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Supermarket food trends: What’s driving consumer purchasing decisions?
Supermarket food trends: What’s driving consumer purchasing decisions?
The growing use of GLP-1 and push for more protein and fiber, as well as rising concerns over ultra-processed foods, is reshaping the grocery shopping landscape. These consumer trends are emerging as crucial influencers for changing volumes, food choices, and purchasing decisions.
Economic and regulatory pressures reshape chocolate and sugar confectionery
Economic and regulatory pressures reshape chocolate and sugar confectionery
The chocolate and sugar confectionery space continues to face a myriad of challenges, including sugar taxes, high-fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) regulations influencing formulation and marketing, and volatility in cocoa, sugar, and dairy pricing impacting margins. But F&B firms and ingredient suppliers are responding well, tackling these roadblocks head-on by innovating high-quality solutions that keep pace with consumer demands.
Innova’s Global SVP Research unpacks prominent trends at Fi Europe 2025
Innova’s Global SVP Research unpacks prominent trends at Fi Europe 2025
GLP-1’s impact on the food industry, products powered by protein, and increasing fiber intake inspired conversations on the Fi Europe 2025 show floor in Paris, France (Dec 2–4). Food Ingredients First sat down with Lu Ann Williams, SVP of global research at Innova Market Insights, as she unpacked the latest F&B innovation trends — pushing back on the idea that “protein is the new fiber,” and highlighting significant opportunities for creativity in the evolving GLP-1 landscape.
Yerba Mate vs. Matcha: A New Chapter in Functional Innovation
Yerba Mate vs. Matcha: A New Chapter in Functional Innovation
Matcha meets its Latin American counterpart. Discover how yerba mate delivers balanced vitality, a bold flavor profile, and sustainable sourcing. Our e-book reveals key market insights and application ideas to drive the next wave of innovation in natural energy solutions.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Duas Rodas.
Fi Europe 2025: Rousselot drives collagen innovation across everyday foods and beverages
Fi Europe 2025: Rousselot drives collagen innovation across everyday foods and beverages

Lauretta Katsriku, global category leader (H&N) – collagen, explains how Rousselot supports food and beverage manufacturers with formulation-ready solutions. She highlights Nextida GC for GLP-1-aligned innovation, Peptan’s heat stability for bakery and UHT beverages, and how Rousselot helps brands deliver better nutrition without compromising taste or texture.

Fi Europe 2025 review: Ingredient trends driving modern F&B formulation
Fi Europe 2025 review: Ingredient trends driving modern F&B formulation
At Fi Europe 2025, ingredient suppliers showcased science-backed, clean label solutions designed to balance performance, nutrition, and sustainability. Across the show floor, key themes included functional and active nutrition, protein diversification, gut and metabolic health, flavor optimization, sugar and sodium reduction, and circular sourcing — reflecting a market focused on smarter formulation, consumer trust, and future-ready food systems.

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Grainge AI: Solving the ingredient testing “blind spot” with machine learning
Grainge AI: Solving the ingredient testing “blind spot” with machine learning
Food manufacturers are making critical production decisions based on faulty metrics that are outdated, according to US-based Grainge AI — a start-up developing machine learning tools to help F&B companies identify and predict ingredient behaviors in formulations. 
PepsiCo formalizes restructuring plan as key investor pushes SKU cuts and price...
PepsiCo formalizes restructuring plan as key investor pushes SKU cuts and price reductions
PepsiCo has reached an agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management to cut its US product lineup by 20% and reduce prices on core brands, formalizing a broader restructuring that includes the Frito-Lay plant closures announced this year. 
Balchem boosts microencapsulation capabilities with New York manufacturing hub
Balchem boosts microencapsulation capabilities with New York manufacturing hub
Global manufacturer of specialty ingredients for human nutrition, Balchem, plans to develop a new, high-capacity manufacturing facility for its advanced microencapsulated technologies for food ingredients.
EU “meaty” label ban talks collapse into prolonged regulatory limbo
EU “meaty” label ban talks collapse into prolonged regulatory limbo
European trilogue negotiations on restricting meat-related terminology for plant-based products collapsed yesterday without agreement, pushing any final decision into 2026 under Cyprus’ EU presidency. The failure marks a significant setback for the European Parliament’s October vote to ban terms like “burger,” “sausage,” and “steak” from plant-based labels.
dsm-firmenich reveals top 2026 flavor as consumers seek calm and revitalization
dsm-firmenich reveals top 2026 flavor as consumers seek calm and revitalization
“Frosted Star Anise” has been crowned by dsm-firmenich as its Flavor of the Year for 2026. This flavor draws from Pantone’s Color of the Year 2026: “Pantone Cloud Dancer,” a white hue that inspired dsm-firmenich to elevate both an ingredient and a feeling as its anticipated 2026 winning flavor. Together, these emotional indicators reflect a growing global desire for calm in an increasingly fast-paced world, notes the nutrition and health-focused company.
Comet Bio: Exploring Arrabina’s fiber credentials, flavor diversity &...
Comet Bio: Exploring Arrabina’s fiber credentials, flavor diversity & microbiome impact

