Bakery and Snacks

Why Lay’s, Oreo and M&M’s are engineering consumer experiences

Snack brands including Lay’s, Oreo and M&M’s are opening restaurants, cafés and branded destinations to boost engagement, marketing visibility and growth.

Chocolate without trees? The science racing to reinvent cocoa

Scientists and startups are reinventing cocoa using lab-grown cacao cells and fermentation, as the chocolate industry searches for new ingredient solutions.

Dole Whip, Lucky Charms, Cookie Pop and SuperPretzel kick off March’s spring snack surge

New snack launches for spring include Dole Whip, Lucky Charms treats, Cookie Pop popcorn and SuperPretzel bites, plus Mother’s Day marshmallows and more.

Confectionery sector braced for shortages as Iran conflict escalates

The Middle East conflict is disrupting global trade routes, energy supplies, and key confectionery ingredients. Discover how manufacturers can protect supply chains, strengthen visibility, and safeguard products amid escalating geopolitical risk.

Half of US shoppers worry about artificial ingredients, want EU-style bans

More than half of consumers now read food and beverage labels regularly, focusing on ingredient safety, allergens, and functional health benefits, Acosta Group reports.

Fox’s Burton’s Companies factory chief: “I was told being a woman would hold me back”

Fox’s Burton’s Companies factory manager Rebecca Phillips on women in manufacturing, leadership on the factory floor and the industry’s growing talent challenge.

Buffett bets on Kraft Heinz as shock split suspended

Kraft Heinz pauses its planned split as Berkshire Hathaway signals long‑term support. What’s next for the food giant as it invests $600m in innovation and pricing?

Bakery, snacks and cereals: The next cost shock may start in the Gulf

The Iran conflict could drive higher costs for bakery, snacks and cereal makers as energy prices, fertiliser markets and shipping through Hormuz face disruption.

UK obesity epidemic: The UPF scapegoat debate

British Pie Week meets Pi Day: The pies stealing the spotlight this March

British Pie Week and Pi Day are putting pies in the spotlight, from artisan bakery favourites to chicken launches and dessert pies trending in the US.

The Ozempic effect reaches the bread aisle: Bimbo redesigns bakery for GLP-1 users

Grupo Bimbo says GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are changing how people eat, prompting new protein bakery products, smaller snack portions and simpler recipes.

Iran closes Strait of Hormuz: Which foods will get pricier?

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz sends energy prices soaring and disrupts global food supply chains, impacting oils, grains, dairy, meat and packaging.

The story of the Paresi people: How modern agriculture brought a community back from the brink

Farming was more than food for the Paresi people, as it created a pathway for the tribe to transform their culture.

Amazon’s disruption of Walmart is a slow work in progress

Nearly a decade after surpassing Walmart in profitability, Amazon is still testing grocery formats while Walmart tightens its grip on US food retail.

National Snack Day: Inside the billion-dollar brands refusing to slow down

National Snack Day 2026: The snack brands generating $1bn+ in annual sales, including Oreo, Lay’s, Doritos, Reese’s and Uncrustables.

The snacks market right now: still huge, but structurally ‘slower’

PepsiCo, Campbell’s and Smucker announce plant closures as a slower snack market, 2% volume declines and GLP-1 drugs pressure demand.

The next five years will eclipse the last 25: Steve McLean on agriculture’s defining decade

A few weeks into his tenure as CEO of the UK Agri-Tech Centre, Steve McLean is already signalling that this will not be a period of incremental change. After 17 years leading agriculture and fisheries sourcing at UK retailer Marks & Spencer, he brings a firmly commercial lens to a sector he believes is entering its defining decade. In this conversation, McLean explains why sharper commercial discipline, faster routes to market, and closer collaboration between innovators and industry will determine which agri-tech solutions truly scale.

Mondelēz’s meteoric rise: The strategy behind the superpower

A deep dive into Mondelēz International’s rapid rise to global confectionery dominance, exploring its strategic acquisitions, portfolio focus, sustainability initiatives, and what the future holds for brands like Cadbury, Oreo, Milka, and Toblerone.

RFK Jr targets food dyes, SNAP and UPFs in MAHA rally keynote

HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr outlined food policy initiatives at MAHA, with emphasis on synthetic dyes, ultra-processed foods and federal meal programs.

5 innovations desperately needed for EUDR compliance

Europe prepares for EUDR enforcement in 2026. Discover five key innovations—policy, corporate, finance, civil society, and tech—that will shape deforestation‑free supply chains.