Postcard from Tokyo: Where precision meets pastry drama
From mochi buns to croissant cubes, Tokyo’s bakeries are turning tradition on its head and the world is watching
Retailer & shopper insights
Opinion
The GLP-1 tsunami isn’t a diet trend – it’s a stress test for the food system
GLP-1 drugs are shrinking appetites at scale, but they’re also exposing how thin modern nutrition really is and the food industry can’t dodge the consequences
Is the protein snack boom running out of steam?
Flattening consumer interest and growing format fatigue suggest the category may be hitting a ceiling unless brands evolve beyond bars and bold claims
Why GLP-1s have turned fiber-maxxing into a snacking strategy
As GLP-1 drugs suppress hunger and compress eating occasions, fiber is emerging as a way to make smaller snacks feel functional, tolerable and worth the calories
Why the Super Bowl still delivers what TikTok can’t for food brand power
In a marketing culture obsessed with speed and efficiency, Southern Connecticut State University associate professor Amit Singh argues the Super Bowl exposes an uncomfortable truth about how real brand power is actually built
Trends vs fads: What’s shaping CPG in 2026?
In 2026, longevity – not hype – is the real differentiator
Game on: Flipz, Velveeta and SuperPretzel gear up for the Super Bowl
Super Bowl week snack sales reached $742m last year, and snack makers are leaning into shareable formats, bold flavors and activations again as the Big Game approaches
Fiber, FOMO and famous faces: Why brands are all-in on the Big Game
From cereal brands breaking decades-long silence to snack giants doubling down on celebrity and spectacle, Super Bowl 2026 is becoming a referendum on where brand marketing goes next
Amazon retreats in grocery with Fresh and Go closures across the US and UK
After years of testing AI checkouts and new store designs, Amazon is walking back its physical grocery ambitions to refocus on Whole Foods and experimental formats
Ultra-processed food fears mount even as consumer understanding about it lags
Americans increasingly factor processing into food choices, but inconsistent definitions and tradeoffs around convenience and cost leave room for clearer communication, according to new IFIC research
A bakery & snacks survival guide for 2026
Top 10 TikTok trends shaping bakery and snacks in 2026
From pistachio-packed fillings to products engineered to break, pull and ooze on camera, TikTok is reshaping what indulgence and value look like in 2026
From Snickers Ice Cream Minis to Oreo’s Marvel: Situational snacking takes shape
Big brands are rethinking formats, flavors and channels as snacks are redesigned for specific moments, tighter rules and more intentional eating
Healthy Snacking
Snacks are eating into the meal occasion creating new opportunities for brands
Consumers are turning to snacks for nutrition, satiety and convenience – blurring the line between eating occasions and pressuring brands to deliver more
Letter from the editor
2026 diet trends: What is in, what is out and what does it mean for CPG brands?
Consumers are redefining ‘healthy’ and rethinking nutrition to focus on their physical and mental well-being, which is creating opportunities and challenges for brands
How BuzzBallz became Gen Z’s global RTD obsession
BuzzBallz has become Gen Z’s go‑to party prop, fusing bold flavours, playful design and recession‑proof pricing to rewrite the rules of ready‑to‑drink cocktails
Rye January reveals how little Brits know about what’s in their bread
New consumer research shows that most UK consumers eat bread every day without really knowing what’s in it
The 3 nutrients quietly shaping mainstream snacks
Fiber, protein and whole grains aren’t new ideas but in 2026 they’re doing more than any superfood to reshape snack portfolios
Ingredients Compendium No. 1: L-theanine
The need for calm drives a green tea amino acid into the snack aisle
In a world that feels louder, faster and harder to switch off, L-theanine is finding a new role in snacks
Top 5 trends shaping healthy dairy snacking
From cheese bites to RTD beverages, dairy is primed for success in the healthy snacking space
Opinion
The line between snacking and confectionery is disappearing
Over time, the world’s biggest confectionery companies have rebranded their products as ‘snacks’. So what’s the problem?
From jerky breakfasts to chocolate superfoods: The smarter snacking NPD
Protein is everywhere, but it’s showing up in warmer flavors, softer formats and more inclusive designs as brands rethink what ‘fuel’ really means
McDonald’s India’s millet bun is a smart, subtle fix for the fiber gap
A quiet change to a burger bun in India says more about where fiber is heading than any claim ever could
A bakery & snacks survival guide for 2026
10 texture trends that will define bakery & snacks in 2026
Crunch isn’t enough anymore. In 2026, texture becomes the main event, not the supporting act
Oreo goes zero sugar, General Mills goes playful and January gets interesting
From Oreo’s first zero sugar sandwich cookie and General Mills’ breakfast reset to £2 pie pop-ups, protein-packed cereals and Burns Night limited editions, January’s launches show how brands are using comfort, culture and clever marketing
How affordable indulgence is driving APAC snack market
We explore how consumers are engaging in mindful spending and drawn to flavour innovations that balance taste and value
From kings’ cake to crunchy corn: Comfort snacks get a smarter glow-up for 2026
Indulgent treats aren’t being replaced – they’re being refined. This latest wave of NPD upgrades familiar formats with cleaner labels, global flavor cues and subtle functional gains
Performance nutrition booms as ‘everyday athletes’ take over
How the ‘everyday athlete’ is powering up performance nutrition
Top beverage trends for 2026
What are the top trends defining soft drinks in the coming year and beyond?
