Mars-Kellanova merger: Commission rumoured to be nearing approval
Mars’ blockbuster $35.9bn bid for Kellanova may get the EU’s green light, without concessions
Manufacturers
The future of chocolate: Trends shaping a $129bn market
From creamy milk chocolate to functional dark varieties, the global chocolate market is evolving fast
Top confectionery trends for 2026
Top trends driving innovation in confectionery include personalisation, premiumisation, and ultra-limited editions
TFWA 2025: Top 5 confectionery innovations from the show
From hazelnut Twix to halal Haribo, TFWA 2025 delivered a sweet showcase of innovation under the Cannes sun. Discover the top launches shaking up confectionery
Done deal: WK Kellogg now a subsidiary of Ferrero
Less than three months after the acquisition announcement, WK Kellogg is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrero
Hershey doubles down on s’mores as a seasonal growth engine with caramel innovation and retail partnerships
By extending its seasonal leadership and tapping consumer nostalgia with a modern twist, Hershey is driving incremental sales and household penetration
How Gen Z made Free From the flavor of modern wellness
Forget bland gluten-free loaves and chalky sugar-free chocolate. For Gen Z, Free From is culture, not compromise and it’s rewriting what health and indulgence look like
From Oreos to Ozempic: Inside the $100bn Free From race
Gluten-free cookies, sugar-free chocolate and GLP-1 diets are colliding. The world’s biggest food makers are scrambling to stay relevant
Taste trumps all in functional food and beverage
Consumers are spending big on health-boosting foods and drinks, but flavour is still the dealbreaker
Mars pumps billions into renewable energy
Mars takes major step towards net zero by 2050
Candy crush: 5 ways confectionery is staying sweet amid pricing pressure
Consumers may be under financial pressure, but candy remains one of the most resilient categories in the store
Functional gummy mania sends confectionery sales soaring
Functional gummies are exploding in popularity - blending indulgence with wellness, and appealing to everyone from Gen Z to Boomers
Shrinkflation backfires: Brands risk customer loyalty in cost-saving strategy
Are manufacturers risking it all to save a few pennies?
GLP-1 fuels new wave of confectionery innovation
GLP-1 drugs are transforming consumer snacking habits, and confectionery brands are responding
Nestlé CEO wants “better, smarter and faster”
New chief, Philipp Navratil, wants food and beverage giant to move quickly and be ready to innovate
Mars pledges €1bn to European manufacturing
Mars is ramping up manufacturing, sustainability, and innovation across Europe
Coca-Cola’s Playbook: Brand power, local strategy & global impact
Discover how brand power, smart diversification, and local strategy keep Coca-Cola fizzing at the top of the global beverage game
Mars-Kellanova Deal: Commission restarts the clock
The EU has resumed its investigation into Mars’ $35.9bn merger with Kellanova, following a stop in July
Is it time to get plastic out of chewing gum?
Chewing gum might be small, but its plastic content is causing big concerns. With mounting regulatory pressure and rising consumer demand for change, manufacturers are being urged to rethink their formulations
‘Heartbroken’ Ben & Jerry’s founder steps down over brand’s ‘silencing’
Jerry Greenfield leaves the company he co-founded half a century ago after claiming Unilever has ‘silenced’ the brand’s social mission and independence
Nestlé investors demand early exit of chairman Paul Bulcke amid CEO scandal
Investors want chairman Paul Bulcke out now. With trust shaken and shares slipping, pressure mounts for Pablo Isla to take the reins early
Sustainable September
Mars, PepsiCo and ADM join forces to advance ag-tech
Mars, PepsiCo and ADM are partnering to help farmers adopt regenerative agriculture - boosting soil health, crop resilience and sustainability
Unilever, Mars, Ferrero & Kraft Heinz: A story of spin-offs, splits, mergers & acquisitions
From Kraft Heinz’s split to Mars and Kellanova’s mega-merger, the world’s biggest food brands are reshaping the industry
Ben & Jerry’s has been ‘silenced’ by Unilever - and wants a divorce
As Unilever prepares to spin off its ice cream business, one of its biggest brands wants out
New flavours won’t cut it: Inside Magnum Co’s innovation playbook
Unilever’s soon-to-be-demerged business is committed to growing the ice cream market, and innovation will play a major role
Mars-Kellanova: Merger update
Is the clock still stopped on the $35.9bn deal?
