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Beyond 'GLP-1 friendly': The nutrition opportunity food brands are missing. 02-Sep-2026 Last updated on 02-Sep-2026 at 14:58 GMT CPG brands are developing new foods and beverages targeting GLP-1 users, healthy aging and women's midlife health, but experts say education may be just as important as innovation. (Image: Getty/ChayTee) Health experts point to muscle, bone and cardiovascular health as key priorities for consumers taking GLP-1 medications and navigating midlife, creating opportunities for food and beverage brands to connect functional nutrition with consumer education. Product innovation and broad health claims about protein or fiber content alone may not be enough for food and beverage brands to reach consumers taking GLP-1 medications or who are interested in improving their healthspan, according to health experts recently surveyed by US News & World Report. Rather, educating consumers about the role of nutrition in supporting muscle, bone and cardiovascular health could be a vital, but largely missed, opportunity in earning shoppers' trust, and by extension, driving sales, according to Shanley Chien, senior health editor for US News & World Report. "There is still a major disconnect in consumer health literacy. Most people often conflate overall weight loss with fat loss, but rapid or significant weight loss often causes the body to burn both fat and lean muscle," Chien said, adding: "This is a critical blind spot." For support, she pointed to the publication's 2026 Health Aging Survey in which 76% of the 63 health experts surveyed agreed that accelerated muscle loss is a "serious healthy aging threat for patients using GLP-1s." Food and beverage brands can help consumers close this knowledge gap and choose products that support their long-term health goals by helping them understand why certain nutrients, like protein, are critical when taking these medications or pursuing healthy aging more broadly. "The biggest missed opportunity right now isn't simply labeling products as 'GLP-1 friendly.' It is consumer education," Chien said. "Consumers are flooded with longevity advice and wellness trends online and on their social media feeds, making it difficult to distinguish evidence-based guidance from marketing noise. For food and beverage brands, the opportunity isn't just selling high-protein products; I think it's about providing transparent, credible context on how nutrition supports muscle preservation during significant weight loss," she explained. Early movers in this area include Danone, which launched Oikos Fusion in August 2025. The cultured dairy drink is designed specifically with GLP-1 users in mind and includes a proprietary blend of whey, leucine and vitamin D to support muscle maintenance during weight loss. Recognizing that many GLP-1 users have reduced appetite, the beverage packs 23 grams of protein, 5 grams of prebiotic fiber and additional vitamins and nutrients into just 7 fluid ounces. Danone also created a consumer-facing website to help GLP-1 users understand the role of nutrition in their weight loss journey. It includes a clickable menu with drop-down explanations for why GLP-1 users need protein, fiber, calcium, hydration and other dietary components. It even includes citations to studies on which the information is based. Kate Farms also launched in 2025 a high protein nutrition shake to support muscle health, weight management and GLP-1 treatment as a way to help fill nutrition gaps. Other more recent launches include PepsiCo's Propel Clear Protein, which addresses muscle, digestive health and hydration in a familiar beverage format, and Mission Zero Net Carbs Spinach Tortillas, which pack 5 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber per serving. The tortilla launch shows the evolution of GLP-1 friendly products beyond beverages. Wanted: Women's health support. The need for education and innovation combined holds true for other emerging health trends and underserved wellness markets that hold significant market potential, such as women's health, said Chien. Specifically, she said she sees an opportunity for CPG brands bringing midlife nutrition solutions to market that target perimenopausal and menopausal women. "In our survey, experts expressed concern over midlife muscle and bone loss (33%) and cardiovascular risk (32%). Manufacturers should move away from generic 'anti-aging' messaging and embrace more functional claims centered on 'muscle preservation,' 'bone density support,' and 'heart health' - all of which are critical to everyone, but particularly to women as we age," Chien said. She added there is also an opportunity for brands to move away from marketing focused on aesthetics or weight loss and focus instead on preventive health and wellness "to support women in being more proactive to optimize their midlife years in their 40s and 50s." Several CPG manufacturers are already moving in this space, among them is The Cycle, a line of functional beverages designed to support women's hormonal health and which doesn't shy away from talking about menstruation, perimenopause and menopause. The company's website explains how each ingredient can support symptoms associated with different phases of menstruation and when is the best time to drink each option for maximum support. While not specifically designed for perimenopause support, MOSH's high protein peanut butter cups and bars offer an example of the broader, function-first approach Chien describes. They use Cognizin Citicoline, which is heavily researched to demonstrate support for focus, attention and long-term brain health. The company's blog helps consumers understand the science behind the ingredients and why they could help manage health goals. But the emerging products also highlight a gap. While manufacturers are increasingly targeting individual needs, from GLP-1 nutrition and protein to hormonal health and brain health, fewer products appear to bring together the muscle, bone and cardiovascular priorities identified by health experts in a single, convenient format. For brands, that could create an opportunity to develop multifunctional products for midlife consumers while giving them the education to understand why those benefits matter. Related topics. 22-Jun-2026 By Elizabeth Crawford Danone argues tomorrow's nutrient-dense foods will be shaped first by healthier soils, smarter farming and stronger supply chains, creating new opportunities for protein- and fiber-rich products with lasting consumer appeal 11-May-2026 By Gill Hyslop Brands are reformulating everyday foods with more protein, fibre and functional ingredients as consumers look to support strength, digestion and long-term wellbeing through daily eating habits

