Barbecue flavors abound in CPG brands, marking the beginning of summer
Meat on the grill is only part of the story for brands across the food and beverage landscape bringing bold flavors to outdoor cooking
Snacks
Fermentation turns up the heat in snacks
As consumers demand hotter, more complex flavours alongside cleaner labels and lower sodium, fermentation is emerging as an increasingly valuable tool for snack formulators
Red, white and chew: The limited edition treats marking America’s 250th birthday
America’s biggest birthday party is inspiring a summer of patriotic flavours, nostalgic treats and celebratory packaging
Mondelēz reveals taste is no longer king in snacking
Consumers aren’t simply looking for something tasty. Mondelēz International’s latest report suggests they increasingly want food that entertains, comforts and gives them something worth talking about
Beech-Nut bets on the overlooked preschool snacking market
US rollout aims to fill gap between toddler food and traditional snacks for kids 4 years-plus
Protein crisps, cereal milk ice cream and matcha cookies: Meet snacking’s new shape-shifters
From pizza-flavoured protein bars in the US to matcha cookies in the UK, brands are blurring the boundaries between indulgence, functionality and convenience
Taste still rules, but may no longer be enough to win in the snack aisle
New Circana data shows consumers increasingly expect functional benefits alongside flavor, driving a shift from ‘better-for-you’ to ‘nutritious and delicious’ snacks, like those showcased at Sweets & Snacks Expo by Barebells, Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn and...
Protein ice cream, EPG and the future of food: Why David’s Peter Rahal is betting on tech over branding
David’s protein ice cream sold out in 28 minutes of launching, but founder Peter Rahal says the real story isn’t frozen dessert – it’s how proprietary food technology could reshape the future of indulgence
Snack bar startups draw capital around protein, function and format
Stars + Honey’s recent funding to scale its collagen protein snack bars reflects broader capital investment towards nutrition, functionality, clean label and format innovation in the snack bar category
Behind the rise of protein-rich peanut butter snacks
Global peanut butter sales are projected to reach $8.5B as CPG brands roll out better-for-you, portion-controlled innovations
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
Functional stacking: the new nutrition obsession you haven’t heard of yet
Matthew Balkin, Huel’s former nutrition lead, Registered Nutritionist and founder of Balkin Nutrition, looks at the future of nutrition as its focus moves from just ingredients to biological systems.
How PepsiCo plans to grow a 220-year-old nut brand
PepsiCo is betting on premiumisation, protein, new consumption occasions and younger consumers to fuel Duyvis’ next chapter
New product launches: Jaffa Cakes, Pukka and PAUL lead a great British summer of bakes
From Bakewell Tarts and football cupcakes to pie pop-ups and potato buns, brands are serving up a distinctly British mix of nostalgia, innovation and indulgence this season.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2026
4 forces forging the future of sweets and snacks
The latest innovations in candy and snacks reveal how consumers are redefining fun, flavor and function
Has the ‘better-for-you’ boom gone too far in kids’ snacks?
As wellness claims flood the kids’ snacks aisle, some brands warn parents are becoming more sceptical of ‘better-for-you’ marketing and more focused on what products actually contain
Processed foods aren’t going away, but they are evolving
In the gap between consumers’ intention and reality, is there room for processed food in a healthy diet?
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
Are some ultra-processed foods good for you?
Not all UPFs are created equal, and a new expert panel says federal regulators should draw a clear line between those that are harmful and those that doctors recommend
Bel’s Brainiac buy signals next wave in kids’ snacks
The Bel Group acquisition of Brainiac highlights a fast-growing category where nutrition science, parental anxiety and marketing ambition are converging
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
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.
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
Rip Van sees opportunity as rising snack prices narrow gap for better-for-you treats
The low-sugar stroopwafel brand is using price parity and portion control to win over health-conscious consumers
‘Healthy’ has moved on – have snacks?
From fibre and protein to texture and sensation, the new rules of healthy snacking go far beyond cutting sugar, salt and fat
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
Italy’s antitrust watchdog slaps €23.3m fines on snack makers over alleged private label cartel
The country’s regulator says leading suppliers coordinated private label deals instead of competing for them
Next-gen potatoes: Why crisp makers are getting serious about what’s in the ground
New potato varieties are being designed to meet the snacks industry’s exacting demands on yield, storage and fry performance
CPG gears up for Cinco de Mayo on Taco Tuesday
A rare ‘Taco Eclipse’ is prompting Mexican brands to spotlight limited-edition tacos, new protein-rich beans and cheese-led recipes for celebrations
Hershey stock sell-off: Key stakeholder sells 30,000 shares
Major Hershey stakeholder sells shares following profit shock and leadership shift
Why overwhelmed shoppers may drive a reset in natural food marketing
Go Raw’s first brand campaign starts with a simple premise: snacks have become too complicated
As food brands tweak child marketing rules, UNICEF’s playbook still holds
As food brands rewrite child‑marketing rules, experts say voluntary action isn’t enough
Is microwave popcorn ready for disruption? Opopop thinks so
Next-generation microwavable popcorn brand Opopop got a big boost in March with nationwide distribution at Walmart, a launch that has kept the company innovating
10 iconic food and drink brands that flopped worldwide
From New Coke to Crystal Pepsi, even the biggest brands can fail fast
Food Ingredients China 2026
Gut health, clean label foods surge in China market
Chinese consumers are driving demand for natural, gut-friendly and plant-based ingredients, mirroring global trends and boosting innovation in functional products
TaoKaeNoi taps Chinese celebrity star power to boost seaweed snack growth
Thailand’s TaoKaeNoi has appointed Chinese celeb Chen Zheyuan as its global ambassador, tapping rising demand for Asian snacks and building a healthy positioning
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
Cacao pods and ‘ugly’ potatoes powering the upcycled foods movement
Brands like Roots Farm Fresh, Blue Stripes and Salt and Straw are finding new value in food waste through upcycled snacks and frozen foods
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
PepsiCo is in the middle of its biggest snack reset in years
From SKU cuts and factory closures to functional launches and acquisitions, PepsiCo is moving fast to streamline and prove its snack empire still matters
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
Are calorie counts wrong or just outdated? David Protein lawsuit sparks debate
A lawsuit challenging the nutrition claims of David Protein bars is putting calorie counts under the microscope and highlighting a deeper debate over how those numbers are determined in the first place.
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
Japanese crisps hit by Iran conflict
The Middle East fuel shock has forced a Japanese snack maker to halt production, exposing how quickly energy disruption can ripple through the wider food system
Global seaweed snack sales could double to $4.66B by 2030
North American and European markets are experiencing the fastest growth in seaweed snacks
Campbell’s snack gamble meets a tougher consumer
Snack weakness forced Campbell’s to cut its outlook after a difficult quarter, with the company admitting performance in the category fell short of expectations even as its premium Rao’s brand continued to surge
Why Lay’s, Oreo and M&M’s are engineering consumer experiences
PepsiCo’s Lay’s restaurant in Madrid highlights a growing strategy among snack giants to extend blockbuster brands beyond the supermarket shelf and into cafés, retail attractions and immersive consumer experiences
The Ozempic effect reaches the bread aisle: Bimbo redesigns bakery for GLP-1 users
The world’s biggest baker says GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are already reshaping how people eat, so it’s redesigning bread and snacks to keep up
National Snack Day: Inside the billion-dollar brands refusing to slow down
From Oreo’s $4bn global machine to Uncrustables’ rapid ascent, the snack aisle’s biggest names are banking billions and still investing like challengers