Category: Processing
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January tightened the screws on food manufacturing compliance in Europe. UK HFSS advertising limits took effect, PFAS timelines for EU food-contact packaging hardened, and producer responsibility costs moved closer. Meanwhile, big bets on barrier materials, cocoa volatility, and coffee consolidation reset 2026 priorities.
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The Tofoo Co will buy Topas, owner of Wheaty brand. The agreement expands the UK company’s manufacturing footprint in continental Europe and adds a long-established organic seitan specialist to its platform ahead of planned growth across European retail channels.
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GNT is pitching functional Exberry colours for confectionery reformulation now. At ISM Ingredients 2026 in Cologne, it showcased fruit gum concepts pairing plant-based colours with added actives such as vitamins, caffeine, and botanicals for “better-for-you” sweets positioning.
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Kynda has commissioned Jelmstorf hub to upcycle beverage sidestreams industrially. The German biotech is scaling fermentation that converts oat- and soy-based byproducts into a mycelium-derived protein ingredient, targeting higher-value outlets than feed or anaerobic digestion.
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Food inflation is expected to ease, but compliance costs grow. The Food and Drink Federation forecasts UK food inflation averaging 4.4% in 2026 and ending at 3.1%, after rising to 5.7% by December 2025. It argues regulation is now the dominant inflation driver.
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Cocoa prices eased in January, but long-term volatility persists globally. ICCO’s composite daily price fell from $5,984/tonne on 5 January to $5,103/tonne on 14 January, yet manufacturers are still treating cocoa as a high-risk input as EU deforestation compliance clocks keep ticking.
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IFT sees Value 3.0 steering drinks, alongside GLP-1 shifts behaviour. The Institute of Food Technologists says affordability remains dominant, while weight-management drugs continue to reshape consumer expectations around portion size, nutrient density, and functional benefits.
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Freeze-dried sweets are moving from novelty to wholesale necessity fast. Texture-led confectionery is becoming a “must-stock” trend, with social media demand and impulse-friendly formats pulling freeze-dried lines into more mainstream retail ranging.