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Barry Callebaut earnings show chocolate volumes fall despite cocoa price relief
Barry Callebaut earnings show chocolate volumes fall despite cocoa price relief
Barry Callebaut’s first-quarter results reveal the chocolate industry is still struggling to find its footing after last year’s cocoa price crisis. Despite bean prices falling 16% year-on-year, consumer demand and customer purchasing behavior remain subdued — suggesting the damage from 2024’s volatility may be more structural than cyclical.The world’s largest cocoa and chocolate manufacturer posted a 9.9% decline in group sales volume for Q1 fiscal 2025/26, with Global Chocolate down 6.8% and Global Cocoa falling 22%. Sales revenue rose 8.9% in local currencies to CHF 3.7 billion (US$4.2 billion), driven by higher year-on-year cocoa pricing passed through to customers. But the company notes that pricing is now stabilizing as bean costs ease. 
Confectionery market trends: AI and plant-based innovation redefine guilt-free treats
Confectionery market trends: AI and plant-based innovation redefine guilt-free treats
The confectionery market is undergoing a significant transformation as consumers increasingly seek a balance between indulgence and health. Focus on sustainability, clean labels, and functional benefits is rising, as plant-based, sugar-free, and high-protein alternative demands spur innovation and reshape NPD.
FoodChain ID’s new partnership breathes life back into Ukraine’s war-torn farmland
FoodChain ID’s new partnership breathes life back into Ukraine’s war-torn farmland
A new partnership between FoodChain ID and the Center of Excellence for Life Sciences, Agriculture and Bioingenuity (CE-LAB) is poised to bolster farming and food security in Ukraine. The collaboration is part of an initiative to improve land that is mined and contaminated because of conflict, and comes amid estimates that 7.5 million hectares of land in Ukraine have recently suffered these effects because of military operations.
Colors drive F&B choices: From Instagram to health
Colors drive F&B choices: From Instagram to health
F&B color choices can influence consumer purchasing decisions in various ways, from appearance and palatability to flavor perception and “Instagrammability.” In a digital world, where younger consumers regularly photograph their meals, visual impact and novelty have become increasingly important. At the same time, a sense of “naturalness” remains non-negotiable, with Innova Market Insights finding that 1 in 4 consumers rank it among the most important factors when it comes to healthy eating.
CEAMFIBRE: A Natural, Multifunctional Ingredient for Food Applications
CEAMFIBRE: A Natural, Multifunctional Ingredient for Food Applications
What if clean label food innovation started with a citrus peel? CEAMFIBRE is a natural ingredient obtained from lemon, lime, and orange peels. This multifunctional citrus fiber provides tailored solutions, both soluble and insoluble, addressing specific technical and formulation needs to diverse end applications across the Food Industry, including bakery, dairy, meat or juices. This Technical Paper is brought to you by CEAMSA.
Cargill: Shaping sustainability through strategic food partnerships
Cargill: Shaping sustainability through strategic food partnerships

In this interview with Geert Maesmans, VP of R&D at Cargill, we dive into the company’s cutting-edge solutions at the European Innovation Center in Vilvoorde, Belgium. From pioneering food technologies and impactful partnerships to a commitment to sustainability, discover how Cargill is helping shape the future of food for a more sustainable and connected global food ecosystem.

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Absolut and Tabasco unite for spicy vodka as consumers crave heat
Absolut and Tabasco unite for spicy vodka as consumers crave heat
Absolut Vodka and Tabasco are launching a co-branded spicy vodka, combining the Swedish distiller’s premium spirit with a natural essence derived from the fermented, aged red pepper mash used in Tabasco sauce.Absolut Tabasco will roll out from February 2026 across more than 50 markets, including the US and UK, as demand for heat in the spirits category continues to climb. Sales of spicy vodka are forecast to increase 27% by 2029, according to the companies. 
Amazon abandons cashierless grocery experiment as Whole Foods expands
Amazon abandons cashierless grocery experiment as Whole Foods expands
Amazon is closing all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores as the e-commerce giant shifts investment toward Whole Foods Market expansion and online grocery delivery. The company plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods stores over the coming years, while converting some of the shuttered locations into Whole Foods outlets.
Univar and Ashland join forces to enhance F&B innovation in EMEA
Univar and Ashland join forces to enhance F&B innovation in EMEA
Foodology by Univar Solutions and Ashland have penned an exclusive partnership to distribute cellulose ethers to EMEA countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, enabling manufacturers to enhance texture, stability, and processing in F&B products.
ISM 2026 preview: Protein-packed, gut-friendly snacks set to dominate
ISM 2026 preview: Protein-packed, gut-friendly snacks set to dominate
Snacks go beyond satisfying hunger and abating cravings. Traditionally indulgence‑led, the snacking segment is increasingly influenced by health and wellness priorities. This shift is driving demand for health‑focused snacks with no artificial additives, sugar, or high fat, as well as snacks with a sharpened focus on functional and nutritional ingredients.
EU-India trade deal: How could tariff cuts reshape F&B industries?
EU-India trade deal: How could tariff cuts reshape F&B industries?
The EU-India trade deal, which could eliminate up to €4 billion (US$4.75 billion) in tariffs on EU exports, has sparked mixed reactions across F&B industries. Indian businesses, particularly in spices, tea, and processed foods, are optimistic, anticipating increased exports to the EU. However, European agricultural sectors, notably dairy and sugar, are concerned about increased competition and the erosion of market protections.
NotCo: How AI can help companies align innovation with new US dietary guidelines
NotCo: How AI can help companies align innovation with new US dietary guidelines

