Ube exports have been suspended – why and what happens now?
Ube is everywhere. But as demand surges, the Philippines is taking steps to keep the value and authenticity of its purple yam at home
Health & wellness
Drinking beauty: Mashiro taps trend with collagen, GABA, and placenta
Japan’s Mashiro is expanding its beauty-from-within portfolio in South East Asia, targeting demand for collagen, sleep, and wellness products
Meal replacements may satisfy demand for satiety as well as convenience
‘Nutritionally complete’ drinks aim to provide consumers with all the nutrients they need. But they can do much more
Weight-loss maintenance: The next GLP-1 innovation frontier?
GLP-1 users want to maintain weight loss after they stop using the drugs
What are the major factors impacting flavoured alcoholic beverages
Flavoured alcoholic beverages including pre-mixed cocktails and flavoured ready-to-drink (RTDs) are not converting existing alcohol drinkers globally.
Huel ad banned by UK advertising body
The advert was seen as implying Huel could replace an entire human diet
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 power generation: What Gen Z really wants from F&B
From daycaps and zebrastriping to global flavours and gut health, here’s what’s driving food and drink’s most influential generation
Why mid-strength alcohol could be the drinks industry’s next growth opportunity
Mid-strength alcohol is set to redefine the alcohol market, as consumers increasingly embrace moderation and healthier lifestyles
From aspartame to allulose: The future of sweeteners takes shape
The sweetener landscape is becoming increasingly diverse, but what does the future hold?
US Restaurant Beverage Trends: Drinks drive footfall and growth as Gen Z and millennials seek new flavours
Beverages are becoming one of the most innovative growth drivers for US restaurants, with consumers seeking new flavours, experiences and wellness, according to a new industry report.
GLP-1s could be linked to more than 150 deaths
Data on the drugs’ side-effects has highlighted potential risks
GLP-1 beverage innovation outpaces regulation, creating challenges for drinks manufacturers
Beverage innovation in the GLP-1 space is moving faster than regulations, meaning drinks companies could be facing “significant complexity” new research has warned.
Up the food chain
How PepsiCo’s nutrition lead is making Big Food healthier
PepsiCo nutrition senior director, Dr Sue Gatenby, discusses reformulation, positive nutrition, GLP-1s, and the challenges facing the industry’s next generation
International guidance on ‘may contain’ allergen labelling introduced
The guidance aims for more scientific standards
Protein Sodas are the new “whitespace” for innovation in US market
Protein sodas are set to drive the next wave of innovation in the US market, according to a new report from Mintel
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
GLP‑1 is no longer just a weight‑loss story – it’s a full‑scale reset for food & beverage
Emerging research suggests GLP-1 drugs could move beyond diabetes and metabolic health to treat multiple diseases, meaning millions more consumers will rethink how – and what – they eat
The functional beverage checklist
From flavour and functionality to fun: here are the five crucial areas every functional beverage must address
FBIF 2026
Going for red: Ocean Spray taps health and visual appeal to localise in China
Cranberry specialist Ocean Spray is leveraging multiple health benefits and bright red red visual appeal to tailor products for China, aligning innovation with local tastes
From protein to prebiotics: 11 launches tapping into longevity nutrition
Brands are reformulating everyday foods with more protein, fibre and functional ingredients as consumers look to support strength, digestion and long-term wellbeing through daily eating habits
Healthy ageing beyond the wrinkle: 4 big opportunities in food and drink
The longevity trend is moving from beauty and wellness into food and drink, and the opportunities are big
Rethinking the coffee replacement
Coffee alternatives are rising not as replacements, but as functional upgrades
Coffee’s cognitive benefits may act through the microbiota–gut–brain axis
New research from APC Microbiome Ireland suggests coffee-driven changes in the gut microbiome may relate to brain function and behaviour.
