Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

US sugar industry wins round against Splenda

03-Apr-2006 - A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by McNeil Nutritionals, the marketer of Splenda, against the Sugar Association, accusing it of false advertising.

House of Brussels Chocolates' Q3 shows signs of hope

21-Mar-2006 - Drastic cost cutting and nutritional products has boosted House of Brussels Chocolates chance of making a profit, according to its latest financial results.

Danisco profit impacted by acquisitions and costs

20-Mar-2006 - Danisco's consolidated profit plummeted 25 per cent as expected to DKK 726 million for the nine months to 31 January, due largely to costs associated with integrating enzyme business Genencor.

Lindt offsets rising costs to deliver record 2005 sales

17-Mar-2006 - Swiss premium chocolate maker Lindt has confirmed record 2005 sales despite Europe's sluggish chocolate market.

Nestlé anticipates improved 2006

23-Feb-2006 - Nestle has acknowledged its mistakes in confectionery over 2005 and expects improved sales in 2006.

Thorntons sales decline continues

21-Feb-2006 - Thorntons, the UK confectioner, has continued its sales slide, reporting concerning interim results.

Gum and emerging markets drive Cadbury's 2005 growth

21-Feb-2006 - Cadbury Schweppes has exploited the continued global growth of chewing gum and tapped into emerging new markets to report increased sales for 2005.

Wrigley's sales break $4 billion barrier

08-Feb-2006 - Wrigley, the world's largest manufacturer of chewing gum, yesterday said sales grew by 14 per cent in 2005 to $4.2 billion (€3.5bn), a company record.

ADM increases operating profits on less than encouraging sales

02-Feb-2006 - Sales at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) increased during the company's financial second quarter signaling a recovery from the effects of the US hurricanes last year.

Thornton's terminates takeover talks

02-Feb-2006 - Thornton's have today announced they have terminated talks with Newco over a proposed takeover bid.

European Commission investigates Chupa Chups over state aid

30-Jan-2006 - The European Commission has launched an open inquiry into lollipop maker Chupa Chups to establish if a €35 million loan granted by Spain's Catalonian government breaks EU competition rules.

Hershey's growth not without its costs

26-Jan-2006 - New products and seasonal success may have given Hershey increased 2005 sales, but income for the confectionery colossus remains blighted by the cost of reorganisation.

Cost cuts to balance high input prices, Nestlé says

26-Jan-2006 - Prices for raw materials and energy are forecast to rise by around five to 10 per cent this year, but Nestlé believes cost cuts will balance the equation out, the company's chief executive said yesterday.

Lindt expects strong 2005 results

24-Jan-2006 - Lindt today announced its 2005 sales had increased by 12.6 per cent as a result of growth across the group.

Thorntons takeover uncertain after sales drop

19-Jan-2006 - UK chocolate seller Thorntons' sales have fallen by 6.2 per cent, jeopardizing a possible takeover of the public company

Signs of hope for troubled Barry Callebaut

17-Jan-2006 - Troubled chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has increased sales volumes during its financial first quarter, but the growth has meant a tumble in profit margin.

Cadbury signs record TV deal as Dairy Milk tops 2005 sales charts

13-Jan-2006 - Cadbury has signed the biggest TV sponsorship deal in Europe, with ITV's Coronation Street, promoting brands such as the UK's bestseller Dairy Milk.

Wrigley fined for price fixing

20-Dec-2005 - The Romanian Competition Council has fined Wrigley Romania and 26 connected companies €5.5 million for introducing minimum prices on its products, which was seen to be a measure that is in violation of EU law.

Weekly Comment

The shimmer of patent valuation

12-Dec-2005 - Complex webs of assumptions are spinning a lie about the real value of today's companies, lulling directors and shareholders alike into a false sense of value creation.

Weekly comment

Death by food support

28-Nov-2005 - If the EU keeps hiding its agriculture sector behind huge pay cheques instead of devoting more time to food research funding, the bloc's whimpering and wailing will only get worse.

EU sugar reform: producers cautious, users frustrated

28-Nov-2005 - The EU is confident that the sugar reforms announced last week give producers a long-term competitive future, though firms such as Tate & Lyle remain cautious.

Cadbury Schweppes sells European soft drinks arm

21-Nov-2005 - Cadbury Schweppes has announced it plans to sell its European beverages arm for £1.2bn to a private equity consortium led by Lion Capital and Blackstone.

Kraft feels the pressure of rising energy and packaging costs

17-Nov-2005 - Kraft Foods has confirmed that it is increasing prices of many of its products in the United States by an average of 3.9 per cent because of rising energy and packaging costs caused by higher global oil prices.

Tate & Lyle profits driven by sweetener success

04-Nov-2005 - Increased demand for Tate & Lyle's calorie-free sweetener has helped the company to record a first-half profit increase of 59 per cent and successfully fend off spiralling raw material costs.