Mondelēz ignites airport buzz with Milka x Monopoly campaign
Mondelēz teams up with Monopoly for limited-edition Milka campaign to drive category growth
Candy
Unilever CEO defends $40bn McCormick megamerger
Unilever stands by $40bn McCormick deal as scrutiny grows over whether streamlining will strengthen the group or weaken it
Opinion
Hershey’s next move: Rebuilding trust after cocoa cuts controversy
Hershey cut cocoa and stirred up a crisis. A viral takedown from the Reese heir has exposed a deeper clash over taste, trust and the cost of cheapening chocolate
Up the food chain
Mondelēz International R&D VP Ian Noble: Food must innovate or decline
The snacking giant’s innovation lead talks sustainability, the future of cocoa and his love of ‘how things work’
Mars vs Hershey: Snickers takes cheeky swipe at Reese’s
Mars turns confectionery rivalry into content gold, with bold new Snickers campaign
Nestlé doubles down on growth in bold strategy shift
Nestlé resets growth strategy with shift away from price hikes and back towards volumes, brands and execution
Top tips to avoid trade mark infringement at the 2026 World Cup
Even social media is a danger zone... avoid an own goal with advice from top IP firm, Withers & Rogers
Pistachio pressure compounded by Iran War squeeze
Disruption from the conflict in Iran adds to existing pressure from weather and high demand from social media virality
The great snack paradox: 7 lessons from snack’s biggest brands
Lay’s, Doritos, Lindt and Oreo are worth billions despite growing pressure from health trends, private label and changing consumer habits. Here’s what they’re getting right
Barry Callebaut sharpens strategy amid cocoa volatility
Barry Callebaut shifts strategy with new Focus for Growth plan
How audio ads are behind food and drinks’ next sales boost
Audio’s reach and ROI are pushing food and beverage marketers to rethink its role in the media mix
Mars doubles down on premiumisation to drive growth
Mars is ramping up its premium strategy as demand for high-quality indulgence accelerates
Hershey appoints new CSCO in C-suite reset
Confectionery giant recruits new chief supply chain officer from rival snack brand
Is hojicha the next flavour megatrend?
Is hojicha quietly positioning itself as matcha’s successor? From drinks to desserts, this green tea is gaining momentum and the industry is taking notice
Mars taps reality TV for experiential M&M’s push
Confectionery brands are ditching traditional ads for immersive experiences as culture‑led campaigns reshape how sweets engage shoppers
Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you trends and indulgence
Can candy revive RTD tea?
Candy-inspired nostalgia could give RTD tea a much-needed spark, as brands like Ryl Tea use confectionery flavors to attract younger, health-conscious consumers into the category
Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you trends and indulgence
Cargill joins alternative chocolate race with Barry Callebaut and Nestlé amid cocoa volatility
By upcycling grape seeds, Cargill’s new NextCoa offers CPG brands a vegan, allergen-free option as major manufacturers hedge against soaring cocoa costs
Confectionery trends: Balancing better-for-you and indulgence
Barry Callebaut bets on cocoa-free chocolate
The launch of ChoViva in North America at the Sweets & Snacks Expo last week reflects a growing push to diversify beyond traditional cocoa amid climate and pricing pressures
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2026
4 forces forging the future of sweets and snacks
The latest innovations in candy and snacks reveal how consumers are redefining fun, flavor and function
Where brands should focus their AI strategy now
AI’s real value may lie in helping consumers choose – not discover
The F&B jobs AI is targeting, but is it really that dire?
AI is accelerating reformulation, automation and data-led decision making at a pace that is already reshaping roles across the food and drink workforce
Has the ‘better-for-you’ boom gone too far in kids’ snacks?
As wellness claims flood the kids’ snacks aisle, some brands warn parents are becoming more sceptical of ‘better-for-you’ marketing and more focused on what products actually contain
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?
Hershey’s profit surge masks deeper struggles
Hershey’s profits surge may look like a comeback, but rising prices, falling volumes and volatile cocoa costs reveal a more complex story
7 ways GLP-1s are driving the freeze-dried snack frenzy
Smaller appetites, clean label cravings and the internet obsession with crunch are turning freeze-dried snacks into one of the hottest categories in global food
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
Target’s better-for-you food play is paying off
The retail giant is rethinking its grocery business and chasing consumer preference for healthier products
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
Confectionery’s biggest new innovations for 2026 announced
Ferrero and Hershey among winners of the 2026 Most Innovative New Product Awards
Sweeteners back in the spotlight as scientists probe liver disease risks
Once hailed as a reformulation fix, sweeteners are now facing growing scientific scrutiny
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
Big Food’s leadership crisis: Why CEOs are falling faster than ever
C-suite exits are mounting across Big Food, but behind the scandals lies a deeper performance and innovation problem
Taste and texture: Confectionery’s biggest power players
From the melt of a chocolate bar to the tang of a gummy, taste and texture are top when it comes to keeping consumers coming back
Candy makers roll out bold new flavors and functional twists ahead of summer snacking season
New offerings spotlight caffeine-infused candy, globally inspired fruit pairings and spicy-sweet mashups as brands chase novelty and function
Mars, Mondelēz, Ferrero, Nestlé and Hershey: Rethinking confectionery innovation
From viral chocolates to cultural collaborations, confectionery innovation is entering a new experience‑led era
Big Food splits: Smart move or strategic misstep?
Big Food’s biggest names are betting on splits, but market reactions show investors aren’t convinced. So when does breaking up actually make sense?
Hershey’s bets on AI to power growth
From marketing spend to manufacturing and innovation, AI is quietly reshaping confectionery
Up The Food Chain
Embracing ‘genba’: Glico on balancing global trends with localisation
Yukio Kimura, COO of Glico Asia Pacific, says understanding ‘genba’ – the field where operations and consumer interactions take place – is key to keeping brands relevant in diverse markets
The snack barometer: The Iran conflict and the limits of consumer resilience
Food companies are becoming some of the clearest observers of the economic fallout from the Iran conflict as fuel volatility, inflation fears and changing spending habits begin reshaping behaviour across the supermarket aisle
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
Coca-Cola to Funfetti: Food brands celebrate America’s 250th birthday with limited-edition products
US grocery shelves are getting a patriotic makeover this summer as food manufacturers launch limited-edition products
Excess sells - so why are manufacturers holding back?
From freakshakes to functional chocolate, ‘more is more’ is supercharging foodservice sales, but manufacturers continue to play it safe
Mars takes first step into cocoa-free category
The world’s biggest confectionery company is making its cocoa-free debut
Nestlé returns to growth but recovery remains fragile
Nestlé’s Q1 results reassured investors, but uneven volumes urge caution
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
Hershey bounces back as profits jump 93%
Hershey’s had a bruising start to 2026, but fresh results hint at a major comeback
Mondelēz warns of anxious consumers as Middle East conflict threatens spending
While sales rise and cocoa stabilizes, the company keeps guidance steady amid fears of inflation and weakening confidence
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