Natural Products Expo West
Predictive data reveals the next wave of performance-driven wellness trends in food
Insights from Spate reveal consumers want functional, low-sugar and benefit-packed food and beverages that fit easily into their lives
Functional dairy
WPC at crossroads: How demand is reshaping protein supply
The global whey protein concentrate (WPC) market is diverging as demand-driven growth in high-value ingredients fuels volatility in the broader category
Inside the functional beverage craze: What benefits are consumers really looking for?
From gut health to energy, there’s a huge range of choice in the functional beverage category. What do consumers actually want?
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?
Cheaper, healthier: How consumer priorities are shaping dietary choices
Shoppers strive towards healthier diets – but are their aspirations turning into action?
Opinion
The new paradox: Protein vs processing
Protein is the snack industry’s hottest claim but if the foods delivering it are still ultra-processed, the sector may be building its next health halo on shaky ground
Why the sleep crisis is food and drink’s next big global battleground
Sleep deprivation is becoming big business as consumers obsess over how much shuteye they’re getting, but how is the market responding?
How Danone is redefining plant-based through a benefit-led strategy
Danone US is taking plant-based nutrition into the sports performance arena as it seeks to deepen the category’s benefit-driven appeal
Inside Emmi’s growth playbook: How the Swiss dairy group is building momentum
The Swiss dairy major shows how to play in both health and indulgence – and win
GLP‑1 drinks take off as brands race for $3.5bn functional growth
From protein shakes to collagen coolers, brands are reinventing beverages for the GLP‑1 era and the race for dominance in this fast‑growing $3.5bn category is just beginning
Functional dairy booms as tech-driven innovation renew category potential
Tech driven innovation is growing the potential of functional dairy, repositioning the category as a strong player in the global functional foods space
Innovation in functional coffee creamers takes off
The rise of the US coffee creamer category has been largely fuelled by flavour innovation and brand collabs. But functional creamers represents a rapidly growing area.
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?
Protein is the baseline as GLP-1 accelerates the shift
As consumer appetite changes and nutrient scrutiny intensifies, protein is moving from differentiator to design standard
Flavour trend-watching: Dragon fruit, watermelon and lavender shake up the beverage aisle in 2026
Fresh, fruity and floral never go out of style: but with new favourites every year
Kefir with fiber beats omega-3 supplements in reducing inflammation
New research sheds light into the anti-inflammatory potential of fiber-fortified kefir – but there are caveats
Has dairy lost its health halo - and can brands bring it back?
Dairy was once inherently linked with health and wellness, but some consumers doubt the category’s clean image. How can brands rebuild trust?
Functional ingredients powering dairy’s next growth wave
As consumers chase smarter nutrition, functional ingredients are shaping up the next frontier of dairy innovation
Cottage cheese disruptor Good Culture lands $55M investment underscoring shift to healthier dairy
The new investment, coming on the heels of L Catterton’s majority stake, signals growing private-equity appetite for clean-label, better-for-you dairy
Europe embraces blended proteins faster than the US, report finds
Blending animal and plant ingredients is emerging as a pragmatic path to scale protein diversification, says Food System Innovations
Protein, probiotics and clean-label products top targets in new wave of CPG lawsuits
Law firms warn CPG clients to prepare for tougher scrutiny under MAHA-driven policies, Prop 65 claims and state-led investigations targeting ingredients, packaging and label language
Inside FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ protein strategy - amid a whey shortage
When ingredient trends boom, suppliers need a strategy to ensure they meet demand
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
Are GLP-1 ranges healthy? What food brands must know
Top food brands are embracing GLP-1-friendly ranges. But are these products nutritionally-sound?
How coffee creamers became a powerhouse category
Coffee creamers are outperforming much of the dairy aisle – and new products keep pouring in. Where is the category headed?
Top 5 trends shaping healthy dairy snacking
From cheese bites to RTD beverages, dairy is primed for success in the healthy snacking space
Whey protein suppliers race to expand capacity amid tight markets
As the glut for advanced protein ingredients continues, where is the extra supply set to come from?
Dairy and dementia: Could cheese protect brain health?
A new study adds important insights to the debate about dairy’s role in cognitive health
FrieslandCampina forecasts ‘smart satiety’ will define key 2026 trends
FrieslandCampina Ingredients says fiber diversification, enhanced GLP-1 support and embellished protein offerings will lead nutrition trends this year.
How dairy’s Big 7 will shape exports amid global milk oversupply
As milk supply remains strong, we look at which export categories are set for a boost in 2026
Medjool dates, saffron and cardamon seeds: Entrepreneur creates flavorful functional alternative to traditional milkshakes
Finance professional turned food entrepreneur Masuma Zahara Bukhari brings an exotic flair to the fast-growing functional dairy-free category
Consumer trends to shape innovation in 2026
From protein to functional ingredients, here are the trends that will shape NPD in the year ahead
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 snagged the broader consumer base
A recent report from Front Row examined protein’s shift from its original gym niche to the mainstream where it has captured the loyalty of a wider market and established itself as a cornerstone of modern wellness.
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
GLP-1: Threat or opportunity for food manufacturers?
At this early stage in the market, not all manufacturers know how to respond
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
Nestlé bets on start-ups for GLP-1 innovation
The multinational hopes external innovation can help support consumers through weight loss and maintenance phases
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?