Oatly is continuing to innovate in the fast-evolving plant-based beverage space with the launch of its new Strawberry Matcha Latte, marking the latest extension of its growing matcha portfolio. The new product reflects shifting consumer preferences toward cold beverages, flavour experimentation and café-inspired drinks that can be easily replicated at home. Oatly’s latest launch builds on the strong performance of its existing matcha offerings, as matcha continues to gain traction beyond speciality cafés and into mainstream retail. The company is targeting both 'matcha-curious' consumers and established enthusiasts with a format designed for convenience and accessibility. Bryan Caroll, UK and Ireland general manager at Oatly, said: "Last year's Oatly Matcha Latte remains one of the category’s best-selling products. Building on this demand, we developed the Strawberry Matcha Latte to expand our Matcha offering, reinforcing accessibility and ease for those looking for plant-based alternatives without the compromise of excellent taste.” Strawberry Matcha Latte is available in a chilled 1L ready-to-drink format, positioned for 'fridge-to-glass' convenience, combining its creamy oat base with fruity strawberry notes, earthy matcha and a hint of vanilla. The product is fully plant-based and dairy-free, aligning with continued demand for vegan and lactose-free options in the RTD category. While designed to be consumed cold, particularly over ice, it can also be used as a base for customised hot or cold beverage recipes. The new SKU is now available in the UK through major grocery retailers, including Sainsbury’s and Ocado, with a recommended retail price starting at £2.25.

Eric Stevens. Microbial contamination might not grab headlines like inflation or ultra-processed foods, but for food and beverage manufacturers, it remains one of the most persistent threats to product quality, brand equity, and public health. Eric Stevens, vertical segment manager at Hygiena, explores the challenges around food safety across the world. Each year, unsafe food is estimated to cause around 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths worldwide. Bacteria such as non-typhoidal Salmonella , pathogenic E. coli , and Campylobacter are among the main culprits. Yet bacteria tell only part of the story. Moulds and spoilage fungi are equally dangerous and costly. Toxigenic species that produce aflatoxins, fumonisins or ochratoxin A can introduce both acute and chronic health risks, particularly in cereals, nuts, coffee and animal-derived products. Even non-pathogenic mould growth in a chilled dessert, soft drink or plant-based snack can shorten shelf life, drive quality complaints and trigger social media storms, with consequences that extend well beyond a single batch. For high-growth segments such as bakery, dairy, beverages, ready-to-eat (RTE) meals and plant-based alternatives, the line between a safe, premium product and a costly withdrawal can be as thin as a missed biofilm under a conveyor. Furthermore, these risks can result in damage to brand reputation, often leading to bankruptcy. The industry is also fighting this battle in a changing landscape of regulatory requirements and consumer demands. A century of progress in hygiene, preservation and process control has undoubtedly raised the bar, but modern supply chains add new layers of complexity. Globalised ingredient sourcing, climate-driven volatility in raw material quality, fast-moving product innovation and reformulation away from traditional preservatives or being labelled as ‘ultra-processed’ all create fresh opportunities for bacteria and moulds to exploit. At the same time, regulatory regimes such as the Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) and the EU’s microbiological criteria have moved the conversation firmly from end-product testing to preventive controls and verification, including more rigorous environmental monitoring for quality indicators and pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella . This feature explores why microbial and mould contamination remain so stubbornly persistent, how innovators such as Hygiena are helping manufacturers detect and manage risk in real time, and what changes in regulation, technology and collaboration could further strengthen control of pathogens and spoilage organisms across the food and beverage value chain. Why is bacterial and mould contamination so prevalent in F&B? Ask any microbiologist where bacteria, yeasts and moulds come from, and the honest answer is, “everywhere.” Microorganisms are part of the fabric of life; they’re on raw materials, in the air, on equipment and on people. The human body alone hosts more microorganism cells than human cells. Put those microbes into contact with food, a matrix rich in nutrients, moisture and often close-to-neutral pH, and you’ve created an almost perfect growth medium. For many products in beverages, dairy and RTE categories, warm, humid processing environments simply tilt the odds further in the microbes’ favour, encouraging the formation of biofilms and the spread of spore-forming moulds. Contamination can occur at almost any point from the farm to the finished pack. During pre-harvest, fungi such as Aspergillus , Fusarium and Penicillium can infect crops in the field, particularly under climatic or agronomic stress, leading to mycotoxin risks in grains, nuts, coffee and cocoa. Pathogenic bacteria can be introduced via soil, irrigation water, manure or animal intrusion in produce fields. By the time these materials reach a processor, their microbiological 'starting point' may already be challenging to control. When considering the next stage of post-harvest and processing, once inside the plant, poorly cleaned conveyors, fillers and gaskets provide bacteria, yeasts and moulds with a hiding place, potentially allowing them to establish biofilms. These complex microbial communities can tolerate detergents and sanitisers far better than free-floating cells, seeding recurring contamination even when surfaces appear visually clean. Condensate, standing water, and hard-to-reach areas (under equipment, inside hollow rollers, around drains) become persistent reservoirs for both spoilage organisms and pathogens. Several powerful trends in food and beverage are unintentionally making life easier for microbes. For instance, reformulations that reduce salt, sugar, nitrite and synthetic preservatives are attractive to consumers, but they also remove intrinsic hurdles that once held spoilage microbes and pathogens in check. That places more pressure on hygiene, temperature control and packaging to maintain safety and shelf life. The growth of RTE meals, freshly prepared foods and home-delivered convenience has lengthened cold chains and shelf lives, which organisms such as Listeria monocytogenes and cold-tolerant yeasts and moulds are perfectly adapted to exploit these conditions. Finally, new plant proteins, alternative fats, fermented components and functional inclusions often come with more complex sourcing and less well-characterised microbiota. This can result in greater variability in incoming quality and unfamiliar spoilage profiles on the line. But it isn’t just about the individual processes; modern manufacturing amplifies any weakness. Large, highly automated plants run high-throughput, multi-SKU lines with frequent changeovers, and every changeover is another opportunity for a cleaning miss or cross-contamination event. At the same time, global ingredient sourcing means contaminants can be introduced far upstream. A single contaminated lot of nuts, dried vegetables, botanicals or protein powder can end up in dozens of SKUs across multiple brands and markets before an issue is detected. Recent high-profile recalls linked to Salmonella in nuts and seeds, dried plant ingredients and prepared meals underscore how quickly a microbiological problem can spread throughout the value chain once it’s established. To further complicate this fact is that yeast and mould pose additional unique challenges, including heat resistance and the ability to survive and grow in diverse environmental conditions, such as high and low pH levels, low water activity and complex organic environments. Even though many moulds perish during high-temperature processing, their spores can survive by remaining dormant, creating havoc later and necessitating strict hygiene measures for control. One method to address these issues has been the use of preservatives such as benzoates, sorbates and propionates. However, some moulds can develop resistance to these preservatives over time, necessitating the use of both chemical and physical control measures. The introduction of MAP (modified atmospheric packaging) has helped alleviate some issues, as levels of various gases can be controlled to minimise fungal growth (such as elevated CO2), but must be optimised to prevent favourable growth of other pathogens (such as C. botulinum ). The bottom line: yeast and mould prevention absolutely requires strict hygiene protocols, controlled storage conditions, and continuous monitoring of raw materials. Airborne spores and surface contamination pose significant risks, underscoring the importance of comprehensive sanitation measures. What’s the best way to verify sanitation effectiveness beyond visual inspection? Ask any QA or sanitation manager and they’ll tell you: you can’t manage what you can’t see. The problem in modern plants is that most of the risk is precisely where you can’t see it. That’s why verifying sanitation effectiveness has to be viewed as a spectrum, not a single tick-box. Visual inspection still remains the starting point, but it’s only one piece in a layered approach that runs from ATP through indicators to full pathogen and spoilage monitoring. But visual inspections can’t tell you whether a 'clean' surface still harbours a low-level biofilm or whether a piece of equipment is slowly drifting out of control from a microbiological standpoint. For that, you need objective data and comprehensive data that speaks to your entire food safety plan. From ATP to indicator to pathogen and mould testing, all of this leads back to a simple but easy-to-forget principle: verification is a system, not a single test. The strongest