NPD report: Bread innovation goes big on protein, purpose and planet
A new study is changing what bakers know about sourdough, while a wave of launches from Thomas’ to Sara Lee is proving bread can be nutritious, inventive and purposeful all at once
Start-ups & disruptors
Diwali’s billion-dollar mithai boom goes global
Once an Indian household tradition, mithai (traditional confections) is now a global indulgence and brands like Haldiram’s are cashing in on Diwali’s sweet glow-up
Press start to snack: Inside the $200 billion gaming boom brands can’t ignore
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
Opinion
The snackdown: What happens when activists come to buy a baguette
Activist investors have developed an appetite for food-to-go and SSP Group, the company behind Upper Crust, is suddenly on the menu
Fright club: Halloween 2025 NPD gets bold, boozy and baked
Halloween spending is set to smash records this year, and brands are responding with limited edition launches designed to thrill. From eerie éclairs to glow-in-the-dark Goldfish, 2025’s NPD lineup is frightfully inventive
GLP-1-friendly snacks: protein-packed NPD
Weightloss drugs are changing the way people snack and brands are answering with protein-packed launches designed to keep cravings at bay while delivering serious flavor.
Opinion
The snackdown: Europe dithers while chocolate-linked deforestation grows
Brussels has kicked the can down the road on its flagship deforestation law again – blaming IT problems while forests fall and compliant companies foot the bill.
From Oreos to Ozempic: Inside the $100bn Free From race
Gluten-free cookies, sugar-free chocolate and GLP-1 diets are colliding. The world’s biggest food makers are scrambling to stay relevant
Buffalo Wings, Stranger Things and greener packs: Chips NPD heats up
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 step up with new regen ag push
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
Banks, bakers and brands bet on Africa’s supply chain
Erratic weather and rising costs are forcing Africa’s food sector to rethink how it sources grain and dairy – and how to keep bakeries and cereal lines running
Ferrero chooses New York cupcake disruptor for spooky collab: ‘This is a pinch me moment’
For Melissa Ben-Ishay, teaming up with Ferrero is a Halloween treat. But the Baked by Melissa CEO knows collabs are more than fun – they’re fueling serious business growth
Christmas is shaping up to be a real cracker
It may be only September, but it’s never too soon to talk about Christmas. In 2025, festive innovation is set to deliver indulgence, hybrids and playful nostalgia.
Archer gives snack meat market something to chew on
Premium protein company carves its niche in the rapidly evolving jerky industry
From field to aisle: Regenerative won’t work without supply chain buy-in
Heartland Craft Grains’ pact with Grown Climate Smart proves regenerative certification is becoming a supply-chain movement
Sam’s Club takes a slice of the pizza business with online sales growth
The warehouse club is growing its store count along with its prepared food offerings
Pumped for pumpkin NPD: Fall’s favorite flavor is back in force
From cookies and coffee to yogurt and popcorn, pumpkin spice is once again ruling the shelves
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
Sustainable September
What shoppers really think of climate-smart chips and planet-saving pastries
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?
Sustainable September
From net zero to no hunger: Bakery&Snacks powers up Sustainable September
Climate roadmaps, community kitchens and cleaner labels – Sustainable September showcases how bakery and snacks are delivering for consumers, the planet and communities, proving collaboration is the real gamechanger
Flavor bombs: 11 snack launches that push the taste envelope
From swicy seaweed to smoky crisps and cupcake bites, these NPD show flavor is still the ultimate snack currency
Bar fight: RXBar founder Peter Rahal’s $85m snack startup dragged into US court over control of key fat
The $85m New York protein bar startup from RXBar’s Peter Rahal is battling a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York over its control of a key fat substitute
Sustainable squid snacks: How The Hermit is disrupting the jerky category
Squid jerky startup targets the clean-label snack market
Inside the $1.1bn pumpkin spice economy: Fall’s flavor forecast for 2025
Pumpkin spice still anchors autumn, but fatigue is setting in. With cinnamon, caramel and citrus surging, makers must balance nostalgia with novelty to win fall 2025
What makes a GLP-1-friendly yogurt drink? Danone tells all
By formulating a dairy drink that specifically caters for weight loss medication users, Danone has set a new standard with Oikos Fusion
From Pringles cookies to bread in a suitcase: 15 snacks redefining fun
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
