In recent years there has been an increasing trend towards healthy
and premium confectionery products, aimed at making consumers feel
better about the treats they eat and giving them a taste of luxury
and sophistication.
In confectionery news this week, Woolworths secures sweet supplier
EUK with a loan deal, confectionery product launches outnumber
other food categories, and dark chocolate continues to prove
popular with manufacturers.
Strong sales of premium and dark products have led Lindt &
Spruengli to predict that full year revenue for 2007 will hit
CHF 2.95bn (€1.8bn), a 14 per cent increase from the year before.
UK confectionery firm Zetar today said it is expanding its range of
luxury and premium products thanks to the acquisition of Lir
Chocolates in Ireland.
Swiss-based food giant Nestle today announced going into
partnership with Belgian company Pierre Marcolini, as the company
aims to move further into the premium and luxury chocolate market.
Natra said yesterday it will tap the premium and private label
chocolate markets with a new range of Belgium truffles, only two
days after acquiring a chocolate factory in the country.
European ingredients firm Puratos is the latest company to tap into
the trend towards product traceability with a new range of
origin-specific chocolates hailing from prime cocoa growing areas.
Food and beverage firms making premium products will cope best with
the current surge in price of both Chinese and imported sugar, with
higher margins to cover the rise in costs.
Key to successful premium chocolate product development is an
understanding of the varying consumer habits, expectations and
behaviour in different countries, according to leading Swiss
premium chocolate manufacturer Lindt &...
Leading premium chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli has
reported record first half results on the back of increased demand
for premium products in an otherwise slow-moving European chocolate
market.
Russian confectionery group Mechta has launched a new premium
product line - the latest in a growing number of local producers
entering an upmarket segment which was once the sole domain of
western companies. Angela Drujinina reports.
Western Europe's frozen food packaging sector is predicted to grow
strongly, and there will be greater emphasis on both
environmentally-friendly and premium packaging in the future,
according to a new report.
Food makers encouraged to position self-indulgent products as
rewards rather than functional as premium foods in UK top billon
euro mark showing hectic pace of life continues to drive growth in
the self-indulgent food sector.