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The science of stevia

There has been much excitement about the promise of stevia as a natural alternative to artificial zero-calorie sweeteners. FoodNavigator.com summarises the science so far.

From paper to plastic, new packaging design for iconic Sherbert Fountain

A new packaging design for iconic UK sweet brand Sherbet Fountain sees the product switch from the traditional paper sleeve to a re-sealable plastic tube.

Mars' confidence for confectionery in the recession

Confectioners are expected to benefit as shoppers change their behaviour in tough economic times and cut back on necessities for a little indulgence, according to consumer trends research from Mars Chocolate UK.

Marden Edwards' rapid overwrapper targets luxury chocolate packaging

Meeting criteria to quickly, and delicately, overwrap luxury chocolates in various format sizes, UK firm Marden Edwards employed their latest individual large format pack overwrapper for Polish confectionery manufacturer Mieszko.

Mars turns recession trends to its advantage

Mars is poised for continued growth this year, according to its UK head, as the long-held belief that chocolate is relatively recession proof still rings true in the current climate.

Sedex supplier-led database strengthens opportunities in ethical supply chain

The opportunity for confectioners to audit the ethical credentials of their existing, and potential, suppliers comes in the shape of Sedex, a database tool designed to serve an ethically-driven supply-chain.

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Supplements: Time to change the nay-saying record?

As yet another TV show concludes that supplements are unnecessary, is the ignorance of the mainstream media few putting the health of the many at risk? Isn’t it time to change the record?

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Cocoa production on Ivory Coast to fall in 2009

Reports last week suggest cocoa production in the Ivory Coast, the world’s largest producer of cocoa, may be one million metric tonnes this year, down from 1.36 million last season.

Valpak's packaging pyramid reveals reality

Pinning consumer perceptions of packaging into a schematic pyramid reveals that while Easter eggs are perceived as 'big contributors' to the UK waste stream, they actually account for a tiny percentage of all packaging used in the UK.

Teenage brain power boosted by chewing gum: Wrigley study

Chewing gum could have a positive affect on the academic performance of teenagers, according to new research funded by the Wrigley Science Institute (WSI).

Industry involvement sought in waste targeted project

Greater clarity on which supply chains areas to prioritise for action on waste could help food and drink manufacturers as well as grocery retailers identify opportunities to make cost and environmental savings, claims a UK government funded agency.

Reb A could face organic market challenges

The potential of stevia-derived sweeteners for use in organic foods could be limited because of the plant’s diversified cultivation and Reb A’s processed nature, according to Euromonitor International.

FDA GRAS for sucromalt will widen market appeal, says Cargill

Cargill has claimed that the market for its sucromalt sweetener will widen after acheiving FDA generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status last week, and as consumers increasingly demand healthier foods.

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New design and pack size for Cadbury brands

UK chocolate maker Cadbury has revamped the design and pack size for its Boost and Double Decker brands, in an attempt to boost the 'aisle appeal' of the products.

Confectioners offered credit insurance tool for unpaid bills

Confectioners exposed to credit risk amid today's challenging economic climate can turn to a new risk management tool to prevent, or mitigate, bad debt losses.

EFSA finds no reason to alter aspartame ADI

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said there is no indication that aspartame causes cancer following its assessment of a study that linked regular intake of the sweetener with increased risk of certain cancers.

Is stevia’s market potential limited by cost?

Stevia’s expense compared to other sweeteners is a major market limitation, according to a new paper on the stevia market, although industry players say they are working to bring its price down.

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Mars aims to turn chocolate bar wrappers into new products

A partnership with a leading upcycling company will enable the reuse of both surplus and used packaging from food, drink, gum and confectionery products, claims confectionery giant, Mars

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Barry Callebaut appoints Americas president

Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest producer of cocoa and chocolate products, has appointed David S. Johnson as president and CEO of its Americas division.

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Wrigley SWOT analysis gives info for friends and foes

A new SWOT analysis of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company from companiesandmarkets will give insights for potential partners and competitors, said the research company.

Gumlink-Yıldız deal spears Turkish B2B chewing gum market

Danish gum technologist Gumlink will team up with Turkish confectionery firm Yıldız in a new joint venture set to spear markets in Europe, Russia, Middle East and North Africa.

