News
2019 broke records again for the number of food and drink transactions around the world, with 789 registered on Zenith Global's mergers and acquisitions database, an average of 15 each week.
The total is 12 more than in 2018 and 41% higher than 5 years ago. The number has increased every year since a dip in 2013.
The most active sectors were ingredients on 65, dairy on 63, soft drinks on 57 and packaging on 49. Beer on 38 was ahead of spirits on 35 and wine on 28.
The top 15 sectors were the same as in 2018, with the exception of CBD replacing confectionery. The combination of plant-based (15) with dairy-free (14) and meat-free (11) totalled 40. Bottled water and water coolers added up to 23. Vertical farming was a newcomer with 8.
The biggest increases were for CBD (+19) and beer (+15). Many of the main categories saw declines, led by services (-19), confectionery (-18) and wine (-9).
19 May 2026
Tagatose, a low-calorie, natural sweetener with EU-approved health claims, is now exempt from added sugar labelling in the US – a move that could see uptake scale significantly.
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18 May 2026
US retail giant Walmart has rebranded its flagship ‘Great Value’ range, highlighting the quality and affordability of around 10,000 private label products.
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14 May 2026
Via its Global Strategy 2026-2028, Fairtrade International is calling on the food industry to embed fairer sourcing practices and invest in long-term supplier relationships.
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13 May 2026
The number of consumers engaging with Europe's front-of-pack nutrient profiling system, NutriScore, is on the rise across France – the first country to scale voluntary use, finds NielsenIQ research.
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12 May 2026
The Dutch nutrition authority has updated the country's food pyramid, rebalancing animal and plant-based consumption to align with government updates to dietary guidelines.
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11 May 2026
Goods are often damaged throughout the supply chain but novel technologies – such as hyperspectral imaging, automated reject systems, and smart indicators – are reducing losses.
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7 May 2026
Protein, gut health, functional beverages, and mental wellbeing are the key health-powered trends driving innovation and growth, says Innova Market Insights.
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5 May 2026
The European front-of-pack nutrition logo, Nutri-Score, is now better aligned with the processed food classification NOVA, following a 2026 algorithm update.
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4 May 2026
The cheapest products contain 2.6 more additives and 21% more sugar than higher-priced products, according to a US study by Harvard and food scanning app Yuka.
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1 May 2026
Global organisation UNICEF has released a best practice toolkit on children’s rights and digital marketing, calling on policymakers and industry to stop unhealthy ads.
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