Innovation


  • Product shots of Coca-Cola's new innovations against an orange background.
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    Courtesy of Coca-Cola
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    Coca-Cola steps into better-for-you soda market with prebiotics

    The soda giant is entering the buzzy category and will compete with Olipop and PepsiCo-owned Poppi.

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
  • Packages of Ghirardelli cookies
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    Courtesy of Lindt & Sprüngli
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    Ghirardelli brings 174-year-old chocolate brand to packaged cookies

    and for the corrected teaser: The baked good will be pitted against other premium offerings in the nearly $19 billion cookie space, such as Mondelēz’s Tate’s.

    By • Updated 3 hours ago
  • A chef speaks at the IFT FIRST conference in Chicago.
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    Retrieved from IFT on October 06, 2026
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    Top food and beverage industry events in 2027

    A list of must-attend conferences and trade shows for professionals to keep up with the biggest innovations and consumer trends set to define next year. 

    By • Oct. 6, 2026
  • Three bowls of Kraft Mac and Cheese's new Cheesy Ramen.
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    Courtesy of Kraft Heinz
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    Kraft Mac & Cheese enters first new category in decades with cheesy ramen

    The launch comes as owner Kraft Heinz invests $700 million into marketing, sales, and R&D under CEO Steve Cahillane to drive growth.

    By • Oct. 6, 2026
  • Products made by Ferrero.
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    Courtesy of Ferrero
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    Nutella maker Ferrero building a sweets ‘powerhouse’ in the US

    The company is increasing marketing and innovation as it aims to nearly double sales to $20 billion through a portfolio of candies, cereals and more.

    By • Oct. 6, 2026
  • Once Upon a Farm's new electrolyte blend pouch
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    Courtesy of Once Upon a Farm
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    Once Upon a Farm joins crowded kids electrolyte space

    The pouch offering by the baby and infant brand is aimed at active children and comes a month after food giant Nestlé's Gerber entered the pediatric rehydration sector.

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
  • A Nutella frozen waffle
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    Permission granted by Ferrero
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    EXCLUSIVE

    Ferrero launches Nutella-filled frozen waffles

    The product, set to launch in the U.S. next spring, is meant to be a premium option in a space that has lacked meaningful innovation, an executive said.

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
  • Woman looking at product in dairy section of a store
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    vgajic via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods

    Protein is maxed out. Here’s where CPG growth is hiding.

    Protein claims are everywhere. Here's the shelf strategy that still moves volume.

    Oct. 5, 2026
  • Bags of Skittles Gummy Crystals
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    Courtesy of Mars
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    Column

    Leftovers: Skittles gives gummies some crunch | Cup Noodles bites back for Halloween

    The Mars-owned brand leans into multi-textural experiences with Skittles Gummy Crystals, while the founders of THC cocktail brand Nowadays launch a relaxation-focused functional beverage.

    By Food Dive staff • Oct. 2, 2026
  • Private label grocery items on a kitchen countertop
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    Courtesy of Hannaford
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    Private label brands embrace own identities in packaging design

    Retailers are using store brand packaging to show they understand their customers’ priorities.

    By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 2, 2026
  • Conagra Brands' Healthy Choice meals at a Maryland Wegmans.
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    Conagra slims down portfolio while investing more in popcorn, meat sticks

    The Healthy Choice maker is exiting Celeste frozen pizza as it reviews its business for other brands and SKUs to cut.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
  • PepsiCo Flavor Swaps
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    Q&A

    How PepsiCo uses chefs to think differently about innovation

    The snack giant is tapping into culinary expertise to remain competitive and uncover flavors that will resonate with fickle consumers.

    By • Sept. 30, 2026
  • A cup full of a frozen beverage with gummies and other snacks around it against a gray background.
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    Permission granted by 7-Eleven
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    Sour power: C-stores begin to capitalize on the in-demand flavor profile

    Sour food and beverage sales across all retail types jumped 10.8% in dollar terms over the past year, according to Circana.

    By Christine Blank • Sept. 30, 2026
  • Four collaged images of nonalcoholic drinks from Molson Coors.
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    Courtesy of Molson Coors
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    Molson Coors bets on nonalcoholic drinks with national expansion

    The Coors owner plans to further scale its Coors 0.0 brand and launch a nonalcoholic version of Leinenkugel’s summer shandy.

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
  • A bof of Cheez-it Protein crackers
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    Courtesy of Mars
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    Cheez-It flexes with protein-loaded cheese cracker

    The Mars-owned brand is the latest to add the nutrient to mainstream snack brands, joining Goldfish, Eggo and Doritos.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
  • Boxes of Mallomar cookies
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    How Mondelēz keeps Mallomars a ‘cultural icon’ after 113 years

    The chocolate-coated marshmallow cookie is only available seasonally and in select markets, but it has carved out a valuable niche for the Oreo maker as a steady, dependable performer.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
  • Exterior of an Aldi store in Texas
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    Getty Images
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    Aldi to roll out first ready-made meals line

    The collection of single-serve and family-size meals adds a new dimension to the discount grocer’s lineup of store brand products.

    By Jeff Wells • Sept. 25, 2026
  • Hidden Valley Spooky Ranch
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    Courtesy of Hidden Valley Ranch
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    Column

    Leftovers: Hidden Valley Ranch goes dark for Halloween | V8 energizes with electrolytes

    The dressing turns black for its first-ever seasonal product, while Ocean Spray positions cranberry as the next pumpkin spice with new innovations.

    By Food Dive staff • Sept. 25, 2026
  • Crown Royal canned cocktails
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    Brett Carlsen via Getty Images
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    How ready-to-drink cocktails are reshaping the spirits industry

    As more consumers gravitate toward RTDs, alcohol giants must choose between developing new products internally or buying their way in.

    By Michael Brady • Sept. 24, 2026
  • A store shelf with Honey Nut Cheerios.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    General Mills prioritizes innovation following recent price cuts

    The Cheerios maker is trying to make its products stand out with protein, clean labels and other consumer trends.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
  • Wonka products from Ferrero Group
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    Courtesy of Ferrero North America
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    Ferrero relaunches Wonka candy brand

    The food giant is releasing a line of limited-edition treats with unexpected colors and texture combinations to attract a new generation of consumers.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
  • Bags of Goldfish Protein crackers
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    Courtesy of The Campbell's Company
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    Goldfish dives into protein with new cracker

    After admitting it was slow to innovate the popular snack, Campbell’s has been bringing the offering into new categories to grow its reach.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
  • Toblerone on display in New York City.
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    Mireya Acierto via Getty Images
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    Mondelēz brings Biscoff partnership to US with Toblerone truffles

    The launch comes as the snacking giant’s collaboration with the cookie brand in other countries “surpassed even our expectations,” an executive said.

    By • Sept. 22, 2026
  • A case and can of C4's All Hopped Up.
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    Courtesy of C4
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    C4 launches beer-flavored energy drink

    The Nutrabolt-owned brand is making a big bet to enter an emerging wellness niche within the nonalcoholic beer sector.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
  • Boxes of Pop Secret popcorn
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    Unloved brands offloaded by Big Food are a tasty snack for startups, PE firms

    Castoffs from Conagra, Campbell’s and other companies are thriving under private owners who can devote more energy to innovation and growth.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026