How protein is shaping active nutrition in 2026
Sustained demand for protein continues to define the active and performance nutrition space. But where are the growth niches?
Yogurt & desserts
Biotic yogurt consumption by overweight mothers may prevent excessive weight gain in children
Overweight or obese mothers who consume biotic yogurt may prevent excessive weight gain in their offspring, according to a new study.
Functional dairy’s next phase: From gut health to stress relief
Dairy is the largest segment in functional foods – so where is the category headed?
How food retailers and suppliers are driving health and affordability
Grocery retailers and food suppliers are reformulating products, leveraging dietitian expertise and integrating health services to meet rising consumer demand for nutritious, affordable food
Inside the $330bn functional food frenzy fuelled by PepsiCo, Coke & Nestlé
From PepsiCo to Nestlé, global giants are racing to cash in on the booming functional food craze, but with trends shifting fast, the stakes have never been higher
Functional ingredients powering dairy’s next growth wave
As consumers chase smarter nutrition, functional ingredients are shaping up the next frontier of dairy innovation
Is the protein snack boom running out of steam?
Flattening consumer interest and growing format fatigue suggest the category may be hitting a ceiling unless brands evolve beyond bars and bold claims
How Chobani is bringing ‘hunt culture’ to grocery retail
Chobani is translating hype and scarcity economics into everyday grocery categories, reframing its Flavor Drops creamer from a staple product into a discovery-driven experience
What food brands must know about GLP‑1 consumers
GLP-1 consumers are re-writing the rules of food retail. Here’s what this means for product innovation and how brands can win
2026 yogurt innovation: Tropical, protein-packed and trendy
From tropical flavors to protein-rich options, yogurt continues to balance bold taste with health-conscious trends
What is a ‘biosolution’? Novonesis F&B chief on biology’s role in 2026 megatrends
We put the big questions to Novonesis’ F&B chief: How can biosolutions solve pain points, meet megatrends head‑on, and spark fresh inspiration in the food industry?
Federal diet guidelines accused of bowing to Big Meat
Doctors and nutrition advocates say new Dietary Guidelines for Americans sideline science in favor of meat and dairy industry
Consumer trends to shape innovation in 2026
From protein to functional ingredients, here are the trends that will shape NPD in the year ahead
How protein turned from trend to necessity
Protein fortification continues to dominate the food and beverage space – but how is ingredient innovation evolving to meet the need for more protein?
Turicibacter: A new weapon against obesity?
It’s not a drug, but a gut bacterium with weight-suppressing effects
Emmi Group acquires The English Cheesecake Company
Emmi will play in the lucrative UK retail desserts sector in addition to foodservice
UK expands sugar tax to include milk-based drinks and RTD coffee
Sugary milk-based drinks will be included in the UK’s Soft Drinks Industry Levy from 2028
Milk-based drinks added to UK sugar tax: Here’s what you need to know
The UK is expanding its Soft Drinks Industry Levy to milk-based drinks. Here are the new rules
Dairy and beyond at Fi Europe 2025
Here are some of the must-see innovations at the 30th edition of the world’s largest ingredient show
The fog around UPF dairy: Evidence gap looms large
Lancet research shows evidence of the health impact of ultra-processed dairy remains fragmented
New product releases: From brandy butter to GLP-1 yogurt
Here are some of the latest dairy products to hit the shelves across the globe
Lactalis enters the GLP-1 race
The world’s largest dairy company is wooing shoppers on weight loss meds with a new functional yogurt
Pioneers
Pioneers: Painterland Sisters on cultivating growth through authenticity
“Our story is at the heart of every cup of yogurt...”
Danone’s east-meets-west strategy for gut health and longevity
Modern science drives Danone’s innovations, yet the company is also looking to ancient traditions around the world to understand how different cultures nurture gut health
Trendlets
Trendlets: Gut health, GLP-1 and alternative protein
How are the trends of gut health, weight management and alternative protein consumption impacting food and beverage innovation?
Women are shaping the next frontier of protein innovation
Protein’s health halo attracts female consumers to various products from food and drink to supplements. Here’s what’s driving demand
Best of Anuga 2025: From functional dairy to next-gen alternatives
Protein innovation remains at the fore for most brands, but diversification into spoonables and beverage formats was notable this year
Top trends and formats driving innovation in dairy
Protein is the biggest buzzword, but what else is shaping new product development?
