Hügli snack seasonings banner with spice powders and colorful pouches, text reading “Be the first to try our new concept” and “Curries from around the world.”
Wilmar full-year results.

Wilmar’s crushing margins defy global oilseed slump as profit rises to US$1.28B

Wilmar International, Asia’s largest agribusiness group, has posted a 10% rise in core net profit to US$1.28 billion for FY2025, driven by a sharp improvement in oilseed crushing margins that propelled its Feed & Industrial Products segment to a 62% profit jump in the second half. Full-year revenue climbed 4.5% to US$70.4 billion. The results come against a backdrop of escalating trade tariffs, geopolitical disruption across key commodity corridors, and shifting regulatory landscapes — conditions that chairman and CEO Kuok Khoon Hong describes as making 2025 “a challenging year for the group.” Palm oil production dipped during the year, though the group’s integrated model helped absorb margin pressure across its consumer-facing businesses.
Consumer shopping for snacks in supermarket.
Snack reformulation trends: How can brands boost nutrition without sacrificing sensory appeal?
Health is no longer a niche positioning in snacks — it’s a consumer expectation — but indulgence remains critical. Snack reformulation has moved beyond single-ingredient swaps, as manufacturers increasingly adopt integrated systems that balance protein fortification, sugar reduction, and clean label transparency, without sacrificing sensory appeal. Innova Market Insights data shows that global consumers seek protein (60%) and fiber (55%) when purchasing snacks. However, most (74%) say flavor, taste, and texture are the most important factors when choosing between snacks.
Cargill at Expo West 2026.
Expo West 2026 live: Inside Cargill’s functional F&B focus on indulgence without compromise
This year at Natural Products Expo West (Mar 3–6) in California, US, Cargill is tackling the growing consumer demand for functional F&B products that support health goals without sacrificing the indulgent flavors people crave. The company’s showcase underscores how it is bridging the gap between higher protein, fiber-rich, and reduced-sugar formulations while maintaining great taste — all at a value-conscious price point. Featured products like the Mango Guava Protein + Prebiotic Soda highlight Cargill’s ability to help manufacturers create functional beverages with less than 1 g of sugar per serving, while offering 5 g of protein and fiber. Similarly, its Ultra-Filtered Double Chocolate Protein Shake delivers 32 g of protein per serving and rich flavor, all without added sugars.
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Future of food processing
According to Innova Market Insights, attitudes toward ultra-processed foods are changing. Consumers increasingly associate ultra-processed foods with unhealthy indulgence, but their habits are shifting, particularly with a rise in cooking from scratch. This shift means many products require reformulation to deliver the fresh, authentic characteristics consumers seek.
DuynieTP
DuyGrain®: Cost-efficient proteins & fibres
Protein and fibremaxxing are top trends among consumers. Incorporating them while keeping clean-label, taste and price in mind can be challenging. DuyGrain®, a plant-based protein and fibre-rich ingredient, offers a solution. Download the paper to learn how DuyGrain® enhances both nutrition and margins in bakery, meat and meat alternatives.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Duynie.
Video Thumbnail: Cargill trade show booth with branded signage, attendees networking, and a featured staff member in a circular inset at a food industry expo
Expo West 2026 live: Cargill’s fermentation-driven sugar reduction for sustainability & cost benefits

Amber McKinzie, Cargill’s marketing manager for sugar reduction, highlights the sustainability and cost benefits of fermentation-derived sweeteners like EverSweet, the company’s stevia-based ingredient. With Cargill making significant investments in fermentation, McKinzie explains how the method reduces land and water use and mitigates supply chain risks, as it can be implemented anywhere globally.

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Landmark EU case could force timeline for phasing out cage farming
Cage farming.
Five judges at the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) pressed the European Commission’s representatives last week on why they could not commit to a legislative timeline for banning caged animal farming, as separately published consultation results confirmed near-unanimous public support for phasing out cages. Meanwhile, major Dutch-Belgian grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize published a new cage-free commitment days earlier, years after missing its own cage-free pledges.The case was brought before the CJEU on March 5 by the End the Cage Age Citizens’ Committee, led by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), alongside Eurogroup for Animals, Animal Equality, and animal protection organization LAV. It marks the first time a court has been asked to hold the commission accountable under the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) regulation. 
PepsiCo targets functional snacking with Doritos Protein launch
Doritos Protein.
High-protein Doritos are hitting US shelves as part of a strategic expansion for the classic tortilla-style chips into the rapidly growing healthier snack category. This month’s Doritos Protein launch comes amid a broader trend of consumers reducing spending on traditional snacks, shifting instead to better-for-you options.
Nestlé adopts ChoViva as confectionery giants embrace cocoa-free solutions
Young consumers eating ChoViva products.
Planet A Foods’ ChoViva cocoa-free chocolate alternative is gaining traction with F&B giants, as confectionery and snack brands work to future-proof themselves against cocoa supply volatility. Nestlé Germany will expand its Choco Crossies “Snack Vibes” line using ChoViva next month, while Planet A Foods tells us it is talking to several other major brands about similar product launches. ChoViva already features in over 120 products across 10 countries, including private labels and well-known brands, such as Griesson - de Beukelaer, Treets, and Jokolade. Planet A Foods has partnered with industry giant Barry Callebaut to ensure global availability of its ingredient, which is primarily made from fermented, roasted sunflower seeds and oats.
Expo West 2026 live: Givaudan presents personalized beverages, GLP-1 insights &...
crowd of people outside Givaudan booth at a trade show
Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing is highlighting its flavor, color, and functional beverage ingredient innovations at the ongoing Natural Products Expo West 2026 in Anaheim, US (Mar 3–6). The company is showcasing how it can support manufacturers in boosting their health-forward solutions through a combination of science, digitalization, and consumer insights.
Mexico joins global movement to ban octopus farming amid mortality rate...
Octopus.
Mexico has introduced legislation to ban all cephalopod (octopus) farming nationwide, making it the second Latin American country to propose such a prohibition after Chile’s federal bill last year. The bill, presented by Mexico’s Green Party, proposes reforms to the General Law of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture that would prohibit breeding or growth of any cephalopod species in Mexican territory. The bill is intended to protect small-scale farmers and prevent human health risks associated with industrial farming, but also follows animal welfare concerns that have been reflected in a wave of similar legislative efforts across the Americas and Europe.  

