Warburtons cements its grip on UK bakery with Roberts acquisition
Warburtons has acquired Roberts Bakery’s Ilkeston site, expanding its specialty bread capacity as Britain’s bakery market continues to consolidate
Business
Roberts Bakery lands a lifeline
The century-old bread maker’s been pulled back from the brink after a rescue deal secured hundreds of jobs and gave new life to one of Britain’s best-known bakery brands
When cocoa and eggs get costly, bakers get creative
Commodity shocks, shifting diets and a hunger for nostalgia are forcing bakers to rethink their recipes and proving that innovation thrives under pressure
Opinion
The snackdown: Mars may win EU approval but retailers will decide Pringles’ fate
The European Commission may be ready to wave through Mars’ $36 billion takeover of Kellanova, but in Europe’s snack aisles, the regulator isn’t the kingmaker. The retailers are
The great color reckoning: America’s breakup with fake dyes
With US states set to ban or label synthetic dyes, Sensient CEO Paul Manning unpacks the economics, supply pressures and sensory science driving America’s shift to natural color
PepsiCo to invest in functional health and appoint new CFO following Q3 earnings
In its third quarter results, the multinational has beaten expectations in several key areas, but problems remain
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
Will Roberts Bakery survive in any form?
A leading insolvency expert warns that while the Roberts brand may live on, the 138-year-old family bakery is likely to be broken up and dissolved as administrators move in
Ferrero’s WK Kellogg takeover has everyone talking
With Ferrero’s $3.1 billion deal for WK Kellogg done and dusted, the cereal aisle is buzzing again and competitors are scrambling to figure out what this means for the rest of Big Food
Warburtons circles Roberts: Is Britain’s bread market about to get even smaller?
As Roberts Bakery teeters on the brink of administration, Warburtons has reportedly been circling its specialty breads factory. With ABF also eyeing Hovis in a £75m rescue play, Britain’s bread market faces a new era of consolidation
IBIE 2025: Robots, resilience and the reinvention of baking
Las Vegas became a proving ground for AI, automation and sustainability. ABA and BEMA argue the industry’s future depends on marrying technology with tradition
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
Final countdown: Ferrero-Kellogg merger one step closer to completion
Following a landslide shareholder vote, the merger deal is expected to close within days
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
General Mills’ turnaround play balances short-term price cuts with long-term ‘remarkability’
Despite steep sales and profit declines in the first quarter, the Cheerios maker says price cuts, increased advertising and innovation are winning over budget-conscious consumers and laying the groundwork for a volume-driven rebound in fiscal year 2026
Mars-Kellanova Deal: Commission restarts the clock
The EU has resumed its investigation into Mars’ $35.9bn merger with Kellanova, following a stop in July
Nestlé chairman Paul Bulcke resigns amid CEO scandal
Nestlé fast-tracks leadership change following investor pressure
Sustainable September
Agricultural sustainability grants up for grabs
The USDA, National Geographic Society and Growing Justice Fund offer funding to strengthen food production
From cake pops to circular economy: Upcycling gains ground in Africa
Africa’s food sector is turning to upcycling to cut waste, lower costs and build resilience amid climate and supply chain pressures
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
Alternative materials market strengthens as sustainability declines
As the need for alternatives becomes clearer, sustainability fades into the background
Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2025
From pistachio butter to rainforest chocolate: Artisans shine at leading food fair
Here’s what caught our eye at the UK Speciality and Fine Food Fair 2025
Opinion
The snackdown: How a pack of chips became a scandal
The Herr’s affair was clumsy, comic and viral. But beneath the memes sits a sharper truth – reputation can be undone by the smallest, silliest gesture
Tariff war takes a turn with removal of hundreds of items
US continues negotiations with trade partners while awaiting Supreme Court to overturn blocked tariffs
Campbell’s feels the crunch as America’s snack appetite slows