North Star Asset Management Inc. purchases shares of 56,103 PepsiCo, Inc. $PEP. North Star Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 56,103 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,596,000. Stocks & Bonds Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cypress Capital Management LLC WY increased its stake in shares of PepsiCo by 8.3% during the 4th quarter. Cypress Capital Management LLC WY now owns 838 shares of the company's stock worth $121,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. United Bank lifted its stake in PepsiCo by 3.9% during the fourth quarter. United Bank now owns 1,717 shares of the company's stock worth $246,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of PepsiCo by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,673 shares of the company's stock valued at $415,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of PepsiCo by 3.3% during the first quarter. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC now owns 2,040 shares of the company's stock worth $317,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Richards Merrill & Peterson Inc. lifted its stake in shares of PepsiCo by 3.6% in the first quarter. Richards Merrill & Peterson Inc. now owns 1,938 shares of the company's stock worth $301,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.07% of the company's stock. PepsiCo news roundup. Here are the key news stories impacting PepsiCo this week: * PepsiCo is participating with Mondelēz International and pladis in a circular food-packaging trial. The initiative could support sustainability goals and help develop more scalable packaging solutions, although the near-term financial impact is likely limited. * A partnership with Carlsberg reportedly helped grow the brewer's soft-drinks segment by 9%, highlighting the potential for PepsiCo's distribution and beverage partnerships to generate incremental volume. * Analysts and investors continue to view PEP's discounted valuation and dividend yield as attractive relative to Coca-Cola, particularly for income-focused investors. Snack-market share gains and beverage resilience could support a gradual recovery. * PepsiCo's North American business faces softer consumer spending and pressure in key food categories. However, snack share gains and stronger beverages suggest management may be dealing with a temporary slowdown rather than a permanently weaker franchise. * Indian authorities reportedly seized PepsiCo-branded products connected to an alleged operation that falsified expiration dates and nutrition labels. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola were not accused of wrongdoing, limiting direct liability but creating some reputational and supply-chain attention. * PepsiCo confirmed damage to a production facility in Ukraine following a reported Russian strike. No injuries were reported, but possible disruption, repair costs and uncertainty about the site's operating capacity add to geopolitical and execution risks. Insiders place their bets. Discover more Hedge Funds Business news updates In related news, EVP David Flavell sold 2,900 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.54, for a total value of $404,666.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 74,825 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,441,080.50. The trade was a 3.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.12% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. PepsiCo price performance. PepsiCo stock opened at $139.79 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $190.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.32, a PEG ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $139.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $149.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. PepsiCo, Inc. has a 52-week low of $133.73 and a 52-week high of $171.48. PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 9th. The company reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $24.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.95 billion. PepsiCo had a return on equity of 54.63% and a net margin of 10.78%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.92 EPS. PepsiCo has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.550-8.710 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that PepsiCo, Inc. will post 8.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. PepsiCo announces dividend. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 4th will be given a dividend of $1.48 per share. This represents a $5.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 4th. PepsiCo's dividend payout ratio is presently 77.59%. Wall street analyst weigh in. A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Piper Sandler set a $176.00 price target on PepsiCo in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Evercore set a $150.00 target price on PepsiCo in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on PepsiCo from $162.00 to $152.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 10th. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their price objective on shares of PepsiCo from $195.00 to $183.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Citigroup lowered PepsiCo from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $170.00 to $145.00 in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $157.90. Stocks & Bonds PepsiCo profile. PepsiCo, Inc (NASDAQ: PEP) is a multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Purchase, New York. The company develops, manufactures, markets and sells a broad portfolio of branded food and beverage products, including carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, juices, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, salty snacks, cereals, and other convenient foods. Its leading consumer brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Tropicana, Quaker, Lay's, Doritos and Cheetos, among others. Formed through the 1965 merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay, PepsiCo has grown into a global business with integrated manufacturing, distribution and marketing operations. 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PepsiCo is cutting 105 warehouse jobs at its Columbia, South Carolina facility as it transitions operations to an external logistics provider. The layoffs, beginning 18 October, primarily affect warehouse workers, forklift operators, and checkers, though the facility will remain open. This marks the fourth such action PepsiCo has taken in 2025, affecting a total of 583 jobs across California, Florida, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. The company has not characterised these moves as a single restructuring programme. The changes come as PepsiCo emphasises supply-chain modernisation whilst competing in a crowded soft drinks market. Coca-Cola leads with 60% of Americans consuming it in the past year, followed by Pepsi at 48%, according to Statista Consumer Insights.