Nestlé’s child labour pledge ‘small and incomprehensive’, says labour group

Nestlé’s commitment to eradicating child labour misses a 'big pile of the problem', according to a labour rights group.

‘Numerous’ child labour violations found in Nestlé supply chain as company promises action

An investigation from the Fair Labor Association (FLA) has unearthed multiple serious violations of Nestlé’s supplier code, particularly through the use of children on cocoa farms.

Kraft develops quality preserving low-calorie chocolate method

Cadbury owner Kraft Foods has filed an international patent for a process to make low-calorie chocolate that it claims can maintain texture and quality while extending shelf-life.

Confectioners ask why chocolate chip cookies avoid fat bloom

Chocolate chips in cookies are not blighted by the unappealing fat bloom experienced in conventional chocolate, but the industry is still at odds as to why after a study funded...

The private label dilemma: To be or not to be?

Suppliers that want to jump aboard the private label surge will face a fine balancing act of co-producing for the sector and branded goods, according to Rabobank.

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Chocolat Moderne bags speciality food award

US firm Chocolat Moderne has won the a sofi Award for best speciality chocolate product for its lime offering at the Summer Fancy Food Show in Washington, D.C. last week....

EU regulations must stimulate innovation, says CAOBISCO

Regulation from the EU should encourage, not hinder innovation from the confectionery industry, according to the Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries (CAOBISCO).

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Fluxome close to developing resveratrol chewing gum for Europe

Ingredients firm Fluxome is months away from developing a resveratrol chewing gum for Europe through a partnership with Danish medical gum manufacturer Fertin.

Ferrara Candy Company to close two sites after merger

US confectioners Farley’s & Sathers and Ferrara Pan have announced plans to shut a manufacturing facility and a packaging and distribution plant following the two firms’ merger to become the Ferrara...

Wrigley’s menthol gum appeal against Cadbury dismissed

A US appeal court has upheld a previous federal court decision which found that Wrigley’s patent on a menthol chewing gum formulation was too similar to earlier patents as argued...

Hershey plans new Asia manufacturing facility as it sets vision for international expansion

US-based confectioner Hershey has announced plans to open a new factory in Asia as it embarks on a ‘five core brands’ strategy to realise potential in selected emerging markets.

Comment

Setting certified cocoa goals makes ethical and business sense

Sourcing cocoa from certified farms can minimise incidence of child labour, but if that’s enough, why else should chocolate manufacturers commit to third-party certification?

Flexible refining of cocoa butter could boost chocolate quality: Study

Global decline in cocoa butter quality, coupled with growing demand for high quality cocoa butter mean that more robust but flexible refining technologies are required, say researchers.

Cadbury in list of top three preferred employers

Cadbury and Marks & Spencer feature in the list of the top three firms nearly 8,000 job seekers would most like to work for, according to recruitment and HR services...

Mars opens €80m chocolate factory in Russia

Mars has opened a €80m (RUB 3.3bn) chocolate factory in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region as it looks to capture a greater share of the highest value BRIC chocolate market.

Ferrara Pan misses trick in Asia after US-centric merger – analyst

Ferrara Pan may have bypassed a big opportunity to expand to the dynamic Asian market after it chose to merge with fellow US company Farley's & Sathers, according to an...

Latest confectionery launches - energy and appetite gums and more

ConfectioneryNews.com compiles some of the latest product launches to hit store shelves across the globe.

Hershey to up Mexican cocoa sourcing as programme launched to boost supply

Hershey plans to increase the amount of cocoa it sources from Mexico by initiating a $2.8m crop growing programme in partnership with Ecom Cocoa that it says will boost yields...

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Mars launches Fairtrade certified Malteasers in UK

Mars Chocolate has introduced Malteasers made with Fairtrade certified cocoa to the UK market as part of its ongoing pledge to achieve cocoa sustainability.

Blommer Chocolate and Olam form joint venture to crack Latin America

The Blommer Chocolate Company has established the joint venture firm GrowCocoa with ingredients supplier Olam International to allow the companies to move into Latin America and new cocoa origins in...

