Weight-loss maintenance: The next GLP-1 innovation frontier?
GLP-1 users want to maintain weight loss after they stop using the drugs
Functional dairy
Yakult appoints former Unilever exec as new UK & Ireland sales lead
Japanese probiotics firm Yakult has appointed a new national sales manager for its UK and Ireland operations.
GLP-1 creep: How weight-loss drugs are moving beyond their intended users
They have a specific criteria, but a new study has found that it’s not always met
The protein glut is challenging dairy’s tight milk pool
Processors are increasingly pressed to squeeze more protein out of the available milk
From protein to lactose-free: US dairy’s growth engines
With dairy retail sales benefitting from health and wellness trends such as weight management and increased protein consumption, which categories have the biggest growth runway?
The top 3 areas winning private label right now
Private label’s glow-up is winning shoppers with clean labels, high-protein products and trend-driven innovation that goes far beyond bargain pricing
Beyond ‘GLP-1 friendly’: The nutrition opportunity food brands are missing
Health experts point to muscle, bone and cardiovascular health as key priorities for consumers taking GLP-1 medications and navigating midlife, creating opportunities for food and beverage brands to connect functional nutrition with consumer education
Could GLP-1 safety concerns affect uptake?
Reports of side-effects and deaths may complicate the success of the weight-loss drugs
The a2 Milk Company’s new research findings to drive US growth, innovation pipeline
New Zealand dairy nutrition firm The a2 Milk Company’s recently released research results are set to drive growth in the US market and shape its innovation pipeline.
Functional drinks boom, but can brands prove they actually work?
Demand for drinks promising everything from gut health to better sleep is soaring, but brands face growing pressure to back up their claims with robust science and regulatory compliance
Could soaring whey prices make infant formula even more expensive?
Will the use of whey in trending foods and beverages have a knock-on effect on essential categories?
5 food ingredients for bone health – what manufacturers need to know
With interest in bone health rising, manufacturers can leverage key ingredients and nutrient combinations to meet demand
Does the future of dairy protein lie in specialisation?
As protein expands beyond sports nutrition into everyday foods, having tailored dairy proteins designed for different health outcomes is key
Whey demand set to rise with bioethanol breakthrough
Researchers have developed a new process for converting whey into bioethanol, opening up a potential new market for a dairy byproduct already experiencing soaring demand
From food noise to alcohol cravings: The expanding promise of oral GLP-1s
As oral GLP-1s sweep across Europe and the US, research suggests they may do far more than curb appetite
IFT FIRST
Can dairy retain its bioactive benefits without sacrificing food safety?
By preserving naturally occurring milk exosomes that conventional processing often destroys, biotech startup Exosomm says it can help manufacturers deliver clinically relevant bioactive benefits without compromising food safety, shelf life or scalability
Stress-relief drinks fuel next functional beverage boom
Stress-relief drinks are fast becoming one of the hottest categories in functional beverages, as consumers seek products that support relaxation, mood and emotional wellbeing
Functional foods: what’s the next big ingredient?
Functional ingredients are shaping product launches across food and beverage
IFT FIRST
Protein’s single note is getting old – what is its next verse?
After years of optimizing protein concentration, ingredient suppliers are shifting the focus toward solutions that deliver broader benefits ranging from satiety and metabolic health to sensory performance and formulation flexibility
Whey shortage: what are the alternatives?
Whey is used widely in the food sector, but limited availability may lead manufacturers towards different options
Healthy ageing: Yili taps TCM, flavour to boost elderly nutrition
Yili is blending traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), flavour innovation and age-friendly design to for elderly nutrition products in China’s ageing market
Pioneers
How Lullaa is taking functional dairy to the next level
Milk already boasts an impressive nutritional profile, but can it compete with kefir, kombucha and protein shakes? Four Leaves Co’s award-winning functional milk offers one answer
Why Lifeway is central to the US kefir boom
Boardroom drama aside, Lifeway Foods’ diversified cultured dairy portfolio is the backbone of the entire US kefir market
Why lactose-free is dairy’s new growth engine
Lactose-free dairy is one of the sector’s biggest growth opportunities. Here’s why…
Summer Fancy Food Show
Gut health enters a new phase as brands move beyond probiotics
Consumer demand for more targeted digestive benefits for different usage occasions is driving innovation across yogurt, fermented foods and traditional botanicals, while raising the stakes for education
Global dairy’s Big 7 pivot to protein and cheese
In mid 2026, slower milk growth is reshaping production priorities as processors chase stronger returns from cheese, whey and high-value ingredients
The rise and rise of precision-fermented lactoferrin
Lactoferrin is breaking into the mainstream as precision fermentation makes the ‘miracle molecule’ scalable, animal-free and more affordable
Summer Fancy Food Show 2026
What’s driving the protein surge?
