Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Chocolate market set to consolidate, says analyst

23-Nov-2009 - The chocolate sector looks set for further consolidation with the smaller players struggling to offset higher cocoa prices, claims one market analyst as the rumour mill goes into full gear over potential rivals to Kraft for a Cadbury takeover.

Weekly comment

Food prices face a welcome perfect storm

23-Nov-2009 - There’s a perfect storm building for food prices. You don’t have to scan the horizon to see the signs; the clouds are developing all around us - at a faster rate than anyone expected.

Hershey launches travel confectionary range

19-Nov-2009 - The Travel Retail group of confectionary giant Hershey has launched a new range of travel retail exclusive products including Hershey’s Kisses, Hershey’s Nuggets chocolates and Reese’s and Hershey's Miniatures.

Hershey confirms interest in Cadbury

19-Nov-2009 - Hershey has confirmed that it is “reviewing its options” regarding a possible joint bid with Ferrero for British confectioner Cadbury, following media speculation about talks yesterday.

Hershey and Ferrero could bid for Cadbury

18-Nov-2009 - Hershey and Ferrero are reported to be considering a joint bid for Cadbury that could put the brakes on a hostile takeover by Kraft.

Weekly comment

Alleviation of hunger should top CSR agenda

17-Nov-2009 - Climate change dominates the CSR agenda but new USDA figures on food insecurity are a sharp reminder that alleviating poverty and hunger should always be the top priority.

French sweet tooth holds sugar opportunities

17-Nov-2009 - Opportunities for low-sugar formulations could potentially reside in France with a new study showing eight out of ten French people consume a reduced sugar product at least once a week.

Dark chocolate could be stress buster

16-Nov-2009 - Daily consumption of 40 grams of dark chocolate for two weeks can reduce stress and benefit metabolism and microbial activity in the gut, claims scientists based at the Nestle Research Centre.

News in brief

Billionaire increases Cadbury stake

13-Nov-2009 - US hedge-fund manager, John Paulson, has doubled his stake in Cadbury on the same day the confectionary giant rejected a hostile takeover bid from Kraft, according to media reports.

Barry Callebaut profits grow as chocolate market shrinks

13-Nov-2009 - Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has reported increased profits and sales volumes for the full 2008/09 fiscal year, despite shrinking global chocolate consumption.

News in brief

Launches defy downturn, says Innova

12-Nov-2009 - The economic downturn has not slowed food and beverage product launches, according to the Innova Database, but companies are releasing developments in the pipeline since before the crash, and low cost products developed since.

Nestle may move Fairtrade with Kit Kat

10-Nov-2009 - Media reports have suggested that Nestlé's leading chocolate brand Kit Kat is set to become Fairtrade certified, in a move that would mirror Cadbury’s recent move to Fairtrade for its Dairy Milk chocolate.

First shipment of UTZ cocoa reaches Europe

10-Nov-2009 - An initiative to improve the agricultural, environmental and social aspects of sourcing cocoa from West Africa achieved has achieved a milestone, as the first beans have arrived in Europe for processing.

Kraft’s bid is ‘contemptuous’, says analyst

10-Nov-2009 - Even if Kraft intends to increase its bid for Cadbury, its latest offer has probably managed to upset both the board and shareholders, says Andrew Wood, senior research analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein.

Weekly comment

Life in a European health claims wasteland

09-Nov-2009 - Ka-CHING! Hear that? No it’s not the sound of overflowing cash registers as consumers throw endless wads of euros at scientifically-backed, healthy foods in greater numbers than ever before.

Uniting consumer insight and marketing success: Report

05-Nov-2009 - Most food manufacturers have not yet figured out how to translate consumer insights into effective marketing tactics, according to a new report from the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

Weekly comment

Clinical trials are EFSA’s fool’s gold

02-Nov-2009 - There’s gold to be found in them health claims mountains, but prospectors from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) must be happy with the little chunks that add up to a lot, and stop searching for nuggets the size of your fist.

News in brief

Confectionery makers says IBM deal will help it cut costs

02-Nov-2009 - The Indian subsidiary of Perfetti Van Melle (PVM), the world's third largest confectionery group said that it has signed a multi-year deal with IBM to support its increasingly complex IT operations.

Kraft rolls out sustainable chocolate range

30-Oct-2009 - Kraft Foods said its premium dark chocolate range is the first to carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal, showing it contains cocoa from farms that meet the sustainability standard.

Industry wants more moves on food sector competitiveness

30-Oct-2009 - Plans to help the smoothing the European food supply chain function more efficiently do not go far enough in addressing unfair practices, says the CIAA, and initiatives should be fully integrated with other efforts to boost competitiveness.

Government should urgently raise sugar quotas: Report

29-Oct-2009 - Food and agricultural consultancy Promar has added its voice to those calling on government to raise sugar import quotas, saying that uncertain supplies lock in high costs for manufacturers and consumers.

Chewing gum may keep appetite at bay - study

29-Oct-2009 - Chewing gum can help to reduce calorie intake and burn up energy, claims a US study.

Barry Callebaut to help steer cocoa programme

28-Oct-2009 - Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut’s decision to join the UTZ Certified sustainable cocoa programme will bolster efforts to scale up the project and help to get all parts of the supply chain on board, claims the non-profit group.

Tate & Lyle to sell stakes in Saudi and Egyptian sugar refineries

27-Oct-2009 - Tate & Lyle has reached an agreement to sell its minority stake in sugar refineries in Saudi Arabia and Egypt to Saudi-based sugar refiner Savola, the companies have said.