How Danone pivoted to influencers for Activia’s brand makeover
Despite being a market-leading brand, Activia has been missing the mark with Gen Z. Danone’s marketing VP tells us how the firm is making biotics buzzworthy for a new generation of consumers
Sustainability September
Farming for function: Edacious and ROA put nutrition under the microscope
Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance are teaming up to prove that how food is grown can directly boost nutrition, safety and consumer trust
Pioneers
Pioneers: Sourmilk’s Elan Halpern on crafting ‘the most functional’ probiotic yogurt
Not all yogurt is the same - but Sourmilk’s two-ingredient product is a functional powerhouse, the company’s co-founder tells us
The big UPF myth: Why consumers say one thing and eat another
Do manufacturers really need to navigate out of the ‘dirty’ UPF world? Perhaps not, as exclusive research shows consumers’ perception of UPF is very different to their reality
Yogurt and hot springs are the ultimate gut health combo, study finds
Consuming yogurt and bathing in hot springs has surprising wellness benefits, Japanese researchers discover
What makes a GLP-1-friendly yogurt drink? Danone tells all
By formulating a dairy drink that specifically caters for weight loss medication users, Danone has set a new standard with Oikos Fusion
From regenerative to organic: How eco-friendly claims fuel growth
Natural food and drink products with sustainable label claims are flying off the shelves in the US: here’s why
Up the foodchain
Yoplait UK boss Antoine Hours on dairy ambitions and market shifts
Yoplait UK general manager Antoine Hours outlines the brand’s strategy, to expand beyond its kids’ yoghurt stronghold, tapping into booming demand for high-protein and drinkable formats, while navigating inflation, sugar reformulation and sustainability
Beyond intolerance: The rise and rise of low and no lactose dairy
By combining functional and digestive benefits, lactose-free dairy is carving out a growing niche of health-focused formats
Probiotic may ease gut microbiota changes linked to stress: RCT
Consuming a probiotic yogurt before academic exams may help students protect their gut microbiota from stress-related disruptions, says a new study from KU Leuven and Danone Research & Innovation.
How brands can bank on yogurt’s health halo
The wellness trend is driving demand for functional, protein-rich foods like yogurt. Here’s what’s fueling growth in the category
IFT First: New tech and innovations to look out for at the food science expo
Ready for the new world of GLP-1 food and drink? Want to keep up to speed with the latest in functional and plant-based ingredients, alternative proteins, sugar reduction tech and much more? Here are some of the innovations set to star at the global food...
‘Return Lifeway to the people who own it’: What now for the scandal-plagued kefir brand
Lifeway Foods board members are battling for control after the Smolyanskys’ family feud intensified
How Yoplait fits into Lactalis’ US yogurt empire
As Lactalis USA acquires General Mills’ US yogurt business, how does Yoplait fit into the dairy major’s portfolio?
Dairy innovation
La Fermière milks its artisanal French roots to drive strong sales
A high-end yogurt brand focused on flavor, beauty and the eating experience bucks tumbling yogurt category trends to grow sales upwards of 45%
Targeting the wrong crowd: How retailers miss out on sustainable food and beverage sales
US retailers are underserving high-potential markets for sustainable products by stocking more eco-friendly options in areas dominated by liberal, affluent shoppers, study finds
Going ahead: General Mills’ billion-dollar yogurt deal with Lactalis
The eye-watering sale was greenlit after the US Department of Justice did not find competition risks
Why solving panic beats promoting protein: A smarter playbook for snack marketers
In a marketplace overflowing with clean label claims and nutritional callouts, it’s not always the brand with the best macros that wins. Increasingly, it’s the one that shows up when it matters most
Why Chobani bought Daily Harvest
Chobani’s strategic expansion into coffee and now ready meals is signalling an intent for a broader role in the US healthy food and drink space
R&D insights: How to make a trendy dairy product
From high protein to sugar reduction, how is one of dairy’s major players leveraging its R&D might to address industry trends?
Striking a balance: How food producers can thrive in the GLP-1 era
Consumers want to shed, gain or simply maintain weight. What does that mean for core food and drink categories - and is there still a place for permissible indulgence?
Startup Spotlight
How two founders saved the family dairy farm with an organic yogurt brand
Painterland Sisters taps into demand for clean label and protein-rich yogurts, but chasing trends was never the mission of two farmers-turned-CPG founders