Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

EC moves to withdraw quota sugar from market

The European Commission took the first steps towards a substantial withdrawal of quota sugar from the market this week.

Healthy chocolate gaining credence, Barry Callebaut

The results of a consumer survey on healthy chocolate suggests that the substance once considered solely as a sweet confectionery item has made huge strides towards the realm of health foods.

Filling machine boosts dessert making

Confectionery equipment supplier Packaging Automation has seen its latest enhanced filling and sealing machine upping factory output and improving performance, according to customers.

British kids are highest spenders on confectionery, sodas

Children in the UK spend more on confectionery and fizzy drinks than any of their European counterparts, according to the latest report by market researcher Datamonitor.

Weekly comment

Deja Moo: Are we ready for cloned cattle?

Here we go again. Yet another technology in its infancy is likely to be introduced into the food supply, while industry remains cautious and consumers divided.

Hershey joint venture targets Chinese sweet tooth

US Confectioner Hershey is to form a joint venture with Korean counterpart Lotte Confectionery, as it looks to enter the dynamic Chinese chocolate market to offset declining domestic sales.

Wrigley enters chocolate market

The world's largest chewing gum manufacturer Wrigley has made its presence felt in the European chocolate market with the acquisition of a leading Russian confectionery company in a $300m (€232.5m) deal which will increase the gum giant's global confectionery footprint.

Danisco hits sugar targets

Danish sugar producer Danisco announced yesterday it had met its 2006/07 output forecast - processing 1.01m tonnes of sugar from the group's factories throughout Europe.

Roquette expands sugar-free gum possibilities

French firm Roquette has developed what it claims is a unique approach to applying sugar-free ingredients to current 'deposited gum' technology.

Bitter year sours Hershey profits

US confectionery giant Hershey announced disappointing fourth quarter results today and, in a bid to reverse the downturn, vowed to increase investment in core brands as well as pursue the new rapidly growing niche markets of dark and premium chocolate.

Danisco gets fruity with yoghurt candy flavours

Danish ingredients giant Danisco has launched a new range of flavourings designed for yoghurt candies - allowing confectioners to give boiled sweets a healthier image.

Tate & Lyle forecasts 'lower than expected' Splenda sales

Tate & Lyle has predicted sales and profits of its Splenda sucralose product to 'only modestly' increase due to a slower than anticipated acceleration of uptake from major customers.

Watchdog blasts kids' snacks

Consumer watchdog Choice has launched a damning report into the link between high-sugar, high-fat snacks and childhood obesity - naming and shaming well-known brands from large companies such as Nestlé and Kelloggs in the process.

Weekly Comment

Death to the industry conspiracy theories!

Here we go again. Industry-sponsored studies into the nutritional benefits of food and drink products are biased. Don't believe anything that has an industry sponsor.

UK consumers lose their sweet tooth

Sweet makers can expect waning sales as official statistics show UK consumers are avoiding confectionery in favour of healthy products such as fruit and vegetables.

Barry Callebaut investigates Acticoa for ageing, longevity

Barry Callebaut is venturing down avenues of research that would allow it to market its Acticoa chocolate on an ant-ageing and longevity platform.

Barry Callebaut reports strong quarter sales

Barry Callebaut has reported strong sales for first quarter of fiscal year 2006/07, months after announcing a new organisational structure.

Safety scandal rocks candy company

Japanese confectionery manufacturer The Fujiya Company has become the latest sweet maker to fall foul of negligent safety procedures.

FSA opens consultation over EU additives directive

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched its consultation regarding the implementation of EU directives in England on food additives other than colours and sweeteners and sweeteners for use in foodstuffs.

FSA launches traffic light labelling ads

The FSA is pushing on with its traffic light labelling system for consumers with TV advertisements, poster campaigns, and ads in the national press.

Seasonal sales boost Thorntons after summer slump

Luxury chocolate maker Thorntons has seen Christmas consumers boosting the brand and providing much-needed sales after last year's summer heatwave saw confectioners struggling.

Tate & Lyle offers nutrient-enriched, tasty prototypes

Tate & Lyle is introducing a new formulation service that facilitates the addition of nutrients to food products, but without compromising on taste - an all-important factor in persuading consumers to switch to healthier alternatives.