How to build a beverage brand: Neutonic on reaching its $60m valuation from nootropic drink growth
Co-founder and personal trainer James Smith talks innovation, growth and social media stardom... and his hands-on approach to customer service
TRIP expands night-time portfolio with CBD-free sleep range
UK-based CBD drinks brand TRIP has expanded its night-time offering with the launch of new Dream Gummies and Dream Powder, formulated without the brand’s flagship ingredient.
Calm in a can: Savvy launches functional beverage targeting mental, menopausal needs
Aussie brand Savvy has released a ready-to-drink functional beverage targeted at reducing stress and anxiety while maintaining mental performance, which also responds to a growing need for menopause support among women.
The evolution of the energy drink category
Energy is reaching new audiences and opening up new opportunities
Modern soda’s influence spreads across the beverage category
The category has taken US shelves by storm over the last couple of years: but what will it look like in 2026 and beyond?
Carving out the functional frontier of alcohol-free drinks
It’s an exciting area of innovation - but are consumers ready?
How alcohol-free drinks can become the life of the party
Alcohol was once what held social occasions together. Now alcohol-free has the opportunity to take up the mantle
How to build a beverage brand: Spindrift on embracing the sparkling opportunities in better-for-you drinks
Flavor innovation has been key for Spindrift’s sparkling water: and now the brand has expanded into soda and iced tea as it continues to embrace opportunities for growth...
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
PepsiCo plays ‘offense’ to transform portfolio for health-conscious consumers
CEO Ramon Laguarta outlines plans to reduce sugar and sodium, boost protein and fiber, and “restage” core brands to drive higher value per consumption
Gen Z is drinking again, but alcohol is still in trouble
Alcohol consumption is in decline, and not just because of the allegedly health conscious young
The rise of clean alcohol
Widespread demand for clean label is finally reaching the alcohol category
New safety thresholds for toxin disrupting infant formula sector
It’s hoped EFSA’s proposed limits will offer clarity for manufacturers and regulators alike
Free AF: The brand riding the canned cocktail wave in alcohol-free
A rising star in the US canned mocktail category, Free AF is betting on a big alcohol-free future
Drinking less but drinking better: Understanding the moderation movement
Consumers want to be healthier; so they’re cutting back on alcohol. But is it really that simple?
Reinventing decaf coffee: Nolo creates functional RTD brew to elevate taste and texture
The new launch uses prebiotic fiber to help create a creamier, more luxurious brew: an innovative new take on the decaffeinated coffee category
Diet Trends
Alcohol-free beverages become part of the wellness diet
From Dry January to everyday routines, alcohol-free beverages are integrating into wellness diets with functional, mood-enhancing ingredients
Diet Trends
What ‘healthy’ means to Americans is changing, and so should marketing
Consumers want healthier food but struggle to trust nutrition information, creating both challenges and opportunities for brands, according to new data from the International Food Information Council
The rise of the social tonic: Hiyo highlights functional beverage potential in alcohol-free
Packed with a proprietary blend of adaptogens, nootropics and botanicals, Hiyo makes social connection the center of its brand
How alcohol-free marketplace Boisson connects brands and consumers
Boisson’s revived mission goes beyond stocking the best in alcohol-free: it’s about building the category with a community of mindful drinkers
Top tips for global expansion from alcohol-free spirit innovator
As the world’s leading independent non-alcoholic spirits brand, CleanCo knows just how quickly drinking trends are changing...
Is Dry January still in vogue?
Consumers are cutting back on alcohol year-round. Is January still important for alcohol-free brands?
US drinking guidelines revamped in dramatic shift
New US drinking recommendations now simply state that less alcohol is better
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
Will soda taxes serve as the model for future UPF regulations?
The beverage industry has long argued that soda is singled out unfairly when it comes to soda taxes. But now there’s pressure to extend measures across ultra-processed foods
Healthy beverages
Lipton leans into function and flavor with new herbal teas and concentrates
Lipton is expanding into concentrates and herbal teas to meet growing demand for flavorful, functional and convenient tea formats, while keeping pace with trends like GLP-1 wellness and stress management