Emerging Markets

The Swiss pavilion at last year's ISM Middle East. Pic: Switzerland Global Enterprise

ISM Middle East 2023

ISM Middle East sells out in Dubai and announces expansion plans for 2024

By Anthony Myers

As ISM Middle East prepares to open the MENA region's premier trade fair for confectionery and snacks at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 7 to 9 November, organisers Koelnmesse has announced it will be moving its usual November date to September...

Big in Japan? Hotel Chocolat boss Angus Thirlwell has announced a new venture with a Tokyo company. Pic: Hotel Chocolat

Investment

Can Hotel Chocolat be big in Japan on second attempt?

By Anthony Myers

Hotel Chocolat has unveiled another push into the Japanese market by signing a new deal with Tokyo-based Eat Creator Corporation to include 21 Hotel Chocolat-branded shops across the country.

Gummies – and why they are a hot trend in 2022

Podcast

Gummies – and why they are a hot trend in 2022

By Anthony Myers

Tessa Porter is the founder of Sprinkk, a candy development and manufacturing company based in Omaha, Nebraska. She is also a ‘candy scientist’ and has a Masters in food science focusing on sugar crystallization from the University of Wisconsin-Madison...

How US consumers are falling in love with Katjes vegan gummies

Sweets & Snacks Expo 2022

How US consumers are falling in love with Katjes vegan gummies

By Anthony Myers

The brand celebrated its entry into the US market with a successful showing at the Sweets & Snacks Expo 2022 in Chicago. We talk to Eliza G Jahn, Head of Marketing at Katjes USA, to pick over some of the highlights of the event.

China's first crop of cocoa pods. Pic: Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences

Spotlight on cocoa Asia

China – the next cocoa superpower?

By Anthony Myers

News that China's small batch of cocoa beans has been recognised by the Bioversity International’s 2021 Cocoa of Excellence competition is seen as another indicator of the rise of Asia’s cocoa sector.

Mondelēz said it has seen continued improvement across emerging markets. Pic: Mondelēz International

Financial results

Cadbury and Oreo brands boost Mondelēz’s revenue in first quarter

By Anthony Myers

Mondelēz International has posted 7.9% revenue growth in the first quarter with improving performance in its emerging markets – after achieving double-digit growth in Cadbury Dairy Milk along with high-single growth in Oreo.

Indulgence, health, shopping more locally and purchasing foods with real provenance will drive the bakery sector in 2021, says the CBA.

Snacking trends

Coronavirus blues expected to continue propelling snacking movement in 2021

By Gill Hyslop

Snacking – both in and out of the home – is a category that did very well in 2020 and the movement looks set to continue in 2021 as consumers look for inexpensive sweet treats to cheer themselves up, writes Karen Dear, director of operations for the Craft...

Beau & Bon Ltd managing director Maeda Mitsuhiro visits Uncle Joe's factory and meets MD John Winnard.  Pic: Uncle Joe's

In brief

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls in demand in Japan

By Anthony Myers

Premium British sweet brand Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls has seen sales surge in Japan and is busy supplying an urgent order for 1,200 packets and 672 tins of traditional mint balls and 720 packets of sugar free mint balls after consumers fell in love with...

M&M’s to open three experiential stores by 2021. Photo: MRG

M&M’s to expand, opening three experiential stores by 2021

By Jenny Eagle

Mars Retail Group (MRG) is expanding the M&M’s brand by opening three ‘experiential’ stores by 2021 including Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida, Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota and its first store in Berlin, Germany.

ProSweets/ISM 2020 is set to welcome a record number of international participants when it opens this weekend. Pic: Koelnmesse

ProSweets/ISM 2020

ISM set to welcome record numbers for its 50th birthday party in Cologne

By Anthony Myers

Together, ISM and ProSweets cover the entire value chain in the production of sweets and snacks - from chocolate and chocolate products, to sweets, biscuits, through to trending snacks. Here is a preview of what to expect at this year’s event when it...