and most robust food safety programmes combine: Visual and functional checks to confirm that cleaning was carried out as intended. ATP testing to verify that surfaces are truly free of organic residues before production. Indicator and spoilage tests to keep an eye on the general microbiological picture. Pathogen-focused and yeast/mold monitoring in higher-risk areas, products and situations. Digital trending tools (such as SureTrend and similar platforms) to spot creeping deterioration in hygiene before it shows up as a complaint or recall. Taken together, these layers turn sanitation from a one-time event into a continuous, data-driven process – one where problems are surfaced and addressed early, rather than discovered after the product is already in the market. If we want to get serious about Listeria  and Salmonella  in the long term, technology alone won’t be enough. The regulatory and collaboration frameworks around that technology also need to evolve. Choosing partners that elevate your food safety plan Food is, by definition, a fantastic growth medium, and modern F&B supply chains are vast, fast and intricately connected. The real challenge in 2026 and beyond isn’t recognising that contamination might occur; it’s maintaining continuous control in real time, across multiple sites, suppliers, and product categories. The plants that stay ahead are building control strategies on three pillars: • Prevention : Hygienic design, well-engineered cleaning and sanitation, and robust raw material controls that minimise the opportunities for bacteria, yeasts and moulds to take hold in the first place. • Rapid verification: ATP, indicator tests and targeted pathogen and spoilage assays used as routine tools, not emergency responses – checking that cleaning worked, that environments remain under control, and that packaged product is as sound as the process design assumes. • Data-driven decisions : Trending, heatmapping, and risk-based sampling that turn thousands of individual test results into a clearer picture of where risk is increasing, where interventions are working, and where the next investment should go. In this context, the choice of partners matters. Diagnostic and technology suppliers need to offer more than a catalogue of tests. The most valuable will bring: Independently validated methods (AOAC, ISO, AFNOR, MicroVal and similar) for hygiene verification and for pathogen, mycotoxin, and allergen testing, making it easier to defend programs under FSMA, GFSI, and retailer standards. Integrated platforms that link ATP and indicator testing with PCR-based pathogen detection, in-pack screening, and cloud analytics, so that data are captured once and reused many times, rather than fragmenting across instruments and spreadsheets. Scientific and regulatory expertise, helping QA and food safety teams interpret results, refine sampling plans, and translate numbers into preventive controls that stand up to regulatory and customer scrutiny. Completely eliminating mould and bacterial contamination may never be realistic. But detecting problems early, understanding where and why they emerge, and reacting quickly and proportionately is absolutely achievable with today’s tools, and is already a reality in many best-in-class plants. In a world where a single image of a mouldy drink or a contaminated ready meal can travel the globe in hours, choosing partners and platforms that elevate your food safety plan is a strategic imperative.

McVitie’s is extending its popular Hobnobs portfolio with the launch of Hobnobs Oaty Crunch Creams. The new range is available in two flavours – Milk Flavour and Chocolate Flavour – and features the brand’s signature oaty biscuits sandwiched around a smooth cream filling. The Milk Flavour variant offers a sweet, creamy centre, while the Chocolate Flavour delivers a rich, silky chocolate-style filling, both paired with Hobnobs’ characteristic crunchy texture. The launch builds on the strong consumer affinity for Hobnobs, combining the established appeal of the core biscuit with an added layer of indulgence aimed at broadening usage occasions, from everyday tea breaks to sharing moments. Bethan Ashman, brand manager at Pladis UK&I, commented: “The launch of our new Hobnobs Oaty Crunch Creams is an exciting moment for us. We’ve taken the classic Hobnobs oaty biscuit that people know and love, and paired it with a smooth, creamy centre to create something comfortingly familiar yet delightfully new. They’re perfect for tea breaks or for sharing with family and friends whenever consumers are looking for something delicious.” McVitie’s Hobnobs Oaty Crunch Creams began rolling out across major UK retailers from 30 March. The product is available in a 100g pack with a recommended retail price of £1, positioning it as an accessible premium treat within the everyday biscuit category.

Tetra Pak has broken ground on a major expansion of its Product Development Center (PDC) at its North American headquarters. The new facility, scheduled to open in Q1 2027, will significantly enhance the company’s ability to support customers across the full product development lifecycle, from concept and formulation through to commercial scale production. The expanded site will include 12,000 square feet dedicated to product development, alongside an additional 3,000 square feet Customer Innovation Center, designed to foster co-creation and collaboration between Tetra Pak and its customers. The investment effectively doubles the site’s current production capacity and introduces a more integrated, “one-stop-shop” model that combines processing, packaging, testing and scaling capabilities under one roof. Seth Teply, president and CEO of Tetra Pak US and Canada, said: "Innovation is key to our customers’ success and today’s groundbreaking represents our continued commitment to helping brands move faster from concept to consumer". The upgraded facility is designed to support rapid prototyping and optimisation, enabling brands to respond more quickly to shifting consumer preferences across categories such as functional beverages, plant-based products and premium offerings. Teply continued: "This investment expands our ability to support customers as they navigate complex product development challenges to avoid costly pitfalls, gain efficiencies and accelerate their path to market, all within a single expert-driven ecosystem”. By leveraging Tetra Pak’s global network of expertise and technologies, the PDC and CIC will provide end-to-end development support, helping manufacturers reduce time-to-market while minimising operational risks. Beyond its technical capabilities, the expansion represents a targeted investment in Denton, where the facility is expected to create new jobs and attract increased business activity to the region.

Keurig Dr Pepper has acquired a 96.22% stake in JDE Peet’s, marking a transformative step in its strategy to build a scaled, global coffee platform while preparing to split its business into two standalone public companies. The deal brings together KDP’s Keurig system and JDE Peet’s extensive international coffee portfolio, creating a combined platform with significant reach across formats, channels and price tiers. The companies said integration efforts are already underway, focusing on operational alignment, cost synergies and leadership structure. Following an interim integration period, KDP plans to separate into a North America-focused beverage company, known as Beverage Co, and a global coffee-focused entity, Global Coffee Co. The coffee business will combine JDE Peet’s brands, such as L'or, Peet’s and Jacobs, with KDP’s single-serve coffee ecosystem, positioning the new entity as a “global coffee powerhouse.” The separation is expected to be completed via a tax-free spin-off, with operational readiness targeted by the end of 2026, subject to market conditions and financial milestones. Rafael Oliveira KDP has also appointed Rafael Oliveira as CEO of its coffee operating unit and future CEO of Global Coffee Co. Oliveira, who has led JDE Peet’s since November 2024, will join KDP’s executive leadership team during the transition. KDP board chair Pam Patsley said: "Our acquisition of JDE Peet’s marks a defining step in our value creation strategy, and Rafael is the right choice to lead the combined coffee business and launch Global Coffee Co." The acquisition underscores continued consolidation in the global coffee category, where scale, brand equity and multi-channel distribution are increasingly critical. By combining KDP’s North American strength with JDE Peet’s international footprint, the new coffee entity is expected to compete more directly with major global players across retail, out-of-home and e-commerce channels. Patsley continued: “Our board conducted a robust and rigorous process that considered a range of internal and external candidates, and we are confident Rafael will be an exceptional leader for this new company". "With proven leadership across complex global markets and a commitment to driving financial results, he has set a course for growth at JDE Peet’s. With a singular focus on coffee, the newly integrated coffee business will be poised to create value and growth opportunities for employees, partners, customers and shareholders.” Current KDP CEO Tim Cofer is set to lead the future Beverage Co post-separation. Cofer said: “With this complementary combination, we are uniting outstanding talent, systems and brand portfolios under a shared vision for global leadership in coffee." Oliviera added: “This is an incredible opportunity to create the future of coffee. Global Coffee Co will aim to be the best coffee company in the world by combining global reach with local expertise to operate across all formats, segments, channels and price points." At the same time, the planned split reflects diverging growth dynamics between beverages and coffee. KDP is effectively creating two focused businesses, one centred on North American refreshment beverages and another dedicated to global coffee growth. With KDP now holding more than 95% of JDE Peet’s shares, the company will proceed with delisting from Euronext Amsterdam. The final trading day is scheduled for Wednesday 29 April 2026, with delisting expected on Thursday 30 April.

