4 ways food brands can win in China’s ‘conscious indulgence’ era
Chinese consumers are among the most discerning in the world, and guilt-free indulgence is leading local innovation trends. Here are four ways food firms can capitalise
Retailer & shopper insights
East meets West: How AI and social commerce are reshaping the future of retail
Social commerce and agentic AI are colliding to create a new commerce paradigm – and NielsenIQ says manufacturers and retailers need to get ahead of it now
Walmart leads but Costco and Dollar General are gaining ground with shoppers
New data from Placer.ai reveals shifting shopper dynamics among the top four big-box chains – and what it means for CPG brands navigating an increasingly consolidated retail landscape
Nutella, Lindt, Häagen-Dazs and McVitie’s: The brands going nuts in 2026
From Dubai chocolate and pistachio ice cream to peanut butter chilli crisp, nuts are powering some of 2026’s biggest food trends
The big brands chasing the experience economy
From snack cafés to immersive retail and branded restaurants, food and drink companies are turning physical experiences into a new form of marketing.
7 ways GLP-1s are driving the freeze-dried snack frenzy
Smaller appetites, clean label cravings and the internet obsession with crunch are turning freeze-dried snacks into one of the hottest categories in global food
Personalised taste: Is this the future of food?
The food sector aims to target consumer by geography and by demographic, giving them the flavours they want
Less sugar, more pressure: Scotland’s HFSS rules force a food industry rethink
With Scotland’s HFSS restrictions arriving in October, food manufacturers are under mounting pressure to reformulate products without sacrificing taste, texture or brand identity
Up the food chain
Europe’s copy-paste problem in US bakery
Why European bakery brands keep getting the US wrong and what it really takes to compete
Japan Focus: Glico on snack trends, amazake jelly sticks, tea innovation and more
In this edition of Japan Focus, we dive into Glico’s strategy for growth in the snack category, modernising amazake for consumers, tea innovations, and more
From protein to prebiotics: 11 launches tapping into longevity nutrition
Brands are reformulating everyday foods with more protein, fibre and functional ingredients as consumers look to support strength, digestion and long-term wellbeing through daily eating habits
How cottage cheese reinvented itself
Cottage cheese is being reinvented through new formats, younger consumers and rising global demand – and brands are only just getting started
The snack barometer: The Iran conflict and the limits of consumer resilience
Food companies are becoming some of the clearest observers of the economic fallout from the Iran conflict as fuel volatility, inflation fears and changing spending habits begin reshaping behaviour across the supermarket aisle
Calm in the chaos: How US bakers are fighting back on regulation, reformulation and a restless consumer
At the recent American Bakers Association Convention (ABA), industry leaders made one thing clear – in a volatile market, credibility, collaboration and consumer connection will decide who thrives
The death of the free airline snack
Delta’s decision to scrap complimentary snacks and drinks on hundreds of flights is exposing a bigger shift across global aviation.
The simple sandwich is pushing boundaries like never before
What was once the easiest thing to grab is now one of the hardest formats to execute well and one of the most commercially important to get right
TikTok-fuelled food shortages: How industry can respond
TikTok-led demand for products like ube and pistachio is straining global supply
Coca-Cola to Funfetti: Food brands celebrate America’s 250th birthday with limited-edition products
US grocery shelves are getting a patriotic makeover this summer as food manufacturers launch limited-edition products
PepsiCo’s second restaurant gamble is bigger, bolder and riskier
Following its first foray into hospitality in Madrid, PepsiCo is doubling down in Shanghai to test just how far a snack brand can stretch
Cult favourites, remixed: 13 snack launches turning hype into shelf power
From sell-out chocolates to viral condiments and nostalgic collabs, cult favourites are scaling up and forcing the industry to rethink how loyalty is built
FBIF 2026
Kraft Heinz insights: Is the concept of consumer brand loyalty dead?
In an era where consumers are bombarded with new products at every turn and purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by technology, is brand loyalty no longer a thing? There is hope yet, says Kraft Heinz
Time’s ‘10 Most Influential Food Companies’ list misses some of the real disruptors
The 103-year-old magazine’s latest picks highlight companies on the move, but some of the forces genuinely reshaping food in 2026 sit beyond that shortlist
The new wave of health-first bites and sips
From fibre-packed grains to protein-loaded snacks and low-sugar treats, ‘better-for-you’ is getting more targeted and far less boring
5 food and drink innovations shaping the industry’s next growth wave
Smart insight is driving innovation to the next level, whether it’s how to better tap into GLP-1 nutrition or the rise of frozen snacks, manufacturers are getting clever
Why weird works: The most left-field product launches of the past 12 months
Beef for breakfast, ketchup in a smoothie, crisps that taste like a battery – brands have spent the past year testing how far they can push consumers, and in some cases, finding they’ll go further than expected
TRIP expands night-time portfolio with CBD-free sleep range
UK-based CBD drinks brand TRIP has expanded its night-time offering with the launch of new Dream Gummies and Dream Powder, formulated without the brand’s flagship ingredient.
