The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Lasso, a food technology company aiming to reinvent packaged food manufacturing, has announced the commercial debut of its first two owned CPG brands: Froobies and CronchClub.

McDonald’s Corporation is actively testing new menu items and adjusting its long-term food strategy to accommodate the rapidly shifting dietary habits of consumers using GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

The move signals a strategic shift for the company, moving beyond simple flavour enhancement into the high-growth "active wellness" category by offering targeted solutions for appetite control, immune support, and sustained energy.

The collaboration debuts with the launch of HYDRATION+ Immunity, a line of powdered hydration mixes designed to translate iconic bubble tea flavour profiles into a wellness-focused format.

Following a successful direct-to-consumer (DTC) pilot on Black Friday last year, which saw the product sell out rapidly, the beverage giant is now moving the line into mass retail distribution.

Function, the health platform co-founded by Dr. Mark Hyman, has announced a strategic partnership with luxury grocer Erewhon to launch a new functional beverage concept: "The World's Healthiest Smoothie?".

The launch signals the food giant's intent to capitalise on the demographic shift towards an ageing global population, projecting that nearly half of the world’s citizens will be over 40 by 2040.

Scott's Protein Balls, a fast-growing challenger brand in the better-for-you snacking sector, has announced a significant retail expansion with its launch into select Target stores along the East Coast.