586: GLP-1 - How should the food industry respond?

What happens when 12% of US adults start using weight loss medication that suppresses their appetite? We're finding out in real time - and the food industry is working to respond.

In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Dublin in November 2025, we look at how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are already leading to retailers and manufacturers all over the world fundamentally rethinking their strategies.

The numbers are stark: households using GLP-1s spend 6% less on food overall, meanwhile, protein yogurts, meat snacks, nutrition bars and fresh produce are thriving as users seek nutrient-dense foods to maintain nutrition while eating far less.

GLP-1 isn’t a side story, in fact, this consumer segment is already the same size as the vegan/vegetarian market in the UK. And the signs are that it’s only going to grow.

The real challenge is, we don't know if users will take these drugs once, multiple times in cycles, or continuously at maintenance doses - and each scenario requires completely different food industry responses.