Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Vitamin gum pioneer targets sports nutrition market with novel bubblegum

22-Nov-2011 - The firm behind a patented technology enabling the incorporation of multiple vitamins and other bioactives in coated chewing gum, has developed a novel bubblegum targeting the sports nutrition market.

Exclusive interview

Chinese market opens up for Naturex for flavour modifier; Burgundy integration underway

21-Nov-2011 - Naturex has just received novel foods approval in China for its flavour masking system, Talin. President and chief executive of the botanicals group, Jacques Dikansky, revealed the news and discussed the integration of Burgundy when we caught up with him at Naturex HQ in Avignon.

Food and drink firms rush to use stevia

21-Nov-2011 - The UK can expect a gradual sales boom in products sweetened with stevia, according to a leading market analyst.

Chocolate driving growth in Chinese confectionery market – Euromonitor

09-Nov-2011 - The chocolate market in China is growing at faster rates than other confectionery in the country as heightened consumer wealth helps stir evolution from sugar confectionery, according to an analyst at Euromonitor.

Asian-Pacfic markets deliver for Kerry in ingredients and flavours

02-Nov-2011 - Asian-Pacific markets continued to provide solid growth opportunities for Kerry, notes the ingredients and flavours group as it released an interim management statement for the first nine months to 30 September 2011.

Leaf launch first pure xylitol soft gum in Europe

02-Nov-2011 - Dutch confectioner Leaf International has introduced a soft gum that it has said is the first 100% xylitol-based soft gum on the European Market.

Ferrero to build €90m site in Turkey to seize upon another growing market

31-Oct-2011 - Ferrero has announced plans to build a new factory in Turkey in the province of Manisa to leverage its position in a confectionery market that has grown 120% since 2004, according to figures from Mintel.

Ferrero to tap into rapid Indian chocolate growth with new production site – analysts

27-Oct-2011 - Italian chocolatier Ferrero has opened its first production facility in India; a chocolate market analysts have said has huge potential.

Ocean freight connections offer cheaper solution for getting small loads to Asia – DHL

26-Oct-2011 - Ocean freight connections allow chocolate and pastry manufacturers to transport smaller shipments from Europe to Asia at lower costs than air freights, according to transportation firm DHL Global Forwarding.

Stability in Ivory Coast helps German cocoa grinds soar

21-Oct-2011 - Cocoa production in Germany has risen by 36% on the same quarter last year due to an improved political situation in Ivory Coast, according to the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI).

Growth stunted in Japanese confectionery market by health conscious ageing population

19-Oct-2011 - The Japanese confectionery market offers limited opportunities for foreign players due to the nation’s ageing population and preference for functional foods, according to analysts from Leatherhead Food Research and Euromonitor International.

Consumers seek healthy fats as low-fat trend fades

17-Oct-2011 - Consumers are beginning to reject low-fat diets as they become better informed of the health benefits of certain fats and oils, according to new research from Packaged Facts.

‘No magic bullet’ can protect cocoa from climate change

13-Oct-2011 - It will take every tool in the box to combat the effect of climate change on cocoa production, warn industry experts following the publication of research into the impact of rising temperatures on farmers in West Africa.

Palsgaard wins corporate social responsibility award

12-Oct-2011 - Scandinavian-based emulsifiers and stabilizers specialist, Palsgaard has won a corporate social responsibility award (CSR) from the Danish auditing body FSR.

Ethical labels: poll finds Fairtrade most widely recognised mark

11-Oct-2011 - New research indicates that Fairtrade is the most widely recognized ethical label globally, said the organisation behind the standard.

Three reasons for equipment firms to be optimistic

10-Oct-2011 - Stronger sales, rising reputation and technological innovation are three reasons for UK food and drink manufacturers to feel optimistic this autumn, Chris Buxton, ceo of the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA ), tells FoodManufacture.co.uk.

Ferrero and Hershey partnership targets supply chain efficiencies

07-Oct-2011 - The Ferrero Group and The Hershey Company have announced a partnership under which they will share North American supply chain processes in order to reduce costs and carbon emissions.

Barry Callebaut keeps ‘secret sweetener’ chocolate under wraps

06-Oct-2011 - Barry Callebaut is launching a new chocolate based on a secret “natural sweetener solution” at Food Ingredients Europe in November.

New aspartame distribution tie-up for UK focused on security of supply

05-Oct-2011 - A new aspartame distribution deal will benefit the UK and Irish food and drink sector through security of supply, claims leading player Atlantic Chemicals Trading (ACT).

Indonesian palm oil group ditches sustainability roundtable in favour of national scheme

04-Oct-2011 - The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has withdrawn from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which currently offers the only international audit scheme for producers of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO).

News in brief

'Mindless munching' sees UK sweet sales soar

03-Oct-2011 - UK sales of bags, boxes and bars of sweets are rising by 5 per cent a year in volume terms, according to the latest available statistics.

Nestlé gets the green light for UK expansion

27-Sep-2011 - Nestlé’s scheme to expand operations at its Product Technology Centre in York cleared the final hurdle last week at a planning meeting of City of York Council.

Buyer wanted for Highland Toffee firm

26-Sep-2011 - The search for a buyer for Highland Toffee firm, New McCowans is hotting up after administrators Grant Thornton confirmed they are in discussions with interested parties.

Cargill to open its first Asian cocoa processing plant

21-Sep-2011 - Cargill has revealed plans to expand its cocoa and sugar operations in the emerging markets of Brazil and Indonesia.