Why so many new product ideas are failing
Brands relying on large language models (LLMs) for innovation ideas are serving up a recipe for blandification, writes Dr Nicki Morley, global MD of innovation solutions for Kantar.
Trends & Analysis
Mars-Kellanova: What Brussels really decided about brand power
The EU cleared Mars’ $36bn Kellanova deal without conditions and its reasoning reveals how much bargaining power a brand really has left.
Disastrous drought could leave UK farmers £390M out of pocket
The UK is set to experience its worst cereal and oilseed harvest since national yields were first recorded in 1984.
Why Nestlé Waters chose joint venture over full exit
Nestlé’s decision to sell 50% of its Waters business to Platinum Equity ends months of speculation. But why opt for a joint venture and what does it mean for the future of Peranel?
Protein Ball CEO: Brands must ‘dance with the devil’ on own label
As retailer own label continues to claim a significant portion of the market, we hear from Matt Hunt, CEO of Protein Ball, on how brand manufacturers can turn a threat into an opportunity.
The seasonal launch is dead. What comes next?
Faster trend cycles, retailer demands and shrinking product lifecycles are reshaping food and beverage innovation
From Nestlé to Mars: Why Big Food is embracing contract manufacturing
Outsourcing becomes a priority as CPGs seek greater flexibility, speed and resilience
UK CEOs sound the alarm over serious supply chain vulnerabilities
A majority of UK CEOs have warned that a major supply chain shock could have catastrophic consequences for large British businesses.
Bold Bean founder: M&S jarred beans ‘damn scary’
As private label gains ground with consumers viewing it as equal to brands on quality, producers face a key question - how do you stand out when supermarkets can replicate your proposition and undercut on price?
52% of consumers say private label match brands on quality
Private label grows 52% faster than brands in Europe, with shoppers increasingly favouring retailer-owned brands.
How Mondelēz achieved its mid-year wins
The snacking multinational has seen a strong second quarter, returning to volume growth and succeeding in emerging markets
How heritage brands can break free from category stereotypes
Pulling from real-life cases studies, Ed Hayes, chief strategy officer at branding agency Bloom, sets out key tactics to successfully broadening a brand’s audience without jeopardising its original market appeal.
5 actions food industry wants from Burnham
Leading industry bodies tell Food Manufacture what they most want to see from Andy Burnham as he moves into No. 10 Downing Street.
Food Foundation calls on Andy Burnham to take action over rising food insecurity
Food insecurity is currently affecting as many as one in eight UK households (12%), according to new data released by the Food Foundation.
The Magnum Ice Cream Company grows sales, as acquisitions and Ben & Jerry’s fuel first-half gains
The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC) has seen solid performance for the first half of the year, with the group’s organic sales growth growing by 4.7%.
IGD: Nearly three-quarters of shoppers changed their food choices this summer
Close to 75% of UK shoppers changed their behaviour as the prolonged heatwave and the 2026 FIFA World Cup reshaped demand.
The new resilience test for food manufacturers
In the era of permacrisis, Sue Newton, GB food & beverage leader at WTW, explores the challenges keeping food and drink producers up at night.
6 ways a hotter Europe is transforming food and drink
Climate change is no longer a future threat for Europe’s food and drink. It’s already here, and it’s reshaping the way European food and drink operates
Growth without volume: What UK food manufacturers need to do between now and 2031
Growth is coming, but manufacturers can’t rely on demand to deliver it, writes to Alex Rowberry, senior insight analyst at IGD in this exclusive column.
Nestlé’s turnaround gains momentum despite profit drop
Nestlé delivers stronger organic growth and improving volumes in H1 2026, but net profit falls 31.4%
Cortisol: The viral trend that’s rewriting shopping lists
The internet’s favourite stress hormone is fuelling a fibre boom, and shoppers are being told to slow down and think again
North vs south: Where Brits are shopping
New data shows a sharp divide between north and south shoppers.
The climate shock that could reshape food costs until 2027
A strengthening El Niño is expected to drive the next wave of food inflation, leaving manufacturers with a narrowing window to protect margins before higher costs work their way through global supply chains
Lindt shares slide as cocoa costs shake investor confidence
Lindt’s share price slides as investors question strength of chocolate maker’s premium pricing power
The 5 top trends shaping bakery in 2026
A selection of bakery experts have their say on the hot trends shaping the sector in 2026.
