GLP-1

Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner sits down with Fast Company to discuss how the chocolate giant is adapting to consumers using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, integrating artificial intelligence into its operations, and working to keep a century-old confectionery brand culturally relevant. The interview touches on shifting snacking habits, health trends pressuring candy sales, and how a legacy company balances tradition with technological change.

Plug & Play, the innovation platform, is turning its attention to nutrition products designed to accompany GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, calling it the next frontier for the microbiome sector. The idea is to support people on medications like Ozempic with tailored nutrition that addresses side effects and nutrient gaps. The move reflects growing interest among food and supplement companies in serving the fast-expanding population using GLP-1 treatments.

New research indicates that close to one in six children taking GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes medications develop nutritional deficiencies. The finding raises concerns about the dietary impact of these increasingly prescribed drugs in pediatric care, with experts urging monitoring of vitamins and minerals in young patients on long-term treatment.