Food retail trends 2026: Why Gen Z no longer shops by aisle
Younger consumers aren’t just swapping meals for snacks – they’re tearing apart the traditional rules that have shaped food retail, product development and brand strategy for decades
Retail & shopper insights
Iran war fallout hits grocery aisles as food inflation surges and shoppers pull back
Higher fuel and fertilizer costs tied to Strait of Hormuz disruptions pushed at-home food prices up 0.7% in April, while consumers increasingly weigh purchases item-by-item in search of value
Regenerative agriculture’s core tensions unpacked
Regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum – but what does it really mean, how should claims and practices be audited, and how can producers and industry fairly share the value it creates?
Consumers don’t care about regenerative agriculture - yet
Sustainability may be slipping down the consumer agenda, but brands can still spark interest in regenerative agriculture
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.
Is the retail media network gold rush over?
In this next phase, marketers aren’t abandoning retail media – they’re simply demanding that it grow up
SNAP restrictions are reshaping sugary food purchases
Ibotta data shows states prohibiting the use of SNAP funds to buy ‘unhealthy’ products are reshaping sugary beverage and snack demand
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?
Sustainability marketed products defy headwinds to gain market share, drive sales
NYU Stern and Circana data show eco-positioned CPGs are category and sales growth drivers
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
Winners and losers of the UPF backlash
Who is benefitting from consumer scepticism around UPFs - and who isn’t?
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
Why TikTok is the new battleground for FMCG sales
TikTok Shop is fast becoming a serious FMCG sales channel. Here’s how
Do GLP-1s have a future in Europe?
Consumer scepticism, as well as the structure of healthcare, makes adoption lower than in the US
Is Asia the next GLP‑1 boom market and what it means for F&B?
After a slow start, Asia’s GLP‑1 weight‑loss market is poised for explosive growth as China and India tackle obesity and food and drink brands race to become essential GLP‑1 companions
Cheaper, healthier: How consumer priorities are shaping dietary choices
Shoppers strive towards healthier diets – but are their aspirations turning into action?
Consumers want to eat healthily - so why don’t they?
Industry can do more to encourage healthy diets
How food retailers and suppliers are driving health and affordability
Grocery retailers and food suppliers are reformulating products, leveraging dietitian expertise and integrating health services to meet rising consumer demand for nutritious, affordable food
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?
Europe embraces blended proteins faster than the US, report finds
Blending animal and plant ingredients is emerging as a pragmatic path to scale protein diversification, says Food System Innovations
Why consumers don’t trust healthy indulgence
Consumers think some healthy products are too good to be true. Here’s what F&B brands can do to make healthy indulgence believable
Big FMCG vs TikTok: Who leads trends and who can win?
Bubble tea, matcha, Dubai chocolate, cottage cheese, pistachio and hot honey: Just a small selection of products and flavours that have gone viral on social media in recent years
How brands can win in plant-based cheese
As plant-based cheese innovation enters a new era, brands must elevate taste, functionality and nutrition
Green by default? The silent food revolution no one’s talking about
We’ve heard of ‘health by stealth’. But what about ‘sustainability by stealth’?
Are GLP-1 ranges healthy? What food brands must know
Top food brands are embracing GLP-1-friendly ranges. But are these products nutritionally-sound?
How coffee creamers became a powerhouse category
Coffee creamers are outperforming much of the dairy aisle – and new products keep pouring in. Where is the category headed?
What food brands must know about GLP‑1 consumers
GLP-1 consumers are re-writing the rules of food retail. Here’s what this means for product innovation and how brands can win
Top 5 trends shaping healthy dairy snacking
From cheese bites to RTD beverages, dairy is primed for success in the healthy snacking space
NPD: From saucy sundaes to clean-label creamers
Lifeway, Breyers and Horizon Organic all feature in our latest new product development round-up
How the Dietary Guidelines may shape product strategy and development
The latest Dietary Guidelines may not reinvent the wheel, but they offer manufacturers a roadmap to balance nutrition, consumer preference and formulation strategy across sweeteners, grains and processed foods, according to one expert
New product launches: From pistachio milk to RTD drinks
Arla enters cottage cheese and Oatly ventures into RTD coffee in out January 2026 NPD round-up
Consumer trends to shape innovation in 2026
From protein to functional ingredients, here are the trends that will shape NPD in the year ahead
Cow-free dairy sells out in Israel but protein bottlenecks remain
“Everything we put on the market has sold,” Strauss Group CEO says but warns protein availability is still ‘limited’
New product releases: From brandy butter to GLP-1 yogurt
Here are some of the latest dairy products to hit the shelves across the globe
Secrets of a cheesemonger
What’s the most underrated cheese?
Some cheeses are less loved than others: but which are the most underappreciated varieties? A cheesemonger ponders
‘Advertising is a weak force’: Busting CPG marketing myths
Does spending more improve sales? Why do brands fail? Do consumers ever go back to weak brands?
Opinion
Why medical nutrition is Danone’s ‘jewel’
No other category grows so strongly each quarter – and Danone is only scratching the surface
Gen Z and Millennials redefine wellness: Protein, fiber and flavor drive food choices
Spins data reveals how younger consumers are reimagining nutrition around functional benefits, global flavors and ingredient transparency
Trendlets
Trendlets: Gut health, GLP-1 and alternative protein
How are the trends of gut health, weight management and alternative protein consumption impacting food and beverage innovation?
Dairy Alternatives: Innovation and Market Insights 2025
‘We have more ideas than the market can take’: Alt dairy brands talk R&D, consumer trends and embracing innovation
From plant-based to precision fermentation, how are leading brands shaping product innovation in dairy alternatives?
New product releases: From swicy ice cream to pistachio drinks
Our latest round-up features launches from Bel, Lifeway Foods, Rude Health and more . . .
Top trends and formats driving innovation in dairy
Protein is the biggest buzzword, but what else is shaping new product development?
The ‘proteinification’ of everything
Once just a bottle shaker staple, protein is taking on new forms and finding its way into everything from soda to chips to macaroni and cheese.
New product launches: From truffle ghee to macadamia milk
From ice cream-inspired beer to truffle-infused ghee, here’s which new releases caught our eye
Just launched: Matcha drink, Angel Hair ice cream and more new products
Here’s what’s new in dairy in September 2025
What’s new in dairy? Onken, Lifeway and more
Here’s what’s hitting the shelves in the dairy aisles in the US and beyond . . .
From regenerative to organic: How eco-friendly claims fuel growth
Natural food and drink products with sustainable label claims are flying off the shelves in the US: here’s why
What’s the scoop on ice cream trends?
The dog days of summer are a natural time to serve up the scoop on ice cream trends
Beating the odds in NPD: What makes a winning product?
New product launches are exciting, but novelty alone does not guarantee success
What’s the future of animal-free dairy?
Retail sales have stalled in the category’s biggest global market while ingredient innovation has also hit roadblocks. What does the future hold for animal-free dairy innovation?