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Barry Callebaut restates Q3 results after Stollwerck sale

Barry Callebaut has restated its third quarter (Q3) results for 2010/11 following the sales of its European Consumer Products business Stollwerck to the Belgian Baronie Group.

Mars funded study finds cocoa fertilisation can double production

Using fertiliser on degraded farms with mature trees can double cocoa production, according to a study funded by Mars.

Acid-modified corn starch a viable alternative for gummy confections, say researchers

Formulating gummy confections with acid-modified corn starch (ACMS) is a feasible alternative to other gelling components such as regular starch, gelatin or pectin, according to a study.

Girl Scout-branded candy is not marketed to children, says Nestlé

Nestlé has denied allegations that it violated its commitments on advertising to children by co-branding a new range of candy bars with the Girl Scouts of the USA.

EU confectioners challenge proposals to postpone sugar quota abolition

Confectioners in Europe are under threat from an MEP’s report proposing to postpone abolishing EU sugar quotas until 2020, according to industry bodies whose members include Mars, Nestlé, Kraft and Ferrero....

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Nestlé registers Azerbaijani company following suspended operations

Food mogul Nestlé has recommenced operations in Azerbaijan through a registered company following suspended trade of its entire product range in March due to supply problems.

Baker Perkins opens sales office in South America

Confectionery and bakery technology supplier Baker Perkins has opened its first sales office in South America in order to tap into potential in the market and to be closer to...

Fears that ‘plain packaging’ proposal for tobacco may spread to food

Proposals to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products in the UK could open the door to extend the initiative to a raft of food and drink products - a move...

Mars ups sustainability commitments with two new agreements

Confectionery giant Mars has reached two agreements as it reaffirms its commitment to sustainable sourcing.

Linear weigher can reduce breakages for fragile confectionery, claims Ishida

Ishida Europe has developed an automated linear weighing machine that it claims is more efficient than conventional circular systems.

Confectionery industry heartened by close sugar program vote

The candy industry and sugar growers are both claiming at least a partial victory after the US Senate voted 50-46 to shelve an amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill that...

Snack Food Association calls on FDA to formalise safety enforcement deadlines

The Snack Food Association and other industry bodies have urged the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to communicate in writing the deadlines for enforcement of new provisions in the...

Natra grows Asian presence with new supply contract in China

Spanish chocolate and cocoa processor Natra has signed a Belgian chocolate supply contract in China with an unnamed distributor that it says will boost sales in the market by 70%...

Barry Callebaut extends Morinaga deal and plans to move Japanese production

Barry Callebaut has announced plans to relocate production to a new site in Japan to meet rising demand from domestic confectioner Morinaga.

Pressure mounts on Hershey to source 100% sustainable cocoa

Hershey has come under pressure from human rights groups to source all its cocoa from certified farms that avoid child labor.

Premium indulgence trend in Norway spells opportunities for manufacturers – analyst

A shift towards premium indulgent food products in Norway could create opportunities for manufacturers, according to an analyst.

Lycotec develops ingredient for weight management and cholesterol lowering chocolate

Biotec firm Lycotec has developed an ingredient for chocolate and other fat-based foods that it claims can help consumers to manage their weight and reduce blood cholesterol.

MPs tour Mars to ‘see inside food manufacturing’

Mars Chocolate UK in Slough – home of Mars, Snickers, Galaxy and Maltesers – hosted a visit by MPs and Peers yesterday (June 12) as part of ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ (SIM) initiative.

Mars urges action on cocoa to beat shortage

Urgent action was necessary to avoid the “bleak situation” of a serious global shortage of cocoa supplies within a decade, Fiona Dawson, president of Mars Chocolate UK, warned yesterday (June 12).

The chocolate market of 2030 – analyst looks through crystal ball

ConfectioneryNews.com speaks to a consumer goods analyst about the issues that will inform the chocolate industry over the next two decades.

News in brief

Hershey claims 30% reduced fat chocolate with first brand launch since 2007

Hershey’s first brand launch since 2007 is a chocolate product that it claims contains 30% less fat compared to the average leading milk chocolates.

