Hike in demand for indulgence fuels Russian confectionery growth

Indulgence products are gaining in appeal in Russia due to increasing disposable income among the middle classes, notes Euromonitor, and it reports a volume growth in confectionery products of 1.2...

Nestlé chair child labour comments “at odds” with the company’s commitments, IUF

Comments made by the Nestlé chair that child labour is “almost impossible” to stop, contradicts the company’s commitments to ending child exploitation in Africa, said the IUF, a global trade...

Sufficient cocoa on the market although possible concerns over damaged stocks, ICCO

There is still sufficient cocoa available on the market, despite political turmoil in the Ivory Coast situation, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) said yesterday, although there are concerns over cocoa...

High lead levels in chewing gum force recall

Findings by the US authorities indicating elevated levels of lead in a chewing gum product has led to a recall of the gum by US confectionery firm Candy Dynamics.

Special Edition: Plant Audits and Quality Control

SALSA audits are dancing to the tune of the SME sector, says NFU

The increasing number of SALSA approved businesses over the past 24 months and greater retailer recognition are indicators of both the scheme's growth potential and its suitability for the SME...

News in brief

Chr Hansen joins microbial genomics group

Chr Hansen has joined the industrial platform Kluyer Centre for Genomics of Industrial Fermentation and will benefit from early access to research results on gene sequencing of enzyme and culture...

Flavour forming interactions must be established: NIZO

Food formulators should not ignore interactions between food texture and structure with physical and sensory aspects for flavour perception, according to experts from NIZO Food Research.

Cloned animal row wrecks novel foods regulation

Last ditch efforts to salvage the novel foods regulation were derailed yesterday after the European Parliament and Council failed to reach agreement over the issue of cloned animals – with...

Ghana - Liberia venture unlikely to have major impact on cocoa industry, Euromonitor

The recent Ghana-Liberia agriculture pact is unlikely to have a major impact on the global cocoa industry; whereas Nigeria is a region to watch, according to Euromonitor.

Raw material price hikes hit Swedish confectioner Cloetta

Ongoing high prices for raw materials including cocoa, milk powder, sugar and wheat and a decline in contract manufacturing sees Swedish confectionery group Cloetta reporting second-quarter sales loss and falling...

Special edition: Plant audits and quality control

Question mark hangs over quality of BRC safety audits

The number of food factories certified to the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety is up more than 20 per cent on last year to 13,923 but doubts remain over...

Italian government gives Ferrero a chance in fight over Parmalat

The chances of Ferrero making a move on Parmalat to create an Italian food super-group have increased after the Italian government pushed through a decree to frustrate Lactalis’ bid to...

Extreme flavors becoming mainstream, says new report

‘Extreme and edgy’ flavors are increasingly moving into the mainstream, according to a new trend report from the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) and market research organization Packaged Facts.

Technical challenges to healthier indulgence overcome, says Callebaut

Using new emulsifiers or combining high structurizing fats with low saturated fat oils can help overcome the technical challenges involved in saturated fat reduction, said Barry Callebaut as it launches...

EC sugar measures for next year 'premature', says industry

EU food industry representatives have termed ‘premature’ the proposal by the European Commission (EC) to allow 650,000 tonnes of out of quota sugar exports from October.

News in brief

Wrigley lets US consumers design gum packs

Leading chewing gum maker, Wrigley, is letting consumers in the US design their own packaging.

Improved import screening urged over banned sweets

Recent seizures of jelly mini-cups in the UK has prompted the food safety regulator to issue a warning reminding local authorities of the ban on their sale and the importance...

Italian manufacturers look to social networking for international appeal

The Italian food industry is developing the strategy and expertise for companies to exploit the international marketing potential of social networking websites.

New Baker Perkins cooker to boost energy savings for confectioners

Baker Perkins has updated a cooker and depositor so that they reuse otherwise wasted heat to reduce energy needs for confectionery cooking.

Corn Products introduces compressible erythritol for confectionery, tablets

Corn Products International has developed a new directly compressible erythritol for use in sugar-free confectionery and tablets, the company has said.

Barry Callebaut 'steps up' production at sites beyond Ivory Coast

Barry Callebaut has a contingency plan in place in light of ongoing Ivory Coast turmoil and has stepped up production at its cocoa processing facilities elsewhere to meet its customers’...

