Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Campbell reviews Godiva chocolate business

10-Aug-2007 - Campbell Soup is considering selling its Godiva Chocolate business in order to focus upon its simple meals and healthier options, the company said yesterday.

Mars re-launches Galaxy brand under new trends

10-Aug-2007 - Confectionery giant Mars has said it will be re-launching its Galaxy brand in the UK this autumn, taking advantage of demand for luxury and 'healthier' products, the company said yesterday.

New report could take bite out of confectionery industry

08-Aug-2007 - Hospitals and sports centres around the UK are contradicting Government health campaigns, according to a recent report from the Soil Association.

Organic candy the future of confectionery, says new report

08-Aug-2007 - Organic and healthy candy will sustain the future of the US non-chocolate confectionery market, according to a new report.

Weekly Comment

Reflections from IFT

06-Aug-2007 - As the dust settles on this year's IFT Food Expo 2007 in Chicago, health and wellness and food safety came through as the star performers, and drivers for the future of the industry.

Barry Callebaut jumps on healthier bandwagon

03-Aug-2007 - Nine new chocolate ingredients are being released on the market, aimed at processors targeting the demand for funcional foods with health benefits.

Rising quality of life strengthens Chinese confectionery market

03-Aug-2007 - Greater demand, rising incomes and changing consumer habits make China a strong potential confectionery market, according to a new report.

Food giants reveal milk supply concerns

02-Aug-2007 - A number of the world's leading food manufacturers have revealed their concern this week at the current high prices for milk supply, as they move to offset the adverse affects of increased production charges.

Danone restructures senior management

01-Aug-2007 - Danone yesterday announced a major restructuring of its senior management as it continues to refocus its operations towards being a leading player in health and nutrition.

Cadbury's reports decline in operating profit

01-Aug-2007 - Cadbury Schweppes today reported an operating profit decline of 6 per cent to £180m in the first-half of the year, particularly due to high input costs and restructuring costs.

Wrigley continues to grow strongly within Europe

31-Jul-2007 - Sales for the second quarter rose 14 per cent on last year for Wrigley due to worldwide shipment growth, the company said yesterday.

Cocoa demand on the up

27-Jul-2007 - Demand for cocoa is on the up, registering compound growth of 2.7 per cent over the next three years, and most of it will come from Africa, according to a new report.

Mars to increase presence in Russia?

27-Jul-2007 - US chocolate manufacturer Mars is set to open a new factory in Russia, according to local paper the Kommersant Daily.

Kraft loses copyright case

27-Jul-2007 - Food giant Kraft has lost against Euro-Excellence in a court case in Canada over the use of animal pictures on chocolate wrapping.

Obesity concerns drive artificial sweetener market

26-Jul-2007 - Social and health concerns relating to obesity is driving market growth for the global artificial sweetener market, according to a new report.

Harry & David expands confectionery division

25-Jul-2007 - US-based Harry & David Holdings will invest $16m (€11.6m) in expanding its candy, chocolate and packaging operations, the company said yesterday.

Zetar benefits from targeting market niches

25-Jul-2007 - UK-based group Zetar has benefited from focusing on niche sectors of the confectionery market, such as organic and nut-free, the company said today.

Barry Callebaut expands Ivory Coast operations

24-Jul-2007 - Barry Callebaut said today it will boost its cocoa processing capacity in Ivory Coast by 50 per cent over the next two years and double the amount of beans it buys.

Cargill expands cocoa business in Ghana

24-Jul-2007 - Agricultural firm Cargill has started construction of a new cocoa processing facility in Ghana, in an expansion move designed to meet increasing global demand for cocoa products.

Health awareness drives global organic market

24-Jul-2007 - The organic food and beverage market has been predicted to surpass $86bn (€62bn) by 2009, with consumers increasingly turning 'organic' in search of health and safety in their food products.

High dairy prices affect Hershey's earnings

23-Jul-2007 - High dairy prices meant Hershey's operating margins fell to 3.1 per cent for the quarter ended 1 July, compared to 17.3 per cent for the same period in 2006.

Cadbury wins bid for Japan takeover

23-Jul-2007 - Cadbury Schweppes has won its bid for Japan-based candy company Sansei Foods.

Partnership completed between Barry Callebaut and Hershey

19-Jul-2007 - Swiss based Barry Callebaut will start delivering chocolate to Hershey in North America within the next few months, following the completion of the partnership this week.

Sales start to recover for Thorntons

19-Jul-2007 - Despite a difficult start to the financial year, sales grew 15.1 per cent due to increased advertising and expansion in the fourth quarter, Thorntons said yesterday.