Big Food’s big sell off: Who’s cutting loose and who’s cashing in
From shock splits to billion‑dollar buyouts, Big Food is making big changes. Here’s what’s driving the chaos, who’s cashing in, and who could be next
Gum
Texture innovation: Confectionery’s next frontier
From freeze‑dried sweets to ultra‑indulgent chocolate, texture is taking centre stage
Confectionery sales surge as market races towards $295bn
Confectionery sales are soaring. But what’s driving growth and which brands are best positioned for the future?
Mars accelerates expansion following landmark Kellanova acquisition
Mars Snacking announces new jobs as company signals major growth
Can brands cut sugar without killing taste, texture or trust?
As sugar shifts from ingredient to liability, food and drink manufacturers are rebuilding sweetness from the ground up using rare sugars, fibres and fermentation-driven innovation
The Big 5: Power players defining confectionery’s future
Five giants dominate confectionery. What gives them the edge, and keeps them on top?
Up the food chain
Givaudan’s head of front-end innovation on AI and the future of food
An engineer at heart, Alexandre Bastos brings a problem‑solver’s mindset to the front lines of food innovation
Hershey: Strategy shake‑up and leadership reset
Hershey is shaking up its strategy and its structure
The packaging crisis about to hit food and beverage
Attacks on the world’s busiest oil shipping channel are set to drive unavoidable spikes in plastic packaging prices
The Big One: Cyberattack that could cripple food and drink
Cyberattacks are closing in on the food and drink sector, and the next one could be catastrophic. Is the industry ready for The Big One?
Hershey: The secret to success and what’s next
With new markets to enter and new categories to conquer, Hershey’s next wave of growth could be its most exciting yet
200‑decision myth collapses – what next for manufacturers?
New research challenges a long‑accepted belief about consumer decision‑making. What does this mean for food and drink?
New light-scattering additive to replace shunned titanium dioxide
Safer whitening may be on the horizon for confectionery, bakery and dairy, thanks to a new alternative to one of food’s most controversial additives
Treating culture drives US confectionery sales
Americans’ love of nostalgic, sensory-rich treats is boosting confectionery sales as brands balance innovation, tradition and mounting regulatory pressures
Opinion
Food and beverage still has a gender problem
Women can make it big in Big Food, but its most powerful seat still skews male
Confectionery sector braced for shortages as Iran conflict escalates
As conflict disrupts key trade routes and energy supplies, the confectionery sector is among the first to feel the strain. How vulnerable are manufacturers, and what can be done to protect the industry?
Mondelēz’s meteoric rise: The strategy behind the superpower
Strategic deals, powerhouse brands, and disciplined growth – inside Mondelēz’s journey to global leadership, and its vision for the future
Iran Conflict: What does this mean for global food sector?
The ongoing tensions in Iran could disrupt supply routes and drive volatility across key food commodities such as rice and meat
Ferrero’s next move: Reshaping confectionery and snacking
From premiumisation to supply-chain control, Ferrero’s strategy is redefining the competitive landscape
Mars launches Impact Fund with cocoa farmers first to benefit
Mars invests in community resilience worldwide, starting with cocoa growers
Nestlé’s new power play: Four Pillars, one direction
Swiss food and beverage giant unveils bold new strategy for the future
Trouble at the Top: Nestlé, Unilever, Barry Callebaut, Kraft Heinz
CEO scandals and surprise shake-ups – the world’s biggest food and drink giants are undergoing a leadership overhaul. But is this a moment of crisis or a chance for positive change?