Campbell’s latest results show America’s once unstoppable appetite for crackers, cookies and pretzels is stalling – leaving Campbell Snacks under pressure
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
Betting on Donettes: Smucker’s snack strategy laid bare
Smucker didn’t spend $5.6bn on Hostess to watch margins collapse. With Twinkies under pressure, it’s cutting SKUs, shutting plants and leaning on Donettes to prove its biggest snack gamble isn’t a sugar crash in the making
Mondelēz bets on collaborations as M&A costs climb
From Oreo x Reese’s to Biscoff tie-ups, partnerships are delivering the consumer buzz and sales lift that price cuts and big-ticket acquisitions no longer guarantee
Postcard from New York: Bagels, Basque cheesecakes & bakery rebels
Pastry pilgrims are no longer chasing cronuts – The Big Apple’s bakery trail now leads through cardamom-laced bánh, fung-donuts and ping-pong–shaped scones
Kraft Heinz split confirmed
The food giant will split into two focused companies - one global, one domestic - in a bid to simplify operations and unlock brand potential
Opinion
The snackdown: MAHA throws a Froot Loop at Kellogg’s
Once the pride of America’s breakfast table, Kellogg’s now finds itself in the crosshairs of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Make America Healthy Again crusade. The fight over Froot Loops isn’t just about dyes – it’s a test of whether Big Food can survive a...
Nestlé’s CEO scandal: What now?
Laurent Freixe has been dismissed over conduct violation - here’s everything you need to know
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
Ozempic nation: Why GLP-1s are forcing bakers and snack makers to rethink everything
GLP-1 drugs are gutting demand for cookies, chips and bread – threatening billions in sales but opening the door to a new wave of protein- and fiber-driven snacking
What CPG brands and retailers need to know about immigration enforcement
Be ready: What every CPG brand and retailer should know about immigration audits, raids and compliance
IBIE 2025: 7 reasons Vegas will be the hottest oven in baking
IBIE 2025 lands in Las Vegas this October with fresh pavilions, global talent, big competitions and the innovations set to shape baking’s future
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
Less healthy food rules slash HFSS sales by 2 million per day
The findings of the first independent evaluation of HFSS legislation show a marked reduction in purchases since the rules were put in place.
Tariffs in flux: What CPG brands need to know about ‘unavailable natural resources’ and cost pressures
The uncertainty and volatility of the US tariff environment are pushing CPG brands to navigate higher input costs while waiting for potential relief on essential commodities
ABF confirms £75m Kingsmill-Hovis merger
ABF’s £75m Hovis buyout could reshape UK bread market
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
ChAI launches first-of-its-kind AI-powered insurance for raw material sourcing
ChAI is embracing AI to help FMCG companies deal with dramatic fluctuations in raw material prices
How Kerry’s salt and sugar reduction tech is quietly driving its bottom line
As brands face mounting pressure to cut sodium and sugar without compromising taste, reformulation is no longer a niche concern – it’s driving real commercial gains. Kerry’s behind-the-scenes tech is helping reshape everyday foods and quietly lifting margins
US dairy renews push to restrict alt dairy labeling: but does it need to?
US dairy has long sought to ban alt dairy from using words like ‘milk’ on-pack. Is the industry set to get its way?
The snackdown
Snacklash: Why Big Food’s boldest deals are being rethought
As scrutiny mounts over Bimbo’s stalled bid for Wickbold, Mars’ frozen takeover of Kellanova and Smucker’s costly Hostess misfire, the M&A playbook in bakery and snacks is under serious pressure - from regulators, consumers and the market itself
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
Magnum CEO appointed: Who is Peter ter Kulve?
Unilever has appointed a new CEO for its demerged ice-cream business
Mars-Kellanova deal in jeopardy as Commission ‘stops the clock’
European Commission pauses review of $35.9bn Kellanova deal, citing “missing information”
Is Smucker’s $5.5bn Hostess deal headed for a legal meltdown?
The deal that closed on November 7, 2023 is now under fire as sales slump, losses mount and legal investigations heat up - raising serious questions for food‑industry M&A