The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

As the confectionery sector enters 2026, manufacturers face intensifying pressure to deliver greater product variety, cleaner labels and faster innovation without sacrificing efficiency or compliance.

Hive Mind has launched a dark cherry variant, signalling a renewed push to bring the honey-fermented beverage back into the spotlight for younger drinkers.

Red Bull has launched its first-ever Spring Edition, introducing a Cherry Sakura flavour to its growing Red Bull Editions range.

The new flavour offerings – Straw-Bae Shortcake, PB Blondie Bestie and Mocha Mood Pie – bring the total Sundaes portfolio to seven.

Coca-Cola will expand its cherry-flavoured soft drinks portfolio in North America, launching a new Cherry Float variant.

Shannon O’Shields, VP of Marketing at Rubix Foods, explores how sauces have gone from menu afterthoughts to drivers of flavour, craveability and growth.

The launches include new take-home cartons, ice cream bars and mini formats, led by a Dark Cherry Truffle tub and Cherry Dark Chocolate bars.

The new products – including wing sauces, dips and squeeze formats – will roll out nationally in the coming weeks, ahead of the Super Bowl.

Planet Oat, HP Hood’s US oat milk brand, has entered the zero-sugar creamer market, launching what it says are the category’s first oat-based creamers with no sugar.