EU sugar quota reform: 2015 v 2020? Is it time to give sugar beet a caning?

On the day 27 associations issued a joint open letter imploring the EU to keep to its word and scrap widely despised sugar quotas across the bloc in 2015 -...

Carmit Candy CEO: Specialty know-how gives bite to functional candy shift

Carmit Candy Industries’ expertize in specialty free-from candy formulations will give a competitive edge to its new line of functional confectionery targeting specific health functions and demographics, it CEO says.

EU sugar update

Confectionery SMEs in Europe lobby for sugar quota abolition

Small to medium sized confectioners in Europe yesterday lobbied the European Parliament to end sugar quotas in 2015; a regime they claim has led to inflated prices, scarce supplies, job...

Catering to different generations

Capturing the sweet tooth of the Millennials

Candy makers must connect on social media and allow criticism to appeal to the influential Millennials generation aged 13-31.

Dispatches from NCA Miami Conference

‘Experiential retail’ can build confectionery brand loyalty

Speakers at the National Confectioner Associations’ State of the Industry conference are making big noises about creating in-store experiences to boost confectionery sales.

Unilever & Nestlé tell Oxfam to bring other stakeholders to food ethics table

Unilever and Nestlé say Oxfam missed an opportunity for a wider and more comprehensive debate about food ethics after the NGO published a damning report on the supply chains of...

Petra Foods puts faith in consumer brands

Singapore-based Petra Foods plans to invest in its consumer brands and will target fast-growing South East Asia chocolate markets after selling its ingredients division to Barry Callebaut.

New cocoa powder taps rising consumer demand for intense flavour, says ADM Cocoa

ADM Cocoa has introduced a new intense cocoa powder at Gulfood in Dubai this week, tapping into consumer interest in richly coloured and intensely flavoured cocoa products.

ABF calls Oxfam food ethics attack ‘ridiculous’

Associated British Foods – worst-in-class in an Oxfam report critical of 10 food giants for essentially operating under a corporate social responsibility (CSR) “veil of secrecy” – has hit back, slamming the...

Dispatches from NCA Miami Conference

‘Step up’ on obesity before regulators bite, says Mars chief

Candy makers must take responsibility to tackle obesity and should act before regulators force their hands, says Mars Chocolate North America's president.

ProSweets 2013

Metal tin packaging has gone ‘back to basics’, says Crown

The metal tin packaging market has gone ‘back to basics’ – to what is good for the environment and good for Europe, marketing manager for Crown says.

News in brief

Thorntons to close 40 stores to focus on multi-channel sales growth

Confectionery manufacturer Thorntons plans to close a further 40 stores in this financial year, as it continues to focus on “significant growth” in multiple-channel sales via supermarkets and Thorntons Direct online.

"...there will always be pocket money for sweets."

‘Who stops innovating dies’ says Sanchez Cano as exports set to outstrip domestic sales

Spanish sugar confectioner Sanchez Cano will grow sales in export markets faster than its home market and will do so through innovation, according to its export manager.

NCA State of the Industry Conference preview

ConfectioneryNews.com will be reporting from Miami for the upcoming State of the Industry Conference run by the USA’s National Confectioners Association.

Around the world in numerous food labeling ways

Smart food labelling must emphasise good science and careful thought about consumer impact, the European Food Information Council has concluded after completing an exhaustive global survey.

Hershey: China will be our #2 market behind the US in 5 years

China will be the number two market behind the US for Hershey within five years, predicted senior executives at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference yesterday.

Industry Voices: Private label purveyor

Ashbury Chocolates chief spells out trends in private label chocolate

Private label chocolate is no longer a cheap replica of branded products and regular audits from supermarkets are helping quality grow, according to the CEO of UK private label chocolatier...

News in brief

Private label chocolate digestives close behind brand leader in taste, finds Which?

Chocolate digestive market leader McVitie’s trumped private label in a taste test, but not by much Which? finds.

Air velocity indirectly impacts cocoa browning during roasting: Study

Temperature and its duration have the biggest impact on the browning of cocoa beans during roasting, but air velocity also indirectly influences the process, a study finds.

Capol CEO: Supplements will be a second business pillar for growth

German confectionery coatings firm Capol plans to venture into the supplements sector to establish a second business pillar for growth and gain technological knowledge, its CEO says.

Researchers examine ‘bone-healthy’ silicon supplemented chewing gum

The taste and mouthfeel of silicon microparticles may be acceptable for inclusion in a functional chewing gum that aids bone health, according to researchers.

Product News In Brief

Leaf launches Chewits brand bubble gum in UK

Cloetta-owned confectioner Leaf has launched a bubble gum variety for its Chewits brand to seize on what it claims is a rapidly growing hard bubble gum market.

ProSweets 2013 Cologne

Duyvis Wiener: Continuous liquid conch saves on time, energy and space

Royal Duyvis Wiener and Lehmann’s new continuous liquid conch saves time, energy and space for chocolate manufacturers, its international sales manager says.