Nutrition Insight

Today’s consumers consistently seek foods and beverages that deliver not only great taste and texture but also functional benefits. According to Comet Bio, a food tech company specializing in producing prebiotic dietary fiber using proprietary upcycling technology, brands can strengthen and differentiate their product appeal by focusing on gut health claims. Promoting fiber is a prime opportunity, as it promotes digestive health and satiety, which is of high interest to consumers looking to manage their weight. Fiber’s functional benefits today extend far beyond interest in gut health, which has historically been a core focus. 
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Food Ingredients News
GNT’s “Gather Together” report highlights how color can...
Consumers are increasingly seeking connection and comfort in shared food and drink experiences, according to GNT Group. Moreover, the company is spotlighting color as a tool for brands to engage with consumers, as its new “Gather Together” report highlights how natural, plant-based shades can help brands shape products that are social, expressive, emotionally resonant, and reflect emerging shifts in consumer behavior.
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Regulatory News
EU agrees deforestation regulation delay as review clause...
The European Council and Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on a one-year postponement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), but a mandated simplification review before the new deadline creates fresh uncertainty for F&B supply chains already navigating the balance between compliance costs and competitive advantage. 
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Food Ingredients News
Fi Europe 2025 Innovation Awards: Winners span plant-based...
Fi Europe has announced the winners of its 2025 Innovation Awards, recognizing breakthrough solutions across six categories at a ceremony marking the event’s 30th edition in Paris. 

Ingredient focus

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Confectionery in focusDec2025

Innova Market Insights data shows an increase in global Confectionery launches, with 7% average annual growth from October 2020 to September 2025. Half of consumers worldwide identify taste as the mos...

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Product innovation

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Functional fiber Dec 2025

Innova Market Insight data showed steady growth in F&B launches with fiber ingredients offering health benefits between October 2022 and September 2025. Baby & Toddlers was the top category for these products, accounting for one-third of global shares, followed by Dairy, Cereals, and Soft Drinks.

Trend analysis

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Emulsifier innovationDec 2025

Consumers increasingly pay attention to what they are eating, where it comes from, and how it is produced. This demand is driving innovation for natural, plant-based emulsifiers with clean labels. Innova Market Insights data indicates a 5% compound annual growth rate in F&B launches with emulsifiers (July 2020 – June 2025). Bakery was the top category in launches with emulsifiers, while Soft Drinks showed the fastest growth in this period.

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Fi Europe 2025: Perfat’s path from pilot to commercial Oleogel production

Perfat CEO and co-founder Jyrki Lee-Korhonen shares how the company is moving from pilot to commercial production of its oleogel technology. Learn which manufacturing capabilities mattered most, which food categories are early adopters, and how brand and formulator feedback is shaping the...

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Fi Europe 2025: How Arla Foods Ingredients is driving growth in high-protein dairy
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Fi Europe 2025: The future of flavor, color & functionality at Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing
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Fi Europe 2025: Rousselot drives collagen innovation across everyday foods and beverages
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