Puratos unveils new US chocolate innovation centre

Ingredients firm Puratos bolsters its offerings to US chocolatiers, unveiling a new chocolate innovation centre and announcing the formal launch of chocolate line formulated to target the chocolate flavour profiles of the US consumer.

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Who’s hoodwinked by a healthy halo?

What does health taste like? As a kid, I was encouraged to hold my nose and swallow down broad beans and cod-liver oil. If they tasted bad, it was only ‘cos they were good for me.

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Tate & Lyle rumoured to be seeking new chief

Unsubstantiated press reports have claimed Tate & Lyle is seeking a new CEO to replace Iain Ferguson, who has held the top job since May 2003.

Chewing gum, a potential tool in weight-management: Study

Building on research that chewing gum can cut snack 'attacks' in consumers, scientists in the US found men and women who chewed gum three times hourly in the afternoon ate fewer snacks.

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Estonians plump for chocolate bonbons, ACNielsen Baltic survey

Kalev Chocolate Factory led the Baltic chocolate and sugar confectionery market in the beginning of 2009, according to survey carried out by the market research company ACNielsen, writes the Baltic paper LETA.

Sucralose market still not a free-for-all, says distributor

Tate & Lyle’s loss of its sucralose patent case last week may have broken its monopoly of the sucralose market, but is unlikely to throw the doors wide to competitors, says one of the companies cleared in the case.

UK food sector seeks eco incentives and skills push

Fiscal measures to support the UK food and drink manufacturing industry through the economic downturn as well as stimulus package to help the sector continue to reduce its environmental impact are top of the FDF’s wish list for the impending UK budget.

Cocoa farmers safety project could boost yields

A confectionery association has joined forces with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) to improve the lot of cocoa growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and help ensure a sustainable supply.

Danisco consolidates cost-saving strategies for customers

Danisco is compiling a comprehensive toolkit to help its customers deal with cost issues based on solutions it has and will develop, and analysis of how businesses and consumers respond in the recession.

Study urges food processors to keep consumers in the loop

Educating consumers about new technology that enables the production of minimally processed foods is critical to ensuring that they will pay extra for such products, according to findings published in the Journal of Food Science Education.

Chocolatiers may face supply chain challenges in waste battle

Confectioners are succeeding in looking beyond the lucrative Easter period to cut down on their packaging use, though the industry may yet have to commit to future waste reductions across the supply chain, says one organisation.

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‘Candy’ ball pulls in six figure sum for confectionery industry’s Sweet Charity

Participants in the UK's confectionery industry, including manufacturers and retailers "helped to raise a much needed six figure sum" for the industry's Sweet Charity.

Cost reduction model from Packology spears packaging savings

Cost reduction in the packaging-driven supply chain is at the core of a savings model designed by UK packaging consultants Packology.

UK food safety agency in fraud crackdown

A new food fraud division will support local authorities to take swift action to stop illegal activity as well as helping them uncover cases where the consumer has been misled, announced the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA).

US chocolate price-fixing case on hold

An alleged price-fixing case in the US against chocolate giants that include Hershey, Mars, Cadbury and Nestle will be put on hold after a federal judge allows the manufacturers to appeal his decision not to dismiss over 80 anti-trust suits.

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Food supplements proving recession-proof

The ongoing slide of global capitalism is decimating industries, but the food supplements industry is not one of them as fraught consumers turn to its potential low-cost, anti-medical, wellness promise.

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Wrigley 5 gum launch targets UK premium category

Chewing gum giant Wrigley will target the premium category in the UK’s competitive gum market, rolling-out its “sense-stimulating, edgy” 5 gum for “stylish consumers”.

Labour watchdog calls for Fairtrade commitment from Mars

Labour watchdog International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) recognises Mars' recent road map for sustainability as “an important step forward” but claims the chocolate behemoth needs to push further into Fairtrade certification.

Nestle sticking with cereal nutrition strategy

As breakfast cereal makers come under scrutiny this week following both clinical backing and criticism of their nutrition commitments, one leading manufacturer says it will stick to its strategy of providing a balanced range of products.

Pomegranate’s anti-inflammatory effects strengthened

A polyphenol-rich pomegranate extract may reduce inflammation, and positively effect chronic disease risk, according to results of a new cell study from the US.

