Nestlé Trials AI Technology to Tackle Factory Food Waste
Nestlé has piloted Zest’s AI platform across its factories, instantly linking fragmented production data to pinpoint and reduce food waste. The system uncovered four times more edible surplus than manual checks, redirecting 201.9 tonnes—equivalent to about 480,000 meals—to people in need and generating roughly $1.3 million in additional revenue. Over 200 tonnes of surplus were saved, and the pilot cut waste‑identification time by half. The technology is slated for broader rollout across Nestlé’s product lines, from confectionery to coffee.
Lindt: The Premium Strategy Driving Record Growth
Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli posted record organic growth of 12.4% in 2025, boosting revenue to roughly $6.5 billion (≈€7.1 bn). The premium‑focused strategy delivered an 8.1% rise in net income, supported by stronger pricing power and a 621‑store global retail network....
Who Really Controls the World’s Food? The Superpowers Shaping Supply
Geopolitical tensions and climate shocks are reshaping the global food system, concentrating power in a handful of exporters. The United States remains the backbone of corn and soybean supplies, while Brazil has overtaken it in soy and dominates sugar, coffee...
Unilever and Kraft Heinz Previously Discussed Food Merger, Reports Suggest
Unilever and Kraft Heinz explored a merger that would have combined Kraft Heinz’s condiments arm with Unilever’s food division, placing iconic brands like Heinz ketchup and Hellmann’s mayonnaise under one roof. Sources said the proposed entity could be worth tens...
Cocoa Prices Climb Following Market Collapse
Cocoa futures have rebounded sharply, climbing to $3,349 per metric tonne after hitting a three‑year low of $2,886 in late February. The rally reflects a market correction from oversold conditions and a temporary easing of supply pressures after farmgate price...
Unilever Eyes Major Food Split
Unilever is weighing a comprehensive sell‑off of its food division, with advisers already engaged to explore spin‑off options. The potential transaction could be valued in the tens of billions of dollars and may or may not include its drinks brands...
Givaudan’s Head of Front-End Innovation on AI and the Future of Food
Alexandre Bastos, Givaudan’s head of front‑end innovation, oversees a pipeline that screens roughly 2,000 food‑tech start‑ups each year, linking promising concepts to the company’s R&D engine. He leverages his engineering background and human‑centred thinking to evaluate ideas across categories from...
Ferrero Joins the Big F&B CEO Shake-Up
Ferrero has dismantled its traditional chief executive role, installing a dual‑leadership model that splits responsibilities between Alessandro Nervegna, who will run Ferrero Core, and Lapo Civiletti, who will head the fast‑growing ice‑cream and WK Kellogg businesses. Both executives report directly to...
Fonterra to Appoint New CEO in Major Leadership Reshuffle
Fonterra announced that long‑time CEO Miles Hurrell will step down after eight years, entering a six‑month notice period. His tenure saw the co‑op shift from loss‑making to profitability through a series of high‑profile divestments, culminating in the NZ$3.2 billion sale of...
EU ‘Meaty’ Names Ban: What It Means for the Future of Plant-Based and Alt-Protein
The European Union has approved a ban on 31 meat‑related terms such as “chicken”, “beef” and “steak” for plant‑based substitutes, while exempting generic descriptors like “burger” and “sausage”. Brands will face short‑term disruption as they lose familiar shorthand for product...
The Big One: Cyberattack that Could Cripple Food and Drink
Cyberattacks on food and beverage firms are accelerating, with ransomware remaining the most disruptive weapon. High‑profile incidents such as Campari’s $15 million ransom and JBS’s multi‑country shutdown illustrate how legacy OT systems and interconnected supply chains amplify risk. Experts warn that...
Cargill’s CTO on AI, Innovation and Where R&D Is Going
Cargill’s chief technology officer Florian Schattenmann explains how the company’s food‑R&D is evolving from a hands‑on laboratory function to a strategic, ecosystem‑driven operation. He highlights the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across product ideation, consumer co‑creation and process optimization, while...
Bel Group’s AI Strategy: From Cheese Virtual Twins to Protein Innovation
Bel Group is embedding AI across its value chain, from a cheese virtual twin with Dassault Systèmes to an AI‑driven efficiency platform in factories. Machine learning speeds product ideation, optimizes formulations, and cuts time‑to‑market while supporting a 50‑50 dairy‑plant‑based portfolio...
Mondelēz Boosts Toblerone Production with $83m Investment
Mondelēz International has invested CHF 65 m ($83 m) to create a Toblerone Center of Excellence in Bern and launch a new production line. The line, inaugurated by Swiss President Guy Parmelin, expands capacity at the plant that makes roughly 90% of Toblerone output....
Alt Protein Investors Are Tired of Waiting - They Want Confidence in the Future
Investor confidence in alternative proteins has sharply declined as long development timelines clash with revenue expectations. Key plant‑based and cultivated players such as Beyond Meat face setbacks, widening the later‑stage funding gap. Corporates view the sector's supply chains as fragile,...
Regulators Approve Fonterra’s Mega Deal with Lactalis
Regulators have approved Fonterra's NZ$4.22 billion sale of its consumer, foodservice and ingredient businesses to Lactalis, with completion targeted for Q1 2026. The deal will return about NZ$3.2 billion to farmer‑shareholders, roughly NZ$393,000 per farm. By divesting the Mainland Group assets, Fonterra aims...
Inside FrieslandCampina’s Strategic Reset
FrieslandCampina reported €13.4 bn revenue and a 3.8% drop in operating profit for FY2025, while milk volume rose 2.4% – the first increase in eight years. The co‑op faced a perfect‑storm of commodity price pressure and a global milk oversupply that...
Inside Emmi’s Growth Playbook: How the Swiss Dairy Group Is Building Momentum
Emmi Group posted CHF 4.75 bn net sales in FY25, a 9.1% year‑on‑year increase, with organic growth of 4.3% and net profit rising 3.1% to CHF 227.1 m. The performance was powered by a series of strategic acquisitions that added 7.9% to sales and...
Ferrero’s Next Move: Reshaping Confectionery and Snacking
Ferrero, valued at $62.7 bn, is leveraging its iconic brands, vertical integration and a string of acquisitions to expand beyond chocolate into biscuits, ice cream and snacks. Product innovation and premium positioning have driven a 4.6% revenue increase to €19.3 bn in...
The Tale of Two Spin-Offs: What the Kellogg Breakup Really Achieved
Kellogg’s 2023 split produced two stand‑alone companies—Kellanova, a global snacking platform, and WK Kellogg, a North‑American cereal specialist. Both entities quickly attracted strategic buyers, with Mars acquiring Kellanova for roughly $36 bn and Ferrero purchasing WK Kellogg for $3.1 bn. The spin‑offs...
Nestlé Bets on Four Key Categories as It Separates Ice Cream
Nestlé reported 3.5% organic growth for 2025, with real internal growth rising 0.8% and free cash flow reaching CHF 9.2 bn. CEO Philipp Navratil outlined a sharpened portfolio strategy centered on coffee, petcare, nutrition and food‑&‑snacks, while preparing to spin off the remaining...
IFF to Sell Off Food Ingredients - the Supplier’s Biggest Earner
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) posted 2025 results showing its Food Ingredients division generated $3.28 bn in revenue but delivered the lowest profit margin at 12.9%. Sales in the division fell 3% despite overall company growth, while Taste, Scent and Health...
