News & Analysis on the Bakery and Snacks Industries
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
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
PepsiCo’s Quaker brand is using science, local know-how and a bit of stubborn optimism to tackle one of the toughest global challenges
A coalition of plant scientists are cataloguing the diversity of oats and their wild relatives, examining the genetic makeup of 33 common oat types and mapping more than nine thousand in detail.
The CPG giant is adapting products, pack sizes and marketing to place aging consumers, GLP-1 users and Hispanic shoppers at the center of its fiscal 2026 plans
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a landmark bill yesterday requiring the state to define UPF and eliminate the ‘most harmful’ ones from school meals over the next 10 years – a decisive action in sharp contrast to national efforts and political MAHA rhetoric
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
Sustainability September
Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance are teaming up to prove that how food is grown can directly boost nutrition, safety and consumer trust
The company is still recovering from a devastating recall in 2023 and focusing on the future
While USDA says the update would double food choices and close loopholes, advocates warn it won’t meaningfully expand healthy options and could strain small, independent retailers
Opinion
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...
Forget sugar for a moment. A new analysis shows kids’ cereals are steadily losing the very nutrients that once made them worth eating at all
A University of Leeds study found baby cereals and snacks dominated by UPFs (ultra-processed foods), with sugar-laden puffs and bars misled as ‘healthy’, leaving parents duped and kids primed for poor health
WK Kellogg Co.’s binding deal to drop petroleum-based dyes marks a turning point for a $10bn US category, raising the bar on trust, regulation and corporate accountability
From buttery croissants to protein biscuits and playful pancake mixes, breakfast is getting a fresh wave of innovation
From matcha to protein, snacks are getting smarter, cleaner and harder to resist. Here’s what’s new in the better-for-you aisle.
GROWTH ASIA SUMMIT 2025
Research shows that oats can lower age-related inflammation (iAge) in adults at risk for cardiovascular disease
The Italian confectioner is buying into breakfast cereals, hoping to stir up a category that’s seen better days
The snackdown
Just days apart, two titanic moves hit the global food sector like a double espresso: Ferrero snapped up WK Kellogg Co for $3.1 billion; and Kraft Heinz revealed plans to spin off its grocery arm in a $20 billion restructuring
Here’s a cornucopia of ‘braticoqueta’-worthy snacks and sips that flirt, slay and satisfy
Ready for the new world of GLP-1 food and drink? Want to keep up to speed with the latest in functional and plant-based ingredients, alternative proteins, sugar reduction tech and much more? Here are some of the innovations set to star at the global food...
There is white space for healthier children’s cereals, but will consumers buy them?
The FMCG major has a positive outlook despite a negative end to the year
While a new JAMA study flags rising sugar and salt in kids’ cereals, a major review in Nutrients finds the right bowl can still boost public health
This year’s roundup is stacked with fresh launches that bring the flavour, flex the function and don’t skimp on the fun. Which of these new snacks will earn a spot in Dad’s secret stash?
Kellogg’s, PepsiCo, Mondelēz and Conagra are taking aggressive steps to defend their turf and redefine the rules of the snack aisle
The FDA’s call to phase out synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026 has kicked off a high-stakes scramble across the food industry. We caught up with IFT’s Renee Leber to find out what’s really at stake and what it will take to get reformulation right
General Mills is increasingly feeling the pressure on all sides, facing backlash over petroleum-based dyes in its cereals, consumer boycotts and weaker-than-expected earnings
Post-spin, WK Kellogg is making a bold play to redefine cereal as a health food. But can a marketing framework overcome falling sales, tariff pressures and consumer scepticism?
Healthy snacks are no longer just a niche; they’re leading the charge in what consumers expect from food. These standout products prove you don’t have to sacrifice flavour, fun or convenience to make smarter snacking choices
Across categories from crackers to cookies, these limited edition launches show why urgency, nostalgia and innovation are a winning recipe
Innovation watch
Snacking is getting smarter, bolder and more unexpected by the day, with innovators pushing the boundaries of flavour, function and form. Which of these boundary-breaking bites will lead the next big snack innovation wave?
Breakfast is undergoing a quiet revolution as traditional routines crumble under the weight of modern life. Is the classic bowl of cereal becoming a relic of the past?
From quick-grab oat cakes to indulgent chocolatey cereal clusters, breakfast is having a serious glow-up in 2025
Milseáin draíochta (magical treats) await! The craic is mighty (the fun is great) this St Patrick’s Day with a feast of festive flavours - from golden shortbread to cereal that turns your milk green - because every bite should be as magical as the day itself
PepsiCo, Kellogg, General Mills, Smucker’s and Kraft Heinz saw their stock prices tumble as Robert F Kennedy Jr delivered his anticipated ultimatum. Now, these food giants face a stark choice: remove artificial dyes or risk financial and regulatory fallout
While WK Kellogg Co wrestles with supply chain upheavals and takeover speculation, the WK Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) remains a steady force of philanthropy
WK Kellogg Co is in the spotlight after reports of a potential takeover by Ferrero. While leadership stayed silent on a sale at CAGNY, they outlined bold plans for growth beyond cereal.
For years, cartoon mascots have turned cereals and snacks into kid magnets, fuelling endless pester power in supermarket aisles. Now, retailers are stripping them away to fight childhood obesity - but will it work?
As consumer interest in health deepens, the connection between everyday food choices and long-term health outcomes has come under intense scrutiny. Could some savory snacks and even ultra-processed foods (UPFs) unexpectedly offer heart health benefits?
As we dive into the world of new product development (NPD) in this seasonal segment, it's clear that pumpkin spice is more than just a fleeting trend.
Has the newly independent company been able to leverage its iconic brands and agile operations to maintain a competitive edge in a challenging industry?
As ingredient and production costs rise, more businesses are quietly reducing product sizes to stay competitive – but what are the long term risks for brand reputation and customer loyalty?
The mega payout by Mars, Inc. for Kellanova is driven by the candy giant’s desire to expand its footprint in the fast-growing market for healthier snacks, which is underpinned by consumer preference that is shifting away from traditional packaged foods...
From one of the largest transactions in the food industry in recent years to smaller deals to achieve scale to offset changing consumer preferences and economic pressures, the bakery and snacks sectors have been experiencing significant M&A activity...
Research by Coeliac UK into the cost of gluten free (GF) food shows that while overall food inflation has reduced over the past two years, Brits with celiac disease are still facing a huge additional burden both in terms of cost and availability.
Are you up to date on the latest regulations and innovations regarding acrylamide in salty snacks? With rising regulatory pressures and evolving consumer demands, it’s critical to stay ahead – are your strategies up to par?
As the older demographic increases and live longer, their need for functional snacks is inevitably growing, while the younger generations have wholeheartedly embraced the concept of healthy aging.
Gelita has launched its new Optibar collagen blend to allow manufacturers to create "future-proof, next-generation" protein bars that are both soft and low sugar.
