Chocolate makers are scrambling as soaring cocoa costs force reformulations and shrinkflation. With supply pressures mounting, the industry is racing toward alt cocoa, gene-edited crops, and other science-driven solutions.
Acosta Group expects 2026 to be a breakout year for agentic AI, with shoppers embracing AI “companions” while still wary of automated purchasing. Acosta Group also feels consumers will demand personalized wellness, along with innovation that feels relevant – not just new.
Consumers are craving “feelable flavor,” driving brands to explore cooling, warming, and tingling trigeminal sensations that deepen emotional and sensory engagement. These effects are quickly becoming powerful tools for innovation in functional, NA, and better‑for‑you products.
Coca-Cola’s steady handoff from James Quincey to Henrique Braun comes as the beverage giant navigates slowing soda demand, political crosswinds, and shifting consumer habits. Quincey proved Coke could thrive amid turbulence; now Braun must do the same.
Casual athletes are influencing F&B trends, fueling demand for premium protein, hydration, and functional snacks. With wellness spend rising as other categories pull back, savvy brands must meet this lucrative consumer base where they play.
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on President Trump’s plans to provide $12 billion in aid for farmers caught up in trade wars.
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on the future of fast-casual restaurant chains that rely on so-called “slop bowls.”
Barry Thomas, senior thought leader at Kantar, unpacks the rapid rise of agentic AI — a new class of AI systems that don’t just generate information, but take action on behalf of the user.
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on projections for a sizable uptick in Cyber Monday shopping.
Former Oatly U.S. President Mike Messersmith explores how Lasso’s SpinTech could transform food processing, creating sustainable, high-protein, clean-label innovations with new textures and ingredient possibilities.
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on the growing list of restaurant chains and operating groups that have filed for bankruptcy.
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on restaurants’ growing popularity with consumers on Thanksgiving day.
Mike Seidel of Performance Foodservice Corporate, shares how the company developed its most recent Mediterranean food brand Zebec.
The latest FI Fast Break industry news podcast discusses how inflation is reshaping Thanksgiving plans this year.
