Cadbury bursts into UK popcorn segment

Kraft-owned Cadbury has expanded its sharing bag portfolio with a chocolate-coated toffee popcorn product, in a bid to burst into the UK’s rattling £42m (€52.46m) popcorn market.

Royal sales over Jubilee weekend set for UK chocolate market: Analyst

UK chocolate brands have indulged in a British-homage in the run up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on June 2 and consumer spending will be up, driving the usual post-Easter...

Muddled UK policy on plastic recycling doomed to fail, says PAFA

Packaging players are likely to think twice before engaging with UK authorities again after the Government failed to wait for industry feedback and prematurely rolled out confused and flawed measures...

‘Personalised’ products just one opportunity for chocolate manufacturers

Demand for more ‘personalised’ chocolate aimed at individuals is a major trend confectionery manufacturers should tap into in the near future, according to Datamonitor.

Egypt not so tasty amid unsettled economy

Egypt’s confectionery market will slump over the next two years spurred by political and economic unrest, but manufacturers can create appeal with NPD of low-cost, healthier products, according to an...

Lindt chocolate bunny trademark gunned down by ECJ

Lindt’s chocolate rabbit is devoid of any distinctive character, according to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which has ruled that the firm’s 3D-bunny-sign cannot be registered as a trademark...

Limonene can improve quality of reduced fat chocolate – study

The oil extract limonene can improve the final product quality of reduced fat chocolate, according to researchers.

Chocolate fails to improve motor function despite increased consumption by Parkinson’s sufferers

Dark chocolate and cocoa ingredients do not improve motor function for those with Parkinson’s disease despite increased consumption among those with the disease, according to a study.

Europen unveils new European packaging legislation guide

Industry body Europen has released a new guide to European packaging legislation.

Analyst predicts food and bev winners and losers

Bernstein Research gives sales forecasts for the top 10 food and beverage companies worldwide up to 2014 with some predicted to gain shares and others to lose out.

Farley's & Sathers and Ferrara Pan seal merger

US confectioners Farley's & Sathers and the Ferrara Pan Candy Company  have reached a deal to merge the two companies to become the Ferrara Candy company.

Analyst lauds chocolate market potential in Mexico

Confectioners face big rewards by tapping into market potential in Mexico, but will face “oblivion” if they fail to address growing health concerns, according to an analyst.

Global sugar prices to fall 19% by 2013 – Rabobank

Sugar prices worldwide are forecast to fall around 19% by 2013 as supply remains above demand, according to financial services group Rabobank.

Cocoa deficit to bring prices higher, predicts Rabobank

A consecutive deficit in 2012/13 is set to move cocoa prices higher as supply struggles to meet rising demand for chocolate products in Asia, according to financial services group Rabobank.

News in brief

Vote due on Kraft snacks name

Kraft Foods will decide tomorrow whether to change the name of its global snacks spin-off to Mondelez International in a vote at its Annual Shareholder Meeting.

Barry Callebaut introduces lactose-free milk chocolate for Europe

Barry Callebaut has launched a lactose-free milk chocolate that it claims has a similar taste to regular milk chocolate.

Sugar reform advocates ‘disappointed’ with lack of policy debate

Sugar users have said they are disappointed that both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees have voted to advance the 2012 Farm Bill without amending current sugar policy, which they...

Bite-sized and share packs saving grace for UK confectionery packaging market – report

The future is not bright for UK confectionery packaging as consumers turn to healthier options, but packaging firms can profit from a growing preference for sharing products and smaller offerings,...

Cloetta raises prices after ‘weak market’ harms sales

Swedish confectioner Cloetta has introduced price increases after its sales slowed in the first quarter (Q1) 2012.

Dispatches from the 6th Annual Food Technology & Innovation Forum, 2012, Chicago

Mintel: Health and quality key to next generation of on-the-go foods

Foods with ‘on-the-go’ claims represent a small - but rapidly growing - proportion of global new product launches, but firms that want to cash in need to think about health...

EU article 13 health claims register

222 EU health claims become law; experts predict “tsunami of cheap innovation”

It’s official. Companies have six months – until December – to comply with the controversial European Union article 13, general function health claims register which today won final approval from...

Wild targets regional tastes with strawberry launch

Manufacturers of fruit gums, milk cream fillings and ice cream can now benefit from a range of natural strawberry flavours that has just been launched by flavours firm Wild in...

'Sin taxes' must raise food prices by 20% for any effect, argue experts

In order to have any effect on population health, fat taxes must raise food prices by 20% and should be combined with subsidies on healthy foods, say UK-based experts. However...

Tamar eyes European market growth after Irish takeover

Tamar Labels said its takeover of self-adhesive label producer Labelit will open up new food and beverage market opportunities in Europe.

Breaking News

Commission gives green light for major sugar industry takeover

The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of the world’s largest sugar trader ED&F MAN by Europe’s largest sugar producer Südzucker and said it would raise no competition concerns on...

Market for UTZ certified cocoa doubles with Germany leading the way

Twice as much UTZ certified cocoa was sold to producers in 2011 compared to the previous year as demand for sustainable cocoa soared in Germany, according to the recently published...

Comment

Vitafoods: EU nutra space wriggles into new health claims clothes

Vitafoods celebrates its 15th birthday next week. It’ll be my 11th consecutive May visit to Geneva for the jamboree and promises to be one of the most intriguing chapters with the (partial...

Eight most innovative Sweets & Snacks: award winners

ConfectioneryNews.com presents a picture roundup of the eight new confectionery and snacks products that bagged innovation awards at the Sweet & Snacks Expo in Chicago last week.

