Markets

23-Jun-2011 - Food manufacturers are using certified sustainable palm oil in their products – and making claims about it – when they are not members of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and have not have their facilities RSPO audited and certified, one leading supplier has claimed.

Details of labelling rules released as EU gives “green light”

23-Jun-2011 - A final deal on EU food labelling legislation is heading towards the finish line with the provisional agreement approved by council yesterday.

DKSH opens bakery and confectionery innovation centre in Thailand

22-Jun-2011 - DKSH Holdings Ltd, the Swiss market expansion services group, has invested in a new innovation centre in Thailand as part of an initiative to introduce new concepts and ingredients to the local confectionery and bakery industry.

Dairy industry takes joined up approach to health research

22-Jun-2011 - Against the backdrop of a difficult financial climate and more stringent health claims regulation, the dairy industry is taking a coordinated approach to nutrition and health research with the formation of a global research consortium.

Demand dip will see cocoa prices levelling off, Rabobank

20-Jun-2011 - Lacklustre demand for cocoa in Europe and North America and expectations of an average crop next season will see cocoa prices remain steady over the coming months, claims a market analyst.

ADM launches “crucial” cocoa training project in Ghana

16-Jun-2011 - A new education and training scheme in Ghana that aims to develop the country’s cocoa supply chain is the “first of its kind” for Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), says the firm.

Confectionery still top for impulse buys, survey

16-Jun-2011 - Sweets and chocolate remain at the top spot for unplanned grocery buys, according to a new UK survey, however there’s a risk that promotions could rob confectionery of its indulgent, luxury status, says Shoppercentric.

Special Edition: Functional Food Trends

Heart health claims are boosting chocolate’s growth potential, report

13-Jun-2011 - There is growth potential for dark chocolate in the functional food sector, with the product carrying most of the heart health claims in the confectionery segment, says Leatherhead Food Research.

Cargill’s Moroccan grain silo improves service to flour-millers

13-Jun-2011 - An improved service to Moroccan flour millers and better logistics will result from Cargill’s inauguration of a 67,000t grains storage facility close to the port of Casablanca, claims the company.

Industry defends GreenPalm oil certificates

13-Jun-2011 - Processors and environmentalists have rebuffed recent attacks on sustainable palm oil certificates within the national press.

ADM-led project aims to boost Indonesian cocoa quality

09-Jun-2011 - Leading cocoa processor Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has announced it is kick-starting its Ivory Coast sustainable cocoa initiative – Serap – in Indonesia in a bid to boost cocoa quality from growers in that region.

First UTZ cocoa shipment in US, sustainable cocoa boom expected

06-Jun-2011 - Cargill has received the first ever shipment of UTZ cocoa in North America, a move which will be followed by other sustainable cocoa developments in the region, said the certifying body, as momentum gathers in the US market.

Rabobank predicts consolidation wave to flow from private label trend

06-Jun-2011 - Private label growth will set off a wave of consolidation in the European food industry but how each product category is affected will vary significantly, according to Rabobank.

Palm plantations are endangering biodiversity, say experts

30-May-2011 - Forest fragmentation driven by demand for palm oil is having a catastrophic effect the level of biodiversity, and may be endangering certain species, according to scientists from the Queen Mary University of London.

Drought set to boost European cereal and sugar prices

20-May-2011 - Prolonged drought in northern Europe has already capped yields of cereals and sugar beet and, without significant rainfall over the next two months, could significantly boost prices, warn analysts.

ADM to offer UTZ cocoa for first time following Nigerian certification

19-May-2011 - Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is to source UTZ certified cocoa for the first time, after Nigeria was granted sustainable recognition for its beans.

News in brief

David West leaves Hershey to lead Del Monte

19-May-2011 - David J. West has resigned from the top job at Hershey’s to take on the role of CEO at Del Monte – and John P. Bilbrey has been appointed as interim president and CEO at The Hershey Company.

Chinese sweets market recovers from melamine scandal

19-May-2011 - The sugar confectionery category in China achieved growth of 3 and 4 per cent in retail value and volume terms respectively in 2010, according to estimates from Euromonitor.

News in brief

Cargill resumes Ivorian operations

18-May-2011 - Cargill has resumed is cocoa and chocolate operations at its production facility in the Ivory Coast following the resolution of the recent political crisis in the West African cocoa powerhouse.

Demand for ethical and luxury products to fuel global confectionery growth, analyst

18-May-2011 - Continued growth in the global confectionery market will be driven by increased demand for ethical and functional products in mature regions, and a rise in disposable income in emerging markets, according to industry analysts.

New gum can enhance muscle function, says Wrigley

16-May-2011 - A new Wrigley chewing gum, which claims to aid muscle function, has been singled out by Datamonitor Product Launch Analytics (PLA) team as one of the most innovative food products on the market.

New CSPO deal means palm oil certs no longer needed, says NBPOL

12-May-2011 - A new deal is set to result in a huge injection of palm oil from certified sustainable sources into Europe and could spell the death knell for green certificates, said New Britain Palm Oil Limited.

Gap in the market for ‘healthy’ mints, claims UK confectioner

09-May-2011 - There is a space that has not been filled in the confectionery market for ‘healthy’ mints, according to UK confectioner Peppersmith, following the launch of its new natural Freshmints product.

Ivory Coast cocoa trade resumes but credit issues remain, analysts

05-May-2011 - Ivory Coast’s cocoa trade has been normalised, but uncertainly remains about the mid-crop, and and all eyes are now on the weather for the main crop, to be harvested this autumn, notes commodities specialist Rabobank it its latest review.