Nestlé exercises Phospha-E option

Nestle has exercised its option to finalise its commercial agreement with Phosphagenics over the use of Phospha-E in specialised nutrition products for metabolic syndrome.

TNA promises confectioners speedy bagging

Equipment supplier TNA has introduced its triple jaw vertical bagging system, capable of speeds in excess of 220 bpm, to the confectionery market with the machine set to be demonstrated at this month's ProSweets trade fair.

Danisco encourages healthy innovation

Danish ingredients giant Danisco is set to host a seminar on international sweet snacking to encourage new product development in the bakery and confectionery industries.

Charity chocolate goes online

A new Fairtrade chocolate maker is attempting to enter the ethical confectionery market with a unique charitable marketing campaign.

Weekly Comment

There aren't plenty more fish in the sea

As a youngster I was brought up on a healthy diet of tuna fish sandwiches and Disney - making my new year's resolution for 2007 the toughest yet. That's right, I'm giving up tuna and who knows, even cod.

Hershey's organic sector goes dark

Hershey-owned organic chocolate company Dagoba has launched four new additions to its confectionery range to keep consumers indulging after the new year festivities.

Sugar-free range targets diabetics and dieters

A new artificially-sweetened product line targeting health-conscious confectionery consumers has joined the growing sugar-free sector

Chocolate added to Quaker cereal

Breakfast cereal manufacturer Quaker Foods has become the latest cereal maker to incorporate chocolate into its range of healthy products.

Hershey's organic sector goes dark

Hershey-owned organic chocolate company Dagoba has launched four new additions to its dark chocolate range to keep consumers indulging after the new year festivities.

EU to review food hygiene laws

The European Commission plans to review the EU's new hygiene laws to determine whether further amendments are needed to strengthen provisions related to meat inspection, gelatine, good food safety practices and cold stores.

Cargill seeks EU novel foods approval for sweetener

Cargill is seeking EU approval for its sweetener Xtend Sucromalt, which it claims can bring slow energy release and low glycaemic response to a wider range of applications.

Single origin chocolate keeps consumers guessing

With Easter fast approaching, UK based gift service Gourmet Games has devised a new way to combine the consumer trend for single origin, health-boosting chocolate with novelty confectionery for the holiday season.

Weekly comment

FSA rules ok? The labelling rebellion

The battle of wills between the UK food watchdog and industry heavyweights over nutrition labelling threatens to destabilise the balance of power between industry and government.

Divine restructuring in Fairtrade market

Following the emergence of Fairtrade as a growing niche sector, UK ethical confectioner the Day Chocolate Company is restructuring and rejuvenating its Divine brand in order to further consolidate its position in the market.

EC outlines future of globalised food ingredients market

European agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel has outlined how a future globalised food ingredients market might look.

Weight management trends for 2007

A diet is not just for January. Sure, the wagon-ride to a healthy weight is a bumpy one and some won't manage to cling on. But global government efforts to reduce the impact of the obesity crisis on public health are ongoing, and greater awareness is the cue for the food and supplements to innovate with products that can help people stay on the wagon.

Labeler speeds-up productivity and changeovers

A new range of glue labelers can process up to 400 containers per minute and cuts changeover times, reducing downtime, its manufacturer claims.

Masterfoods adopts calorie counting labels

Global confectionery company Masterfoods has pledged to roll out new packaging displaying the calorie content of each of its products following pressure on manufacturers to help combat obesity.

Confectioners prepare for a sweet 2007

Sweet makers are gearing up for the coming year by targeting trends for healthy, natural and sugar-free ingredients as well as the demand for innovation in growth sectors such as gum.

Scientists speed up pathogen detection system

A new technique developed by scientists improves on mass spectrometry detection methods to speed up the identification of foodborne pathogens.

Kellogg's diet cereal gets a Chocolatey makeover

Breakfast cereal manufacturer Kellogg's has introduced a new chocolate version of its core diet brand Special K in an attempt to satisfy consumer desire for the confectionery which has been rejuvenated by a new healthier image.

Tate & Lyle operational Down Under

Tate & Lyle's new subsidiary in Australia and New Zealand is operational as of 1 January.