Nestlé Confirms Blue Bottle Coffee Sale as Restructuring Accelerates
Nestlé announced during its Q1 briefing that it has agreed to sell Blue Bottle Coffee’s café and consumer‑packaged‑goods (CPG) operations to China‑based private‑equity firm Centurium Capital. The Swiss giant will keep the rights to Blue Bottle’s single‑serve Nespresso‑compatible pods, allowing it to monetize the brand without the costly retail footprint. The transaction, expected to close in the first half of 2026, is believed to be priced below the $425 million Nestlé paid for the company in 2017. The move underscores Nestlé’s pivot toward scalable, high‑margin coffee formats such as pods, instant and ready‑to‑drink.
The ‘Warming’ Buzz for Alcohol-Free Booze Is Finally Cracked
Alcohol consumption in Europe is falling while low‑ and no‑alcohol drinks surge, with 2.2 bn L of non‑alcoholic beer brewed each year and one in five beers now alcohol‑free. Researchers at KU Leuven and VIB have patented a piperine‑niacin blend that creates a...
As EUDR Looms, Is the World’s Most Controversial Ingredient Ready?
EU’s Deforestation Regulation, now slated for December 2025, requires palm oil supply chains to prove zero deforestation after 2020. While national schemes such as Indonesia’s ISPO, Malaysia’s MSPO and the voluntary RSPO have improved traceability, the sector remains largely unprepared....
Why Unilever’s $40bn Food Merger Is Raising Red Flags
Unilever announced a merger of its Foods division—excluding India—with spice leader McCormick, creating a transaction valued at over $40 bn (approximately $37 bn in euros). The announcement triggered a sharp sell‑off, with Unilever’s share price dropping about 18% to 4,199 GBX within 24 hours....
5 Big Food Trends in Sweden
Swedish consumers are putting price first, driving a surge in private‑label products that mimic premium quality while staying affordable. Sustainability remains a key secondary concern, with brands emphasizing local sourcing and recyclable packaging to meet consumer expectations. High‑protein foods have...
5 Big Food Trends in Denmark
Denmark’s food market is defying several European trends: meat consumption remains steady despite a 2023 government plan to promote plant‑based diets, while high‑protein dairy products are gaining traction as functional, satiety‑boosting options. Economic pressure is fueling a premium indulgence segment,...
Winners and Losers of the UPF Backlash
A global backlash against ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) is reshaping consumer buying patterns. About half of shoppers now avoid products they perceive as UPFs, driving growth for whole‑milk dairy, traditional plant proteins like tofu, and other natural‑label foods. Conversely, plant‑based meat,...
Cultivated Meat Now Has a Naming Problem
The EU will prohibit cultivated and plant‑based products from using traditional meat terms such as beef, chicken, pork or steak, limiting them to generic descriptors like burger, sausage and nuggets after a three‑year transition. Aleph Farms, a leading cell‑based meat...
Iran War: Six Weeks in, How Have Food Prices Changed?
Food prices have risen since the Iran war began, but seasonal planting has limited the immediate impact. Vegetable oils, especially soybean oil, surged to two‑year highs as they act as crude oil substitutes in biofuel production. Grains and oilseeds have...
5 Big Food Trends in Ireland
Ireland’s food market is being reshaped by a surge in high‑protein functional foods, with dairy, snacks and ready‑to‑eat meals leading the charge. Shoppers also prioritize transparency, clean‑label claims and locally sourced ingredients, driving growth in private‑label and value‑for‑money options. Flexitarian...
Why TikTok Is the New Battleground for FMCG Sales
TikTok Shop is emerging as a dedicated social‑commerce channel for fast‑moving consumer goods, leveraging its discovery‑led format to turn viral videos into purchases. Ninety‑three percent of users engage with the shop feature and 88 % discover new brands, while a two‑click...
EU Sustainable Supply Chains Coalition Created in Run up to EUDR
European food manufacturers, NGOs, and certification bodies have launched the EU Sustainable Supply Chains Coalition to influence the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The coalition, which includes Nestlé, Mars, Ferrero, Barry Callebaut, Rainforest Alliance and RSPO, aims to ensure that EU...
Could the GLP-1 Boom Open the Door to Shrinkflation?
GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs are reshaping consumer eating habits, driving demand for smaller, nutrient‑dense portions. In the United States adoption is rapid, while Europe sees slower, but steady growth. Food manufacturers are likely to respond with targeted, portion‑controlled products rather than...
Why UPF Panic and Scratch-Cooking Nostalgia Won’t Send Food Backwards
Consumers are gravitating toward traditional food practices such as fermentation, pickling, and scratch cooking, yet overall eating habits are shifting away from classic three‑meal structures. The rise of “snackification” sees about 60% of shoppers breaking meals into frequent snacks, while...
Fermentation Waste Could Be Food Industry Goldmine
Emerging research shows that the biomass waste generated by large‑scale fermentation contains microbial fibre that can be extracted and used as a functional food ingredient. Western consumers currently consume only 12‑14 g of fibre daily, well below the 28‑42 g recommended for...
Flavour Trends in 2026: What’s up and What’s Down?
In 2026 consumers are gravitating toward bold, intense flavours, sweet‑savory fusions and comfort‑oriented profiles. Matcha’s base popularity jumped 87% globally, with fusion variants such as banana‑matcha soaring 594% year‑over‑year. Savoury indulgence is resurging, driven by beef tallow (+106%), hot honey...
Just Launched: Nestlé Nesquik Plus Battle of the Meat-Free Steaks…
A wave of UK product launches underscores the FMCG sector’s shift toward indulgent yet health‑focused innovation. All Things introduced a low‑fat cottage cheese projected to generate over £4 million (≈$5.1 million) in sales, while Redefine Meat unveiled a plant‑based flank steak that...
Nestlé Steps up Security Following KitKat Heist
Nestlé reported that more than 400,000 KitKat bars (about 12 tonnes) were stolen while in transit from Italy to Poland on March 28, 2026. The missing cargo and lorry remain unlocated, prompting the company to cooperate with authorities. In Toronto, Nestlé staged security‑escorted...
Unilever Closer to Mega Food Spin‑off as McCormick Talks Advance
Unilever is advancing talks with McCormick to spin off its Foods division, valued at roughly $33 billion, using a reverse Morris trust that sidesteps capital‑gains tax. McCormick, worth about $14.5 billion, would acquire the unit and grant Unilever shareholders a majority stake...
EUDR: Is Cloud Cover a Problem for Compliance?
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires traceability of commodities back to their original plots, prompting firms to rely on satellite monitoring. Cloud cover can create temporary gaps in optical imagery, but the regulation’s monthly‑to‑annual assessment cadence means these gaps rarely...
Barry Callebaut, Ferrero, Hershey & Tony’s Chocolonely Join Cocoa Coalition
Barry Callebaut, Ferrero, Hershey and Tony’s Chocolonely have joined the UK Cocoa Coalition, a multi‑stakeholder alliance of chocolate makers, NGOs and retailers. The coalition is lobbying for rapid adoption of the UK Forest Risk Commodities Regulation to eradicate deforestation and...
Mars Accelerates Expansion Following Landmark Kellanova Acquisition
Mars Snacking announced 600 new jobs at its Chicago headquarters, following its $36 bn acquisition of Kellanova in December 2025. The company will occupy Kellanova’s former offices and a new hub in Fulton Market, bringing together its North American region, Accelerator...
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...
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...