FoodBev Media is delighted to officially reveal the shortlist for the World Food Innovation Awards 2026. This year's shortlisted entrants highlight a growing commitment to health consciousness, consumer transparency and holistic sustainability across the food industry. Most notably, this year’s finalists stand out for their ability to tackle some of the food industry's most pressing challenges – addressing not only the immediate desires of the end-consumer, but also the complex, systemic challenges facing the global supply chain. The culmination of this year’s competition will take place at IFE (International Food & Drink Event), a centrepiece of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. FoodBev invites all industry stakeholders to attend the live announcement of the 2026 winners. Mark your calendars for 30 March, 4pm GMT, where the winners will be unveiled live from the Trends & Innovations Platform at Food Drink & Hospitality Week's IFE 2026, ExCeL London. FoodBev congratulates every company that has secured a place on this year’s shortlist. In an era of rapid transformation, reaching this stage represents a significant achievement, showcasing those businesses at the absolute forefront of culinary and technological evolution. World Food Innovation Awards 2026 shortlist Best products of 2026 Best artisan product Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu (Princess, Please Get Rich) Yellow Peach Milk Ice Cream Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Ice+ Spiral Pineapple Lemon Sorbet Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu OMG Milk Ice Cream Qinwan Premium Dates | Dates Chocolate Caramel Biscuits Whirlylicious | The Candy Floss Easter Egg by Whirlylicious Whirlylicious | The Whirly Cake/ Candy Floss Cake Best bakery product Avanti West Coast | Cheese & Tomato Cruffin Cookies-Quartet | Golden Treasure Palmier Gift Box Cookies-Quartet | HK Classic Pastry Luxe Collection Cookies-Quartet | Sakura Cashew Nut Cookies Forno Impero | Vastedda dell’Impero – Trapani Handmade Sicilian Durum Sourdough Bread Nanyang Polytechnic | LoopBakes Muffins Szezám | Gluten-Free Pistachio White Chocolate Crookie Utsav | Multi-Millet Cookie Best children's/baby product Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru U-Dengxing Children's Brain-Enhancing Yogurt Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Ruibuen ChuAi Niu Niu Young Children Formula Milk Powder Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yimibaba Children Growth Formula Milk Powder Little Dish | Superstars Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Veg Majans | Infuzions Poppeas Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground JieJieGao Liquid Cheese Calcium Best chilled/frozen product Brioche Pasquier | Red Fruit Meringue Demetres | Über Ube Ice Cream Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Ice+ Spiral Pineapple Lemon Sorbet Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Mini Cheese Milk Flavored Ice Cream Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu SuiBian Qiao Qiao Man Guan Chocolate Ice Cream Nanyang Polytechnic | Chendol Delight Shanghai Bingjie Food & Beverage Management | FlowCoco Core (Milk & Chocolate) Ice Lolly Best confectionery product Issei | Mochi Gummies – Peach Issei | Mochi Gummies – Sour Cherry Whirlylicious | The Whirly Cake/ Candy Floss Cake Best convenience/ready meal product Bonduelle Americas | Bonduelle Lunch Bowls CPF Thailand | Butcher Soup Sausage CPF Thailand | CP Dashi O-Den Krispy Krunchy Chicken | Bone-IN Little Dish | Superstars Chicken Nuggets with hidden veg Long Weekend | Long Weekend Saname | Saname Superbone Scott & Jon's | Shrimp Alfredo with Penne Taj Foods | Taj Masala Fries The Mac Factory | Gourmet Mushroom Mac & Cheese Viciunai UK and Ireland | Viči High-Protein Surimi Noodles with Shrimp & Garlic Wat Kitchen | Wat Kitchen Japanese Katsu Chicken Protein Bites Best dairy product Dairy Farmers of America | TruMoo Protein Whole Chocolate Milk Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Fruibe Yogurt drink Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Black Tea with Lemon Probiotic Fermented Milk Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu GuanYiRu GYR Fruits and Vegetables Crown Yogurt Series Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu GuanYiRu GYR Popping Pearls Yogurt Series Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Pumpkin & Cinnamon Probiotic Fermented Milk Drink Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Super Vitality Yogurt Jar Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Mascarpone Whipping Cream Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yoyic Functional Probiotic Beverage (100 Billion Live Cultures) 2 Variants Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yoyic Galactooligosaccharide Probiotic Beverage (Health-Functional Food Certification) Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Modern Farming Raw Milk Mung Bean Flavored Milk Beverage Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Ambrosial Yellow Peach Oatmeal Bursting Beads Yogurt Nanyang Polytechnic | Magic Açaí Blueberry Swirl Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground JieJieGao Liquid Cheese Calcium Yili Group | Yili MilkZi Durian Milk Best functional product CPF Thailand | Peptide Shot Dong’e Ejiao Health Industry Technology | Boost Your Energy Ejiao Jujube Graasi | Graasi Citrus Mint Humann | Cardiovascular Health Daily Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Sleep-Enhancing Functional Yogurt Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu White Kidney Bean Extract Probiotic Skimmed Milk Powder Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yourui Golden Protein Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yoyic Galactooligosaccharide Probiotic Beverage Nobilis Zrt | Immuno+ Apple Crisps with Strawberry Padam Wellness | Adapta-Gut Saname | Saname – P360 Pure Unflavoured Multi-Structured Collagen (Tasteless) Stamoulakis Dimitrios and Sia | Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Propolis Condiment Suitefood | Coccola Gel – The World’s First Functional Sweetener in Gel Format Best low or no product Betty Booze | Vodka Iced Tea + Meyer Lemonade Betty Buzz | Oak Smoked Lemonade Mocktail Betty Buzz | Sparkling Apple Ginger Sour Cherry Mocktail Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Ice+ Whole Mango Stick Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Lactose-Free Product Series Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Meal Companion Double Pomelo Light Milk Flavored Drink Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu NOPA Blackberry Blueberry Low-GI Flavored Yogurt Nize Better | The 80% Low-Sodium Tom Yum Innovation Best meat/poultry product Ambry | Nitrite Free Turkey Bacon Qualiko | Crispy Fried Chicken Burger Qualiko | Qualiko Karaage Qualitops UK | Qualitops Classic Pork pepperoni Wat Kitchen | Wat Kitchen Thai Sweet Chilli Chicken Protein Bites Best natural/organic product AIB Foods | Indus Cashews Nuts/Nuts Clearly Canadian | Sparkling Mineral Water Dali Springwoods Agricultural Technology | Springwoods Cherry Tomatoes Fresh Del Monte | Del Monte Gold Pineapple by Air Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Clean Label Whipping Cream Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Organic Mascarpone Flavored