Nestle’s Recyclable Food Packaging is Disrupting the CPG Industry
In 2018, Nestle was ranked the world’s 3rd greatest plastic polluter by Break Free From Plastic. Following that, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the UN Environment Programme together launched the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to tackle plastic footprint by 2025. As a result, the CPG giant pledged to make 100% of its products recyclable […]
4 Ingredients That Keep Chocolate Sweet Without the Sugar Spike
In spring 2023, Hershey’s partnered with Coca-Cola’s Honest brand to create gluten-free gummies made with low-sugar organic fruit juice. Previously, the confectionery giant invested in the low-sugar chocolate brands Bonumose, Lily’s, and ONE Brands. All these strategic moves are a part of Hershey’s expansion plan in the better-for-you (BFY) snack category. Sugar reduction is a […]
Beyond Tempering: 5 Ways To Prevent Fat Bloom in Your Chocolate To Win in Hot Markets
Even your perfectly tempered chocolate blooms under supply-chain temperature swings in hot, humid markets like the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Most commercial fixes come with drawbacks. Barrier coatings crack under thermal stress, while emulsifiers increase the E-numbers. Cocoa butter equivalents and substitutes improve thermal tolerance, but compromise mouthfeel. However, formulators at companies such as Hershey […]
Scaling Natural Cocoa Production Without Sacrificing Flavor or Bioactives
Natural cocoa production has become a critical research priority as manufacturers face mounting pressure to deliver dark, flavorful chocolate products while preserving the health-promoting compounds consumers now expect. Traditional alkalization, the Dutch process that darkens cocoa and mellows bitterness, strips up to 60% of beneficial polyphenols, creating a fundamental trade-off between appearance and nutritional value. […]
Dairy Giants Like Arla and Yili are Digitalizing The Dairy Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has even pushed dairy companies to embrace digitalization to engage with consumers effectively, gain insights into consumer behavior, and gather data for optimization and efficiency improvements. In fact, companies like Nestlé have set up a target to get 25% of their sales from e-commerce by 2025. It’s clear that the dairy industry, […]
How Food Startups Are Solving the Texture And Taste Problem in Fat Replacers
About 70-75% of adult diets exceed the 10% saturated fat limit recommended by the WHO. This contributes to obesity and metabolic syndrome. In some European countries, it exceeds 27.5% of total energy intake! Replacing these fat compounds with healthier replacers, without compromising taste or mouthfeel, has become a significant challenge for food manufacturers. This article details […]
Is Chocolate Really Evolving Into A Superfood?
Cocoa prices have been rapidly rising since 2024 due to global supply shortages. The main reasons are climate adversities in key regions like West Africa and structural farming vulnerabilities. JP Morgan’s analysis shows that these price pressures will remain high through 2025 as well. Brands are rethinking pricing strategies to manage costs while appealing to […]
Cocoa-Free Chocolate Is Out Of R&D Labs And Ready To Fool Your Taste Buds
Cocoa is at a breaking point. Climate change, crop diseases like the black pod, and supply chain instability have driven cocoa prices to an all-time high of $12,906 per metric ton. At the same time, aging cocoa trees, concerns about forced labor, and looming regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are reshaping sourcing […]
Cargill And Hershey Are Banking On These Innovative Startups To Fix Dry, Brittle, Gluten-Free Snacks!
Around 75% of consumers seek snacks for their functional benefits, such as boosting energy, improving mood, and supporting fitness or diet goals. Yet, healthier cereal-based snack innovations often create new problems. For instance, reducing sugar, adding fiber, or removing gluten makes snacks dry, brittle, or less flavorful. This turns away 74% of consumers who snack […]
Can Functional GLP-1 Chocolate Deliver the Same Indulgence? How Chinese R&D Teams Made It Work
When GLP-1 drugs first entered the market, many expected a sharp decline in indulgence categories like chocolate. “The top reason to eat chocolate is to satisfy a craving. And if GLP-1s do quell ‘food noise’ and therefore cravings, that could pose a threat.” – Kiti Soininen, category director for UK food and drink research at […]