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Mondelēz earnings nearly halve as record cocoa costs overshadow revenue growth

Mondelēz earnings nearly halve as record cocoa costs overshadow revenue growth

Mondelēz International grew full-year net revenues by 5.8% to US$38.5 billion, but record cocoa costs wiped out much of that progress. Earnings nearly halved — down 44.7% — while the cost of producing its snacks surged nearly 25% to US$27.6 billion, driven by cocoa prices that hit a record high of US$10.75 per kg in January 2025. 
Natural preservation: How the shift from shelf life to freshness unlocks value in F&B
Natural preservation: How the shift from shelf life to freshness unlocks value in F&B
The conversation around natural preservation is shifting — from simply extending shelf life to actively protecting freshness. It’s a distinction with significant commercial implications in a global food system where waste costs more than US$1 trillion annually, according to the United Nations’ Food Waste Index Report 2024. “The future of preservation is not about replacement alone, but choice and balance, with a focus on freshness as a holistic outcome — taste, texture, and food safety,” Bert De Vegt, VP Food Protection & Preservation at Kerry, tells Food Ingredients First. “This is particularly relevant for chilled meats and bakery, where freshness perception is tightly linked to brand trust.”
ISM & ProSweets 2026 live: Roquette explores texture science behind plant-based and sugar-free jellies
ISM & ProSweets 2026 live: Roquette explores texture science behind plant-based and sugar-free jellies
Jelly confectionery formulations require a careful balance of taste, texture, and mouthfeel. At the ongoing ISM & ProSweets 2026 trade show in Cologne, Germany (Feb 1-4), Roquette discusses the science behind soft confectionery texture, with a spotlight on plant-based, sugar-free jellies, using its sensory analysis tool.
Sweetener trends & insights: Opportunities for calorie-conscious innovation
Sweetener trends & insights: Opportunities for calorie-conscious innovation
Innova Market Insights reveals that nearly half of consumers globally are turning to sweeteners to satisfy their sweet cravings while aiming to reduce their calorie intake. This growing demand for lower-calorie options is fueling innovation in the sweetener market, presenting new opportunities for the development of novel sweetener solutions in F&B products.
CEAMFIBRE: A Natural, Multifunctional Ingredient for Food Applications
CEAMFIBRE: A Natural, Multifunctional Ingredient for Food Applications
What if clean label food innovation started with a citrus peel? CEAMFIBRE is a natural ingredient obtained from lemon, lime, and orange peels. This multifunctional citrus fiber provides tailored solutions, both soluble and insoluble, addressing specific technical and formulation needs to diverse end applications across the Food Industry, including bakery, dairy, meat or juices. This Technical Paper is brought to you by CEAMSA.
ISM & ProSweets 2026: Capol advances vibrant, customized color and coating solutions
ISM & ProSweets 2026: Capol advances vibrant, customized color and coating solutions

Capol’s Pablo Elizondo, senior R&D manager and color specialist, shares how advanced color and coating innovations are helping confectionery brands achieve more vibrant, long-lasting visuals, improved textures, and customized solutions. He also explores the emerging trends shaping the future of R&D in color and coating technologies.

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Ingredion banks on texture innovation as beverage sweetener demand cools
Ingredion banks on texture innovation as beverage sweetener demand cools
Ingredion posted record full-year reported earnings per share of US$11.18 — up from US$9.71 in 2024 — despite a 3% decline in net sales to US$7.2 billion, as the company’s texture and clean label portfolio outperformed a struggling North American sweetener business hit by production setbacks and weakening beverage demand. For 2026, the company expects sales to grow by a few percentage points and per-share profits to land between US$11.00 and US$11.80. 
Viterra merger underpins Bunge’s growth outlook as trade and tariff tensions...
Viterra merger underpins Bunge’s growth outlook as trade and tariff tensions bite
In an earnings call this week, Bunge CEO Gregg Heckman reiterated that last year’s merger with Viterra is helping the company expand its global footprint, as the combined company is well-positioned to connect farmers in the world’s largest production regions with areas of the fastest-growing consumption.
ADM earnings slide as flavors and specialty ingredients offer relief
ADM earnings slide as flavors and specialty ingredients offer relief
ADM has released its full-year earnings report for 2025, revealing that Nutrition, which includes flavors and specialty ingredients, was the company’s only growth segment. Full-year revenues fell to US$80.3 billion from US$85.5 billion, total segment operating profit dropped 23% to US$3.24 billion, and adjusted earnings per share came in at US$3.43 (down 28%).

