Consumer trends to shape innovation in 2026
From protein to functional ingredients, here are the trends that will shape NPD in the year ahead
Functional dairy
Beyond protein counts: Why protein type matters and how to choose the right one
Protein fortification is evolving, so what type of protein do you need for your application?
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
Soaring protein demand powers FrieslandCampina’s strategic expansion
The Dutch company has made its biggest ingredients investment yet as it bets on the protein boom to continue
Premier Protein’s playbook for holding the lead when a category takes off
The hardest part about winning a new category isn’t getting there first – it’s surviving the stampede that follows, as illustrated by BellRing Brands’ aggressive growth strategy for convenient nutrition leader Premier Protein
Danone tackles the big question for GLP-1 users: What should they eat?
Grounded in emerging science, Danone’s research and innovation team is developing nutrient-dense products tailored to every stage of the GLP-1 user journey – and meeting the needs of the broader health conscious consumer
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
Lactalis enters the GLP-1 race
The world’s largest dairy company is wooing shoppers on weight loss meds with a new functional yogurt
Fit for purpose: How analytical methods keep nutrition products safe
Retired Nestlé specialist Erik Konings explains how global collaboration through Codex, ISO, IDF, and SPIFAN is advancing validated testing methods to ensure safety and compliance in specialized nutrition
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
How functional food claims are regulated
What do companies need to do to ensure their claims are compliant in the EU?
Exclusive: Why APAC is rising hub for functional foods, new food tech
APAC’s unique incorporation of culture and health priorities with food is driving its rise as a hub for functional foods and novel technologies
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?
How GLP-1 drugs are supercharging the age of precision nutrition
Could the era of precision nutrition turn the pharma-driven metabolism revolution into a food-based one?
4 trends driving the next frontier of gut health
From biotic soda to kefir, gut health innovation shows no signs of abating. Which trends will see microbiome science continue to push the envelope?
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
FDA ‘no questions’ letter for Verley’s whey proteins unlocks new functionality for high-protein foods
The French startup’s FermWhey Native and FermWhey MicroStab expands formulation options for RTD beverages, shots and plant-based hybrids to better meet demands for consumers using GLP-1s and seeking support for active lifestyles and healthy aging
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?
The ‘proteinification’ of everything
Once just a bottle shaker staple, protein is taking on new forms and finding its way into everything from soda to chips to macaroni and cheese.
Is fiber the new protein? How Danone is reimagining gut health for Gen Z
How is the global dairy major reformulating its Activia brand to unlock cross-generational opportunities?
Inside Danone’s new OneBiome Lab in Paris
We take a sneak peek inside Danone’s brand-new laboratory and find out why it’s wholly focused on one area of research
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
Healthy Snacking Trends
Redefining snacking: How Bel is turning everyday snacks into nutritional powerhouses
New survey shows Americans snack daily but miss key nutrition goals – Bel aims to close the gap with portion-controlled, playful and nutrient-rich snacks
Fonterra’s big year fuels protein, butter and cheese push
Shareholder returns rose 30%+ in FY25 but forecast earnings have taken a hit due to Mainland Group’s proposed divestment
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
Microbiome science meets business: Probiota returns in 2026
With a wealth of content on functional food, beverage and supplements, the leading event for microbiome science is back in February
Probiotic combination may help lower antibiotic resistance in premature babies
A combination of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus could restore a healthy gut microbiota in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) babies, according to new research published in Nature Communications.
Pioneers
Pioneers: How Alec’s Ice Cream reinvented better-for-you ice cream
By combining taste, sustainable credentials and nutritional goodness, Alec’s Ice Cream has taken the category by storm. Founder Alec Jaffe tells us what’s next
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
Third time lucky? Danone, Lifeway in fresh acquisition talks
After twice failing to reach an agreement, Danone and Lifeway Foods are talking again - but is a deal in sight?
Critical milk-based supplement ingredient faces regulatory, trade challenges
Products derived from nonfat milk solids, essential ingredients across multiple dietary supplement categories, are vulnerable to shifts in government regulations, trade agreements and export controls.
FBIF 2025
Meiji: Protein intake trumps exercise to build muscle gains
Meiji has urged consumers to focus on protein consumption over exercise for muscle growth and maintenance, across all groups from seniors to athletes
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
Pioneers
High-protein game-changers: Protein Pints
Making ice cream both nutritious and delicious has stumped many food firms - but US-based Protein Pints says it has cracked the code to a good-tasting, protein-rich ice cream
Good & Proper’s barista-ready matcha taps into booming matcha latte trend
Matcha is having a moment: nowhere more so than in trendy, Instagram-friendly matcha lattes. But that’s opened up the market up to cheaper, lower quality alternatives. Good & Proper’s latest launch heralds a return to ‘matcha, as it should be’
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.
ADM reveals what drives functional food & beverage innovation
Consumers are prioritizing wellness through everyday foods and drinks – ADM’s latest insights show how sensory cues like flavor and color are shaping the next wave of functional 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
Brand new: Amway, Mengniu, GNC in the spotlight
See new developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including new initiatives between Amway and biotech firm HEM Pharma, Mengniu’s sports nutrition plans and more.
Danone-owned Kate Farms shakes up high-protein space with GLP-1 drinks
The company’s new range promises to elevate nutritional support for consumers on weight management medications
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...
Fortified dairy: What you need to know, from methods to consumer perceptions
Fortifying dairy products with bioactives such as vitamins and probiotics not only enhances nutritional value but paves the way for next-gen formulations
‘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
Healthplex Expo 2025, Natural & Nutraceutical Products China 2025 (HNC 2025)
Mengniu to explore bone, joint, anti-oxidation for sports nutrition range
China dairy giant Mengniu Dairy is exploring bone and joint health, as well as anti-oxidation as it expands its sports nutrition range.
Danone homes in on gut health trend with The Akkermansia Company acquisition
The Akkermansia Company has been acquired by Danone as the global food company looks to invest further in gut health and next-generation biotic science.
Pioneers
High-protein game changers: Slate Milk
In a new article series, we spotlight some of the companies that are driving innovation in high-protein dairy . . .
Dairy Innovation
Ultra-filtered milk is redefining dairy: Inside the strategies of Quest, Nurri and Pioneer Pastures
As consumers demand more protein, less sugar, and better nutrition from their beverages, three disruptive brands are using ultra-filtration to reinvent milk – and reshape the dairy aisle
Danone’s Oikos expands into $7bn ambient protein shakes market
The move creates a new aisle presence for Oikos, traditionally known for its high-protein yogurts