Top 5 F&B retail trends for 2026
Discover the five trends that will define 2026, and why agility, authenticity, and technology will determine who succeeds and who fails
Retail & shopper insights
Cocoa-free chocolate: Key consumer insights for manufacturers
Cocoa-free chocolate is reshaping the confectionery landscape. But will consumers buy in?
Why premium confectionery is the sweet spot for growth
Premiumisation is driving double-digit growth in confectionery - what does this mean for manufacturers?
Trendspotting 2026
Beyond taste: The rise of the experiential treat in 2026
Flavor still rules bakery and snacks, but in 2026, the way they feel is fast becoming the new measure of delight
Longevity and weight loss drive food and beverage innovation
Longevity and weight loss are redefining consumer priorities - creating major opportunities for food and beverage
How TikTok food trends are inspiring brand innovation and limited-edition flavors
Viral flavors on TikTok are reshaping the food and beverage industry, accelerating product development and redefining how brands connect with consumers
Christmas 2025: Sugar, spice & all things iced
From boozy puddings to glitter-dusted brownies, bakers are dialing up nostalgia, sparkle and flavor innovation to make this festive season the sweetest yet
Trendspotting 2026
Crunch, cream, contrast: Texture takes the spotlight in 2026
Forget flavor fatigue – next year will be all about how snacks feel. From crisp layers to creamy centers, texture is fast becoming the biggest lever of indulgence and loyalty
Top 5 Christmas confectionery trends 2025
Holidays are coming! Discover the confectionery trends driving festive sales in 2025
Hershey Q3 earnings: Sales rise but profits plunge amid cost pressures
The confectionery giant beat expectations in Q3, but soaring costs and shrinking profits reveal deeper industry troubles
Halloween candy sales soar: Trends & treats driving growth
Halloween is no longer just for kids, it’s a confectionery goldmine
Top 3 new food & beverage trends for 2026
Discover the top trends set to shape consumer choices and product development
Confectionery market to hit $278bn by 2032 as candy sales surge
The confectionery market is entering a new growth phase, driven by evolving consumer preferences, seasonal demand, and innovation in non-chocolate formats
Fibre powers next wave of functional nutrition
Fibre is no longer just a digestive aid, it’s a driving force in food innovation
Top confectionery trends for 2026
Top trends driving innovation in confectionery include personalisation, premiumisation, and ultra-limited editions
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
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
Shrinkflation backfires: Brands risk customer loyalty in cost-saving strategy
Are manufacturers risking it all to save a few pennies?
Keto’s collapse: The end of a diet era
Once a weight-loss juggernaut, the high-fat, low-carb keto diet is losing consumer interest
Top confectionery trends driving sales in 2025
From timeless favourites to viral treats, discover how price, innovation, and better-for-you options are reshaping the confectionery aisle
Chewing over the next big idea: Snacks built for GLP-1 lifestyles
With GLP-1 users eating less often, chewy and long-lasting snacks like jerky, protein bites, gummies and gum are stepping up as the formats that make every portion count
Food and beverage trends 2025: What’s hot and what’s not
Snacks are surging, alcohol is slipping, and flavour is king. Discover the biggest consumer shifts in food and drink in 2025
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?
Gluten-free market to hit $13.67bn by 2030
Gluten-free is no longer niche. With the market growing fast, brands are racing to overcome production hurdles for new product development
Top 5 confectionery trends for Autumn/Winter 2025
Functional benefits, luxe indulgence, bold flavours, and festive flair set to dominate confectionery
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
Food safety emergency: What’s causing the recall spike?
Food recalls have hit record highs - costing billions, shaking consumer trust, and exposing cracks in global supply chains
Mondelēz sees jump in revenue growth, driven by pricing
Q2 sees Mondelēz price increases pay off
Grab-and-go 2.0: Better-for-you foods in convenience channels
Convenience stores have shifted from being quick snack stops to destinations for discovering new food and beverage products, from name brand to private label offerings
Private label beats brands in battle for supremacy
With half of global shoppers choosing supermarket own brands, we discover if the age of branded food and beverage is over
What every food and drink brand must know about AI and innovation
AI can speed up your pipeline – but it won’t tell you why everyone still picks chocolate. Here’s how to innovate without losing your edge
Americans love sweetness – but also want to scale it back
While consumers gravitate toward sweet flavors, their enjoyment of sugar is often tempered by cognitive dissonance — a tension that experts say can be eased through portion control and strategic pack sizing
Hershey sharpens its 2025 strategy with sweet innovations and a packaging overhaul
Hershey is doubling down on innovation in 2025, unveiling a bold product lineup and a transformed packaging strategy at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo
Chocolate takes centre stage at the White House Easter Egg Roll 2025
When the Trump administration partners with America’s top candy brands, it’s more than a sweet gesture – it’s a statement. Discover what it means for those who made it
5 things behind the vegan chocolate boom
Chocolate is going vegan as the plant-based trend spreads and grows to more categories
Dubai Chocolate craze reaches fever pitch
From the TikTok phenomenon to formulation favourite, global confectionery manufacturers are selling out of their pistachio and Knafeh-filled bars
Gut-friendly chocolate revolutionises confectionery market
Scientists have discovered the secret to ‘rich’ and ‘luxurious’ probiotic-enhanced chocolate
Latest Nestlé news
Up to the minute updates from the Swiss food and beverage giant
Why US shoppers still prioritise treats despite rising food costs
The NCA’s new State of Treating Report reveals indulgence is still a treat worth having
Has gum lost its chew?
NGOs and grassroots organisations deliver an open letter to the UK government, calling for a ban on plastic chewing gum
Is vanilla the go-to flavour for confectioners in 2025?
Long-standing fan favourite, vanilla, turns to innovative flavour combos, production opportunities and functional confectionery to meet consumer demands
How Tony’s Chocolonely is scaling ethically amid cocoa market volatility
The ethical chocolate giant is driving impact and revenue despite industry challenges
Confectionery brands must step up on sustainability or risk losing consumers
How to meet the evolving expectations of an increasingly conscious audience in 2025
How to supercharge a modest marketing budget in 2025
No longer just for halloween, is the freakification of flavours a sneaky way to standout in social media?
Predictions for the future of chocolate
How will the dominant confectionery category fare in 2025?
How mouthfeel will drive confectionery innovation in 2025
Appealing to consumers’ senses and sensibilities will be key to NPD success, according to a new report
GLP-1 drugs affect chocolate giant
Hershey says weight management medications, GLP-1 drugs, have had a ‘mild year-on-year impact’ on its business.