Cream Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Shiny Meadow Yun Shang Organic A2 Fresh Milk Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Three Calves A2? Fruit & Vegetable Milk Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Three Calves A2? Millet Milk Morish Snacks | Organic Olive Oil Seaweed Snacks Niman Ranch | Niman Ranch Regenerative Organic Certified Grass-Fed Beef Best plant-based product ADM | Boneless Plant-Based Drumstick Bonduelle Americas | Bonduelle Lunch Bowls CPF Thailand | Kitchen Joy – Thai Green Curry Gyoza Impossible Foods | Impossible Steak Bites Inner Mongolia YiLi Industrial | Corn Juice Leaft Foods | Leaft Blade Majans | Infuzions Poppeas Nuohealth | Ginseng and Dendrobium Polypeptide with Multi-Chromium Wat Kitchen | Wat Kitchen Thai Green Curry Plant-Based Protein Bites Woodridge Snacks | Woodridge Snacks Yuzu Zest Tempura Veggie Mix with Sticky Rice Chips Best seafood product Crown Foods | Crown Foods Salt & Pepper Popcorn Squid Nanyang Polytechnic | Aerobites Safe Catach | Safe Catch Tuna Burger Scott & Jon's | Garlic Butter Shrimp Rice Bowl Scott & Jon's | Honey Sesame Salmon Rice Bowl SeaPak | SeaPak Wild Caught Breaded Scallops Viciunai UK and Ireland Ltd | Viči Surimi Snow Crab Sticks with Collagen Best snack product BitesWeLove | Caramel Fudge Protein Bar Blanco Niño | Blanco Niño Meaty Asado White Corn Tortilla Chips Chick&Go | Protein chicken Snack Chick&Go – Chilli Lime flavour Comestibles Ricos | Super Ricas Snacks Demetres | Über Ube Ice Cream Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Deluxe Gelato series Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yimibaba Nutritional Bar Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yimibaba Nutritional Milk Tablet Majans | Infuzions Poppeas Mitsuba Snacks | Korean Crispies Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground Cheese Nuts Crisps Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground Cheese Triangles Viciunai UK and Ireland | Viči Herring Jerky Beetroot Pink Wat Kitchen | Wat Kitchen Korean Hot & Spicy Chicken Protein Bites Best sports/nutrition product ADM | Pistachio Plant-Based Protein Shake 75+ Chick&Go | Protein Chicken Snack Chick&Go – Mango Lemon Flavour Humann | Sport Pre-Workout Powder Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu MNHi188 Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin K Oral Solution Optimum Nutrition | Optimum Nutrition 40G Protein Shake PH | KA-EX Go Creatine Booster Shanghai Maction Health Technology | Mengniu M-Action Acid-Neutralizing Tablet Shanghai Maction Health Technology | Mengniu M-Action Beetroot Drink Series Suitefood | Coccola Gel – The World’s First Functional Sweetener for Active Performance Viciunai UK and Ireland | Viči High-Protein Surimi Noodles with Shrimp & Garlic Best innovations of 2026 Best drink innovation ActivatedYou | Morning Complete East Forged Tea Brews | Cold Brew Nitro Infused Tea Gundry MD | Ultimate H2 Inner Mongolia YiLi Industrial | Guliduo Fresh Milk Five Red / Fresh Milk Five Black Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Youngfun Chew a Lemon Light Milk Juice Drink Nanyang Polytechnic | Rhythm Duo: Optimising Performance through Circadian-Aligned Nutrition PepsiCo | FH x Gran Malo 2025 Roundhouse Provisions | Morning Kick Terra Mare | Morning Restore The Coca-Cola Company | Gold Peak Brewed Tea on Coca-Cola Freestyle The Coca-Cola Company | Sprite Chill on Coca-Cola Freestyle Xcillency Limited | Woolah Tea Best food innovation Angel Yeast | AngeoPro Yeast F90 Avanti West Coast | Mushroom Bruschetta with tarragon aioli Bonduelle Americas | Bonduelle Lunch Bowls Cargill | NextCoa Casper's Ice Cream | FatBoy Birthday Cake Sandwich Pop Chick&Go | Protein chicken Snack Chick&Go – Cheese Flavour Cooplands | Pork & Cider Mini Pie Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Cream Specialized for Yogurt Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Organic Whipping Cream Inner Mongolia Yijiahao Cheese | Yili MiaoZhi Crispy Cheese Innovi | Süvy Kiri | Kiri Fresh Cheese NeatSweets | NeatSweets Pom'Potes | Pom'Potes 3+1 Fruits & Veggie Lollipop Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground Cheese Nuts Crisps Utsav | Jowar Chips Utsav | Multi-Millet Noodles Best ingredient innovation ActivatedYou | Morning Lift ADM | Tradcon SE Angel Yeast | Angearom DFA800 Biovit | Biovit Organic & Natural Vitamins and Minerals for Fortified Foods CPF Thailand | Taste Peptide Gundry MD | Phyto Collagen Complex Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Lactoferrin Leaft. Foods | Leaft Rubisco Protein Isolate Maia Farms | Forms MicroSalt | MicroSalt 75 MycoTechnology | Honey Truffle Sweet Protein Nongshim | Flavolink NutriFusion | GrandFusion Power Life | Peak MCT & Collagen Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground JieJieGao Liquid Cheese Calcium Tiryaki Agro | Hasata Kelkit Sugar Bean Vivici | Vivitein LF Zero Acre Farms | Organic Fera Fruit Oil Best health innovation Angel Yeast | Angeoprime KA207 BTI KI Trening | Mountaindrop Flourish BTI KI Trening | Mountaindrop Microbion Flow Health Science |  Klario Hangzhou MuMeng Network Technology | Ziyangyan 2X Collagen Peptide Drink Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Green Mood Natural Nourishment Ice Cream Series (Black Sesame / Red Bean & Coix Seed / Ginger Milk) Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu GuanYiRu GYR Fruits and Vegetables Crown Yogurt Series Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu White Kidney Bean Extract Probiotic Skimmed Milk Powder Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yourui Guli Golden Formula Milk Powder Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu YouRui TeKangLi Selenium-Enriched Camel Milk Powder MicroSalt | MicroSalt Nanyang Polytechic | Rhythm Duo Natureth | Ferrochel Vegetable Juice Drink Oceanstar/Losoki | Losoki Magnesium Complex Padam Wenness | Adapta-Gut PH | KA-EX Go Creatine Booster Saname | Saname Zero Acre Farms | Organic Fera Fruit Oil Best technology innovation Beyond Oil | Beyond Oil DragonflyAI | Hovis x DragonflyAI Pack Redesign Eschbach | ShiftConnector Fresh Check | FreshCheck Hygiene Verification System Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Creamy! Milk Flavored Ice Cream Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Fully Automated Cleaning & Sterilization System for Pill-Dropping Equipment Enables Industrialized Four-Layer Probiotic Microencapsulation Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Yili Beichang Goat Milk Powder JBT Marel | ProDose Pineapple Wax Dosing Machine MicroSalt | MicroSalt Ospitality | Ospitality Prevented Ocean Plastic | Prevented Ocean Plastic Food-Safe rPP ProAmpac | ProAmpac’s Moisture Protect MP-1000 Synaura Biotechnology | Synaura HMO Precision Fermentation Platform The Summer Berry Company | An energy solution that enables the year-round supply of British strawberries at a commercial scale Best businesses of 2026 Best marketing campaign Ball Corporation | Mahou Fallas Can Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | New Product Launch Official Announcement Campaign: Collaborate with spokesperson Sun Yingsha to build a closed-loop channel marketing with omnichannel channels Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial| Ambrosial x Doublemint Co-branded Mint Flavored Yogurt and Yogurt Flavored Mints Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | YouSuanRu