Think tank slams EU sugar regime

EU sugar quotas have created instability, a sugar producer “oligopoly” and have dealt a “harsh blow” to small-to-medium sized confectioners, according to an independent think tank.

EC cans EFSA fees plan over income, independence concerns

Charging the private sector for European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) work will not generate enough cash and compromise the agency’s independence, a European Commission working group has found.

Rethinking sandwich cream processing after trans fat removal

Manufacturers must rethink production of sandwich creams for bakery fillings and biscuits after a trend to remove trans fatty acids and reduce saturated fatty acids has affected the consistency of...

Nestlé claims chocolate top spot over Meiji in Japan

Nestlé claims it now has the leading chocolate brand in Japan with Kit Kat through multiple innovations and emotion marketing.

‘Very difficult’ to be a Danish food producer under sugar tax system, says Toms

Danish excise duties on confectionery, ice cream and soft drinks have been raised in 2013, making it "very difficult" to be a Danish food and drink company, according to leading...

Patent Watch

Wrigley files mouthwash-style gum patent for bad breath

Wrigley has filed a patent for a mouthwash compound-based chewing gum composition to combat bad breath.

Packaging trends and ideas

Confectionery ‘spoiled’ by bland pack styles

Confectioners’ innovative products are being ruined by unimaginative pack styles, according to a packaging expert at Datamonitor.

Cloetta reports full-year profit dip in ‘weak’ market

Scandinavia’s largest confectioner Cloetta has reported a 20% fall in earnings for 2012 due to a weak Italian market, higher sugar prices and a "sugar tax" in Denmark.

News in brief

Happy Valentine’s says the NCA… Let’s celebrate by reforming the sugar regime…

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) celebrated Valentine's Day with a renewed push for reform of the sugar regime.

TIC Gums: When a gum arabic disaster plan proves a success

Texture and stabilization specialist TIC Gums is now strong in gum arabic replacement for confection coatings, but this business shift started as a mere disaster plan, its president says.

No quick fix for gum as Mondelez chews over mixed results

Mondelez International is still struggling to revive the ailing gum category and believes a turnaround will take at least two years.

Nestlé reports slower growth, expects challenging year ahead

Nestlé’s share price fell 2.3% on Thursday as the company announced its slowest growth in three years, with developing markets hit by natural disasters and continued market weakness in Europe...

Compound chocolate growth to outstrip ‘real’ chocolate, says Bühler

The global market for compound chocolate will grow faster than regular chocolate, according to equipment supplier Bühler which is gearing up to launch a smaller capacity compound chocolate processing machine...

Butt out: Gumlink accuses Revolymer of degradable gum copying

Gumlink and Fertin Pharma have initiated legal proceedings against British-based firm Revolymer for allegedly infringing Gumlink’s patent on a degradable gum base by selling nicotine gum in Canada. Revolymer plans...

ISM 2013 Cologne

Barry Callebaut talks customization, certification and Petra Foods

Barry Callebaut speaks to ConfectioneryNews.com about a growing trend for customization, rising demand for certified cocoa and its $950m bid to acquire Petra Foods’ cocoa ingredients division.

Stevia is not just another E-number, says Euromonitor

Stevia’s credentials as a plant-derived sweetener and uptake from large manufacturers will prevent it from being seen as just another E-number, according to market research organisation Euromonitor.

News in brief

Agriterra expands cocoa-growing in Sierra Leone

Cocoa trader Agriterra has announced that it has expanded its cocoa and farming operations in Sierra Leone.

CIUS ‘disappointed’ by EC out-of-quota sugar measures

The European Sugar Users Association (CIUS) has criticised the European Commission’s out-of-quota sugar measures which it claims have left sugar users unable to plan ahead.

Natural vs. synthetic: ‘The consumer will always choose the natural product’

Switching to natural colours can be an important product differentiator, as consumers around the world will always choose a natural product when given the option, says ingredient firm Chr. Hansen.

Philippines as an emerging ‘quality’ cocoa origin

The Philippines can evolve as a top-quality cocoa source and serve the needs of growing demand for chocolate in Asia, according to a start-up company trading beans in the market.

Sweet & Snacks Expo Preview

Affordable gourmet confectionery flourishes at NCA’s Sweet & Snacks Expo

Affordable gourmet confectionery is on the rise in the US, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA) which has seen a hike in demand from exhibitors wanting to showcase products...

Campaign pushes Hershey's, Mars to either label GMOs or drop them

GMO Inside, a national coalition of companies and organizations, has marshaled a public Valentine’s Day campaign to pressure Hershey and Mars to drop GMO ingredients or to label them in...

ProSweets 2013 Cologne

Marshmallows ‘excellent’ with whey proteins, says Herbertz

Aerated products such as marshmallows are among the best carriers for whey ingredients, according to Herbertz Dairy Food Service.

News in brief

Cargill to keep grinding in Ivory Coast

Cargill will not move or reduce its cocoa processing operations in the Ivory Coast after successful talks with the national government.

