Beyond chatbots: How agentic AI can boost productivity and decision-making in food
More autonomous, flexible forms of AI are being rolled out by the biggest names in the business, from Nestlé to Danone
Innovation & NPD
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
Can brewed milk become baristas’ next staple?
With better foam and longer‑lasting texture top of mind for coffee drinkers, Mossgiel’s brewed milk is well-positioned to turn premium dairy into a barista staple
Rethinking raw milk: How Mossgiel’s brewed milk bridges flavour and food safety
As raw milk demand grows, a Scottish farmer delivers raw‑style milk without the safety risks. Could brewed milk be the sourdough of dairy?
How GLP‑1 drugs are reshaping dairy innovation
Protein demand has been a boon for dairy – but there’s more to GLP-1-friendly formulation than meets the eye
From coffee to soda: How protein is making waves in beverage innovation
Drinks are a new frontier for protein innovation
More cream, less air: What makes ice cream ‘super-premium’?
There’s premium, and there’s super-premium ice cream. But what’s the difference – and does it matter?
Functional drinks shift focus from body to mind
Functional drinks have traditionally concentrated on the body. The next frontier is exploring brain health, cognition, focus, stress-relief and mental wellbeing
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
How fibre went from forgotten nutrient to consumer obsession
Once dismissed as dull, fibre is now reshaping global food and drink innovation
Beyond the candy bar: Is confectionery redefining frozen novelties?
Candy companies increasingly are treating the freezer as a growth channel – one that allows gummies, chews and fruit candies to evolve into entirely new frozen formats
Yakult Europe goes dairy-free with vitality drink launch
Yakult’s latest product launch Vitals is dairy-free, dropping its patented Lactobacillus strain for the first time since the brand’s entry into Europe.
How AI is reshaping product discovery in F&B
Algorithms are increasingly deciding if a product flies or flops. Here’s how food and beverage companies can wow a new customer: agentic AI
Functional beverages: The 5 overarching trends defining the next generation of drinks
What are the forces shaping the functional drinks of the future?
Häagen‑Dazs on the trends redefining ice cream
From coffee‑led flavours to mini cups and handhelds, General Mills’ premium ice cream brand is betting on flavour depth, texture and flexible formats to stay ahead
Why texture is the new king of ice cream
From layered tubs to crunchy chocolate coatings, ice cream has a new kingmaker - and it’s not flavour
Big Soda spotted it first: Why ultrafiltered milk became a billion‑dollar bet
Ultrafiltered dairy offers a rare mix of growth, margin and modern wellness appeal. Where’s the category headed?
Can high-fat dairy withstand the GLP-1 effect?
GLP-1 users spend less on cheese, butter and ice cream – so how resilient are these categories?
Gut-friendly, prebiotic or high fibre? Navigating the terminology
Gut health soda Poppi is ‘prebiotic’ in the US, but ‘high fibre’ in the UK. What is going on?
Gen Alpha and Beta: Functional food and beverage’s next big bet
Kids and teens power next growth phase for functional foods and beverages
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
How GLP-1 drugs are shaking up nutrition drinks
The focus has shifted from weight loss to nutrient gain
From India to Japan: What’s happening in the functional protein space?
From India to Japan, protein is fast becoming a staple in functional food products, with consumer-packaged goods companies incorporating it into their products or investing in smaller outfits specializing in protein products.
Future Food Tech San Francisco
AI assists, but active ingredients still lead in wellness innovation
Industry leaders at Future Food Tech said AI tools are helping product developers, yet rigorous ingredient science continues to set the pace for better-for-you foods and beverages
Natural Products Expo West
Predictive data reveals the next wave of performance-driven wellness trends in food
Insights from Spate reveal consumers want functional, low-sugar and benefit-packed food and beverages that fit easily into their lives
Retro and nostalgia: Why consumers are looking to the past
Consumers seek comfort and familiarity from food
Whey protein concentrate at crossroads: How demand is reshaping protein supply
The global whey protein concentrate (WPC) market is diverging as demand-driven growth in high-value ingredients fuels volatility in the broader category
4 big food trends in The Netherlands
What do Dutch consumers want?
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Collaboration, not capital, is driving the next wave of food innovation
Industry leaders at Future Food-Tech San Francisco say lower investment levels are giving rise to an era of deeper cooperation among stakeholders focused on creating healthier products
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Inside the race to reinvent food color: Global Food Tech Awards Americas heat winner pioneers new approach to natural dyes
Award-winning biotech Michroma is using fungi-based fermentation to tackle the cost, supply and performance challenges holding back natural colors
Understanding ‘food noise’ in the age of GLP-1s
The removal of food noise is the key to GLP-1s’ success
Inside the functional beverage craze: What benefits are consumers really looking for?
From gut health to energy, there’s a huge range of choice in the functional beverage category. What do consumers actually want?
How protein is shaping active nutrition in 2026
Sustained demand for protein continues to define the active and performance nutrition space. But where are the growth niches?
Cheaper, healthier: How consumer priorities are shaping dietary choices
Shoppers strive towards healthier diets – but are their aspirations turning into action?
How GLP-1s are reshaping product innovation
For product developers, designing GLP-1 friendly foods will require new sensory approaches, emotional metrics and new nutritional architectures
Why the sleep crisis is food and drink’s next big global battleground
Sleep deprivation is becoming big business as consumers obsess over how much shuteye they’re getting, but how is the market responding?
How cow‑free milk is changing coffee culture
By pouring its cow‑free milk into America’s favourite beverage, Strive Freemilk is normalising a new kind of dairy
How Danone is redefining plant-based through a benefit-led strategy
Danone US is taking plant-based nutrition into the sports performance arena as it seeks to deepen the category’s benefit-driven appeal
GLP‑1 drinks take off as brands race for $3.5bn functional growth
From protein shakes to collagen coolers, brands are reinventing beverages for the GLP‑1 era and the race for dominance in this fast‑growing $3.5bn category is just beginning
Innovation in functional coffee creamers takes off
The rise of the US coffee creamer category has been largely fuelled by flavour innovation and brand collabs. But functional creamers represents a rapidly growing area.
Functional dairy’s next phase: From gut health to stress relief
Dairy is the largest segment in functional foods – so where is the category headed?
NPD: From Ben & Jerry’s to The Laughing Cow
The latest launches tap into some of dairy’s biggest trends: from protein‑packed functional formats to flavour‑driven innovation
Flavour trend-watching: Dragon fruit, watermelon and lavender shake up the beverage aisle in 2026
Fresh, fruity and floral never go out of style: but with new favourites every year
Lactalis taps collagen to blend functional dairy with longevity
The dairy giant’s new ready‑to‑drink collagen milk aims to support bone health, signalling where functional dairy innovation is heading
Inside the $330bn functional food frenzy fuelled by PepsiCo, Coke & Nestlé
From PepsiCo to Nestlé, global giants are racing to cash in on the booming functional food craze, but with trends shifting fast, the stakes have never been higher
Nestlé bets big on ‘healthy longevity’: Inside its new launch
Which ingredients make Nestlé’s new drinks suitable for healthy ageing?
Kefir with fiber beats omega-3 supplements in reducing inflammation
New research sheds light into the anti-inflammatory potential of fiber-fortified kefir – but there are caveats
Nestlé sharpens focus on coffee as key growth engine
Nestlé’s new coffee pillar brings together global power brands Nescafé, Nespresso and Starbucks. And RTD coffee will be a feature for all three...
Has dairy lost its health halo - and can brands bring it back?
Dairy was once inherently linked with health and wellness, but some consumers doubt the category’s clean image. How can brands rebuild trust?