X Chiikawa Collaboration Campaign Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Ambrosial Jasmine Green Grape Yoghurt Les Producteurs de lait du Québec | Le goût du vrai (The Taste of Real) Les Producteurs de lait du Québec | Le lait, servez-vous-en! (Milk: Pour yourself a glass!) Mutti | Mutti Immersive Dining: Deceptively Simple Best new brand I Am Nutri | I Am Nutri Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Yili Steppe Yogurt Collection Synaura Biotechnology | Synaura HMO Platform Best packaging design Alzamora | CharcuterTree: Packaging That Becomes an Experience Ball Corporation and Mahou San Miguel | Mahou Fallas Design Can Beef&Go | Beef protein snack Beef&Go – Original Flavour Goodles | Cups Graphic Packaging International | Paperboard Sushi Packaging Graphic Packaging International | PaperSeal Pressed Graphic Packaging International | ProducePack Punnet Tray Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Functional Yogurt Series Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Super Vitality Yogurt Jar Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | GuliDuo Giant Panda M.LanPanda IP packaging design Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Rose Black Tea Yili | Youngfun x Duolingo Co-branded Word Box Yili | Satine High-Protein Milk Tub Yili | Satine Jersey Cow Carton Best CSR/sustainability initiative Ferrero UK | Ferrero x Chester Zoo Partnership Moom Tableware | The New Straws SPXFLOW Technology Danmark | SteamRecycle Best foodservice initiative Qualitops UK | Qualitops Q Pork Pepperoni Saname | Saname P360 Range Congratulations to all of the shortlisted products, businesses and brands! Each shortlisted entry will be recognised as either a Winner, Finalist or Commended. The final results will be announced on 30 March at IFE as well as online here at FoodBev.com . The 2026 judging panel FoodBev extends its sincere gratitude to this year’s judging panel. Comprised of seasoned industry experts, consultants and innovators, the panel brought global expertise and diversity to the evaluation process. Their commitment to maintaining the awards' rigorous standards ensures that the World Food Innovation Awards remains the definitive seal of approval in the B2B food sector. Want to hear more from past winners and see how they celebrated their success? Check out Winning Innovations magazine for more details, interviews and insights: About FoodBev Awards FoodBev Media awards schemes have been running for more than 20 years and are now recognised among the most credible and respected awards schemes to influence the international food and beverage industry. For more information about our selection of awards programmes, please visit foodbevawards.com  or email awards@foodbev.com .

FoodBev Media is delighted to announce the winners of the prestigious World Food Innovation Awards 2026, celebrating creativity and purpose across the international food and beverage industry. This year’s awards signify a transformative shift in the industry, defined by a profound commitment to health, transparency, and the resolution of complex, systemic global challenges. A panel of expert judges meticulously evaluated a record-breaking number of entries  of more than 100 brands from across 28 countries , representing a truly global snapshot of the industry's future. These awards highlight the extraordinary level of ingenuity currently being poured into the manufacturing processes and supply chain structures to create products that are as resilient as they are delicious. The winners were unveiled during a live ceremony at IFE 2026, held at ExCeL London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. As the industry’s premier platform for discovery, IFE provided the perfect backdrop to celebrate the businesses at the absolute forefront of culinary and technological evolution. Melissa Bradshaw, group editor at FoodBev Media, presented the awards and reflected on the calibre of this year's submissions: The level of ingenuity we’ve witnessed this year is remarkable. These entries represent vital solutions to systemic challenges across multiple industries, in addition to being genuinely exciting and thoughtful product concepts. These brands are navigating complex global shifts, while keeping consumers' needs and desires firmly at the heart of that change. With the competition more intense than ever, securing a World Food Innovation Award in 2026 continues to be a recognition of excellence. These achievements reflect an industry that is not only adapting to change but actively driving it through bold, purposeful innovation. World Food Innovation Awards 2026 results Best products of 2026 Best artisan product WINNER Qinwan Premium Dates |  Dates Chocolate Caramel Biscuits FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu OMG Milk Ice Cream FINALIST Whirlylicious | The Whirly Cake/ Candy Floss Cake COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy |  Mengniu (Princess, Please Get Rich) Yellow Peach Milk Ice Cream COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Ice+ Spiral Pineapple Lemon Sorbet COMMENDED Whirlylicious |  The Candy Floss Easter Egg by Whirlylicious Best bakery product WINNER Szezám | Gluten-Free Pistachio White Chocolate Crookie FINALIST Forno Impero |  Vastedda dell’Impero – Trapani Handmade Sicilian Durum Sourdough Bread FINALIST Nanyang Polytechnic |  LoopBakes Muffins FINALIST Utsav |  Multi-Millet Cookie COMMENDED Avanti West Coast | Cheese & Tomato Cruffin COMMENDED Cookies-Quartet | Golden Treasure Palmier Gift Box COMMENDED Cookies-Quartet | HK Classic Pastry Luxe Collection COMMENDED Cookies-Quartet | Sakura Cashew Nut Cookies Best children's/baby product WINNER Little Dish |  Superstars Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Veg FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru U-Dengxing Children's Brain-Enhancing Yogurt FINALIST Majans |  Infuzions Poppeas COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Ruibuen ChuAi Niu Niu Young Children Formula Milk Powder COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yimibaba Children Growth Formula Milk Powder COMMENDED Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground JieJieGao Liquid Cheese Calcium Best chilled/frozen product WINNER Brioche Pasquier | Red Fruit Meringue FINALIST Demetres | Über Ube Ice Cream FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Ice+ Spiral Pineapple Lemon Sorbet FINALIST Shanghai Bingjie Food & Beverage Management | FlowCoco Core (Milk & Chocolate) Ice Lolly COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Mini Cheese Milk Flavored Ice Cream COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu SuiBian Qiao Qiao Man Guan Chocolate Ice Cream COMMENDED Nanyang Polytechnic | Chendol Delight Best confectionery product WINNER Issei | Mochi Gummies – Peach FINALIST Issei | Mochi Gummies – Sour Cherry FINALIST Whirlylicious | The Whirly Cake/ Candy Floss Cake Best convenience/ready meal product WINNER Bonduelle Americas | Bonduelle Lunch Bowls FINALIST CPF Thailand | Butcher Soup Sausage FINALIST CPF Thailand | CP Dashi O-Den FINALIST Saname |  Saname Superbone FINALIST Wat Kitchen | Wat Kitchen Japanese Katsu Chicken Protein Bites COMMENDED Krispy Krunchy Chicken | Bone-IN COMMENDED Little Dish | Superstars Chicken Nuggets with hidden veg COMMENDED Long Weekend | Long Weekend COMMENDED Scott & Jon's | Shrimp Alfredo with Penne COMMENDED Taj Foods | Taj Masala Fries COMMENDED The Mac Factory | Gourmet Mushroom Mac & Cheese COMMENDED Viciunai UK and Ireland | Viči High-Protein Surimi Noodles with Shrimp & Garlic Best dairy product WINNER Yili Group |  Yili MilkZi Durian Milk FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Black Tea with Lemon Probiotic Fermented Milk FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu GuanYiRu GYR Popping Pearls Yogurt Series FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Pumpkin & Cinnamon Probiotic Fermented Milk Drink FINALIST Nanyang Polytechnic |  Magic Açaí Blueberry Swirl FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy |  Mengniu Yoyic Functional Probiotic Beverage (100 Billion Live Cultures) 2 Variants FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy |  Mengniu Yoyic Galactooligosaccharide Probiotic Beverage (Health-Functional Food Certification) COMMENDED Dairy Farmers of America | TruMoo Protein Whole Chocolate Milk COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Fruibe Yogurt drink COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu GuanYiRu GYR Fruits and Vegetables Crown Yogurt Series COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Super Vitality Yogurt Jar COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Mascarpone Whipping Cream COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Modern Farming Raw Milk Mung Bean Flavored Milk Beverage COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Ambrosial Yellow Peach Oatmeal Bursting Beads Yogurt COMMENDED Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground JieJieGao Liquid Cheese Calcium Best functional product WINNER Suitefood |  Coccola Gel – The World’s First Functional Sweetener in Gel Format FINALIST CPF Thailand | Peptide Shot FINALIST Dong’e Ejiao Health Industry Technology | Boost Your Energy Ejiao Jujube FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Sleep-Enhancing Functional Yogurt FINALIST Saname |  Saname – P360 Pure Unflavoured Multi-Structured Collagen (Tasteless) FINALIST Stamoulakis Dimitrios and Sia | Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Propolis Condiment COMMENDED Graasi | Graasi Citrus Mint COMMENDED Humann | Cardiovascular Health Daily COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu White Kidney Bean Extract Probiotic Skimmed Milk Powder COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yourui Golden Protein COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yoyic Galactooligosaccharide Probiotic Beverage COMMENDED Nobilis Zrt | Immuno+ Apple Crisps with Strawberry COMMENDED Padam Wellness | Adapta-Gut Best low or no product WINNER Nize Better | The 80% Low-Sodium Tom Yum Innovation FINALIST Betty Buzz | Oak Smoked Lemonade Mocktail FINALIST Betty Buzz | Sparkling Apple Ginger Sour Cherry Mocktail FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Ice+ Whole Mango Stick FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Meal Companion Double Pomelo Light Milk Flavored Drink COMMENDED Betty Booze | Vodka Iced Tea + Meyer Lemonade COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy |  Mengniu Lactose-Free Product Series COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu NOPA Blackberry Blueberry Low-GI Flavored Yogurt Best meat/poultry product WINNER Wat Kitchen |  Wat Kitchen Thai Sweet Chilli Chicken Protein Bites FINALIST Ambry | Nitrite Free Turkey Bacon FINALIST Qualiko | Crispy Fried Chicken Burger FINALIST Qualitops UK | Qualitops Classic Pork pepperoni COMMENDED Qualiko | Qualiko Karaage Best natural/organic product WINNER Niman Ranch |  Niman Ranch Regenerative Organic Certified Grass-Fed Beef FINALIST Dali Springwoods Agricultural Technology | Springwoods Cherry Tomatoes FINALIST Fresh Del Monte | Del Monte Gold Pineapple by Air FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy |  Mengniu Organic Mascarpone Flavored Cream FINALIST Morish Snacks | Organic Olive Oil Seaweed Snacks COMMENDED AIB Foods |  Indus Cashews Nuts/Nuts COMMENDED Clearly Canadian |  Sparkling Mineral Water COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Clean Label Whipping Cream COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Shiny Meadow Yun Shang Organic A2 Fresh Milk COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Three Calves A2? Fruit & Vegetable Milk COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Three Calves A2? Millet Milk Best plant-based product WINNER Impossible Foods | Impossible Steak Bites FINALIST ADM | Boneless Plant-Based Drumstick FINALIST Bonduelle Americas | Bonduelle Lunch Bowls FINALIST Leaft Foods | Leaft Blade FINALIST Wat Kitchen | Wat Kitchen Thai Green Curry Plant-Based Protein Bites COMMENDED CPF Thailand | Kitchen Joy – Thai Green Curry Gyoza COMMENDED Inner Mongolia YiLi Industrial | Corn Juice COMMENDED Majans | Infuzions Poppeas COMMENDED Nuohealth | Ginseng and Dendrobium Polypeptide with Multi-Chromium COMMENDED Woodridge Snacks | Woodridge Snacks Yuzu Zest Tempura Veggie Mix with Sticky Rice Chips Best seafood product WINNER Scott & Jon's | Honey Sesame Salmon Rice Bowl FINALIST Crown Foods | Crown Foods Salt & Pepper Popcorn Squid FINALIST Nanyang Polytechnic | Aerobites FINALIST Viciunai UK and Ireland Ltd | Viči Surimi Snow Crab Sticks with Collagen COMMENDED Safe Catach |  Safe Catch Tuna Burger COMMENDED Scott & Jon's | Garlic Butter Shrimp Rice Bowl COMMENDED SeaPak | SeaPak Wild Caught Breaded Scallops Best snack product WINNER BitesWeLove | Caramel Fudge Protein Bar FINALIST Chick&Go | Protein chicken Snack Chick&Go – Chilli Lime flavour FINALIST Demetres | Über Ube Ice Cream FINALIST Majans | Infuzions Poppeas FINALIST Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground Cheese Nuts Crisps FINALIST Viciunai UK and Ireland |  Viči Herring Jerky Beetroot Pink COMMENDED Blanco Niño | Blanco Niño Meaty Asado White Corn Tortilla Chips COMMENDED Comestibles Ricos | Super Ricas Snacks COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Deluxe Gelato series COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yimibaba Nutritional Bar COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yimibaba Nutritional Milk Tablet COMMENDED Mitsuba Snacks | Korean Crispies COMMENDED Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground Cheese Triangles COMMENDED Wat Kitchen | Wat Kitchen Korean Hot & Spicy Chicken Protein Bites Best sports/nutrition product WINNER PH |  KA-EX Go Creatine Booster FINALIST ADM | Pistachio Plant-Based Protein Shake 75+ FINALIST Chick&Go | Protein Chicken Snack Chick&Go – Mango Lemon Flavour FINALIST Optimum Nutrition | Optimum Nutrition 40G Protein Shake FINALIST Suitefood |  Coccola Gel – The World’s First Functional Sweetener for Active Performance COMMENDED Humann | Sport Pre-Workout Powder COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu MNHi188 Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin K Oral Solution COMMENDED Shanghai Maction Health Technology | Mengniu M-Action Acid-Neutralizing Tablet COMMENDED Shanghai Maction Health Technology | Mengniu M-Action Beetroot Drink Series COMMENDED Viciunai UK and Ireland | Viči High-Protein Surimi Noodles with Shrimp & Garlic Best innovations of 2026 Best drink innovation WINNER East Forged Tea Brews |  Cold Brew Nitro Infused Tea FINALIST Gundry MD |  Ultimate H2 FINALIST Nanyang Polytechnic | Rhythm