Food-based natural nanoparticle discovery opens debate on safety

Indian researchers have discovered carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) in foods such as bread, corn flakes and caramel – increasing the likelihood that consumption of nanoparticles in food is safe.

EFSA risk assessment of composite foods hazard to pave the way for harmonized EU regs

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has outlined a raft of key factors needed to assess the hazard posed by pathogens in composite foods after Brussels said it needed to...

Zetar’s nuts hit by raw material price inflation

Zetar took a 5% hit in annual group revenue after exiting from low margin core commodity sales, particularly in processed and packed nuts, at the beginning of 2012.

International Cocoa Initiative partners with ILO to tackle child labour on cocoa farms

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), has entered a public-private partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to target 5,000 children in child-labour or at high risk of falling into child...

US chewing gum packs going pocket-sized, says analyst

Chewing gum packaging in the US is set to go micro as consumers look for lower priced products, according to an analyst.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil welcomes WWF review

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has lent its backing to the WWF's Palm Oil Investor Review 2012.

Imperial Sugar reports $6.5m loss in Q2

Imperial Sugar Company reported a net loss of $6.5m in the second quarter, compared to a net profit of $4.2m in the prior year period, while net sales were up 5.6%.

Petra Foods expects decline in cocoa ingredients as bean prices fall

Singapore-based firm Petra Foods has forecast that sales in its cocoa ingredients division will decline after revenues fell in its first quarter (Q1) results provoked by cheaper cocoa bean prices.

Blommer predicts looming cocoa supply crisis

Demand for cocoa is expected to climb 30% in the next 10 years creating a 25% shortage of current supply, according to North American cocoa processor and chocolate ingredients supplier Blommer Chocolate Company.

Cocoa waste may become valuable source of pectin, suggest researchers

Cacao pod husks – a major by-product of cocoa processing – could provide industry with a new, environmentally friendly source of pectin, say researchers.

News in brief

Nestlé teams with Girl Scouts for limited edition Crunch bars

Nestlé has teamed-up with the Girl Scouts to create limited edition Crunch candy bars.

Chewing gum impairs short-term memory, says study

Chewing gum harms short-term memory contrary to previous studies that suggested gum could improve recall, according to researchers.

Food solution integration costs hit otherwise satisfactory GEA Q1 results

GEA said continuing strong demand for food processing technology meant it was “satisfied” with performance in the first quarter of 2012 even as one-off integration costs for its food solutions...

Zed Candy to move Oatfield confectionery to UK

Irish retro confectionery maker Zed Candy is to close its Letterkenny facility in County Donegal and transfer production of its Oatfield Sweets brand to Kettering in Northamptonshire.

Soaring demand for sustainable cocoa prompts World Bank to invest $55m in cocoa trader

A division of the World Bank has acquired a stake in cocoa trader Armajaro Trading to support sustainable farming practices and improve traceability within its supply chains.

Louis Dreyfus to acquire Imperial Sugar as investors try to block deal

Commodities group Louis Dreyfus has reached an agreement to acquire refined sugar processor Imperial Sugar for around $203m.

Dutch bar manufacturer VSI opens third factory

Dutch non-branded bar manufacturer VSI has begun operations at a €10m plant in Leerdam, Holland, which incorporates a research and development (R&D) centre and has the capacity to make triple-layered...

CSM puts bakery supplies arm on the block to reposition as bio-ingredients firm

Ingredients supplier CSM has announced plans to sell its bakery supplies businesses and reposition itself as a bio-based ingredients company.

USDA aims to boost global cocoa production with extended World Cocoa Foundation deal

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expanded its partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) in a bid to boost cocoa production in developing countries and improve livelihoods...

Rocky Mountain Chocolate enters Asia

US-based manufacturer and store franchise Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has signed a licensing agreement enabling it to enter Japan.

Cacao & soy compounds show heart health benefits for diabetic women: Study

Supplementation with cacao-flavonoids and soy isoflavones may improve levels of biomarkers of heart disease in postmenopausal, diabetic women, says a new study.

AAK posts record high Q1 results as food ingredients segment shines

Swedish-based firm AarhusKarlshamm AB (AAK) has recorded its highest ever first quarter (Q1) results driven by its food ingredients arm and its Golden Foods/Golden Brands acquisition.

Biscuits, chocolate and developing markets drive growth for Kraft in Q1

Kraft Foods is off to a solid start to 2012 in its first quarter (Q1) results driven by sales growth in global biscuits and chocolate and strong performance in emerging markets.

ADM opens new innovation centre in the Netherlands

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has opened a development centre in The Netherlands to provide advice on chocolate and cocoa products.

News in brief

Barry Callebaut gourmet brand to use only sustainable cocoa

Barry Callebaut has announced that its gourmet brand Finest Belgian Chocolate will now only use cocoa from sustainable sources.

Hershey maps cocoa farms in Ghana with GPS as labour group doubts commitments

Chocolate giant Hershey has announced plans to use GPS mapping for cocoa farms in Ghana to help farmers better manage their resources as labour groups continue to doubt the company’s...

Thorntons oversees positive Easter but sales still on decline

UK chocolatier Thorntons has reported a solid Easter performance in a third quarter trading update, but overall sales continue to fall.

ADM helped by cocoa press margins, but overall profit down

Archer Daniel Midland’s (ADM) oversaw strong performance in its cocoa segment despite a fall in profits for the whole group in its third quarter results.

Pan-African trust fund to tackle food security

An African-financed, FAO directed trust fund will provide resources needed to drive sustainable food production across the continent and the oil sector will play a crucial role, according to FAO’s...

Nordenia profits fuelled by product price rises, unveils cost cuts

Nordenia International said its 2011 full year profits of just over €100m – the second highest ever – were driven more by the passing on of price rises to customers...