Portion control, reduced use of high-fructose corn syrup and less marketing to young children are among the corporate responsibility changes Hostess Brands shared in its 2022-23 report, along with efforts to protect the environment such as the use of more packaging made of recycled materials.

Price increases and relatively stable consumer demand factored into McCormick & Co.'s raising its forecast of annual adjusted profit while overall net sales for the quarter rose by 8%.

Coconut and other plant waters are benefitting from growing consumer interest in plant-based diets, according to industry analysts. These waters also appeal to people seeking "more functional, healthful products, especially ones that are low in calories," said Roger Dilworth, senior analyst at Beverage Marketing Corp.

The Food and Beverage Labeling Course, which enables companies to stay current on meticulous, evolving labeling standards from USDA and FDA, is available for two more sessions this year. The course pairs self-paced education with live, instructor-led virtual meet-ups and has been highly rated by teams from Ferrara, Campbell's, Keurig Dr Pepper and Hormel. Since you are a SmartBrief subscriber, you receive a $200 discount with the code SMRTBRF23. The Summer session begins July 10. View dates and register here.

Join Consumer Brands on July 28, 2023, for a conversation with Jesper Nordengaard, president of Colgate-Palmolive North America. Discover key growth strategies and industry trends in personal care and pet food. Jesper will provide insights on how building high-performing teams and a fearless organization drive business impact at Colgate-Palmolive. Register now.

A four-year agreement between Mondelez and FrieslandCampina marks the companies' goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions among FrieslandCampina's supplier dairy farmers by 14% by 2025 compared to 2019 levels. The initiative will include ways to reward farmers, added Sanne Griffioen-Roose, FrieslandCampina's director of farm sustainability.

Unilever is using hundreds of AI applications across its 400 global brands, but the company's Generative AI Marketing Collective is focusing on responsible and "appropriate" use, says Chief Digital and Commercial Officer Conny Braams. Pitching concepts and creating mood boards are two uses Braams mentioned for AI, while noting industry focus has shifted from efficiency to using AI to boost creativity and production.

PepsiCo's new Starry lemon-lime soda brand was inspired by younger people who maintain an optimistic outlook despite living in an era of "doom scrolling," shared Michael Smith, the brand's head of marketing. "We saw something interesting in the tension between how the world and society articulates itself and how this group of people responds to it," Smith added.

Mondelez has paired Oreo with Nintendo's Super Mario Bros., releasing limited-edition packs of cookies featuring the faces of the game's characters and inviting fans to compete in a social media challenge to defeat a Bowser-embossed cookie. A TikTok video showcasing the challenge has attracted 1.4 million views, and prizes are available for the best videos.

PepsiCo tapped into its experience with sponsoring Super Bowls and music events when planning for its UEFA Champions League final Kick Off Show, said Mark Kirkham, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of international beverages. The collaboration allows both parties to expand their exposure to new audiences, said Kirkham.