Scandals, shockwaves & shakeups: 12 of 2025’s most standout moments
From billion-dollar brinkmanship to red-dye revolts and zero-gravity corn chips, 2025 proved nothing in bakery and snacks is too big, too weird or too controversial to make headlines
3 food predictions that came true in 2025 (and 3 that didn’t)
What predictions were right, and which ones didn’t come to pass?
Africa’s new appetite: Inside the rapid rise of convenience snacking
Africa’s booming youth population is transforming the bakery and snacks landscape, creating opportunities for brands rooted in local culture and convenience
Consumers embrace gene-edited foods when brands focus on value, not science
Consumers are more open to gene-edited foods when benefits are clear, transparent, and aligned with their values – offering CPG brands a roadmap to communicate innovation effectively
The big December drop: Snack season starts now
From gingerbread nostalgia to chocolate trolleys and limited edition winter snacks, here’s what’s new this festive season
A new era of premium chocolate emerges
As consumers redefine premium chocolate through taste, ethics and wellness, everyday indulgence is replacing special-occasion luxury – opening the door for brands and retailers to grow margins, build loyalty and differentiate in a tightening,...
The ‘radically simple’ sweet snack revolution that’s getting juicy
Sweet snack trends are tilting toward simpler, fruit-forward formulations – and Solely’s approach is drawing fresh attention from retailers
Smucker’s Sweet Baked Snacks take a hit as Hostess reset bites into Q2
The J.M. Smucker Co.’s latest results show a business broadly on track, but its Sweet Baked Snacks segment is clearly in the painful middle of a reset
Domino’s switches up the toppings as UK boss exits
A leadership shift lands as the UK pizza chain tries to find momentum in a delivery market that’s proving tougher than expected
Biscuits, cookies & crackers: What’s trending now and into 2026
Premium treats, grab-and-go minis and a burst of festive innovation are giving the aisle more energy than it’s had in years
Postcard from Sydney: Lamingtons, loaves & legends
Sydney’s bakeries aren’t just baking – they’re performing. From sky-high lamingtons to cult sourdough, this city’s pastry scene blends precision, play and viral energy in every bite
Top 5 F&B retail trends for 2026
Discover the five trends that will define 2026, and why agility, authenticity, and technology will determine who succeeds and who fails
General Mills, WK Kellogg & Ferrero spark a fresh fight for the breakfast bowl
Once the poster child for easy mornings, breakfast cereal has been losing shelf swagger. Now a new wave of innovation, investment and protein-packed reinvention is pushing the category back into the spotlight
NPD: Feel-good snacking gets serious as brands go big on nostalgia, kindness & chaos
From colorless chips to collectible crisps and gooey skillet cookies, this season’s launches show how playful storytelling is reshaping what shoppers expect from a simple snack
Top food colour trends of 2026
Consumer desire for calm, wellness and vitality will affect colour trends in the coming year
Why Brits are ditching Christmas cake for panettone and stollen
The Great British fruitcake is losing its crown. Lighter, glossier European bakes are stealing the show – and the nation’s tastebuds – this Christmas
Trendspotting 2026
Beyond taste: The rise of the experiential treat in 2026
Flavor still rules bakery and snacks, but in 2026, the way they feel is fast becoming the new measure of delight
Christmas 2025: Sugar, spice & all things iced
From boozy puddings to glitter-dusted brownies, bakers are dialing up nostalgia, sparkle and flavor innovation to make this festive season the sweetest yet
Quaker is fighting global hunger with food science
PepsiCo’s Quaker brand is using science, local know-how and a bit of stubborn optimism to tackle one of the toughest global challenges
Flavor forecast 2026: What will consumers want in the new year?
Flavor houses are predicting what will drive success for F&B brand in 2026, including authenticity, artistry and immersion
Brewing loyalty: How coffee is powering bakery footfall
Coffee’s not just a pick-me-up anymore. It’s helping bakeries pull ahead in a slowing market
Snack to the future: How startups go from local crave to global shelf
Building a snack brand people love is one thing. Scaling it globally without losing your grip – or your supply chain – is another