Mondelēz bets on collaborations as M&A costs climb
From Oreo x Reese’s to Biscoff tie-ups, partnerships are delivering the consumer buzz and sales lift that price cuts and big-ticket acquisitions no longer guarantee
Suntory reacts as CEO quits amid drug investigation
The shocking resignation of Japanese food and beverage giant Suntory’s CEO has sent shockwaves through the industry
Coca-Cola & Costa Coffee: What went wrong?
Coca-Cola’s £3.9bn Costa Coffee acquisition is rumoured to be heading for splitsville, following years of underperformance
Kraft Heinz split confirmed
The food giant will split into two focused companies - one global, one domestic - in a bid to simplify operations and unlock brand potential
Nestlé’s CEO scandal: What now?
Laurent Freixe has been dismissed over conduct violation - here’s everything you need to know
Nestlé appoints new CEO
Philipp Navratil gets top job as Laurent Freixe dismissed
How regulators are shaping the future of novel foods
From cell-cultivated meat to precision-fermented dairy, regulators are stepping up to support innovation
Is Nestlé pulling back on plant-based?
Nestlé continues move away from plant-based as market growth slows
McCormick doubles down on ‘finishing’ trend with re-launched sugars
McCormick is building out its Finishing Sugars portfolio as consumers and operators look for easy-to-use flavor boosters that deliver indulgence at home and across foodservice
Artificial sweeteners still bitter? Natural fix shows promise
Scientists discover possible solution to ‘bitter’ taste in artificial sweeteners
De-risking cocoa: The chocolate giants leaning into novel technologies
Amid a cocoa crisis, the biggest names in chocolate are working to futureproof supply
Unilever’s Magnum Co. launches first new brand - and it’s not ice cream
Unilever’s soon-to-be demerged business wants to diversify beyond traditional ice cream formats
Nestlé invents novel cocoa technique amid chocolate crisis
The KitKat and Aero maker hopes to yield more chocolate from fewer cocoa fruits
Ritter Sport taps pack variety and Dubai Chocolate craze for APAC push
Ritter Sport is leveraging the Dubai Chocolate craze and its expertise in multi-variety products to grow appeal with diverse consumer groups in APAC
Mars to reformulate iconic brands in 2026
M&M’s, Skittles, and Starburst will ditch artificial colours, but not every product is making the switch
Global commodity supplies at risk as extreme weather escalates
Manufacturers brace for tighter ingredient supplies, rising costs, and supply chain disruption by Q4
ChAI launches first-of-its-kind AI-powered insurance for raw material sourcing
ChAI is embracing AI to help FMCG companies deal with dramatic fluctuations in raw material prices
Mars bets on CRISPR to save cocoa from climate chaos
Mars teams up with biotech firm Pairwise to futureproof cocoa crops using gene editing
Top most valuable food brands 2025 announced
Who’s rising, who’s falling, and who didn’t make the cut
Cocoa shortage reshapes recipes and what counts as chocolate
Major brands like Nestlé and Pladis have had to drop the word ‘chocolate’ from some products as cocoa content falls below legal thresholds
Mars scales up for snack domination with $2bn power play
With a new $240m Nature’s Bakery plant opening in Utah and a $36bn Kellanova deal underway, Mars is laying the groundwork for a US snack empire
Why CPGs are back-sliding on sustainability – and why it matters
The food industry made bold promises – on health, on sustainability, on transparency. But now, under pressure, many of those pledges are quietly being shelved. Editor-in-chief Jess Spiring exposes the rollback and explores what this retreat means for the...
Mars-Kellanova deal in jeopardy as Commission ‘stops the clock’
European Commission pauses review of $35.9bn Kellanova deal, citing “missing information”
Unilever ice cream growth strong ahead of demerger
The results are positive for The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which will be spun off mid-November