Barry Callebaut ups capacity 60,000 tonnes in North America

Chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has acquired a new plant in Canada and plans to expand another facility in the US, increasing its capacity by 60,000 tonnes.

Partnerships key to tackling cocoa supply chain challenges, says industry

Partnerships will be crucial in tackling the supply chain challenges in the surging cocoa and chocolate industry – this was the key message at Barry Callebaut’s Chocovision conference.

Hershey lifts game in Malaysia with DKSH expansion deal

US Chocolate giant Hershey has entered a sales and marketing partnership with Asian expansion group DKSH to help raise its profile in the emerging Malaysian market.

German confectioners report grim prospects as EU sugar prices soar

German confectioners are uneasy about their prospects in 2012 as EU sugar prices threaten financial results, according to a survey from German confectionery association BDSI.

Sacmi eyes 2012 growth despite tough economic climate

Sacmi Group said it is expecting a tough 2012 amid strong headwinds that are buffeting the global economy but that the firm is on target to match its strong performance in 2011.

DKSH to open confectionery and bakery innovation centre in Mumbai

Market expansion group DKSH has announced plans to open its second innovation centre in Mumbai, India to help companies introduce confectionery and bakery products tailored to the Indian market.

Global sugar prices down due to expected surplus

Worldwide sugar prices have fallen in the second quarter (Q2) of 2012 as the market is projected to record a surplus for the next two seasons, according to Rabobank International.

Healthy chocolate ‘breakthrough’: Lycotec develops ingredient to unlock cocoa’s health potential

Biotech firm Lycotec has developed an ingredient that it claims can harness the health potential in both dark and milk chocolate and lead to products with anti-ageing, injury recovery and...

Mineral oil exposure in packaging and food possible cause for concern, says EFSA

Exposure to mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) via packaging and some foods may pose a human health hazard, said the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) - as it called for an overhaul...

Printpack’s new site leads to operational re-shuffle

Printpack has announced plans to build a plant in Wisconsin for US$72m (€57.3m) which will mean the closure of its current North Carolina and Wisconsin sites.

FoodDrinkEurope sets out sustainability initiatives up to 2030

FoodDrinkEurope has launched a report outlining its goals to move towards more sustainable food and drink production by 2030.

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Mars gets EU approval for high quality printing technique for hard confectionery

The European Commission has passed a regulation permitting the use of a food additive commonly used in beverages to print celebratory messages on hard confectionery after a request from Mars...

News in brief

US retail chocolate market up 6.6% to $19.5bn, says Packaged Facts

The US market for chocolate sold at retail was worth an estimated $19.5bn in 2011, up 6.6% over the previous year, according to a new report from Packaged Facts.

Aluminium-free colours range fits impending EU law: Sensient

German colours specialist, Sensient, has an aluminium-free colour range that it says will plug demands defined by the impending EU law to reduce aluminium levels in foods.

Sustainability expert on enviro-friendly confectionery packaging

ConfectioneryNews.com speaks to Innovia Films’ sustainability head about the latest trends in green confectionery packaging.

Tasty innovation ensures resilience in cash-strapped, health-conscious Australia

The Australian confectionery market has remained resilient in the face of economic struggles due to investment in product development from the industry, accoding to a report.

Kraft risks being left out of recycling loop after rejecting EPR call

Kraft Foods’ refusal to adopt a policy on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for its US packaging operations is likely causing millions of dollars of post-consumer waste ending up in landfill, said...

ICCO cuts cocoa deficit forecast

The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) anticipates a lower than expected global cocoa shortage in the 2011/12 season due to ideal weather conditions and higher grinds in some cocoa producing countries.

Dark chocolate consumption linked with heart benefits

Consumption of dark chocolate could help to shrink the risk of heart disease in people with metabolic syndrome, according to new scientific data.

Mars makes further strides to sustainable cocoa supply

Confectionery giant Mars has made ‘significant’ progress in fulfilling its pledge to purchase its cocoa supply from certified sustainable sources after it announced plans to purchase nearly 90,000 tons of...