IFF Culinary banner showing chefs cooking and a pan over flame with the text, “The aroma of innovation is always in the air.”
Hellmann's and Knorr products from Unilever.

How Unilever is using AI to stay visible in a new era of food discovery

The battle for consumer attention is no longer confined to supermarket aisles or search engine results. Increasingly, it is taking place inside AI-powered search tools, voice assistants, and large language models that are shaping what consumers cook, buy, and eat. For global food manufacturers, that shift is creating a new challenge — ensuring brands are not only visible on store shelves, but also recommended by the algorithms consumers increasingly rely on for inspiration and decision-making.
Young woman reads product label while buying diary product in supermarket.
Health-forward F&B: Ingredients move from better-for-you to “more per bite”
Food and beverage innovation is entering a new phase. Over the next decade, health-forward products will be judged less by isolated claims and more by how effectively they support multiple aspects of well-being at once — energy, satiety, digestion, mood, cognition, healthy aging, and metabolic health — without compromising taste, convenience, or affordability. For ingredient suppliers, this is changing the formulation brief. Products must be nutrient-dense but enjoyable, functional but familiar, science-backed but scalable, and increasingly sustainable. Food Ingredients First speaks with major ingredient suppliers Valio, Hydrosol, IFF, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, and dsm-firmenich to understand how health-forward innovation is evolving across F&B.
AI food product development.
TraceGains senior director on Formula AI and the future of food R&D
TraceGains has launched Formula AI, an AI-powered laboratory and workspace specifically for food scientists and product developers in the F&B industry. The digital platform can help speed up the sector’s R&D and time-to-market by embedding AI directly into the food development process, accelerating NPD, reducing costs, and ensuring compliance. While AI has largely been seen as a backend tool for NPD, consumer attitudes are increasingly favorable toward AI-driven innovation. Data from Innova Market Insights shows that 41% of consumers globally are open to products developed using AI — signaling that tools like TraceGains’ Formula AI not only help R&D teams streamline formulation and compliance but align with evolving consumer expectations.
DuyGrain functional nutrition bread with sliced whole grain loaf and Duyvis branding on a teal and yellow product banner
DuyGrain® functional & nutritional benefits in bread
DuyGrain® enhances nutrition, shelf-life freshness, sustainability, and margins in breads. Solving challenges faced by many bakeries globally; tight margins, growing consumer expectations for tasty, nutritious and clean label breads, while retailers demand lower wastage and sustainability commitments. Download the paper to learn how your bakery benefits from DuyGrain®.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Duynie.
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Nutrition solutions for healthy aging: Physical health & cognitive function
This science-driven webinar explores how targeted nutrition can support the evolving health needs of an aging population. Join industry experts as they discuss the role of advanced whey protein ingredients, including whey protein isolate, alpha-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and other functional whey components, in supporting key aspects of healthy aging. Learn how these ingredients contribute to physical and cognitive health, including cardiovascular and metabolic health, cognitive function, sleep health, and gut health. The session will highlight emerging research behind these functional ingredients and their relevance across the aging lifecycle. Together, we will explore how this research can be translated into practical, evidence-based nutrition strategies aimed at maintaining strength, resilience, and overall wellbeing in the aging population.
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Cargill: Cocoa-free innovation to complement traditional chocolate portfolios
Mia Divecha, senior product line specialist at Cargill, discusses NextCoa, the cocoa-free confectionery alternative that Cargill and Voyage Foods are now bringing to North America. Designed to deliver the familiar taste and experience of chocolate without using cocoa, NextCoa combines plant-based ingredients with new technology to offer manufacturers an alternative amid ongoing cocoa supply and pricing challenges.

