Unilever-McCormick merger: Anti-trust consultation begins
The deal will be scrutinised for its impact on competition
Business
CEO shuffle at Syngenta nets ADM a new executive
Agriculture company Syngenta names a new leader in anticipation of its Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing, with its former chief executive leaving to ADM
Utz to go private in $2.9 billion Intersnack deal as shares surge
Stock nearly doubled after Intersnack agreed to pay $14.24 per share in cash, a 91% premium over its prior close
The climate shock that could reshape food costs until 2027
A strengthening El Niño is expected to drive the next wave of food inflation, leaving manufacturers with a narrowing window to protect margins before higher costs work their way through global supply chains
First-ever global standard promises more consistent yeast for bakers worldwide
A first-of-its-kind Codex Alimentarius standard, adopted in Geneva this month, gives baker’s yeast a single global definition for the first time in its long history
Critics slam DOJ’s $3.3 million egg price-fixing settlement
Legal experts and antitrust watchdogs argue the penalty is negligible compared to billions allegedly earned through manipulated egg prices
The next grocery battle isn’t price – it’s relevance
A new phase of grocery shopping is emerging, one that will push brands to compete on relevance rather than rely on inflation-driven dollar growth, private-label gains or consumers trading down
Three years on: Why Smucker’s $5.6bn Hostess bet still hasn’t paid off
“Tastes like growth” has become a punchline the jam giant would rather forget
Where does the food industry see the strongest growth?
As traditional categories struggle, F&B is turning towards areas of higher value
Four new cacao types just handed chocolate a lifeline
A Peruvian gene-hunt has rewritten the cacao family tree, handing breeders fresh raw material just as disease and extreme weather squeeze the world’s cocoa supply
What food manufacturers really think about AI: New industry research
Food and drink manufacturers are stepping up their interest in AI – but how far has adoption really progressed and what is holding businesses back?
The unintended consequences of private label’s success
Retailers built own-label empires to squeeze branded manufacturers out of the middle ground – instead, they’ve squeezed some of the most interesting product innovation in years out of them
Nearly a quarter of all US grocery units sold are now private label
Store brands continue to outpace national competitors in unit sales, as grocery shoppers rethink loyalty amid pricing pressures
Why is private equity interested in food?
Segments of the industry are being snapped up by private capital, and for good reason
Allied renamed as Hovis Bakeries after ABF acquisition completes
Associated British Foods (ABF) has renamed its Allied Bakeries as Hovis Bakeries after the acquisition of its rival has completed.
The great fragmentation of snacking
The biggest opportunities in snacking no longer lie in broad categories, but in owning one highly specific eating occasion
Growth to 2030: How FMCG firms can win amid market volatility
How can APAC food, nutra and FMCG firms boost growth through 2030? NielsenIQ shared strategies to navigate uncertainty and unlock new opportunities at our Growth Asia Summit 2026.
Summer Fancy Food Show
Walmart debunks 3 myths that deter emerging brands
Walmart executives challenge common assumptions about national distribution, premium positioning and the retailer’s shopper base, and share the performance metrics they say matter most after launch
Retail in Focus
Kroger’s purchase of Giant Eagle gives Walmart a run for their money
The nation’s largest pure-play grocery chain makes its first move into the Northeast following the botched Albertsons merger, but will it work?
Is AI vision worth the hype?
Visual inspection is a crucial part of the production process to ensure food safety and quality, but as AI-powered systems become more advanced are traditional methods due an upgrade?
Iran conflict: food sector’s 8 biggest casualties
Impacts from the Iran conflict have rippled across the global food system, with disruption taking an overall toll on food security and supply chains
General Mills embraces protein innovation and launches $3 billion savings initiative
The company outlines a four-year productivity push as it navigates inflation and invests in product innovation
Sweets & Snacks Expo
Mars rethinks seasonality to drive bigger sales with smaller moments
The confectionery maker says future growth depends less on recruiting new snackers and more on creating more consumption occasions through micro-seasons, cultural moments and holiday extensions
Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever’s court battle enters a decisive phase
The long-running governance dispute in the US is at an inflection point
Private-equity firm acquires $1.6 billion Irca as Dubai chocolate trend fuels growth
The Italian baking, chocolate and ice cream ingredients maker will focus on M&A, supply chain optimization and international expansion
Why the smartest food marketing begins when everything goes wrong
From stolen chocolate to monochrome packaging, some of the food industry’s most effective marketing campaigns have grown out of operational problems rather than creative briefs
Why some food startups succeed while others never leave the classroom
Riff may still be in its infancy, but the lessons four students learned while turning a university assignment into a registered snack business could help other founders avoid making the same mistakes
Tate & Lyle, Ingredion and the new ingredients land grab
The Ingredion-Tate & Lyle deal signals a shift in the ingredients industry, where technical expertise is becoming as valuable as the ingredients themselves
Will India’s Sugar Export Ban Shake Up Global Food Markets?