Nutrition Insight

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are prompting food and nutrition companies to rethink their innovation strategies, focusing on reduced sugar, sodium, and saturated fats and increased high-quality protein and fiber.Nutrition Insight speaks with NotCo’s VP of R&D, Alisia Heath, about how businesses may implement these changes. She warns that companies may face challenges with R&D timelines to make swift changes. However, she points to AI solutions to accelerate product development. 
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Business News
“Cultivated meat is broken”: Former Meatable CEO says...
In 2021, investors poured nearly US$1 billion into cultivated meat. Last year, that figure was US$65 million — a 93% collapse, according to AgFunder data. In late 2025, two of the sector’s most prominent companies ceased operations within days of each other: Meatable, a Dutch start-up that had raised over US$100 million and was named one of Time magazine’s best inventions of 2024, and Believer Meats, which had completed the US regulatory pathway and built the world’s largest cultivated meat factory.Jeff Tripician, a veteran of the traditional meat industry, became Meatable’s CEO in mid-2024 with a mandate to lead US market expansion — only to watch the company’s prospects collapse within 18 months. He believes the sector’s decline is due to a two-fold failure: start-ups who overpromised to impatient investors, and governments that chose political convenience over long-term food security. 
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Regulatory News
Infant formula crisis spreads to Lactalis and Danone as...
French dairy giant Lactalis has become the fourth manufacturer to recall infant formula over contaminated arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, joining Nestlé, Danone, and Hochdorf in a crisis that has wiped billions from market valuations and prompted investigations into the first reported casualties. The company announced today (January 21) that it is recalling six batches of Picot brand infant milk across 18 countries due to cereulide in an ingredient from “an international supplier.” A spokesperson reportedly told Reuters the company “acted without waiting for results of the investigations conducted at the supplier.” 
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Food Ingredients News
Gut-friendly foods: GLP-1 drives increased demand for...
As the use of GLP-1 medications proliferates, interest in supporting gut health has exploded. The likes of Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy jabs amplify the importance of gut-healthy eating patterns that put fiber-enhanced and microbiome-supporting food and beverages at the heart of the diet.

Ingredient focus

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Confectionery market trends unwrappedJan2026

Global confectionery launches are on the rise as consumers increasingly opt for sweets, particularly chocolate, as a source of indulgence. Europe was the leading region for confectionery NPD, with var...

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Product innovation

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Colors drive F&B choices: From Instagram to health Jan 2026

F&B color choices can influence consumer purchasing decisions in various ways, from appearance and palatability to flavor perception and “Instagrammability.” In a digital world, where younger consumers regularly photograph their meals, visual impact and novelty have become increasingly important. At the same time, a sense of “naturalness” remains non-negotiable, with Innova Market Insights finding that 1 in 4 consumers rank it among the most important factors when it comes to healthy eating.

Trend analysis

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Dairy innovation & trends: Taste tops consumer prioritiesJan 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicate that consumers find taste to be very important when choosing dairy products, with more than half choosing this option. The Dairy category shows small growth globally, while Europe leads in new product launches. Most new product launches came in the Dairy-based Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt subcategory, while Processed Cheese showed the fastest growth.

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Cargill: Shaping sustainability through strategic food partnerships

In this interview with Geert Maesmans, VP of R&D at Cargill, we dive into the company’s cutting-edge solutions at the European Innovation Center in Vilvoorde, Belgium. From...

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Cargill: How AI and consumer insights are shaping future food innovation
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Cargill’s European Food Innovation Center: Turning fermentation science into sustainable nutrition
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World Resources Institute: What the EUDR means for food ingredients supply chains
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