Consumers are cutting sugar with confidence and chasing protein with confusion, while generational divides over where protein belongs are reshaping the trend
Consumers stock up on GLP-1-coded protein shakes on Amazon Prime Day
Shopper satisfaction dips nine percentage points, as consumers reduce spending year over year
Whey boom fuels surge in protein processing expansion
From WPC80 to lactoferrin, dairy companies globally are investing in premium protein capacity to capture growth in the high-end sports nutrition and functional food space
GLP‑1 use is fueling trends already in motion
GLP‑1 adoption is scaling rapidly and the brands that win are focusing on delivering nutrition for broader appeal rather than a niche segment
Danone to acquire Made Group
The French company aims to boost APAC expansion with major new acquisition
Creatine storms functional drinks but can it really deliver?
As formulators race to stabilise creatine for RTD formats, the ingredient is moving beyond sports nutrition into mainstream wellness, yet evidence gaps and dosing challenges could shape its true potential
Is ‘healthy enough’ the new ‘better for you?’
Winning brands balance health, indulgence and convenience
Why dairy giants see growth in meal replacement brands
Danone, Nestlé and Lactalis have all jumped onto the ‘smart food’ bandwagon via bolt-on acquisitions. Why is the segment so strategically important?
How Lactalis’ Protein Works deal sharpens its active nutrition focus
Lifestyle nutrition has become a major CPG bet – and dairy’s richest player just took a slice
Muscle Milk undergoes it’s ‘biggest transformation’ with Pro lineup
For Muscle Milk, the challenge – and opportunity – is to meet consumers’ varied needs with simplicity and nutrient density
Nestlé and Helaina partner to advance understanding of new bioactive proteins
Nutrition biotechnology company Helaina is partnering with Nestlé to combine the food and beverage giant’s expertise in early-life nutrition and product development with Helaina’s novel protein-production technology.
Opinion
How the Arla–DMK merger will strengthen Europe’s whey power
With Arla and DMK merged, Europe’s whey processing power will be even more formidable
How dairy can seize its World Cup moment
With global audiences shifting to digital and wellness on the rise, is dairy ready to compete with Big Soda for World Cup visibility?
Pioneers
Cottage cheese ice cream is here - and Smearcase wants the shelf
Cottage cheese isn’t just disrupting the fresh aisle – it’s scooping out its own niche in frozen, too
Danone bets on protein coffee to shake up RTD nutrition
As the company expands its ambient protein shakes range in North America, it quietly backs an emerging category. Would consumers respond?
The functional beverage checklist
From flavour and functionality to fun: here are the five crucial areas every functional beverage must address
How cottage cheese reinvented itself
Cottage cheese is being reinvented through new formats, younger consumers and rising global demand – and brands are only just getting started
FrieslandCampina to invest over €90M into protein
The dairy giant has announced a major investment programme to accelerate growth in whey proteins.
Pioneers
How Alterego stirred up the ‘stale’ cottage cheese category
Alterego is positioning itself as a bold new force in UK cottage cheese. Here’s how the female‑led brand is building momentum
Protein: Beating the formulation challenges
Consumers want protein – but they demand drinks that taste good
From ambient to plant-based: Where Danone is taking protein next
Danone leads the high-protein yogurt space in the US. Now, it’s branching into new categories and formats
How GLP‑1 drugs are reshaping dairy innovation
Protein demand has been a boon for dairy – but there’s more to GLP-1-friendly formulation than meets the eye
Functionality and hydration fuel growth at Danone
Infant formula was a drag on Q1 2026 sales but high-protein dairy, functional waters and medical nutrition tipped the balance into positive territory