Markets

03-May-2011 - Kraft Foods is leveraging the growing trend for chocolate and biscuits in developing markets with the opening of a new $80m production facility in Brazil.

Cocoa exports unlikely to resume this week, Mintel

02-May-2011 - Ivory Coast cocoa exports are unlikely to resume by this week, said Mintel, in response to reports that the country will start shipping the commodity from the beginning of May.

Confectionery: People on the move

28-Apr-2011 - Wrigley UK has appointed US Coca-Cola global marketing director for sports & energy, Daniela Campari, as UK marketing director to ‘re-invigorate’ its brands.

Callebaut bids to boost viability of Malaysian cocoa

27-Apr-2011 - Barry Callebaut, in a bid to meet its strategic need to diversify its cocoa origin and boost the viability of cocoa production in Malaysia, has announced a new research programme.

New sweets make you smell like roses, claims confectioner

26-Apr-2011 - A new fragrance confectionery that claims to leave the consumer smelling like roses is one of the most innovative products to hit the shelves recently, according to a Datamonitor analyst.

Growth for smaller choc bars as premium products gain, Mintel

21-Apr-2011 - Demand is increasing for smaller chocolate blocks in the UK confectionery market, as popularity grows for indulgence products and concerns about portion sizes, says Mintel.

Callebaut takes delivery of first UTZ certified cocoa from Ghana

20-Apr-2011 - Another milestone has been achieved in the UTZ certified sustainable cocoa programme, with the first-ever shipment of cocoa beans from Ghana that meets that standard’s economic, environmental and social criteria.

Degradable gum brand could see 2011 launch in EU, Revolymer

19-Apr-2011 - UK based Revolymer said it hopes to launch its less sticky and degradable chewing gum brand REV7 in Europe by the end of this year following EFSA’s recent positive novel foods opinion for its Rev-7 gum base polymer.

Callebaut leverages US growth with cocoa pilot testing site

13-Apr-2011 - Leading industrial chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut has opened its first cocoa pilot plant in North America, a move that follows its reported objective to grow its chocolate volume sales by between 6 to 8 per cent up to 2013.

Cocoa sector hails resolution and end of EU ban on Ivorian trade

12-Apr-2011 - The food industry and cocoa traders have welcomed the EU decision to lift sanctions on the Ivory Coast ports and other Ivorian entities following an end to the crisis in the cocoa growing country.

USDA increases sugar import quota

12-Apr-2011 - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Monday that it will increase sugar imports by 325,000 short tons in fiscal 2011 – a move that has been welcomed by sweetener users.

Sticky times for gum in confectionery, says Keynote

11-Apr-2011 - The UK market for chewing- and bubble gum has hit a sticky patch, says research firm Key Note, with a focus from major brands such as Wrigley on mint gum marking a return to “simpler and more effective products”.

Hope for cocoa exports rises with end in sight for Ivorian crisis, analyst

07-Apr-2011 - Fears that almost 500,000 tonnes of cocoa beans stored in warehouses in the Ivory Coast would deteriorate are now subsiding with the perception that a political resolution is imminent in the cocoa growing country, according to Rabobank

Growth boom expected for Indian confectionery market, Datamonitor

04-Apr-2011 - The Indian confectionery market will see rapid growth over the next three years, according to the latest Datamonitor research, with an increasing premiumisation trend leading to a hike in chocolate purchases.

Hike in demand for indulgence fuels Russian confectionery growth

31-Mar-2011 - Indulgence products are gaining in appeal in Russia due to increasing disposable income among the middle classes, notes Euromonitor, and it reports a volume growth in confectionery products of 1.2 per cent last year.

Nestlé chair child labour comments “at odds” with the company’s commitments, IUF

31-Mar-2011 - Comments made by the Nestlé chair that child labour is “almost impossible” to stop, contradicts the company’s commitments to ending child exploitation in Africa, said the IUF, a global trade union representing food workers.

Sufficient cocoa on the market although possible concerns over damaged stocks, ICCO

31-Mar-2011 - There is still sufficient cocoa available on the market, despite political turmoil in the Ivory Coast situation, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) said yesterday, although there are concerns over cocoa damage over long storage periods.

Ghana - Liberia venture unlikely to have major impact on cocoa industry, Euromonitor

28-Mar-2011 - The recent Ghana-Liberia agriculture pact is unlikely to have a major impact on the global cocoa industry; whereas Nigeria is a region to watch, according to Euromonitor.

Italian manufacturers look to social networking for international appeal

24-Mar-2011 - The Italian food industry is developing the strategy and expertise for companies to exploit the international marketing potential of social networking websites.

Barry Callebaut 'steps up' production at sites beyond Ivory Coast

23-Mar-2011 - Barry Callebaut has a contingency plan in place in light of ongoing Ivory Coast turmoil and has stepped up production at its cocoa processing facilities elsewhere to meet its customers’ needs.

Asia and US lead stevia prospects, high hopes for Europe

21-Mar-2011 - Rising health concerns, all-natural credentials and growing regulatory approval are all driving stevia’s rapid market growth, finds a new report from Zenith International, which forecasts worldwide sales will more than triple in volume by 2014.

US sees jump in Fairtrade confectionery sales

11-Mar-2011 - US Fairtrade chocolate purchases shot up by 19 per cent last year, according to Fair Trade US, a sales boom that has been seen across the globe for food and drink products carrying the ethical label.

ADM shuts down Ivorian cocoa processing plant

10-Mar-2011 - Leading cocoa processor and exporter, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), said it has suspended cocoa plant operations in the Ivory Coast and is shifting production elsewhere, due to heightened political tensions in the West African producer country.

Comment

Women. The most wasted resource in food production

08-Mar-2011 - Today is Pancake Day. It is also International Women’s Day. An important date, then, not just for food lovers in countries where Mardi Gras is a big deal, but a day to consider the role – and the potential – of women involved in food provision all over the world.