ISM 2013 Cologne

Cémoi: The advantages of working from bean to bar

Working from beans to chocolate or farmer to consumer brings with it a lot of advantages – including strong sector knowledge and the ability to identify and respond to market...

ProSweets 2013 Cologne

Quick changeovers for chocolate novelty wrapping machine, says Rasch

German equipment supplier Rasch claims that its new wrapping machine for chocolate novelties is capable of rapid changeovers and can accommodate a variety of different shapes.

Samba time for sugar and gum confectionery in Brazil, says Mintel

The time is right for gum and sugar confectionery in Brazil as growing consumer prosperity means people want to indulge, says Mintel.

News in brief

Deal will benefit both of us, says CEO

Emballator Lagan Plast has acquired Bra Plast in Vittsjö AB, Sweden to offer a broader product portfolio and faster to market development.

ProSweets 2013 Cologne

Sugar outlook positive despite impending EU quota extension - ISO

The International Sugar Organization (ISO) has said that even if the EU extends sugar quotas to 2020 it will have little negative impact on the world sugar market as stocks...

Hershey in legal wrangle with carpet firm over Kisses trademark

The Hershey Company has become embroiled in a trademark dispute with carpet firm Shaw Industries over the latter’s use of “Chocolate Kiss” as a color name for carpet collections.

AAK reports increased Q4 profit, despite hurricane Sandy

Sweden-based vegetable fats firm Aarhuskarlshamn AB (AAK) has reported increased operating profit for the fourth quarter, although volumes were hit by hurricane Sandy in the fourth quarter.

Ferrero takes profit dip in home market

Ferrero’s Italian subsidiary has reported a 13.3% fall in net profit for the full year due to rising raw material costs.

ProSweets 2013 Cologne

Sollich: ‘Within 3-5 years Africa will become an interesting market’

Chocolate processor Sollich will target Africa as its next market; a region that will become very interesting over the next 3-5 years, its executive director said.

ProSweets 2013 Cologne

Confectioners favoring healthier bars over chocolate, says Bosch

Processing and packaging supplier Bosch has reported a fall in the number of enquires to make traditional chocolate bars using its equipment as customers opt for healthier options such as...

Industry needs to be more open about nanomaterial use, says As You Sow

A US not-for-profit organisation has slammed the “murky issue” around potential risks of nanomaterial use and pledged to test products to assess their safety.

News in brief

ADM ups cocoa processing 17% in Singapore

ADM Cocoa has expanded its cocoa processing in Singapore which increase its output in the country by 17%.

ProSweets 2013 Cologne

‘Flexibility was the aim behind R&D’: Carle&Montanari-OPM on new machines

Flexibility was the aim behind Carle&Montanari-OPM’s new launches for chocolate preparation and primary packaging that it showcased at ProSweets, its sales and marketing manager said.

NCA adopts voluntary front of pack calorie labels

The National Confectionery Association (NCA) of the United States has adopted a voluntary position to put calories on the front of packs.

Health group issues warning over chewing gum brain performance claims

A Japanese study linking chewing gum to improved brain performance has prompted a UK health group to issue words of caution.

Asian sweet-tooth may be suppressed by hot drink preferences – study

Asian people may consume fewer sweet goods such as chocolate because they prefer hot beverages, according to new research.

News in brief

Lindt launches wasabi chocolate in US

Lindt & Sprungli has added three new products to its chocolate range including a bar featuring wasabi.

ISM 2013 Cologne

Convenience, shelf-life and health: Gourmet fruit range plugs all, says Taura

Taura Natural Ingredients’ newly launched gourmet fruit inclusion range plugs convenience, shelf-life and health for the artisanal baker, its marketing manager says.

Netzsch does the Rumba to optimise chocolate processing

Netzsch has claimed that it offers an energy efficient chocolate production process as its grinding and liquid-conching processes run simultaneously in different equipment.

International nature of ProSweets and ISM grows, says organizer

ConfectioneryNews.com catches up with Dietmar Eiden, vice president of Koelnmesse, by the New Product Show Case at the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM) on Tuesday 29 January.

Shed confectionery’s industrial image with authenticity – GDI

Confectionery can overcome its unhealthy and industrially-produced image by marketing the authenticity of products and doing more to engage consumers, says the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI).

Germany busts choc giants for price fixing; ordered to pay €60m

Eleven chocolate companies including Nestlé and Kraft have been fined over €60m ($82m) for colluding to raise chocolate prices in Germany, while price fixing investigations continue in the US and...

News in brief

Petra Foods restructures ahead of disposal to Callebaut

Petra Foods has restructured its business ahead of a proposed $950m deal to sell its cocoa processing operations to Barry Callebaut.

Nestlé launches smartphone nutritional label scanning

Food giant Nestlé has chosen the UK for the global launch of its new digital scanning system, designed to provide customers with smartphone access to information about the nutritional profile...