Top 10 food and beverage trends set to shape 2027
What’s next for food and beverage? Explore the consumer trends powering the next wave of innovation and new product development
Processing & packaging
Mars’ vision for 2036: The trends set to transform food and nutrition
Food and beverage giant bets on fibre, AI and personalised nutrition as solo eating reshapes food’s future
Mondelēz, PepsiCo and pladis to take part in circular packaging trial
The trial aims to prepare the industry for PPWR recycled packaging minimums that will be introduced in 2030
Microplastics in confectionery: A growing risk
Microplastics are a growing concern for confectionery manufacturers. But can contamination be prevented?
Plastic-free confectionery packaging? It’s complicated
Confectionery’s plastic addiction is under scrutiny, but there are no easy solutions
Is shrinkflation illegal now?
A recent court case involving Mondelēz suggests FMCGs could be penalised for reducing pack sizes. But is this really the case?
Added fibre: Why fortification is harder than it looks
Adding fibre to foods and beverages could help close the ‘fibre gap’, but reformulation challenges threaten taste and texture
Will cocoa alts ever be sexy? Hershey backlash opens the debate
As cocoa markets fluctuate, Hershey’s controversy shows that while alt-chocolate is advancing fast, taste and transparency remain make-or-break for consumers
When paper packaging fails the sustainability test
While brands like Babybel are showing the shift to paper packaging can work, moving away from plastic is not universally viable. Here’s why
The packaging crisis about to hit food and beverage
Attacks on the world’s busiest oil shipping channel are set to drive unavoidable spikes in plastic packaging prices
Crack it, snack it, recycle it: Packaging that’ll rule 2026
Snack packs are finally starting to look like they belong in 2026 instead of 2006, and the pressure to keep evolving isn’t letting up
The AI revolution sweeping food and drink
From autonomous R&D to real‑time supply chain resilience, AI is redefining the rules of food and beverage. Is industry ready for the next era?
Cocoa at risk: How the chocolate industry can futureproof supply
Climate shocks, farmer shortages, and price volatility threaten chocolate’s future, but innovation and sustainability offer a solution
Gluten-free gets festive: Why Christmas is the category’s biggest opportunity yet
Manufacturers and retailers are rethinking gluten-free as festive sales soar
Mondelēz trials paper packaging for Cadbury Heroes campaign
Cadbury Heroes gets a sustainable makeover as Mondelēz trials paper tubs
UPFs are not the devil to clean-label’s angel
Are ultra-processed foods really the enemy?
Scientists crack cocoa’s consistency conundrum
A breakthrough in cocoa fermentation could finally deliver consistent, high-quality flavour every time
Top 5 functional confectionery ingredients
Functional confectionery is booming. Find out which ingredients are driving the trend
Artificial sweeteners still bitter? Natural fix shows promise
Scientists discover possible solution to ‘bitter’ taste in artificial sweeteners
UPF linked to rising cancer rates in latest study
New research links high UPF consumption to a 41% increase in lung cancer risk, independent of smoking
Do consumers really want less sugar? The sweet debate unwrapped
As sugar reduction reshapes sweets and snacks, are brands keeping pace with what consumers want?
Big Food to reveal how much of its sales are healthy - and not
Reformulation is back on the agenda, with all big food businesses in the UK coming clean on their healthy vs unhealthy sales splits
Why non-vegan sweets still matter in a plant-based world
Plant-based treats are rising fast, but indulgence, tradition, and texture keep non-vegan sweets in the mix. Here’s how brands are balancing both
What Ring Pop’s super-fast factory opening tells us about how the US candy sector can tackle tariff traumas
Hard candy brand’s rapid rebound highlights how food manufacturers can respond to supply chain disruption and Trump-era tariff uncertainty
Can combining detection technologies prevent confectionery recalls?
Advancing systems are making their way into the confectionery production environment.
3 packaging innovations taking confectionery beyond the wrapper
Packaging manufacturers are pushing the packaging envelope to appeal to environment-conscious consumerism
In search of the most sustainable form of food packaging
The debate still rages as to which food packaging is best for the planet
The race to replace red no 3: Is your brand ready?
