
Biggest confectionery companies 2026 announced
Who’s dominating the sector and who’s falling behind?

Who’s dominating the sector and who’s falling behind?

AI can do a lot more than offer guidance and write emails. It can help food companies find brand-new ingredients for product formulation

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

Cyber crime is hitting food and drink hard, exposing just how quickly supply chains can break. What can industry do to protect itself?

Could Barry Callebaut’s next move reshape the future of chocolate and snacks?

Longevity is redefining consumer behaviour. Here are the top five nutrition trends every food and beverage brand needs to know

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

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?

We explore how consumers are engaging in mindful spending and drawn to flavour innovations that balance taste and value

Discover the breakthrough ideas redefining how food is created, regulated and trusted

As demand for natural sweeteners grows, Manus moves monk fruit production in the US

US trade barriers still loom large over F&B

A fresh wave of food fraud is sweeping the globe. What can be done to stop it

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

Chocolate is undergoing a dramatic transformation. From cutting‑edge cocoa‑free innovation to the rise of premium indulgence, discover how makers and brands are reinventing the world’s favourite treat

Three major food and beverage trend battles are set to define 2026, but which will triumph, and which will be left behind?

Four trend wars, four surprising winners. Dive into the food and beverage battles that dominated the industry in 2025

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

Collagen is transforming food, drink and confectionery. Discover why this powerhouse ingredient is set to dominate innovation in 2026

Mars, Ferrero and Hershey launch new products as consumers double down on candy and seasonal snacks this winter

Gluten‑free growth is shifting. Discover the sectors surging ahead and the trends transforming the market

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

Discover how brands are reimagining indulgence and why the sweetest opportunities lie ahead

Could a sweet protein from Finland revolutionise sugar reduction?

Mars and Kellanova join forces in a landmark deal set to reshape the global snacking industry

From microbiome-first foods to AI-powered diagnostics, discover the innovations shaping the future of wellness

Rising cocoa costs are forcing confectionery giants to rethink recipes and product labelling

Climate cooling isn’t enough to save cocoa, wine, and coffee – industry needs to do more to protect these crops for the future

GLP-1 users are rewriting the rules of appetite, texture and indulgence. Tate & Lyle’s latest research shows exactly where producers are missing the moment

The food and beverage trends driving change in 2026

A sweeping analysis shows food brands are sitting on huge untapped YouTube potential and missing basic optimization steps that could transform their reach

Mars seals €31bn Kellanova deal after EU approval - what does this mean for snacking’s future?

The Council and Parliament have decided to postpone the landmark regulation

Cocoa volatility and fast-changing label demands are squeezing R&D timelines. Barry Callebaut’s partnership with NotCo points to a new, AI-assisted path forward

From proteins to dyes and sweeteners, the CPG major is betting big on the technology: here’s why

Unilever offloads Graze to Katjes International, marking a fresh start for the snack brand under Candy Kittens’ wing

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

Up the food chain
Snack major Pladis is reimagining snacking with a focus on wellness and functionality. The big question: how will this shape NPD for favourites like McVitie’s, BN and Ülker?

Climate shocks, farmer shortages, and price volatility threaten chocolate’s future, but innovation and sustainability offer a solution

Unilever is set to offload Graze for a fraction of its 2019 purchase price. Can Katjes revive the struggling snack brand?

Opinion
Cadbury is snapping up health tech, just as the trend starts to crumble

The global food and beverage ingredients market is booming. But what are the trends powering industry growth?

With cocoa costs spiraling, Briess is pitching malted barley flour as a reliable, clean label lifeline for bakers and snack makers

New research linking omnipresent emulsifiers to gut damage and obesity is raising tough questions for manufacturers

Nestlé is exploring cutting-edge genomics and sustainable sourcing to safeguard cocoa supplies

The cocoa crisis is forcing chocolate manufacturers to rethink everything - from sourcing and compliance to innovation and consumer trust

Nestlé’s key strategist retires after four decades shaping global growth

Ferrero Travel Market is redefining festive gifting

Discover the five trends that will define 2026, and why agility, authenticity, and technology will determine who succeeds and who fails

Nestlé, Ferrero, Mars, Unilever and Kraft Heinz are reshaping the food and beverage landscape with bold M&A moves. But what’s next?