Duo: Optimising Performance through Circadian-Aligned Nutrition FINALIST PepsiCo | FH x Gran Malo 2025 FINALIST Terra Mare | Morning Restore FINALIST The Coca-Cola Company |  Sprite Chill on Coca-Cola Freestyle FINALIST Xcillency Limited |  Woolah Tea COMMENDED ActivatedYou | Morning Complete COMMENDED Inner Mongolia YiLi Industrial | Guliduo Fresh Milk Five Red / Fresh Milk Five Black COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Youngfun Chew a Lemon Light Milk Juice Drink COMMENDED Roundhouse Provisions | Morning Kick COMMENDED The Coca-Cola Company | Gold Peak Brewed Tea on Coca-Cola Freestyle Best food innovation WINNER Cargill | NextCoa FINALIST Angel Yeast | AngeoPro Yeast F90 FINALIST Casper's Ice Cream | FatBoy Birthday Cake Sandwich Pop FINALIST Innovi | Süvy FINALIST NeatSweets |  NeatSweets FINALIST Pom'Potes | Pom'Potes 3+1 Fruits & Veggie Lollipop COMMENDED Bonduelle Americas | Bonduelle Lunch Bowls COMMENDED Chick&Go | Protein chicken Snack Chick&Go – Cheese Flavour COMMENDED Cooplands | Pork & Cider Mini Pie COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Cream Specialized for Yogurt COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Organic Whipping Cream COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yijiahao Cheese | Yili MiaoZhi Crispy Cheese COMMENDED Kiri | Kiri Fresh Cheese COMMENDED Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground Cheese Nuts Crisps COMMENDED Utsav | Jowar Chips COMMENDED Utsav | Multi-Millet Noodles Best ingredient innovation WINNER Leaft. Foods | Leaft Rubisco Protein Isolate FINALIST ActivatedYou | Morning Lift FINALIST ADM | Tradcon SE FINALIST CPF Thailand | Taste Peptide FINALIST MicroSalt | MicroSalt 75 FINALIST MycoTechnology | Honey Truffle Sweet Protein COMMENDED Angel Yeast | Angearom DFA800 COMMENDED Biovit | Biovit Organic & Natural Vitamins and Minerals for Fortified Foods COMMENDED Gundry MD | Phyto Collagen Complex COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Lactoferrin COMMENDED Maia Farms | Forms COMMENDED Nongshim | Flavolink COMMENDED NutriFusion | GrandFusion COMMENDED Power Life | Peak MCT & Collagen COMMENDED Shanghai Milkground Food Tech | Milkground JieJieGao Liquid Cheese Calcium COMMENDED Tiryaki Agro | Hasata Kelkit Sugar Bean COMMENDED Vivici | Vivitein LF COMMENDED Zero Acre Farms | Organic Fera Fruit Oil Best health innovation WINNER Flow Health Science |  Klario FINALIST BTI KI Trening |  Mountaindrop Microbion FINALIST Hangzhou MuMeng Network Technology |  Ziyangyan 2X Collagen Peptide Drink FINALIST Nanyang Polytechic | Rhythm Duo FINALIST PH |  KA-EX Go Creatine Booster FINALIST Saname |  Saname FINALIST Zero Acre Farms | Organic Fera Fruit Oil COMMENDED Angel Yeast | Angeoprime KA207 COMMENDED BTI KI Trening | Mountaindrop Flourish COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Green Mood Natural Nourishment Ice Cream Series (Black Sesame / Red Bean & Coix Seed / Ginger Milk) COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu GuanYiRu GYR Fruits and Vegetables Crown Yogurt Series COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu White Kidney Bean Extract Probiotic Skimmed Milk Powder COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Yourui Guli Golden Formula Milk Powder COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu YouRui TeKangLi Selenium-Enriched Camel Milk Powder COMMENDED MicroSalt | MicroSalt COMMENDED Natureth | Ferrochel Vegetable Juice Drink COMMENDED Oceanstar/Losoki | Losoki Magnesium Complex COMMENDED Padam Wenness | Adapta-Gut Best technology innovation WINNER Synaura Biotechnology | Synaura HMO Precision Fermentation Platform FINALIST Beyond Oil | Beyond Oil FINALIST Fresh Check | FreshCheck Hygiene Verification System FINALIST Prevented Ocean Plastic | Prevented Ocean Plastic Food-Safe rPP FINALIST ProAmpac |  ProAmpac’s Moisture Protect MP-1000 FINALIST The Summer Berry Company | An energy solution that enables the year-round supply of British strawberries at a commercial scale COMMENDED DragonflyAI | Hovis x DragonflyAI Pack Redesign COMMENDED Eschbach | ShiftConnector COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Creamy! Milk Flavored Ice Cream COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Fully Automated Cleaning & Sterilization System for Pill-Dropping Equipment Enables Industrialized Four-Layer Probiotic Microencapsulation COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Yili Beichang Goat Milk Powder COMMENDED JBT Marel | ProDose Pineapple Wax Dosing Machine COMMENDED MicroSalt | MicroSalt COMMENDED Ospitality | Ospitality Best businesses of 2026 Best marketing campaign WINNER Mutti |  Mutti Immersive Dining: Deceptively Simple FINALIST Ball Corporation | Mahou Fallas Can FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | New Product Launch Official Announcement Campaign: Collaborate with spokesperson Sun Yingsha to build a closed-loop channel marketing with omnichannel channels FINALIST Les Producteurs de lait du Québec |  Le goût du vrai (The Taste of Real) COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial| Ambrosial x Doublemint Co-branded Mint Flavored Yogurt and Yogurt Flavored Mints COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | YouSuanRu X Chiikawa Collaboration Campaign COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Ambrosial Jasmine Green Grape Yoghurt COMMENDED Les Producteurs de lait du Québec | Le lait, servez-vous-en! (Milk: Pour yourself a glass!) Best new brand WINNER Synaura Biotechnology |  Synaura HMO Platform FINALIST I Am Nutri | I Am Nutri COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Yili Steppe Yogurt Collection Best packaging design WINNER Alzamora | CharcuterTree: Packaging That Becomes an Experience FINALIST Ball Corporation and Mahou San Miguel | Mahou Fallas Design Can FINALIST Goodles |  Cups FINALIST Graphic Packaging International |  ProducePack Punnet Tray FINALIST Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Functional Yogurt Series FINALIST Yili | Youngfun x Duolingo Co-branded Word Box FINALIST Yili | Satine High-Protein Milk Tub FINALIST Yili |  Satine Jersey Cow Carton COMMENDED Beef&Go | Beef protein snack Beef&Go – Original Flavour COMMENDED Graphic Packaging International | Paperboard Sushi Packaging COMMENDED Graphic Packaging International | PaperSeal Pressed COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy | Mengniu Guanyiru Super Vitality Yogurt Jar COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | GuliDuo Giant Panda M.LanPanda IP packaging design COMMENDED Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial | Rose Black Tea Best CSR/sustainability initiative WINNER Ferrero UK | Ferrero x Chester Zoo Partnership FINALIST Moom Tableware | The New Straws COMMENDED SPXFLOW Technology Danmark | SteamRecycle Best foodservice initiative WINNER Saname | Saname P360 Range FINALIST Qualitops UK | Qualitops Q Pork Pepperoni Congratulations to all the winners, finalists, and commended entries for their outstanding contributions to the future of food! About FoodBev Awards FoodBev Media awards schemes have been running for more than 20 years and are now recognised among the most credible and respected awards schemes to influence the international food and beverage industry. For more information about our selection of awards programmes, please visit foodbevawards.com  or email awards@foodbev.com .