Is the Cherry Bakewell at risk? Almond shortages force UK bakers to rethink tradition
Almond shortages are pushing bakers to rethink classics like the Cherry Bakewell, swapping in clever flavor and texture alternatives to keep heritage bakes on the menu
GoodPop and SmartSweets collab blurs the line between snacking and frozen novelties
The collaboration sold out in minutes and again for a second time, prompting the two to consider future distribution
Energy costs and falling demand likely fuel Hovis-Kingsmill merger talks: “The bakery sector is unfortunately in the perfect storm”
Soaring energy bills, stubborn wheat prices and shrinking bread sales may be pushing Hovis and Kingsmill into a £75m tie-up that could rewrite the UK bakery pecking order
Rise and shine, it’s breakfast time: NPD to start the day right
From buttery croissants to protein biscuits and playful pancake mixes, breakfast is getting a fresh wave of innovation
Bread war brews as ABF circles Hovis in £75m rescue play
A long-rumored merger between two of Britain’s best-known bakery brands could finally be going ahead - but it’s not a victory lap. It’s a high-stakes gamble to stop the rot in a £5bn market that’s been slowly going stale
Postcard from Copenhagen: Buns, buzz and the new Nordic bake-off
Cardamom-laced icons, Instagram-famous cubes and sourdough swagger – Copenhagen’s bakeries are luring pastry pilgrims from around the globe in a flaky, flavor-packed takeover
Cocoa’s breaking point: How industry is rethinking chocolate
The cocoa market is in chaos and producers around the world are scrambling to adapt
Opinion
The snackdown: We need to talk about chips
Climate change isn’t just disrupting harvests - it’s coming for snack time
Snacks with benefits: Matcha, protein, THC edibles and functional fuel
From matcha to protein, snacks are getting smarter, cleaner and harder to resist. Here’s what’s new in the better-for-you aisle.
Magnum CEO appointed: Who is Peter ter Kulve?
Unilever has appointed a new CEO for its demerged ice-cream business
Bridging the innovation gap: Turing Labs’ domain-trained AI streamlines innovation execution
Turing Labs’ upgraded Luna AI promises to modernize product development and market execution by replacing legacy tools with proactive, domain-trained agents that take tasks from start to finish seamlessly
Top of the class: Back-to-school snacks that make the grade
Lunchbox legends are back and this year’s lineup is smarter, cleaner and more fun than ever. From pizza-flavored crunch to fruit-packed favorites, these snacks earn full marks from kids and parents alike
Snack lab confidential: The breakthrough innovations every brand should be watching
Startups are rewriting the snack rulebook with science, sustainability and serious shelf appeal. From fiber-hacking enzymes to protein-rich ice creams, these are the bold ideas catching the industry’s attention
The pizza pivot: Why stars like Ant & Dec are backing frozen bakery
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly’s frozen dough deal reflects a growing trend: celebrities are cashing in on the snack aisle’s delicious potential
Breaking the rules on purpose: A masterclass in brand rebellion
In a sea of sameness, Yumbo didn’t just launch – it rebelled. Here’s how breaking the marketing rules on purpose became its biggest advantage
Cakes, tarts and treats that truly impress
From plant-based celebration cakes to citrusy gluten-free bakes and playful candy mashups, this roundup is anything but ordinary
Texas AG targets Mars over continued use of artificial colours
Despite making a public commitment nearly a decade ago to phase out artificial colours, the M&M’s and Skittles maker is in hot water over its continued use of synthetic dyes in the US
GROWTH ASIA SUMMIT 2025
Mars Wrigley taps consumer obsession to fuel brand growth in APAC
New tactics emerge as a global giant rethinks how to win hearts, minds – and wallets – across a complex region
FDA redraws the rainbow to dye another day
The storm over artificial dyes is clearing and the FDA is ushering in a brighter, cleaner food palette. With Red No 3 fading fast and new colours blooming, brands are now racing to catch the rainbow
‘Braticoqueta’ bites: Snacks that channel the sassy energy of summer
Here’s a cornucopia of ‘braticoqueta’-worthy snacks and sips that flirt, slay and satisfy
Synthetic dyes are out. Here’s who’s in and how they’re achieving it
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
GLP-1 and the rise of mood foods: A new appetite for functional indulgence
With satiety drugs on the rise, snack producers face a new question: how do you sell joy to consumers who aren’t hungry?
When did protein become a lifestyle?
Protein isn’t just fuel anymore. It’s a daily habit, a health statement and the new snack standard
Berry much in season: A strawberry-studded NPD roundup
From pink pretzels to protein-packed doughnuts, here’s your ultimate roundup of strawberry-inspired products perfect for summer snacking and tennis viewing