Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Cadbury's gum acquisition approved in Turkey

28-Aug-2007 - Cadbury's planned acquisition of the Turkey-based chewing gum manufacturer Intergum has been approved by the competition regulator, the company said today.

Airport security measures boost confectionery sales

28-Aug-2007 - Confectionery sales are booming in the global duty free and travel retail sales market, faster than the market average growth, according to a new report.

Weekly comment

Is it harsh? Is it fair? No it's a consumer watchdog

27-Aug-2007 - In 1993, it seemed superheroes had reached their lowest peak when Superman was slain by an unstoppable monster known as "Doomsday".

ABF to shake up China sugar industry with joint venture

27-Aug-2007 - Associated British Foods (ABF) has forged an agreement with Chinese sugar group Hebei Tian Lu, which is expected to revolutionise beet sugar production technology and boost yields.

Polish confectionery producer plans expansions

24-Aug-2007 - Polish confectionery company Jutrzenka is planning acquisitions across Central and Eastern Europe, in a bid to expand into the emerging markets, according to the Polish media.

Syral's Tate & Lyle starch buy approved

24-Aug-2007 - The European Commission has approved Syral's acquisition of part of Tate & Lyle's Food and Industrial sweeteners and starches businesses in Europe it was announced yesterday.

Fat remains major baddie for healthy eaters, says Datamonitor

24-Aug-2007 - Reducing fat intake continues to be the main priority of consumers looking to improve their diets, according to a new report from market analyst Datamonitor.

Nickelodeon ends character licensing to junk food

23-Aug-2007 - Leading kids' entertainment brand Nickelodeon has said it will stop licensing its characters for use on 'unhealthy' foods and beverages, as part of its commitment to help slow the growth of childhood obesity.

Danisco stands by for record sugar harvest

22-Aug-2007 - Danisco is expecting a record sugar harvest as climactic factors have stimulated growth, the year's first field samples indicate, meaning that any excess above quota will be channelled towards non-food uses.

Lindt plans price increase to cover raw materials

22-Aug-2007 - Lindt will increase product prices in order to cover the rising raw material costs, the company said yesterday.

Cocoa prices may stabilise, says ICCO

22-Aug-2007 - A positive outlook for the chocolate industry as cocoa prices could be stabilising, the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) said in its July review.

Organic labels are confusing, says consumer survey

22-Aug-2007 - Consumers remain confused about the use of organic product claims, which has led to people increasingly opting for locally grown food instead, according to a new survey.

Spiderman and The Simpsons are food baddies, says Which?

21-Aug-2007 - Consumer watchdog Which? has launched a new campaign to oust cartoon characters from unhealthy snack advertising, claiming that superheros are being exploited to encourage kids to clamour for foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt.

Internet campaign encourages a Cadbury re-launch

21-Aug-2007 - Cadbury last week said it will be re-launching its Wispa bar in the UK following pressure from social-networking sites.

Western diet linked to greater colon cancer recurrence

16-Aug-2007 - The high calorie, low fibre dietary pattern associated with the Western diet are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer recurrence, says new research from the US.

Nestle recasts its Black Magic recipes

16-Aug-2007 - In a bid to take advantage of the new consumer fad for dark chocolate, Nestle has re-written its Black Magic recipes.

Codex questions certain sweetener, color uses

16-Aug-2007 - The Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) is calling for comments and additional information on uses of certain compounds, including sweeteners and colors, in order to assess their inclusion in the Codex General Standards for Food Additives (GSFA).

Nestle nourished by health aims

16-Aug-2007 - Nestle's drive to be a major health and nutrition player resulted in a strong first half fiscal performance for the company.

Astaxanthin off the menu for Tate & Lyle

16-Aug-2007 - Production of the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin at a plant in the UK has been called off after operating losses mounted to more than £3m (€4.4m).

Masterfoods labelling move spurs new veggie debate

14-Aug-2007 - Masterfoods has announced plans to introduce a vegetarian labelling scheme for some of its chocolate products as of next year, but the Vegetarian Society says ingredients still do not meet its sourcing requirements.

Sugar demand to exceed supply says report

14-Aug-2007 - Sugar supply for the fiscal year 2008 is expected to be less than the demand, which could cause continual price pressures, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said last week.

Hormone regulates liking for food, say scientists

14-Aug-2007 - Scientists have identified that a hormone is responsible for people's fondness for food, findings that could lead to a better understanding of overeating and ultimately contribute to the prevention of obesity.

Weekly Comment

A helping hand to the confused consumer

13-Aug-2007 - Consumers are bombarded with an overload of nutritional advice and product marketing - be it from magazines, television shows, and product advertising - and without a degree in nutritional science, it's a wonder they can make sense of it at all.

Healthy chocolate drives US market

10-Aug-2007 - Sales of health and premium products are driving growth in the US chocolate market, offsetting poorer sales in other chocolate segments.