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Upcycled Chardonnay marc tackles functional F&B taste challenges
farmer walking with container in vineyard
Chardonnay grape marc, a whole-fruit upcycled ingredient, could open new opportunities in functional F&B, according to a sensory study by US researchers. The ingredient — with mild natural sweetness and notably low bitterness — may help manufacturers create more palatable products for consumers, while reducing the need for flavor masking.
Borage oil by-product emerges as novel plant protein for food and feed
a bowl of borage oil with borage seeds and flowers
Global ingredient and process technology firm POS Biosciences Corp has published new peer-reviewed research on the protein composition and functional properties of borage pressed cake, a by-product of borage oil extraction. The study positions the ingredient — which contains nearly 32% protein on a dry-weight basis — as a novel plant-based protein source for food, feed, and aquaculture applications.
Coffee’s price volatility challenge: IFF identifies key trends redefining the...
Woman shopping in supermarket for coffee.
The global coffee industry finds itself in an unusual position. Consumer demand remains strong, new consumption occasions are emerging, and premium coffee experiences continue to attract shoppers. Yet, at the same time, manufacturers are grappling with unprecedented volatility in raw material costs, climate-related supply disruptions, and mounting pressure to deliver value. According to a new report from International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), the next phase of coffee innovation will be shaped by how effectively brands can balance these competing forces. Rather than slowing growth, the challenges facing the sector appear to be accelerating innovation across flavors, formats, and sourcing strategies.
ADM and TechnoServe scale regenerative soybean farming in India
An Indian farmer in a soybean field.
ADM has expanded its Farm Forward Initiative in India, partnering with TechnoServe to support 15,000 new soybean farmers in Maharashtra. The 18-month program, backed by US$500,000 from ADM Cares, focuses on regenerative agriculture, improved soil health, and climate resilience, while helping smallholder farmers increase productivity and income. Under the partnership, ADM provides strategic oversight, and TechnoServe leads on-the-ground implementation, offering farmer training in soil management, crop rotation, and water-efficient practices. 
UltraPhil targets aseptic development bottleneck as functional beverage...
Aseptic development in beverages.
The rapid expansion of functional beverages, protein drinks, and clean label formulations is placing growing pressure on beverage manufacturers to accelerate innovation while maintaining product stability and quality.
Promising healthy aging ingredients target biological pathways with human...
4 middle aged people carrying mats and waterbottle after workout

Nutrition Insight

With an aging population looking for dependable solutions to support their health in later life, emerging research is looking increasingly promising. Nutrition Insight reveals which biological pathways are currently the most actionable for healthy aging and where the strongest human evidence lies today with Akay Bioactives, Balchem Human Nutrition and Health (HNH), Gnosis by Lesaffre, Sirio Europe, Valio, and Lactalis Ingredients. 
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Human hand holding a pint of Haagen Dazs ice cream at a supermarket freezer.
Business News
General Mills joins localization trend with China...
General Mills will sell its Häagen-Dazs ice cream shops in mainland China to an investor consortium including fast-growing tea chain operator Ningji. The deal reflects the broader trend of multinational F&B companies handing greater control of local operations to domestic partners better positioned to navigate China’s increasingly competitive consumer market. Under the agreement, Ningji and its investor partners will acquire the Häagen-Dazs retail shop and gifting business in mainland China and receive an exclusive license to operate the brand in those channels. General Mills will retain ownership of the Häagen-Dazs retail and foodservice business in China.
IFF scientist working in taste modulation facility.
Business News
How IFF’s Food Ingredients sale could impact the industry
IFF’s US$4.3 billion sale of its Food Ingredients business to CVC Capital Partners is one of the largest ingredients sector transactions in recent years. While the deal is expected to strengthen IFF’s balance sheet and provide CVC with a sizable ingredients platform, its wider implications for competitors, customers, and investors are still emerging.
May 2026 food and beverage ingredients industry review.
Food Ingredients News
May in review: Food price increases, Ingredion-Tate & Lyle...
In May 2026, the UN FAO Price Index revealed that global food prices have risen for a third consecutive month, as the Strait of Hormuz closures continue to push up energy and fertilizer prices. The EU announced it would cut fertilizer costs to ease pressure on farmers. Ingredion made a conditional proposal to acquire Tate & Lyle. According to Tate & Lyle, the British food ingredients company has received multiple approaches from Ingredion to acquire its business, which it reportedly values at £2.74 billion (US$3.68 billion).

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Sensory innovation spurs emulsifier demandJun2026

Innova Market Insights data show that consumers link rich sensory experiences, such as creamy textures, with indulgence in food and beverages. This perception is fueling growth in emulsifier launches,...

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Consumers prioritize health in F&B choices Jun 2026

Data from Innova Market Insights shows a growing global focus on health when selecting food and beverages. Consumers are increasingly seeking products fortified with health-supporting ingredients — such as added vitamins, omega-3s, minerals, fiber, and protein — underscoring the rising importance of nutrient-rich, wellness-focused offerings.

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Dairy-free alternatives on the riseJun 2026

According to Innova Market Insights, consumers increasingly choose dairy alternatives for their perceived health benefits. From April 2021 to March 2026, high-protein dairy alternatives grew by 5%, reflecting strong interest in nutrient-rich options. Dairy alternative milks dominate new product launches and represent the fastest-growing subcategory, highlighting significant opportunities for innovation in this space.

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Cargill: Cocoa-free innovation to complement traditional chocolate portfolios

Mia Divecha, senior product line specialist at Cargill, discusses NextCoa, the cocoa-free confectionery alternative that Cargill and Voyage Foods are now bringing to North America. Designed to deliver the familiar taste and experience of chocolate without using cocoa, NextCoa combines...

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