The bill now moves to the Mexican Senate commissions for discussion. 
International Women’s Day 2026: WIN urges gender equity across nutraceutical...
Women in board room

Nutrition Insight

Today’s 115th annual International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, but also marks a call to action to advance gender equality. Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN) urges for measurable progress within the nutrition sector. Although women drive a significant share of healthcare decisions, WIN says they remain underrepresented in the nutraceutical industry’s senior leadership, investment, and scientific roles. The international non-profit organization aims to create an environment where women have an equal place in the global nutraceutical industry. 
Highlighted features
Plant-based meat on supermarket shelf.
Food Ingredients News
Plant-based naming dispute: How the EU’s new rules could...
Yesterday saw an EU trilogue discussion about whether plant-based foods can use meat-related names on alternative F&B products — and the result is a mixed bag of bans and restrictions on certain terminology, which will have an impact on farmers, brands, and companies operating in the plant-based space.
Shipping.
Business News
Energy shock, fertilizer crunch, freight surge: Food...
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran has triggered a supply chain crisis that extends far beyond crude oil, threatening food ingredient markets through a cascade of fertilizer shortages, vegetable oil price spikes, sugar refinery disruption, and a sharp escalation in logistics costs that industry analysts warn could persist for months.The strait — a 21-mile-wide chokepoint between Iran and Oman through which approximately 20% of the world’s seaborne oil and 20% of its liquefied natural gas transits daily — has been functionally closed for commercial shipping since Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began issuing radio warnings prohibiting vessel passage. 
women performing quality control in fish factory
Food Ingredients News
EU Commission sounds €440B PFAS cost alarm as food sector...
A new study commissioned by the European Commission warns that Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals,” could have far-reaching societal and economic consequences, including for the F&B industry. The report estimates that the compounds’ present levels of pollution could cost the EU approximately €440 billion (~US$520 billion) by 2050, without regulatory action.

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Snacking trends in focus: Flavor, protein & fiberMar2026

Innova data shows consumers prioritize protein and fiber when purchasing snacks. However, flavor remains the most important factor in snack choice, driving steady annual growth in product launches fro...

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Product innovation

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Future of food processing Mar 2026

According to Innova Market Insights, attitudes toward ultra-processed foods are changing. Consumers increasingly associate ultra-processed foods with unhealthy indulgence, but their habits are shifting, particularly with a rise in cooking from scratch. This shift means many products require reformulation to deliver the fresh, authentic characteristics consumers seek.

Trend analysis

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Vanilla’s adaptive edge spurs NPDMar 2026

Vanilla is proving its adaptive edge in global F&B innovation. New product launches featuring vanilla ingredients witnessed a large annual growth rate globally between 2023 and 2025, signaling sustained cross-category demand. More than a third of global launches were from Europe.

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Santiago Vega, Givaudan
Video09:05
Expo West 2026: Givaudan drives flavor innovation to support better-for-you formulations

Santiago Vega, VP Marketing for North America at Givaudan, explains how flavor is becoming a key enabler in today’s health, wellness, and functional food boom. He discusses the critical role taste plays in driving consumer acceptance of high-protein and fiber-enriched products — and how...

Video Thumbnail: Cargill trade show booth with branded signage, attendees networking, and a featured staff member in a circular inset at a food industry expo
Video03:50
Expo West 2026 live: Cargill’s fermentation-driven sugar reduction for sustainability & cost benefits
Brad Schwan, ADM
Video05:24
Expo West 2026 live: ADM targets reformulation trends as health fuels F&B innovation
EIT Food Thumbnail
Video14:57
EIT Food: How fiber, protein & GLP-1 trends drive indulgent F&B formulations 
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