AI, or artificial intelligence, has already infiltrated many parts of food and drinks production but it has only really scratched the surface in terms of its potential, according to the latest edition of just-food’s FUTURES service.

From supply chain management, waste management, predictive maintenance and scheduled ordering to weather predictions, food safety compliance and new product development, machine learning is reshaping businesses, the report, Machine Dreams: The Future of AI in Food and Beverage Operations, explains.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

In the latest edition of FUTURES – a service providing a series of free-to-read digital reports, designed to help food and beverage firms plan for the future – we explore the megatrends behind the growing use of AI in food and drinks operations, we look at how it’s likely to develop in the next five years, and we assess what food and drinks companies can start to do now.

The use of AI in food and drinks manufacturing falls under what has widely been dubbed the fourth manufacturing revolution, or Industry 4.0. 

As FUTURES reveals, that revolution is already happening. Download the report for free here.

This latest edition of FUTURES includes an interview with Joe McNamara, director for global IT at US food giant Kraft Heinz, who tells us how it has applied AI to its business so far and how he sees this technology being used in the future.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Visit the just-food or just-drinks FUTURES microsite to download this report  – and previous reports – for free.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact