london
English
Ilona is a Senior Research Analyst working on food and nutrition industries. She is based in Euromonitor's London office.
Ilona has conducted research and analysis for industries covering pet care, snacks, dairy, meals and fresh food in the UK. She is part of the Dairy Central Project Team and is committed to building further research expertise within the wider food industry. Prior to joining Euromonitor, Ilona received her bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from EHL Hospitality Business School, with prior internship experience as an investment analyst.
The use of GLP-1 drugs, which is already exerting a significant impact on the US food and beverage market, is set to rise sharply around the world in 2026. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Ozempic, goes off-patent in much of the world that year. This means that millions of people are going to change how they eat and drink in the coming years, with significant impacts on the food and drink industry.
The Chinese government’s Healthy China Initiative 2019-2030 presents an opportunity for food and beverage brands to innovate, be that through reformulating existing products with better-for-you ingredients, developing targeted offerings that address specific health needs, or enhancing transparency to highlight product benefits and build consumer trust.
This year’s Sweet and Snacks Expo in the US, hosted by the National Confectioners Association, showcased the industry’s enhanced innovation capabilities and refocus on providing value to the consumer. Sensorially stimulating formats, bold and beloved flavours, and purpose-driven dialogue were major takeaways from the show.