Markets

10-Aug-2011 - Cocoa and chocolate products supplier Barry Callebaut has confirmed reports that it plans to upgrade grinding capacity at one of its cocoa processing plants in Ivory Coast from 105,000 to 175,000 tonnes a year.

Emerging markets drive ADM’s expansion plans in Asia

10-Aug-2011 - Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has announced that it will expand its cocoa processing capabilities at its facility in Singapore to enable it to keep pace with growing demand for cocoa and chocolate products from Asian markets.

The future of sweet treats: To boldly go … smaller

10-Aug-2011 - The ‘miniature’ trend has real staying power in the sweet treats category, according to market researcher The Hartman Group.

Kids seeing fewer TV ads for sweets and snacks, study finds

08-Aug-2011 - The number of TV advertisements US children see for high-fat, salty and sugary foods and beverages has declined in recent years – but the majority of kids’ TV food advertising is still for less healthy choices, according to new research.

Analyst: Sugar should level off and don't expect dramatic drop in cocoa prices

04-Aug-2011 - There will be no dramatic drop in cocoa prices in the coming months as forecast by numerous speculators hoping to cash in on a downward trend, reports a cocoa market specialist.

Wrigley backed study shows gum could reduce snack craving

01-Aug-2011 - Chewing gum reduces cravings for sweet and salty snacks in between meals, and could aid appetite control, according to researchers.

Indonesia: Nestlé commits to sustainable cocoa goal

01-Aug-2011 - Indonesia is the focus of an extension of Nestlé’s sustainable Cocoa Plan initiative, with the Swiss food group aiming to pump $4m (€2.7m) into bean production in that country.

Special Focus: food industry careers

Buoyant jobs market driven by Europe-wide demand for skills

27-Jul-2011 - The jobs market in the food and drink industry is extremely buoyant, with skills shortages and growing demand set to push up salaries across the board.

South African market sweet; sales up 19 per cent, notes Leatherhead

25-Jul-2011 - South Africa saw a hike in confectionery sales of over 19 per cent between 2006 and 2010, notes a recent overview of that country’s sweets and chocolate market by Leatherhead Food Research.

Focused product strategy key to Chinese choc market success, say analysts

21-Jul-2011 - Confectionery market watchers are training their eyes on the Chinese market following Nestle’s recent acquisition of a majority stake in leading domestic player, Hsu Fu Chi, with Mars and Ferrero deemed to be winning the race for the hearts, minds and wallets of the Chinese sweet consumer.

Nestlé boosts its distribution of disease-resistant cocoa trees

21-Jul-2011 - Nestlé said it has increased its donations of disease-resistant cocoa trees to farmers in Ivory Coast in a bid to boost the quality of the beans that are produced in the country.

Cargill in bid to boost sustainable cocoa in Cameroon

18-Jul-2011 - Cargill’s Cocoa and Chocolate division is rolling out its Ivory Coast UTZ certification farmer training programme in Cameroon - a move the processor anticipates will dramatically boost sustainable cocoa output in the fourth largest producer country.

Codex approval will open new stevia markets: PureCircle

11-Jul-2011 - Stevia producer PureCircle says the adoption of proposed maximum levels for steviol glycosides by the Codex Alimentarius Commission will open up new markets for the high-intensity sweetener.

Hershey and Godrej dissolve Indian tie-up, report

06-Jul-2011 - A four-year long partnership between chocolate powerhouse Hershey and the Godrej Group in India has been disbanded, according to media reports.

News in brief

General Mills awards grant for sustainable vanilla research

06-Jul-2011 - General Mills has awarded a $200,000 grant to researchers at the University of California-Davis to help create a more sustainable vanilla supply.

Confectionery merger forms business with annual revenue of $200m

01-Jul-2011 - A new merger in the US private label confectionery sector will result in the formation of a packaging and distribution business with annual revenues of over $200m, claims the two companies involved in the deal.

Indonesia wants more investors in cocoa processing sector

01-Jul-2011 - The Indonesian cocoa processing sector is ripe for further investment from multinational food manufacturers, a spokesperson from the country’s investment authority said.

Italy: Health concerns drive dark and organic chocolate boom

30-Jun-2011 - Sales of chocolate rose by nearly 19 per cent in Italy in the four years up to 2010, driven by the trend towards premium, but also higher selling prices, finds a market review from Leatherhead.

Cargill sets up dedicated team to accelerate sustainable cocoa agenda

30-Jun-2011 - Cargill has appointed a specialist team to drive forward its work on the production and supply of sustainable cocoa.

Heavy rain puts Ivorian cocoa quality under threat

29-Jun-2011 - Questions have been raised about the quality of the cocoa crop in the Ivory Coast following heavy rainfall in the region.

Comment

Risk, rationality and that schizophrenic beast called the food industry

27-Jun-2011 - If the food industry wants journalists and consumers to get real about risk, then it has to get real too.

Barry Callebaut pushes onward into Latin America

27-Jun-2011 - Reflecting the continuing industry trend toward outsourcing and its growing foothold in emerging markets, pod to pallet chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut said it has signed a long-term agreement with Mexican manufacturer, Chocolates Turin.

Chocolate and gum boost Indian confectionery sales, Euromonitor

27-Jun-2011 - Indian confectionery retail sales grew by seven per cent last year, boosted by “key indulgence categories” such as chocolate and functional gum, says Euromonitor.

News in brief

CIAA renamed FoodDrinkEurope to be “more immediately identifiable”

24-Jun-2011 - Europe’s food industry trade association CIAA has been renamed FoodDrinkEurope as part of a rebranding exercise that includes the launch of a new website and logo.

Cocoa shortage by 2020 unless industry acts now, warns Mars

23-Jun-2011 - Confectionery giant Mars predicts a major cocoa shortage by 2020 and reveals harmonization of global cocoa certification programmes to ensure meaningful income hikes for farmers is one of its sustainable cocoa project goals.