Mondelez International is introducing Oreo Zero Sugar in January 2026, marking the iconic cookie's first US sugar-free launch after four years of development. The company previously rolled out sugar-free Oreos in China and Europe, using insights from those markets to refine its US approach, including adjustments to sweetness and packaging.

Hormel Foods plans to focus on its protein-centric portfolio to improve performance in fiscal 2026. Initiatives include precooked bacon and expanding Applegate Farms with frozen chicken products, while the company is exiting private-label lines and has closed a soup operation.

PepsiCo is set to review its North American supply chain and implement cost-cutting measures after discussions with Elliott Investment Management, which holds a $4 billion stake. PepsiCo plans to simplify ingredients, reduce product lines and increase automation as part of this process.

Brands are finding power in nostalgia as they tap into consumers' food memories of past flavors to create emotional connections and drive sales in economically challenging times. Products like Pop-Tarts Crunchy Poppers and Voodoo Donuts Maple Bacon Bars are designed to evoke childhood experiences, drawing on the strong link between taste, smell and memory.

Generation Z consumers are moving away from trusting traditional brand heritage and advertising, instead placing their trust in real people -- online creators -- who share reviews and experiences on platforms like YouTube, per research from Pulse Advertising. Brands, says Pulse CEO Lara Daniel, need to shift their strategies to a "community-driven influence ecosystem," rather than "top-down broadcast models."

It's been 10 years since the Consumer Brands Association announced the launch of SmartLabel. In the time since, SmartLabel has redefined how we shop. Find out some of the many ways SmartLabel's scannable QR code and innovative platform have enhanced ingredient transparency for the American people. See them here.

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