The damage was sharpest in Crushing (the process of processing oilseeds, such as soybeans, to extract vegetable oil and protein meal), where operating profit collapsed 81% to US$159 million from US$844 million a year earlier, driven by compressed margins tied to prolonged US biofuel policy uncertainty. 
Tastepoint by IFF pinpoints flavor trends predicted to shape US F&B in 2026
Tastepoint by IFF pinpoints flavor trends predicted to shape US F&B in 2026
Tastepoint by IFF has identified ten flavors predicted to shape F&B innovation throughout 2026. The company’s flavor trend predictions reflect a vibrant mix of influences, from nostalgia-driven classics to global favorites and bold new combinations. The top ten flavors are forecast to gather pace in the US, showing up in grocery products, foodservice, restaurants, retail, and other food and drink categories over the year.
Fiberstar launches natural acacia gum alternative for beverages
Fiberstar launches natural acacia gum alternative for beverages
Fiberstar has developed an entirely natural alternative to acacia gum for the beverage industry to use in emulsion applications. Citri-Fi Pro is allergen-free and gluten-free. Labeling options include “citrus fiber,” “dried citrus pulp,” or “citrus flour,” the US-based company says. “This new acacia gum alternative, Citri-Fi Pro, comes at a time when beverage makers are desperately seeking a substitute,” says John Haen, president and CEO of Fiberstar.
Expert shares insight on GLP-1’s potential to cause a nutrition gap
Expert shares insight on GLP-1’s potential to cause a nutrition gap

Nutrition Insight

GLP-1 use is gaining popularity, expanding the market opportunity for complementary nutritional products. As the weight-loss drug interferes with hunger cues, leading users to eat less overall, experts urge nutritional guidance to avoid micronutrient inefficiency, loss of lean muscle mass, and other potential long-term health impacts.Nutrition Insight sits down with Ryan Kane, assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, US, to discuss the role the popular weight loss drug has on malnutrition, long-term health effects, and the body’s nutritional intelligence.
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Food Ingredients News
Fruit Logistica 2026: How the fresh produce sector is...
The global fresh produce market is transforming, shaped by mounting climate pressures, shifting consumer expectations, and the need for greater supply chain resilience. As fruits and vegetables remain central to health-driven diets worldwide, producers face challenges balancing quality and sustainability with innovation, as value-added applications become the sector’s defining features.
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Food Ingredients News
Bridging the gap: Will high-quality hybrids open the door...
Food innovators are considering whether hybrid products — solutions made from both animal- and plant-based ingredients — could be an entry point into increased plant-based eating. Hybrids familiarize consumers with the benefits of functional solutions that blend meat and dairy with alternative proteins such as soy, pea, fava bean, and lupin, as well as fermentation-derived proteins, while allowing formulators to combine complementary strengths in a more pragmatic way.
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Regulatory News
Nestlé, Lactalis & Danone face court action over infant...
Dutch consumer watchdog Foodwatch has filed a criminal complaint in Paris, France, naming seven infant formula manufacturers — Nestlé, Lactalis, Danone, Vitagermine (Babybio), Hochdorf, La marque en moins, and Granarolo — over their handling of a global contamination crisis. The complaint, filed “against X” under French procedure, opens an investigation that could expand to include food safety authorities. Eight affected families have reportedly joined the complaint to date. 

Ingredient focus

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Natural shelf life extension: The rise of clean label preservativesFeb2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that consumers worldwide increasingly link product quality with extended shelf life and “natural” ingredients. Over the past five years, there has been a notable ...

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Sweetener trends & insights: Opportunities for calorie-conscious innovation Feb 2026

Innova Market Insights reveals that nearly half of consumers globally are turning to sweeteners to satisfy their sweet cravings while aiming to reduce their calorie intake. This growing demand for lower-calorie options is fueling innovation in the sweetener market, presenting new opportunities for the development of novel sweetener solutions in F&B products.

Trend analysis

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Plant-based innovation: Beyond dairy and meat alternativesFeb 2026

Plant-based products now extend beyond dairy and meat alternatives, including both category replicas and standalone or hybrid products. Innova Market Insights data shows plant-based F&B launches have seen steady growth globally over the past five years, with Europe leading the way. Dairy remains the top category in these launches.

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ISM & ProSweets 2026: Capol advances vibrant, customized color and coating solutions

Capol’s Pablo Elizondo, senior R&D manager and color specialist, shares how advanced color and coating innovations are helping confectionery brands achieve more vibrant, long-lasting visuals, improved textures, and customized solutions. He also explores the emerging trends shaping the future...

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ISM & ProSweets 2026: Brenntag on balancing indulgence, health & sustainability in snacks
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ISM & ProSweets 2026: ofi’s deZaan launches single-origin cocoa liquor range
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ISM & ProSweets 2026 live: Fuji Oil Europe advances low-sugar, sustainable chocolate and custom coatings
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