Colour manufacturers advise confectioners on top considerations when replacing soon-to-be-banned synthetic food dye
Latest Nestlé news
Up to the minute updates from the Swiss food and beverage giant
Push for biodegradable packaging is not without problems
Packaging consultancy firm Towards Packaging unveils the latest insights into the captive but challenging biodegradable paper and plastic packaging market
How AI is transforming packaging design practices
From accelerating label design to generating 4D visuals on the fly, how is AI influencing packaging design?
Meet the top technology trends shaping confectionery in 2025
Take a glimpse at the anticipated tech innovations and evolutions for the year ahead
Caramel comes under fire as confectioners seek natural brown alternatives
How natural brown colourants are offering confectioners safe, stable alternatives that have clean-label appeal
Five EU packaging rules confectioners need to know
As the EU gives the green light to the packaging and packaging waste regulation, we’ve got the top need-to-knows for confectionery creators
How the confectionery space is avoiding the impact of plastic on the environment
PFAS and their impact on public health remain a key issue as the industry swaps plastic for paper.
Sustainable packaging
Will flexible packaging revolutionise confectionery casing?
Or perhaps it already is?
Five ways robotics tech is revolutionising confectionery
How Hershey, Nestle, Mars and Nutresa México are ramping up and re-imagining their production using robots
Scientists develop better-for-you chocolate, and it’s better for the planet
Healthier and more sustainable chocolate? While it sounds almost too good to be true, that’s exactly what scientists have created in Switzerland.
How is Ferrero balancing M&A growth with packaging sustainability?
A strong acquisition strategy is fuelling growth at Ferrero. But inevitably, with that growth comes more packaging. How is the confectionery major working to decouple the two?
The top 4 packaging trends in confectionery in 2024
With packaging as diverse and innovative as the sweet treats it houses, 2024 sees brands accelerate their environmental, visual and technological know-how
How Fazer makes confectionery with upcycled ingredients
Finnish food group Fazer is experimenting with side streams to make confectionery production more sustainable.
The top five sustainability trends in confectionery
As consumers’ ethical values become ever more baked into their confectionery choices, from Hershey to Mondelez and Nestle, we explore the ways brands are pivoting to more sustainable practises
Packaging
British chocolate brand introduces new paper flow wrap for bars
Independent chocolatiers Cox & Co has developed new paper flow wrap chocolate packaging, allowing it to phase out all plastics on its production line and give consumers curbside recyclable wrapping.
News
69% of Brits say Easter egg packaging is excessive
While Britain is a nation of chocolate lovers, two thirds of consumers believe chocolate eggs comprise too much packaging – yet despite concerns over sustainability and inflation, we’ll still be dipping into our pockets for the sweet stuff.
Natural Products Expo West
Expo West: Clean Label Project helps brands align with ‘consumer definition of safety’
As consumer concerns rise over a variety of food ingredients and food additive bans increase, the non-profit Clean Label Project is helping brands make sense of it all, the organization’s executive director Jaclyn Bowen told FoodNavigator-USA in an...
Manufacturing
Blommer Chocolate to close its Chicago factory with the loss of 250 jobs
The company has announced it will close its Chicago factory, ending 85 years of chocolate manufacturing in the city with the loss of 250 jobs.
SOTIC 2024
NCA’s Sweet Life video candy shorts return for second season
The NCA launched the second season of its award-winning streaming series, The Sweet Life, at its State of the Industry Conference for a behind-the-scenes look at the secrets of the confectionery industry.
Special report: Dominican Republic organic cocoa
YACAO’s organic cocoa becomes first in LATAM to be ROC-certified
Swiss subsidiary with a long history of sourcing its premium organic cocoa from Dominican Republic sees demand skyrocket as suppliers look to other regions for sustainable beans.
News
OFI to open green powered cocoa bean warehouse
A new cocoa bean warehouse powered exclusively by green energy has been created by Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) at the Port of Amsterdam.
ProSweets/ISM 2024
Confectionery makers and suppliers prepare for ‘Sweet Week’ in Cologne
ProSweets Cologne and ISM have lined up a strong ‘Sweet Week’ when it opens on Sunday 28 January attracting hundreds of international exhibitors showcasing at the city’s Koelnmesse exhibition centre.