraft Heinz saw their stock prices tumble as Robert F Kennedy Jr delivered his anticipated ultimatum. Now, these food giants face a stark choice: remove artificial dyes or risk financial and regulatory fallout
Grupo Bimbo, PepsiCo, Kellanova, JM Smucker, Hershey, Ingredion and ADM are standing out in the food industry by proving that ethics and profitability go hand in hand
Women are driving change, breaking barriers and redefining leadership in ways that create lasting impact. But what does it take to ensure the next generation of female leaders has the support, opportunities and resources to thrive?
Donald Trump’s second-term DEI purge is sending shockwaves through corporate America, with companies scrambling to decide whether to gut their diversity commitments or risk backlash. With even Black History Month on the chopping block, what does that say...
From swicy crackers to chili-spiked honey, the snacking industry is proving that heat is here to stay. Whether you crave a subtle warmth or a fiery kick, these products deliver bold flavours.
The bakery and snack sectors are facing an avalanche of lawsuits, with producers battling claims of deceptive marketing, unfair pricing and even food addiction allegations. Once seen as harmless indulgences, their products are now at the centre of legal...
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) face mounting scrutiny as regulators push for transparency. Will front-of-pack labelling drive real change or just add red tape?
Super Bowl LIX wasn’t just a battle on the field - it was a high-stakes showdown for advertisers vying for consumer attention with bold, story-driven campaigns. But did brands fumble or did they score big?
For years, cartoon mascots have turned cereals and snacks into kid magnets, fuelling endless pester power in supermarket aisles. Now, retailers are stripping them away to fight childhood obesity - but will it work?
Every year, snack brands wage an all-out marketing blitz to capture their share of Game Day indulgence. With sky-high ad prices and fierce competition, companies are betting big that their chips, dips, and baked goods will be the real MVPs (most valuable...
The Super Bowl isn’t just about touchdowns and halftime shows; it’s also one of the biggest food consumption events of the year. What are the latest trends, spending habits, and favourite snacks that define this massive snacking event?
PepsiCo’s latest earnings report has sent a clear warning to the snacks industry: consumer habits are shifting, and not necessarily in favour of traditional packaged foods. Could this be the beginning of the end for classic salty snacks?
India is a chocolate box of opportunity for global food and beverage manufacturers. Its mix of youth, a booming middleclass and rising disposable incomes is an especially delicious recipe irresistible to FMCG corporates hellbent on growing revenues and...
In a groundbreaking move that could redefine corporate strategies in advertising and marketing, PepsiCo has committed to a policy of viewpoint-neutral advertising