The Trend Where a Pharmaceutical Side Effect Becomes an FMCG Growth Signal GLP-1 medications were designed to manage weight and blood sugar — nobody anticipated they would become a catalyst for the breath-freshening category. Yet Hershey's Ice Breakers brand posted over 8% retail sales growth in a single quarter, with the company explicitly linking the lift to GLP-1 adoption tailwinds. The mechanism is straightforward: Ozempic and Wegovy users report dry mouth, altered saliva

Food Has Become a Wellness System, Not Just Sustenance Expo West 2026 confirmed what Mintel has been tracking for years — consumers want food that makes them feel better, physically and emotionally, at every level of function. Seven dominant themes emerged: fiber's renaissance, digestive wellness going mainstream, muscle gain replacing weight loss, real-food ingredient expectations, texture as sensory differentiator, economic strain driving comfort, and mood as a design princ