Industry, brace for change: Momentum builds behind Global Plastics Treaty
After negotiations failed to finalise a global treaty on plastic pollution last year, new hope is on the horizon
Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariff policy
The decision is likely to spark a wave of lawsuits from businesses across the food and beverage industry and beyond
Nestlé bets on four key categories as it separates ice cream
Nestlé celebrates strong results and a sharper strategy, but crisis casts shadow over the food and beverage giant’s future
Is Hershey in trouble? Profits plummeting and ingredients under fire
Hershey’s rocky start to 2026 has raised questions about its long‑term direction
DGA sweetener warning sparks industry pushback
Dietary Guidelines pose a challenge for formulators around non-nutritive sweeteners
Ingredients Compendium No 2: Trehalose
The little-known functional sugar gaining ground across food categories
As manufacturers grapple with sugar reduction, texture loss and longer shelf-life demands, trehalose is emerging as a functional ingredient to watch in 2026
Hershey blasted by Reese’s family over core ingredient changes
Reese family sends open letter to Hershey, challenging whether the confectionery giant is protecting the Reese’s legacy
C-suite leaders sound alarm on food and beverage’s biggest risks
Executives warn rising costs, labour gaps and tech disruption are reshaping the industry’s future
FDA eases ‘no artificial colors’ labeling rules, paves way for natural color adoption
FDA eases ‘no artificial colors’ claims, but ambiguity over ‘petroleum-based dyes’ leaves manufacturers cautious
Hershey profit shock: 60% drop despite sales bump
Hershey’s profits have plunged again, but rising sales and recent acquisitions hint at a more complicated story
Mondelēz puts hopes in volume growth as cocoa prices ease
The company’s 2025 full-year earnings point to substantial challenges, but changes in the cocoa market could be cause for optimism
Mars: The making of a confectionery powerhouse
The confectionery giant is changing fast, and setting the pace for the entire sector
Next big moves in Big Food
From megamergers to shocking splits, Big Food is reshaping itself at breakneck speed. So, who’s next?
Mondelēz names new EVP, COO and CFO
Mondelēz International reshapes top team, elevating CFO Luca Zaramella to powerful dual role
Mars-Kellanova: The $36bn merger transforming the snacking sector
Mars’ $36bn takeover of Kellanova is reshaping the global snacking landscape, combining two powerhouse portfolios and igniting innovation
The real tariff impact on food is still ahead – here is what to expect
Industry data shows manufacturers have delayed price hikes through promotions and portfolio pricing, but analysts warn those tools will weaken as tariff costs finally flow through in 2026
News Bites
From dietary guidelines to cocoa shortages, pressure mounts on CPG brands
This week’s top stories show how nutrition policy debates, shifting views on processing and cocoa supply disruptions are reshaping formulation and sourcing decisions for CPG brands
Crack it, snack it, recycle it: Packaging that’ll rule 2026
Snack packs are finally starting to look like they belong in 2026 instead of 2006, and the pressure to keep evolving isn’t letting up
Biggest confectionery companies 2026 announced
Who’s dominating the sector and who’s falling behind?
How Mars is developing new ingredients with AI
AI can do a lot more than offer guidance and write emails. It can help food companies find brand-new ingredients for product formulation
The big 5: Functional confectionery trends to watch
From protein bars to gut-friendly gummies, functional confectionery is exploding, and it’s changing the game for indulgence
Cyber attacks spike worldwide: 7 ways food and drink can fight back
Cyber crime is hitting food and drink hard, exposing just how quickly supply chains can break. What can industry do to protect itself?
Top 5 longevity trends shaping food and drink
Longevity is redefining consumer behaviour. Here are the top five nutrition trends every food and beverage brand needs to know
Sugar, stocks and scrutiny: Mondelez, Kraft and General Mills caught in Trump’s nutrition reset
The market reaction to Donald Trump’s dietary overhaul isn’t about kale versus cookies – it’s about whether Washington has finally decided the packaged food sector needs firmer rules, not friendlier guidance
Gum and mints are growing – just not how brands might think
The path forward is being shaped less by nostalgia and more by younger consumers, sugar-free formats and a renewed focus on function
The AI revolution sweeping food and drink
From autonomous R&D to real‑time supply chain resilience, AI is redefining the rules of food and beverage. Is industry ready for the next era?
Exclusive: Can biotech break monk fruit’s supply constraints? Manus thinks so
As demand for natural sweeteners grows, Manus moves monk fruit production in the US
The future of confectionery: Innovations driving success in 2026
Discover how brands are reimagining indulgence and why the sweetest opportunities lie ahead