Wonka returns as Ferrero taps into experiential marketing boom
Ferrero is bringing Wonka back in bold new strategy – blending limited-edition treats, cross-category innovation and a major new Netflix partnership
Mars
Mars signals new era for confectionery with bold launches and digital focus
Mars redefines confectionery with innovative flavours, new formats and a digital-first shopping strategy
Mars powers production growth with $253.6m smart factory investment
Mars bets on smart manufacturing, using £190m UK factory upgrade to boost output and strengthen grip on global confectionery and snacking market
Unilever shaken by investor exit as McCormick deal unsettles shareholders
Unilever’s $40bn Foods merger with McCormick is facing mounting backlash, as shares slide and investors divest
Mars, Mondelēz, Ferrero, Nestlé and Hershey: Rethinking confectionery innovation
From viral chocolates to cultural collaborations, confectionery innovation is entering a new experience‑led era
Mars: The global heavyweight setting the snacking agenda
The world’s biggest confectionery and snacking company is driving change across the industry
Mars rewrites confectionery marketing playbook with NYX partnership
Confectionery giant Mars signals new era of culture-led marketing campaigns with latest collaboration
Mars takes first step into cocoa-free category
The world’s biggest confectionery company is making its cocoa-free debut
Mars accelerates net zero ambitions with landmark energy deal
Mars doubles down on renewables with major wind power deal, signalling how major CPGs are reshaping the food industry’s path to net zero
Mars steps up push for net zero cocoa at scale
Mars invests in regenerative farming as it ramps up efforts to hit net zero by 2050
Barry Callebaut profits up 66% but sales slump continues
Strong cash flow and rising profits mask ongoing operational pressures in Barry Callebaut’s latest results, raising questions about what recovery will really look like for the chocolate industry
2,000+ supply ships stranded: Iran war puts food security at risk
What started as an energy shock is fast becoming a food crisis, with stranded cargoes and fertiliser shortages threatening global supply chains
‘More is more’ spells the end for low and no
Low and no loses its shine as consumers reject restriction in favour of real ingredients, richer flavours, and products that prioritise pleasure
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
The Big 5: Power players defining confectionery’s future
Five giants dominate confectionery. What gives them the edge, and keeps them on top?
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
Why Lay’s, Oreo and M&M’s are engineering consumer experiences
PepsiCo’s Lay’s restaurant in Madrid highlights a growing strategy among snack giants to extend blockbuster brands beyond the supermarket shelf and into cafés, retail attractions and immersive consumer experiences
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
Mars launches Impact Fund with cocoa farmers first to benefit
Mars invests in community resilience worldwide, starting with cocoa growers
Why Mars is powering up M&M’s as it reshapes its global growth strategy
As Mars expands through mega‑deals, sustainability pushes and portfolio diversification, the company is placing a bigger strategic bet on M&M’s to anchor growth and relevance in a changing global snacking landscape
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
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
The ‘untapped potential’ of functional chocolate
Functional chocolate is stepping into the spotlight. Discover the ingredients, trends and early innovators reshaping the future of indulgence
Cocoa prices collapse following record highs
Cocoa prices plunge to two‑year low as surpluses reshape the market
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
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?
From Snickers Ice Cream Minis to Oreo’s Marvel: Situational snacking takes shape
Big brands are rethinking formats, flavors and channels as snacks are redesigned for specific moments, tighter rules and more intentional eating
When trust turns toxic: Mars exec jailed in $28m fraud case that exposed insider risk
Former Mars executive Paul Steed’s 63-month prison sentence for stealing more than $28m exposes how insider fraud can persist inside global food companies – and why scale can magnify risk
Barry Callebaut sales slide but Schumacher arrival sparks optimism
A challenging quarter puts added weight on Hein Schumacher to reassure customers, strengthen supply partnerships and rebuild momentum
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
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
Opinion
The line between snacking and confectionery is disappearing
Over time, the world’s biggest confectionery companies have rebranded their products as ‘snacks’. So what’s the problem?
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
Big Food’s Big Deals: Nestlé, Mars, Barry Callebaut & more
Big Food is reshaping itself at record speed - from megadeals to dramatic divestments, here’s what’s driving the next wave of M&A in 2026
Battle of the Trends 2025: Winners Announced
Four trend wars, four surprising winners. Dive into the food and beverage battles that dominated the industry in 2025
The future of confectionery: Innovations driving success in 2026
Discover how brands are reimagining indulgence and why the sweetest opportunities lie ahead
Mars completes Kellanova acquisition in deal set to reshape snacking
Mars and Kellanova join forces in a landmark deal set to reshape the global snacking industry
Mars-Kellanova merger “approved unconditionally”
Mars seals €31bn Kellanova deal after EU approval - what does this mean for snacking’s future?
From casein to colors: Mars’ vision for precision fermentation
From proteins to dyes and sweeteners, the CPG major is betting big on the technology: here’s why
Mars Snacking’s methane playbook: Lessons from Bovaer and a focus on next-gen tech
Paying premiums alone isn’t enough to get producers to embrace sustainability, Mars Snacking’s VP of R&D says as he reflects on emerging methane mitigation solutions and the Bovaer fallout
Has the cocoa crisis changed chocolate forever?
The cocoa crisis is forcing chocolate manufacturers to rethink everything - from sourcing and compliance to innovation and consumer trust
Big Food Big Moves: Who’s next in the big CPG shake-up
Nestlé, Ferrero, Mars, Unilever and Kraft Heinz are reshaping the food and beverage landscape with bold M&A moves. But what’s next?
Why premium confectionery is the sweet spot for growth
Premiumisation is driving double-digit growth in confectionery - what does this mean for manufacturers?