Mars pledges sustainable cocoa only by 2020

Mars has pledged that its entire cocoa supply will be certified as sustainably produced by 2020, through a multi-year, multi-country deal forged with the Rainforest Alliance.

Barry C and Bunge team-up to extend Brazilian operations

Pod-to-pallet chocolate maker Barry Callebaut is set to extend B2B operations in Brazil's emerging market, with a new plant in the pipeline, and a distribution deal inked with agro-giant Bunge Alimentos.

Bioplastic switch for Easter egg packaging to power 350,000 homes

Switching Easter egg packaging to a biodegradable plastic made from corn starch could save enough energy to power 350,000 homes, claims a developer of a corn-based plastic.

Sharp fall in price for cocoa as investors sell

Prices for chocolate makers' key ingredient cocoa fell this week after speculators on the futures exchange exit cocoa positions.

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Australian Easter egg sales remain strong

Sales of Easter eggs in Australia are not suffering from the financial crisis, according to the Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia (CMA) with sales as strong as ever.

Sucralose supply set to expand as Tate & Lyle loses patent case

Tate & Lyle has lost its sucralose patent case as the International Trade Commission gave its final ruling on Monday that Chinese manufacturers did not infringe the sugar giant’s patents.

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USDA launches Spanish food safety podcasts

A new food safety podcast series in Spanish has been launched by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

PCs a necessity – not a luxury – in tight economy, says Beckhoff

Investing in automation technology in the food manufacturing industry could enhance productivity by around 10 percent, according to Beckhoff Automation, which recently presented its technology to industry.

Flavanol-rich chocolate drink helps maths performance

Chocolate makers seeking to leverage sales through health-positioned products could find a fresh direction with new research from the UK suggesting cocoa drinks rich in flavanols could help consumers do maths.

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Could clones be hiding out in ice-cream?

Ben & Jerry’s campaign to ensure produce from clones is detectable in the food chain shows that bundling biotech in with conventional produce remains unacceptable – but lessons from GM do not seem to have been learned.

Natural chemical in liquorice hints at new cancer prevention strategy

Opportunities could potentially dovetail for liquorice in the nutraceutical domain with new research from the US suggesting a natural chemical component in this sweet ingredient could offer a new approach to preventing bowel cancer.

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Functional food maker Mastix Medica buys private label gum

US functional food manufacturer Mastix Medica has acquired the private label division of edible novelties firm Koko’s Confectionery & Novelty. The business, operating from a 28,000 square foot facility in Baltimore County, US, currently manufactures tableted chewing gum and mints for contract and private label customers.

PureCircle establishing stevia’s sustainability early on

The supply chain for stevia is sound and sustainable, says PureCircle, which is communicating the ethical values behind its high purity Reb-A sweetener in keeping with the natural image.

Kraft puts prevention, not testing, at heart of contamination battle

Amidst ongoing amendments to improve food safety after recent US contamination scares, Kraft Foods says that system design and prevention remain central to its hygiene plans as opposed to heightened testing.

Cocoa stakeholders agree sustainability action plan

Representatives of the cocoa industry from across the world have agreed on a framework to achieve a sustainable cocoa economy and plan to set up a sustainability fund to help benefit producers.

Declining chocolate market felt by Mars and Barry Callebaut

Clear signs that falling consumer demand for chocolate is starting to impact the supply chain with Mars' chocolate business in France announcing contracted production in Alsace.

Snack makers slam Welsh vending machine rules

A food industry coalition that includes snack makers has slammed obesity-fighting rules in Wales that ban products such as organic rice cakes from hospital vending machines.

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Ghana boosts cocoa processing output

Ghana's Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) has more than doubled its cocoa bean processing capacity to 64,500 tonnes a year, after completing a five-year rehabilitation and expansion programme.

Cognex claims package sensor is highly flexible

A new vision sensor which can monitor food and beverage packaging enables simple setup and can be programmed to suit a particular application, says its manufacturer.

Cost savings identified in carbon label move for shortbread

Mindful of its carbon footprint, Mey Selections is the first consumer goods company in Scotland to gain a carbon reduction label following data-mining efforts to pinpoint carbon emissions along the supply chain for its Scottish shortbread product.