How weight-loss drugs are changing what the UK buys
The UK retail and consumer sector has spent the past decade adapting to inflation, channel migration and evolving expectations around health and sustainability.
64% of consumers eating food past use-by dates amid cost concerns
Consumers are taking risks with food safety as concerns over rising food prices continue to impact on behaviour.
Consumers want fewer ultra processed foods, but refuse to pay extra
Food manufacturers are facing increasing pressure to remove ultra processed ingredients from foods while keeping the price for consumers the same.
Where does the food industry see the strongest growth?
As traditional categories struggle, F&B is turning towards areas of higher value
Ozempic maker backs game-changing GLP-1 implant to end drop-out
A rice-grain-sized device being evaluated by Novo Nordisk is designed to solve the one problem that’s kept the GLP-1 boom from hitting food and drink sales even harder – patients giving up
Terry Smith accuses Unilever of misleading shareholders
Former Unilever shareholder Terry Smith accuses multinational of misleading investors over planned Foods merger with McCormick
What’s holding back food and drink innovation?
Businesses are being asked to innovate quicker than ever before - but competition is fierce and retail shelves are not elastic.
The top 10 convenience brands
The top UK 10 convenience fascias by outlets are expected to grow by 3.3% in 2026, with Premier and Go Local set to lead outlet expansion, data from Lumina Intelligence shows.
Iran conflict: food sector’s 8 biggest casualties
Impacts from the Iran conflict have rippled across the global food system, with disruption taking an overall toll on food security and supply chains
Asda to cut 150 head office jobs as losses continue to mount
Supermarket chain Asda is planning to cut around 150 head office roles in a bid to fuel its turnaround strategy.
FDF calls for urgent action as UK food and drink exports fall to near-historic lows
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is sounding the alarm as UK food exports fall to near-historic lows
Industry experts react to Burnham
This week saw Andy Burnham setting out a number of promises should he become the UK’s next Prime Minister.
5 food trends driven by lifestyle shifts around the world
Convenience, wellness and cultural identity are reshaping what people eat, driving five global food trends influencing brands today
UK grocery growth to mask continued weak demand
The UK grocery sector is set to face a challenging outlook, with headline growth figures masking continued weak demand.
Government drops manifesto pledge to ban foie gras imports
The government has rowed back on a manifesto pledge to ban imports of foie gras in order to secure a trade deal with the EU.
Supermarkets globally ramp up investment in own-label alcohol ranges
Supermarkets globally are pouring investment into their own brand food and drink ranges as they look to capture more customer spend, with alcohol becoming an increasing important part of the mix
Former Nestlé CEO in legal dispute with Swiss food giant following sacking
Former Nestlé chief executive officer, Laurent Freixe, is challenging his dismissal in a dispute over lost bonuses and shares
Staple foods key to boosting UK fibre intake
A new fibre-focused report from the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has outlined several ways the industry can help increase fibre intake among consumers and tap into new opportunities.
Nutri-Score in the dock: Why Lactalis is taking it to court
The front-of-pack labelling scheme is facing a legal challenge over its algorithm changes
Starbucks cuts jobs and closes stores in global overhaul
Investor filings show millions set aside for staff layoffs as the coffee giant cuts jobs across corporate, tech and retail, alongside store closures.
Manufacturers urged to ‘rip up the rulebook’ on categories
Category management was built for a world that no longer exists - food and drink stakeholders must change or risk being left even further behind.
Advent of GLP-1 pills could see significant shift in UK grocery spending
GLP-1 medications are set to markedly reshape the ways in which UK consumers approach their grocery spending.
A decade of Brexit: 10 major impacts on F&B
It’s a decade since the UK’s historic vote to leave the European Union – and the results are mixed
Kraft Heinz overhauls global structure amid split uncertainty
Kraft Heinz shakes up global structure as separation remains on hold
Over 70 jobs lost as UK wholesaler that supplied Morrisons and Waitrose closes down
A British wholesaler that had supplied supermarket chains including Morrisons and Waitrose has gone out of business.