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?
Chocolate
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
Mainstream chocolate sales take a hit, super-premium punches back
Super-premium chocolate is gaining share and recruiting new buyers, signaling a shift toward fewer, higher-value indulgences
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
Tony’s Chocolonely: Turning ethical chocolate into a global hit
From activist roots to mainstream success, Tony’s Chocolonely shows how bold flavours, smart collaborations and a clear mission can turn ethical chocolate into a global growth story
From Nestlé to Mondelēz, alt chocolate is gaining real ground
When the biggest names in the business get on board, it’s a clear sign the trend has legs
Nestlé slashes 450 jobs sparking union backlash
Nestlé’s set to cut more than 450 UK jobs as global restructuring begins
Hershey stock sell-off: Key stakeholder sells 30,000 shares
Major Hershey stakeholder sells shares following profit shock and leadership shift
New product development
What’s hot in confectionery? Lindt, Aero, Twix, Tony’s and more…
Filled bars, poppable bites, pistachio, matcha and cherry lemonade are all driving global confectionery innovation
Nestlé weathers formula crisis to deliver strong Q1 growth
Nestlé overcomes infant formula recall to deliver solid Q1 growth, powered by Coffee and Confectionery
World’s first cell-based chocolate bar developed with Mondelēz
The first-ever milk chocolate bars made with cell-cultivated cocoa butter have been produced
Amazonian cocoa’s untapped health benefits revealed
Could cocoa fermentation be doing more than shaping flavour? New research hints at untapped nutritional potential in Amazonian beans
The 7 nutrition trends redefining food and drink
From emerging ingredients to protein power, discover the nutrition trends shaping the future of food and beverage
Sales stall, shares fall: What’s next for Barry Callebaut?
Barry Callebaut’s size has long been its strength. But with volumes down and shares under pressure, cracks are starting to show
‘Sweet treat people’: 7 ways Gen Z is driving America’s sugar boom
From daily habits to social rituals, new data shows Gen Z is driving a more frequent, more emotional – and more connected – sweet snacking culture.
The KitKat heist that exposed a confectionery crime crisis
The KitKat heist went viral but exposed a multimillion euro cargo crime crisis
Mars steps up push for net zero cocoa at scale
Mars invests in regenerative farming as it ramps up efforts to hit net zero by 2050
Barry Callebaut profits up 66% but sales slump continues
Strong cash flow and rising profits mask ongoing operational pressures in Barry Callebaut’s latest results, raising questions about what recovery will really look like for the chocolate industry
Unilever shares plummet following McCormick megamerger announcement
Unilever’s $44.8bn decision to merge its Foods business with McCormick has rattled investors and raised regulatory questions
Hershey US president exits amid profits slide and brand backlash
Andrew Archambault’s unexpected departure comes as Hershey grapples with profit declines and reputational pressures
Up the food chain
Celleste Bio CEO on the urgency of cultivating chocolate’s ‘magic’ ingredient - as missiles fall
Scaling biotech ingredients for a sector under strain is a hard. Doing it while conflict closes in is even harder
Ferrero gets World Cup fever as confectionery goes big on sport
Ferrero is going big on the FIFA World Cup, with a high-profile campaign. What does it signal for the future of confectionery marketing?
Artificial sweeteners: Why the science war is raging on
New health studies are reigniting a global battle over artificial sweeteners, leaving brands, regulators and consumers divided
Gen Alpha and Beta: Functional food and beverage’s next big bet
Kids and teens power next growth phase for functional foods and beverages
Nestlé steps up security following KitKat heist
Stolen KitKats sparked viral attention, delivering unexpected PR for Nestlé and exposing vulnerabilities in road freight security
Big Food’s high‑stakes race to reformulate
From regulation changes to supply chain pressures, reformulation is reshaping Big Food – fast
Can fermentation solve the cocoa crisis?
Cocoa innovation opens up new possibilities for manufacturers
Iran conflict: Is ceasefire too little, too late for global food?
A two-week ceasefire is now in place in the war between US-Israel and Iran, but much is still uncertain about how long-lasting the impacts of damage done thus far will be and what still lies ahead for the global food sector
‘More is more’ spells the end for low and no
Low and no loses its shine as consumers reject restriction in favour of real ingredients, richer flavours, and products that prioritise pleasure
Big Food’s big sell off: Who’s cutting loose and who’s cashing in
From shock splits to billion‑dollar buyouts, Big Food is making big changes. Here’s what’s driving the chaos, who’s cashing in, and who could be next
Opinion
Nestlé’s alt chocolate bet is make-or-break for cocoa-free
This is no ordinary product launch. The stakes are high for cocoa-free chocolate
Hershey u‑turns as real chocolate makes a comeback
Hershey says it’s bringing real chocolate back to parts of its portfolio – could this small switch signal something much bigger for the confectionery industry?
Texture innovation: Confectionery’s next frontier
From freeze‑dried sweets to ultra‑indulgent chocolate, texture is taking centre stage
Unilever joins Big Food shake-up
As Unilever edges towards a Foods division sell‑off, Big Food braces for the impact
KitKat heist sends urgent warning to CPG sector
Over 400,000 KitKats have vanished in transit, highlighting the increasing threat of cargo crime
Unilever closer to mega food spin‑off as McCormick talks advance
Unilever and McCormick edge closer to a major food‑unit deal that could reshape the future of the global flavour sector
Confectionery sales surge as market races towards $295bn
Confectionery sales are soaring. But what’s driving growth and which brands are best positioned for the future?
Kraft Heinz shares tumble as investor uncertainty grows
Kraft Heinz’s stock has plunged to a six‑year low, exposing long‑term structural problems
Barry Callebaut, Ferrero, Hershey & Tony’s Chocolonely join Cocoa Coalition
Global confectionery giants join NGOs and major retailers to create UK Cocoa Coalition