QR codes on-pack: Smart engagement or the next labelling fight?
They promise transparency and storytelling, but new research suggests QR codes are currently doing far more selling than informing
Private label is surging. Here are 3 ways food brands can fight back
Food and drink brands are fast losing ground to private labels. But they can still win
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
3 strategies to help CPG marketers drive breakthrough results with less money
Tighter budgets, fragmented media and shrinking attention spans are forcing brands to rethink marketing success
From Warburtons to Tostitos and wildbrine: 9 picnic-ready bites for spring
Hot honey, smoky barbecue, dips, chips and fermentation are turning the spring picnic into a more flavour-led, shareable occasion
PepsiCo, Nestlé and Coca-Cola double down on Mexico as food players chase growth and stability
Mexico is drawing billions from the world’s biggest F&B companies, but behind the investment wave sits a more complex mix of cost pressure, regulation and an increasingly competitive domestic landscape.
Walmart revamps private label as shoppers redefine what ‘value’ means
Packaging overhaul comes as inflation-weary consumers, including higher earners, turn to private label for lower prices without sacrificing quality
Why TikTok is the new battleground for FMCG sales
TikTok Shop is fast becoming a serious FMCG sales channel. Here’s how
Walker’s, Coca-Cola, Drumstick and Cadbury turn April into an activation playground
From tartan parades and WWE rings to cookie boards and cricket stadiums, April’s launches show how partnerships are doing the heavy lifting for NPD
When demand falls but prices rise, who really pays?
From $7 chips to $8 cereal, food pricing is starting to defy logic – and the consequences aren’t falling neatly on one side
How Bel defied global snacking headwinds
The maker of Babybel has been on a sustained growth trajectory by leaning into new flavours, formats and ingredient trends
6 key food innovation trends driven by feel good indulgence
Consumer demand for indulgence — and feeling good about it — is increasingly driving food innovation strategies. Here are six key drivers powering this change.
NPD: Match-day bites built for energy, heat and hype
From protein boosts to pie aisle heat, these new product launches are bringing sportier energy to snacking this season
Circana: Private label takes different paths in the US and Europe
With national brands leaning on promotions, retailers are betting on premium private label, better-for-you innovation and ESG commitments to build long-term trust and loyalty
Just launched: Baguette wraps, chocolate egg mayo and more . . .
NPD is taking old trends to new places
Up the food chain
How Clio plans to turn Greek yoghurt bars into a $300m business
As protein, satiety and indulgence converge, Clio CEO John McGuckin explains how the refrigerated bar brand went from ‘bleeding cash’ to chasing $120m – and why the real prize is building a whole new snacking category
The hottest food and drink trends for 2027...or are they?
Our food and drink trend predictions for 2027 are starting early. But beware, some may have you fooled
Easter shopping trends in 2026: Darker, smaller, last minute
Easter shopping is shifting towards premium, playful and last-minute purchases
Gut instinct: The 10 functional ingredients gaining ground in 2026
Dietitians’ latest data points to a more grounded approach to functionality, where gut health, cost and credibility matter as much as claims
Retro and nostalgia: Why consumers are looking to the past
Consumers seek comfort and familiarity from food
How snacks are cashing in on the low/no alcohol trend
Gen Z might be easing off the booze, but it’s crisps, cheese and protein-packed nibbles that are quietly keeping things interesting
Global snacking with Ginsters, Lay’s, Frankie’s and more
From buffalo pastry pockets and protein scone bites to sprouted nuts, snack mixes and football-fuelled crisps, brands are pushing harder on flavour, format and occasion
Sweet proteins promise a sugar reset but new questions are emerging
Oobli’s CEO is betting on protein-based sweetness to cut sugar at scale, but the shift raises uncomfortable questions for regulators, manufacturers and the supply chain
5 big food trends in Spain
What do Spanish consumers want?
Why Big Food is reformulating growth not just recipes
From halted breakups to billion-dollar buyouts, the world’s biggest food groups aren’t just tweaking products, they’re rethinking how growth works