Cocoa prices climb following market collapse
Cocoa prices climb as supply expectations shift and demand struggles to recover
Ingredients
The raisin squeeze: Iran tensions expose a fragile ingredient supply chain
Raisins sit quietly inside thousands of everyday foods, but the global trade behind them is far more concentrated than most manufacturers realise
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
Ferrero joins the big F&B CEO shake-up
Ferrero scraps traditional CEO role amid sweeping food and beverage leadership shake-ups
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
Nestlé bets big on cocoa-free chocolate: Inside its new launch
The final confectionery giant to invest in alternative cocoa is now the first to launch a permanent product
Chocolate without trees? The science racing to reinvent cocoa
From cacao cells grown in bioreactors to fermentation-built chocolate flavours, scientists and startups are experimenting with ways to produce cocoa ingredients without growing cacao trees
Sweeteners under fire as scientists probe neurological risks
New research linking popular sweeteners to cognitive decline has again raised concerns over their safety. What does this mean manufacturers?
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?
The clean label chocolate revolution has begun
Clean label chocolate is gaining momentum, and reshaping indulgence
The future of chocolate: Innovation surges as expectations shift
From rising innovation to shifting consumer demands, chocolate is entering a new era
Cocoa whiplash: How a record price spike turned into a demand slump
The market has swung from historic shortage to surplus projections for 2025/26 in under two years
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
Cocoa alternatives won’t fix chocolate’s pricing problem
Reformulation may steady margins, but unless manufacturers tackle cocoa’s income gap at source, volatility will keep coming back
Mars, Mondelēz, Nestlé, Hershey, and Lindt team up to transform future of cocoa
The world’s biggest chocolate makers are working together to futureproof cocoa and support growers
Protein is the price of entry at Expo West 2026
Expo West lands in Anaheim this March, and protein isn’t just a trend – it’s the baseline. The real fight is over taste, texture and who can make functionality feel effortless
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
Cocoa prices collapse following record highs
Cocoa prices plunge to two‑year low as surpluses reshape the market
Nestlé, Mondelēz, Mars, Barry Callebaut: Which chocolate giants are diversifying?
The cocoa crisis is winding down, but the biggest producers of chocolate still want to protect themselves in a volatile sector
Are falling cocoa prices giving an edge to small choc players?
Key players in chocolate already have the year’s cocoa supply locked in. But smaller players may not
Barry Callebaut launches global chocolate innovation hub
Barry Callebaut has unveiled a new AI‑powered innovation hub, promising faster flavour creation and personalised chocolate experiences
Barry Callebaut ploughs €250m into world’s biggest chocolate factory
Barry Callebaut plans to modernise Wieze and Halle sites, bolstering reliability and efficiency across its European supply network
AI drives new wave of confectionery innovation
From faster R&D to predictive product design, AI is transforming the future of sweets
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
Schumacher’s strategy: Five moves to revive Barry Callebaut
New CEO Hein Schumacher enters a company in decline. Here are the five decisive moves that could put the world’s biggest chocolate maker back on track
Climate crisis pushes global food system to breaking point
As climate change intensifies the global food system is being stretched to its limits. Can real‑time data and rapid response strategies help manufacturers stay ahead?
Scientists closer to solving sugar reduction’s taste problem
After years of compromise, sweetness without sacrifice may finally be within reach
Winter Fancy Faire
3 trends revitalizing the sleepy nut butter and seed spread category
From swicy flavors to squeezable pouches, emerging brands at the Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Faire are pushing a mature category into its next growth phase
Nestlé ramps up regenerative agriculture with global partnerships
Nestlé’s new sustainability partnerships could redefine regenerative agriculture for the wider industry
Will cocoa prices remain low?
Right now, the dizzying price spikes of the past two years have largely disappeared
Diet Trends
Rethinking sweetness in an age of sugar skepticism
As shoppers scrutinize labels and headlines, brands are rethinking sweetness strategies to deliver lower sugar, clearer messaging and commercially viable reformulations
Barry Callebaut appoints ex‑Unilever boss as new CEO
Barry Callebaut shakes up its leadership as Hein Schumacher steps in during a pivotal moment for the world’s largest chocolate maker
Preservative risk puts clean label in the spotlight
New research links common preservatives to higher risks of cancer and type 2 diabetes. What does this mean for clean label trends and the future of food innovation?
Cocoa crunch: How shortages are rewriting chocolate’s future
As climate, disease and regulation strain global cocoa supply, manufacturers are turning to low‑cocoa and cocoa‑free innovations to protect margins and future-proof their portfolios
Chocolate is front-running US-Canada trade breakdown
As US-Canada tariffs grind on with no obvious exit, chocolate makers are quietly redrawing supply chains and exposing a deeper fault line running through food
Barry Callebaut: The rumoured split that could change chocolate
Could Barry Callebaut’s next move reshape the future of chocolate and snacks?
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
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 race to replace palm oil: Who’s ahead?
From yeast‑based oils to CO₂‑derived fats, discover which next‑gen palm oil alternatives are closest to commercial scale and why 2026 could be a breakthrough year
Dark chocolate’s anti‑ageing link unlocks big opportunities
Could dark chocolate become the next big anti‑ageing ingredient? New research suggests it might, and the opportunities for brands are huge
Why collagen is set to dominate 2026
Collagen is transforming food, drink and confectionery. Discover why this powerhouse ingredient is set to dominate innovation in 2026
Barry Callebaut reportedly planning cocoa split
Rumours of a major Barry Callebaut shake‑up are swirling, and the cocoa market could feel the impact
EUDR delay confirmed
The deforestation regulation’s postponement comes after a year of political wrangling
Gluten‑free: Trends reshaping a booming market
Gluten‑free growth is shifting. Discover the sectors surging ahead and the trends transforming the market
Beckham’s snack play: How BEEUP plans to sting the competition
Forget celebrity sidelines, David Beckham’s actually in the test kitchen: CEO Peter Stearns lifts the lid on how that shapes BEEUP’s next phase
Can AI solve the cocoa crisis? Barry Callebaut is betting on it
Barry Callebaut partners with NotCo AI and Planet A Foods to tackle soaring cocoa prices and regulatory hurdles, leveraging digital formulation tools to future‑proof chocolate
Finnish Sweeprot on plans to ferment the ‘next generation of sweeteners’
Could a sweet protein from Finland revolutionise sugar reduction?
Nestlé strips ‘chocolate’ from iconic bars as cocoa costs soar
Rising cocoa costs are forcing confectionery giants to rethink recipes and product labelling
Alternative cocoa: Ways confectionery’s most under-threat ingredient is being replaced
Chocolate makers has been significantly impacted by the cocoa crisis. Ingredient innovation offers a solution