British dairy brand All Things is extending its fast-growing cottage cheese portfolio with the launch of a new low-fat variant, tapping into surging consumer demand for high-protein, minimally processed foods. The new All Things Low Fat Cottage Cheese is positioned as a lighter alternative that maintains the creamy texture and taste profile of the brand’s original range, under the tagline “Low-fat. Still lush.” The launch comes as cottage cheese experiences a strong revival in the UK, with the category delivering more than 50% year-on-year growth. Once viewed as a diet staple, the product has undergone a significant repositioning, driven by social media trends, high-protein diets and demand for less processed foods. The launch builds on the brand’s initial cottage cheese range, introduced in early 2026 in collaboration with nutrition-focused content creator Emily English. That line-up included traditional Natural alongside more unconventional flavours such as Mango and Mixed Berries, developed with Fearne & Rosie. Co-founder Toby Hopkinson said: "Cottage cheese has come back in a big way because it delivers exactly what modern shoppers want, something that’s high in protein, genuinely versatile and easy to use across the day. With Low Fat Cottage Cheese, we wanted to create a lighter option that still feels creamy and satisfying." All Things Low Fat Cottage Cheese began rolling out across UK retailers in March 2026, launching first in Morrisons, with listings to follow in Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. The product carries a starting RRP of £1.85.

Volvic is launching a new functional water range, Volvic Vitamin+, marking its entry into the functional hydration segment in the UK and Ireland. The range, which will roll out from Monday 6 April, combines the brand’s natural mineral water with added magnesium and vitamins B and C. The formulation is positioned to help reduce tiredness and fatigue and support normal energy-yielding metabolism. Volvic Vitamin+ will be available in 75cl PET bottles, targeting meal deal and on-the-go occasions. The company cited rising demand for healthier food-to-go options, with 69% of consumers seeking healthier meal deals and overall food-to-go consumption projected to grow at a 5% CAGR over the next five years. The range includes two variants: Recharge Raspberry, which contains magnesium and vitamins B5, B6 and C, and Active Peach, which contains magnesium and vitamins B5, B7 and C. Victoria Pham, head of category and commercial strategy of UK&I – beverages at Danone, said: “Consumers are changing the way they think about what they drink. With 67% of UK soft drink consumers preferring a drink with health benefits over taking a supplement offering equivalent benefits, it’s clear that people are looking for convenient, everyday ways to support their health and wellbeing." "Answering that need, Volvic Vitamin+ offers great-tasting, naturally filtered mineral water enriched with magnesium and essential B and C vitamins, helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue, and support normal energy-yielding metabolism. “Backed by two years of strong performance in Europe and clear consumer demand here in the UK, we’re excited to scale into functional hydration. The move reflects our confidence in the category’s future, with strong growth expected in the year ahead.” According to the company, the product has driven category penetration in Germany over the past two years. Consumer testing also indicated strong purchase intent and brand alignment. Volvic Vitamin+ will be available at major UK retailers with an RRP of £2.20 and will be included in meal deal promotions. In Ireland, it will retail at €2.80.

Agronomics has announced that its portfolio company All G has completed the US Food and Drug Administration's Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notification process for its precision-fermented bovine lactoferrin. All G received a 'no questions' letter from the FDA, indicating the agency has no objections to the company's conclusion that its recombinant lactoferrin is safe for use in food. The decision enables commercialisation of the ingredient in the US, a key market for functional ingredients and dietary supplements. The Australian biotech company produces next-generation milk proteins using precision fermentation. Its lactoferrin ingredient, marketed as LFX, is intended for use in functional food and beverage products, dietary supplements and early life nutrition. According to the company, the ingredient is produced via controlled fermentation and purified to defined specifications, achieving purity levels above 99.5%. Lactoferrin is already used in the US across applications including infant formula, dietary supplements and functional foods. All G said the GRAS outcome is expected to support its wider regulatory strategy, including future use in early life nutrition and expansion into other markets. Agronomics said the regulatory milestone supports near-term commercial activity in the US and provides a reference point for precision-fermented functional proteins more broadly, in line with its strategy of backing scalable, high-value ingredients with clear routes to market. Jim Mellon, executive chair of Agronomics, said: "FDA clearance for All G's precision fermented lactoferrin is an important milestone for the company and for the broader precision fermentation sector. Regulatory validation of this kind reduces uncertainty around commercial deployment and supports the transition from technical development to revenue generation." "All G operates in a category characterised by strong demand, constrained traditional supply and attractive pricing dynamics. We believe this outcome positions the company to establish itself as a supplier of high-value functional proteins to global nutrition markets." Agronomics first invested in All G in August 2022 and has committed a total of £8.9 million to date. The holding, subject to audit, is currently valued at around £7.4 million and represents approximately 5% of the company’s most recently reported net asset value of £139.9 million as of 31 December 2025. The investor also provided an additional AUD 3 million through a convertible loan in January 2026. Top image: © All G

Banza has entered the traditional pasta category with the launch of its new Wheat Protein Pasta and Wheat Protein Mac & Cheese, combining semolina wheat with chickpeas to deliver enhanced nutrition without sacrificing taste or texture. The new range marks a significant step for the brand, which built its reputation on chickpea-based, gluten-free products. The latest innovation targets consumers seeking higher protein options while maintaining the familiarity of conventional wheat pasta. The Wheat Protein Pasta range delivers 22g of protein and 7g of fibre per serving and will be available in rotini, penne and elbow formats. Meanwhile, the Wheat Protein Mac & Cheese offers 16g of protein and 4g of fibre per serving. Both products are made from simple ingredients and aim to bridge the gap between nutrition and indulgence in the ambient pasta category. Brian Rudolph, CEO and co-founder of Banza, said: “There are millions of consumers who want better nutrition but aren’t willing to compromise on the taste and texture of wheat pasta. This product is designed to meet them where they are.” The company also emphasised that the new wheat-based products are manufactured in a dedicated facility separate from its gluten-free lines, maintaining its commitment to allergen safety and product integrity. The range launches exclusively via TikTok Shop from 1 April, with wider retail distribution planned from May across major US grocery chains including Kroger, Target and Whole Foods Market. The launch represents a strategic evolution for Banza as it seeks to expand its footprint in the mainstream pasta aisle, while continuing to leverage chickpeas as a core ingredient to enhance nutritional value.

The Coca-Cola system in South Africa, comprising The Coca-Cola Company and its authorised bottlers Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa and Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages, plans to invest ZAR 17.6 billion (approx. $1 billion) in the country by 2030. The investment will be directed towards expanding production capacity, strengthening distribution and supporting innovation across the company’s value chain. According to a socio-economic impact study by Steward Redqueen, the Coca-Cola system contributed ZAR 51.2 billion (approx. $3 billion) in value-added economic activity in South Africa in 2024. The system supported more than 87,000 jobs across its value chain, including 7,822 direct roles and approximately 79,300 jobs through suppliers, partners and customers. The study indicates that each direct job supports around ten additional jobs in the wider economy. Local procurement reached ZAR 25.6 billion (approx. $1.52 billion) in 2024, spanning sectors such as sugar production, packaging, transport and marketing. Sunil Gupta, CEO of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, said: “South Africa remains one of our most strategic markets in Africa – the beginning of a legacy that dates back to Coca-Cola’s first entry on the continent in 1928. These findings reaffirm the Coca-Cola system’s role as a key driver of shared value and sustainable growth within the South African economy." The study assessed direct, indirect and induced impacts using company data and external economic sources, outlining the contribution of Coca-Cola’s operations from agriculture through to retail. South Africa is also included in the company’s Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, a nearly $25 million programme running to 2030 aimed at addressing water-related challenges across 20 countries. The investment follows an agreement by Coca-Cola HBC to acquire a majority stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.