NYC’s public grocery initiative raises new questions for CPG brands
Can public grocery work? NYC bets on a new model for affordability
Protein
News Bites
Legacy brands are evolving from products into platforms
For the majors like The Hershey Co., General Mills and Kellanova, growth comes from strategically stretching trusted brands across occasions, benefits and formats – broadening the snacking landscape itself
IFT FIRST
Can dairy retain its bioactive benefits without sacrificing food safety?
By preserving naturally occurring milk exosomes that conventional processing often destroys, biotech startup Exosomm says it can help manufacturers deliver clinically relevant bioactive benefits without compromising food safety, shelf life or scalability
How are better-for-you snacks outpacing conventional offerings?
High protein is here to stay while consumers seek fresh, whole foods as part of their healthier snack routine
Blurred boundaries: How sports nutrition brands can stay competitive
As food and supplements increasingly converge, experts say sports nutrition brands must sharpen health messaging and create new consumption occasions to stay competitive.
Nestlé bets big on premiumisation as consumers trade up
Nestlé prioritises premiumisation as consumers seek quality, functionality and indulgence
IFT FIRST
American Egg Board builds next generation of egg-based CPG
The AEB’s Eggcelerator Lab and Founder Cohort program aim to incubate food companies that incorporate eggs into their formulations
Retailers rethink SNAP strategy as enrollment and spending decline
As SNAP enrollment shrinks, retailers rethink value, convenience and e-commerce
IFT First
Upcycling enters new phase as startups unlock premium ingredients from food sidestreams
Advances in extraction, refining and on-site processing showcased at IFT FIRST are shifting upcycling from a sustainability strategy to a platform for premium proteins, bioactives and functional fibers
Nestlé’s turnaround gains momentum despite profit drop
Nestlé delivers stronger organic growth and improving volumes in H1 2026, but net profit falls 31.4%
From Three Square Meals to the Snack Universe
The traditional three-meal day falls from favour as consumers choose spontaneous snacking
Letter from the editor
Letter from the editor: The next chapter for specialty food
From gut health and protein to olive oil, pantry staples and retail strategy, this special edition explores how brands are transforming specialty foods into everyday essentials
Beef tallow market heats up as CPG brands ditch seed oils
A $15.8 billion market and rising, tallow gains traction across snacks and protein bars while facing competition from plant-based oils
Summer Fancy Food Show
As retail buyers demand more, seafood suppliers rethink their approach
Value-add seafood is becoming a retail growth engine
Creatine, GLP-1s, gut health and sleep: How storytelling opens new opportunities in sports nutrition
As the lines blur between sports nutrition and wellness, demand for traditional performance ingredients is booming. But sports nutrition brands are increasingly challenged by niche specialists that excel at emotive storytelling and lifestyle positioning.
Will cultivated meat soon compete on price?
While other headwinds are becoming fiercer, price parity may be on the horizon
Korea, China lead sports nutrition e-commerce as India drives growth
South Korea and China remain Asia Pacific’s biggest sports nutrition e-commerce markets, while India records the region’s fastest online sales growth
Where does the food industry see the strongest growth?
As traditional categories struggle, F&B is turning towards areas of higher value
South Korea moves closer to cell-cultured food regulations
The South Korean government has announced local food regulation changes that will specify standards for cell-cultured foods, paving the way to local product approvals
Inside the whey protein bottleneck: How processors can find more capacity
Amid booming demand for protein, how can dairy processors unlock capacity without expanding plants?
Watchdog group blasts USDA move to roll back poultry and livestock protections
Agency pushes implementation to 2027 and seeks comment on removing competition and trust rules, prompting criticism from advocates
ThaiFex-Anuga Asia 2026
MUST RTD chicken breast protein smoothie defies category boundaries
Thailand’s MUST has launched a range of RTD protein smoothies made from chicken breast, giving 60g protein per bottle and blurring the limits of ‘acceptable’ drinkable ingredients
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What it takes to earn a place in today’s snack cart
Economic pressure, growing health awareness and AI-powered product evaluation are making shoppers more selective, forcing snack brands to prove their value beyond price, says NielsenIQ’s Chris Costagli
New Protein Watch: Betagro chicken noodles, Thai Union snacks and fresh soymilk
Betagro chicken noodles, Thai Union snacks and fresh soymilk feature in this edition of New Protein Watch
Summer Fancy Food Show 2026
Bone broth breaks out of the soup bowl
Bone broth’s versatility across beverage formats reveals there’s more to it than a functional, savory drink
Mondelez State of Snacking: The impossible innovation brief
Manufacturers have spent years responding to one consumer trend after another, but today’s snack has to satisfy every expectation at once
Growth Asia Summit 2026: Retailers JD Health, Guardian, Alpro Pharmacy join major brands next week
There is still a week left until the Growth Asia Summit 2026 and we can confirm the attendance of retailers active in the region’s health and nutrition space, including Alpro Pharmacy, China’s JD Health and Guardian Singapore.
Whey boom fuels surge in protein processing expansion
From WPC80 to lactoferrin, dairy companies globally are investing in premium protein capacity to capture growth in the high-end sports nutrition and functional food space
EU clearance unlocks €18m boost for novel mycoprotein
Significant investment signals a breakthrough moment for biomass fermentation in the EU
Tate & Lyle, Ingredion and the new ingredients land grab
The Ingredion-Tate & Lyle deal signals a shift in the ingredients industry, where technical expertise is becoming as valuable as the ingredients themselves
Are investors still interested in precision fermentation?
Products derived from this method still face significant barriers
GLP‑1 use is fueling trends already in motion
GLP‑1 adoption is scaling rapidly and the brands that win are focusing on delivering nutrition for broader appeal rather than a niche segment
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Can regenerative agriculture become food’s next big growth story?
Kiss the Ground CEO Evan Harrison and FOND Regenerative founder Alysa Seeland explain why rising consumer awareness is attracting retailers and what must happen before regenerative products can scale
Danone’s Chobani lawsuit proves why protein claims are high stakes
Chobani and Danone’s court face-off demonstrates how fierce the battle in the ultra-high protein category has become
News Bites
How CPGS are rewriting ‘better-for-you’
Cleaning up labels is no longer enough – value-driven consumers are forcing the industry to rethink the balance of price, health and convenience
Misinformation circulates around new EU Listeria rules
New EU Listeria regulations are set to come into force next month – as misinformation circulates, we speak to the European Chilled Food Federation Rapporteur on Listeria and FSA to offer a clear and accurate outline.
Sweets & Snacks Expo
Hershey’s ‘yes, and’ innovation strategy blends better-for-you and indulgence
The confection giant is leveraging protein, zero-sugar products and cross-category brand extensions to reach new consumers and help retailers merchandise a changing snacking landscape
Global Food Tech Awards
Why next gen alt protein startups will be built on access, not just science
In protein, the real challenge isn’t invention – it’s getting to market and staying there
Agentic commerce could crack personalization but only for data-ready brands
Will agentic commerce deliver on the personalization food and beverage has been trying to achieve?