Antitrust fine on Kraft and Unilever may act as 'deterrent' to others, lawyer

The German cartel office’s fine of €38m imposed on Kraft Foods, Unilever and Dr Oetker for illegal disclosure of ‘competition relevant information’ may act as a deterrent to other brand...

News in brief

GLG and IFF partner for stevia-derived flavor modulator

Stevia supplier GLG Life Tech has partnered with International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) to extract and supply Rebaudioside C (Reb C) for use by IFF as a flavor modulator, the...

Top 10 most read stories of the past 6 months

ConfectioneryNews.com is taking a look back at the past 6 months to evaluate which stories proved the most popular with you the readers.

Puratos invests in origin chocolate in Brazil

Puratos has boosted production with the acquisition of a majority share in Floresta do Rio Doce, the first origin cocoa factory in Brazil.

Alkaline processing reduces cocoa's flavanol content, study

Alkali processing causes a loss of up to 98 per cent on epicatechin in the final chocolate based product, claims Hershey company based scientists evaluating the effect of conventional production...

ADM develops dispersible chocolate microflakes

ADM Cocoa is launching a new chocolate ingredient in dispersible powder form, highlighting a pressing market need to overcome technical challenges of using melted chocolate in dairy products, beverages and...

US sees jump in Fairtrade confectionery sales

US Fairtrade chocolate purchases shot up by 19 per cent last year, according to Fair Trade US, a sales boom that has been seen across the globe for food and...

Chewing gum wrap equipment supplier Loesch leverages sector growth

The market for chewing gum sticks is experiencing a boom on the strength of modern carton packs, claims LoeschPack, which is launching new gum wrapping equipment at Interpack that it...

Sodium-masking technology boosts sweetness

Masking the flavor of salt offers big opportunities for products, such as sports beverages, where salt is a winning ingredient and can boost perception of sweetness, claims flavor technology company...

ADM shuts down Ivorian cocoa processing plant

Leading cocoa processor and exporter, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), said it has suspended cocoa plant operations in the Ivory Coast and is shifting production elsewhere, due to heightened political tensions...

US confectioner Necco takes down 'for sale' sign

Workers at the New England Confectionary Company, (Necco) reacted positively to the news that the ‘for sale’ sign has been removed, with the equity group owners revealing than they will...

Kraft executives to face further grilling on Cadbury takeover

Executives at US food group Kraft have been recalled by the UK parliament’s Business, Innovation and Skills Committee to give evidence again in relation to certain aspects of the controversial...

US confectioner settles over mimicking of gummi bear packaging

German confectioner Mederer has agreed to a redesign its gummi bear bags following on from the withdrawal of a lawsuit against the company by US gummi bear maker Farley's &...

Ultrasound process may assist foam production, suggests study

The use of an ultrasound process during the mixing step of foam production in foods may lead to better quality products, according to new research.

Emerging markets: shift noted in children's confectionery trends

Sugar confectionery is giving way to chocolate in terms of the children’s confectionery category in Brazil but Euromonitor International reports impressive growth for jellies, gums and lollipops among Chinese children...

Local presence key to Chinese market: AAK

As the world’s most populous nation with a strong economy, China is an attractive target for food manufacturers and their suppliers - but they cannot operate effectively in the region...

French firms team up for integrated stevia supply

A new joint venture for stevia between a French sugar producer, a flavour firm, and an ingredients supplier will offer manufacturers ‘leaf to spoon’ service for the sweetener.

US regulator begins probe into Kraft takeover of Cadbury

Kraft Foods is facing another potential grilling about its takeover of Cadbury in early 2010 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) examining its actions in relation to India...

Comment

The balancing act of allergen labelling

The food industry has a responsibility to label allergenic ingredients as big and bold as they can – but also not to over-egg the slimmest of slim possibilities that a...

Study investigates sensory properties of fishy ice cream

Ice cream enriched with fish proteins may be acceptable after production, but storage is a problem, according to new research.

News in brief

AAK sets up shop in China

Fats and oil specialist AAK has opened a new office in China and appointed a new country manager, in a bid to get closer to its local customers.

Leading palm oil supplier eyes Africa for expansion plans

Leading palm oil producer Sime Darby, looking to meet the increased global demand for the key component of many baked goods, is reported to be involved in an expansion project...