News and Trends

Marks and Spencers is launching a new range of 'nutrient dense' food targeted at people who have reduced appetites due to taking   weight loss   jabs.  The retailer said the 20-product range is 'perfectly portioned' for customers on GLP-1 drugs because they contain 'high amounts of nutrients per calorie'.  The new range, set to launch in stores on January 5, include salads, breads and yoghurt bowls, and are aimed at customers currently taking medicines such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic to help aid their weight loss.  More than 1.5million people in the UK are thought to be accessing the jabs privately, whilst  NHS  prescriptions have risen by 900 per cent since 2020.  Annette Peters, head of food innovations at  M&S , said: 'We know the use of GLP-1 medications is growing, so it's more important than ever to ensure that even if people are eating smaller portions, we help provide them with the right levels of nutrients.  'We ha...

 

  When we first explored GLP-1's potential impact in February, many questions remained unanswered. Would adoption rates justify reformulation investments? Which categories would face real pressure versus media speculation? How should manufacturers balance GLP-1 considerations with their broader consumer base? Since then, more data has emerged. GLP-1 users remain a minority of consumers, yet their habits around portion control, protein intake, and functional nutrition are increasingly influencing NPD briefs. The question is no longer just about changing consumption patterns among users, but whether these shifts warrant broader strategic responses across product portfolios The Scale Reality: Small User Base, Outsized Influence In the UK, GLP-1 users have doubled from 2.3% to 4.1% of households in just one year , according to Kantar. A quarter of people say they would use GLP-1 drugs if offered free via the NHS . In Germany, around 8% of consumers have used prescription weight-los...

  Now in its second year, our annual GLP-1 study of 12,000 UK households reveals how GLP-1 drugs are reshaping consumption, behaviour, and business in real time. When we think about inventions that have fundamentally reshaped the world, certain breakthroughs immediately come to mind: the light bulb, penicillin, birth control, the smartphone. Each of these transformed not just daily life, but also the way people relate to the world around them. Now, another contender might be emerging to join that list. GLP-1 agonists, more commonly known as weight loss drugs, are starting to change not just bodies, but behaviours, economies and entire industries. Whilst diet culture is nothing new, this time it feels different. This time it feels like big pharma stepping into the ring with big food. These drugs are already dominating headlines and cultural conversations. They’re being talked about by celebrities, referenced in TV shows and debated in parliament. People are discussing dramatic trans...