The sugar export ban was announced to a lot of international concern, but real impacts are likely to be lopsided globally. Here’s why
Private equity tightens hold on Big Food
Private equity is reshaping food and beverage, but rising costs raise questions over just how far it can go
A decade of Brexit: 10 major impacts on F&B
It’s a decade since the UK’s historic vote to leave the European Union – and the results are mixed
The promotion trap: Why branded pricing strategies aren’t stopping private label
If promotions are supposed to win back shoppers, why is private label still taking over the basket?
When everything is a snack, is anything a snack?
The most important finding in Mondelez International’s latest State of Snacking report isn’t that people are snacking more but that the industry may no longer know what a snack is
UK food firms to gain greater access to Mexican market under CPTPP
British businesses are set to gain greater access to the Mexican market under enhanced Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) terms.
Experts warn against false sense of security as food inflation falls
Food and drink inflation has unexpectedly fallen to 2.2% in the year to May, down from 3% in the year to April.
The ‘Uh-Oh SpaghettiOs’ lawsuit vs the court of public opinion
As online commentators dissect everything from sterilisation processes to consumer behaviour, the dispute offers a glimpse into how food safety claims are increasingly judged in the digital age
Iran-US peace deal: What it means for food
The deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
Deepfake food fraud threatens global brands
Fake contamination claims, AI-generated complaint letters and manipulated food images are creating a new fraud risk that regulators, delivery platforms and food businesses are struggling to contain
Uncrustables tops $1 billion as JM Smucker posts strong Q4
Food and beverage giant says it might reverse coffee price hikes as commodity costs decline
Is big business done with food?
Unilever and IFF are not the only companies viewing food segments as less attractive
Doritos without drivers? PepsiCo’s autonomous truck rollout sparks logistics debate
PepsiCo’s driverless truck experiment promises faster, cheaper deliveries, but it’s also exposing a growing battle over jobs, safety and the future shape of food supply chains
Britain’s biggest bakery honours are back
As the Baking Industry Awards (BIA) return for their 39th year, a new leadership category offers fresh insight into what excellence looks like in a bakery industry facing unprecedented change.
General Mills sees soft demand ahead, but also pockets of opportunity
Executives expect consumers to remain value-conscious, but believe investments in “remarkability” can boost growth across key categories
Can Gordon Ramsay redefine Doritos?
PepsiCo’s decision to appoint Gordon Ramsay as the new global partner for Doritos Loaded raises an intriguing question
Ingredion acquires upcycled prebiotic fiber amid $3.7 billion Tate & Lyle bid
Upcycled carrot prebiotic aligns with the company’s push into health-focused ingredients
Nestlé snaps up smart food brand Yfood
The first acquisition under new CEO Philipp Navratil comes just two months after Danone announced its acquisition of Huel
Top tips to avoid trade mark infringement at the 2026 World Cup
Even social media is a danger zone... avoid an own goal with advice from top IP firm, Withers & Rogers
Who’s winning the World Cup before kick-off?
With FIFA forecasting a record $13bn in revenue from World Cup 2026, snack manufacturers are betting that football’s biggest tournament can deliver equally outsized returns
The great snack paradox: 7 lessons from snack’s biggest brands
Lay’s, Doritos, Lindt and Oreo are worth billions despite growing pressure from health trends, private label and changing consumer habits. Here’s what they’re getting right
ThaiFex-Anuga Asia 2026
3 make or break factors for Asian brands in the West
The western world is home to many of the world’s most established food brands, so what strategies can Asian brands use to crack desirable markets like Europe or the US?