Thorntons commercial focus pays off over key seasonal period

UK chocolatier Thorntons has reported increased sales in the third quarter as its focus on the commercial channel drove performance over Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter.

Mondelez overhauls women’s rights commitment after criticism

Mondelez International has followed its peers Nestlé and Mars in making commitments to tackle gender inequality on cocoa farms after coming under fire from Oxfam and consumers.

Haribo devotes division to travel retail

Haribo has spotted an untapped opportunity for sugar confectionery in travel retail and has set up a new division dedicated to the channel to fill the void.

Necco faces $133,000 fine for ammonia release

Necco is facing $133,000 in fines after being cited for 19 serious health and safety violations after an ammonia release at one of its plants.

News in brief

Lees reports sales gains after pack revamp

UK independent confectionery firm Lees of Scotland has reported that sales for its Snowball and Teacakes have increased 20% since it launched redesigned packs in February.

Bon Bon Buddies looks overseas to double sales in five years

Wales-based character confectionery firm Bon Bon Buddies is aiming to double its sales in the next five years through growth in international markets such as the Middle East.

News in brief

Rainbow Confectionery acquires Australian plant

New Zealand-based Rainbow Confectionery has acquired a new production facility in Australia from Metford Confectionery.

Hershey adopts front of pack nutrition labelling

The Hershey Company is to roll out front of pack nutrition labels in the second half of this year to help consumers make more informed choices.

Duc d’O eyes growth in Russia and China with authenticity as ‘bling-bling’ era dies

Belgian chocolatier Duc d’O has rebranded its flaked chocolate truffles to appeal to Chinese and Russian consumers looking for authentic handmade chocolate.

Nestlé sales growth slows – but CEO reconfirms expectations

Nestlé has reported slower sales growth in the first quarter of 2013 hit by unrest in the Middle East and a cold start to spring, which affected sales of ice...

Fudge Kitchen plots escape from ‘poor man’s confection’ image

UK firm Fudge Kitchen believes it has spotted a gap in the market for premium fudge and has invested in a new production facility and product development to break out...

News in brief

United Biscuits appoints ex Birds Eye chief as new CEO

The UK’s leading biscuits firm United Biscuits has appointed Martin Glenn, the former head of Birds Eye, as its new CEO.

Lindt to seize on Singapore’s premium chocolate cravings with DKSH deal

Premium chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli has reached a deal with market expansion services group DKSH to strengthen its position in the Singapore where demand for premium chocolate is rising.

News in brief

Who is the most reputable confectioner?

The Reputation Institute has released its list of the top 100 most reputable companies based on consumer studies and three confectioners have made the list.

Mondelez to innovate in premium French chocolate market

Mondelez has reported growth through innovation in the atypical French market that favors premium and dark chocolate more than most places in the world.

Nestlé releases deforestation guides for commodity sourcing

Nestlé has released a series of deforestation guides for commodity sourcing in partnership with Conservation International, to give a clearer idea of where deforestation is occurring globally.

Orkla restructures confectionery business and appoints division head

Norwegian consumer goods firm Orkla has announced plans to reorganize its confectionery and snacks business and has appointed the former head of Arla Foods in Sweden to lead the division.

Biscuit firm raises cash for growth and 45 new jobs

A biscuit manufacturer has secured a loan of £276,000 from the Manchester Investment Fund to expand its business and create more than 45 jobs.

News in brief

Saucy ‘stripping’ joke heats up Queen’s Mars factory visit

The British Queen’s visit to Mars’ factory in Slough, UK last week was enlivened as her husband Prince Philip joked with an 83-year-old worker about stripping.

Company update

Nestlé Japan 100 years on: wasabi KitKats and nutrition on wheels

A great deal has changed in Japanese society since Nestlé opened the doors to its Far East division for the first time 100 years ago. And as the company moves...

Cadbury India discounts Toblerone to grow premium category

Mondelez International’s Cadbury India has introduced a two-week promotion on Toblerone in most modern retailers in a bid to grow the premium chocolate category.

News in brief

Mondelez CEO Rosenfeld bags $28.8m in 2012

Mondelez International chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld has been awarded a 31% rise in compensation in 2012 taking her total annual earnings to $28.8m, according to a company filing.

Unilever enters UK confectionery market with Kinnerton licensing deal

Unilever has made its first foray into the UK confectionery market after reaching a licensing deal with Kinnerton Confectionery for ice cream brands Magnum, Cornetto and Mini Milk to be...

News in brief

Thorntons reports ‘satisfactory’ Easter

UK chocolatier Thorntons has reported that its Easter trading has been “satisfactory” and will help its profit climb above expectations.

Australian tastes

Milk bars losing out to servos as Australia gains a sweet tooth

Supermarket service stations are gaining ground on corner shops, and baked staples now losing out to chocolate and confectionery, according to new research from Australia.