EU sugar quota supports ‘quasi monopoly’

The EU sugar industry benefits from a “quasi monopoly” situation as a result of the current EU sugar quota system, according to the European Starch Industry Association, Association de Amidonniers...

Armajaro joins fight against child labour issues

Armajaro Trading is showing ‘genuine commitment’ to cocoa labour issues by becoming the first cocoa trader to join the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), says the foundation.

Starter cultures backed for on-farm cocoa fermentation

On-farm implementation of cocoa bean starter cultures could aid the production of chocolate with a more consistent flavour, according to a new study from a team Belgian researchers and Barry...

Hershey: Tentative on innovation?

Hershey’s CEO has said that pacing is important in innovation and while efforts have been “far more disciplined” than in the past, it is still committed to new product development (NPD)....

Sweet functional opportunities amid Thailand’s ageing population

Functional confectionery that targets Thailand’s ageing population is an area of opportunity for manufacturers, says analyst.

Hershey sales rise 7% in Q2 on strong US candy marketplace

The Hershey Company has posted improved sales and profits in its second quarter (Q2) results driven by a robust US candy, mint and gum market.

Ferrero to boost South African production by local sourcing

Italian chocolatier Ferrero plans to upscale production in South Africa by utilising local raw materials and packaging.

CEMOI to up cocoa grind capacity in Ivory Coast

French chocolate firm CEMOI has announced plans to boost its cocoa grinding capacity in the Ivory Coast by 43%.

Palm oil-free may be emerging trend

A shift towards palm oil-free foods and ingredients could be an emerging trend in Europe, according to market analysts.

Regulation Watch

Nations quiz EU over chocolate cadmium level proposals

A group of countries has questioned the EU’s plans to introduce maximum levels for the heavy metal cadmium in chocolate.

News in brief

Petra Foods establishes Ecuadorian subsidiary

Singapore-based cocoa processor Petra Foods has announced a new wholly-owned subsidiary in Ecuador.

Chocolate linked to improved brain performance

Chocolate can improve brain functioning and mood, according to scientific review assessing over 100 previous studies linking chocolate to health benefits.

EU, US cocoa grind slump a ‘surprise’ as capacity shifts to Asia, says analyst

EU and US cocoa grinds have fallen significantly in the second quarter (Q2), but one analyst puts this down to the developing Asian market eating up a greater share of...

Nestlé pulls Kit-Kat ‘Pedo Bear’ image from Facebook

Confectionery giant Nestlé has removed images on its Australian and New Zealand Kit-Kat Facebook page that bore a resemblance to internet paedophile mascot ‘Pedo Bear’.

Editor's Blog

Confectioners competing for chocolate gold at London Olympics

ConfectioneryNews.com explores how the leading players are gearing up for a PR brand building exercise that comes around only once every four years and asks how high-fat, high-sugar chocolate can...

Private labels to account for 30% of all supermarket sales by 2018: Report

Australian manufacturers of branded foods could face strong competition over the next five years, suggests a new report, which predicts the share of private label products in supermarkets to increase...

EFSA health claim

Callebaut’s cocoa health claim win ‘encouraging’ for chocolate industry

Barry Callebaut has received a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for a health claim linking cocoa to improved blood flow in news that has been welcomed...

News in brief

Nazi exploding chocolate plot to assassinate Churchill

Secret wartime papers have been uncovered that detail a Nazi plot to plant exploding chocolate in the British War Cabinet dining room in a bid to kill former Prime Minister...

AAK posts high Q2 profits as ingredients volumes grow

AarhusKarlshamn (AAK) has recorded strong second quarter (Q2) results driven by volume growth in its ingredients segment.

Zetar shifts seasonal focus after 2012 profit slump

UK confectioner Zetar plans to shift its focus on seasonal products to branded and private label sales after suffering a 17.5% profit decline in 2012. Its chairman also plans to stand-down.

Kraft investigates ‘worm-infested’ Cadbury éclair in China

Cadbury parent company Kraft Foods has responded to allegations from a Chinese newspaper that a piece of Choclairs from a Beijing supermarket contained a worm.

EFSA health claim opinions

Barry Callebaut wins article 13.5 chocolate-blood circulation claim; probiotic, rhodiola rejected

Swiss chocolate processor Barry Callebaut has won an article 13.5 health claim from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for a dossier linking cocoa flavanols and blood circulation.

Wrigley rubbishes dental-health destroying tax

Gum titan Wrigley has blasted proposals in Wales to introduce a 5p levy on chewing gum for cleaning up gum-littered streets that it argues would give consumers a license to...

Industry commitments help Fairtrade sales grow 12% globally

Fairtrade product sales rose 12% worldwide in 2011 due to ethical sourcing commitments from the food and drink industry and increased consumer awareness.

‘Alarming’ food tax trend: No unhealthy foods only unhealthy diets, says CAOBISCO

The Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries (CAOBISCO)  has called for a halt to ‘discriminatory’ food taxes in its latest annual report and argues that there is no such...

News in brief

CAOBISCO working towards hazelnut sustainability

The association of chocolate, biscuit and confectionery industries of Europe (CAOBISCO) has been discussing a multi-stakeholder approach to improving working conditions in hazelnut orchards in Turkey and boosting supply.

Asia-Pacific to overtake Western Europe in natural flavours

Sales of natural flavours in Western Europe are set to be overtaken by sales in the Asia-Pacific market within the next three years, according to market research firm RTS.

Price-marked packs and social media: charming cash strapped consumers

ConfectioneryNews.com looks at a new UK confectionery market report from Keynote and asks how manufacturers can boost sales in a volatile economic climate as consumers tighten purse strings.

Lotte a possible candidate for troubled Darrell Lea, says analyst

An analyst gives his tips on the possible suitors for Australian confectioner Darrell Lea, which entered administration this week and is looking for a buyer.

Editor’s Blog

The big guns on degradable gum: Wrigley and Kraft’s enviro-gum plans

ConfectioneryNews.com asks what the two biggest players in the chewing gum market are doing to introduce non-stick gums that degrade quickly in the environment.

Study: Almonds may have 20% fewer calories than previously thought

Almonds may contain 20% fewer calories than previously thought, with potential implications for nutrition labeling, according to new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

News in brief

Organiser reports lofty registration levels for ProSweets Cologne 2013

The international trade fair for suppliers of the confectionary industry ProSweets look set high degrees of exhibitor participation when the show returns to Cologne, Germany in January.

Cargill launches certified chocolate range for small users

Cargill has certified its Off the Shelf Chocolate range to bring ethical cocoa to smaller users as demand for sustainable products booms.

Why did we get so fat, so fast? Toxic sugar, HFCS, obesity and the blame game...

We've all heard the statistics - almost 36% of Americans are now obese. But 50 years ago, it was just 13%. So why did we get so fat, so quickly?...

Danish government considers abandoning fat, sugar tax

The Danish government is considering reversing its decision to impose a tax on saturated fat in food and may also abandon plans to introduce a similar sugar tax.

Thorntons sales grow but outlook still bleak

UK chocolate firm Thorntons has posted improved sales in its fourth quarter (Q4) trading update, but it remains cautious about the year ahead.

Lindt scraps production expansion to build training centre

Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli is considering constructing a training centre at its headquarters in Switzerland after ditching plans to expand production.

Kraft seeks ‘radical and inventive’ solution to environmentally-friendly gum base challenge

Kraft Foods is inviting potential partners to pitch “ingredients, formulations or technologies" that could help it create an environmentally-friendly chewing gum base that will degrade after disposal.

Mintel: stevia-containing products show “significant uplift” in number

The number of new products sweetened with stevia extracts in the EU shows a “significant uplift” on last year according to David Jago, Mintel director of innovation and insight.

Darrell Lea plunges into administration and seeks buyer

Australian confectioner Darrell Lea today announced that it has entered administration and is looking to sell the company.

PureCircle: High purity stevia volumes up 20% plus

High purity stevia volume sales at PureCircle have increased by more than 20% year-on-year, PureCircle reported in a pre-close update for the second half of its financial year.

News in brief

Ferrero reaffirms sustainability pledges in CSR report

Italian chocolatier Ferrero has reaffirmed its goals on sustainability in its third corporate social responsibility (CSR) report released last week.

Boost chocolate functionality with freeze-dried raspberry leaf, say researchers

Manufacturers can up the antioxidant content in chocolate with a freeze dried raspberry leaf extract with minimal impact on texture and mouth-feel, according to a study.

Another enviro-friendly gum base set for EU novel foods approval

Kraft-owned R&D firm Reading Scientific Services Limited (RSSL) looks set to gain EU novel foods approval for a degradable gum base by October, according to a source in the know....

AERO-plane experiments

Nestlé in space: Aerated chocolate under zero-gravity

 Nestlé is working with the European Space Agency to create better chocolate air bubbles under zero-gravity and will eventually experiment in space.

Rev7 degradable gum makers to raise £25m for growth plans

Rev7 degradable chewing gum maker Revolymer plans to trade its entire share capital on the London stock exchange to raise £25m for its five year growth strategy.

News in brief

Cargill claims rising sunflower lecithin demand from chocolatiers

Demand is rising for alternative chocolate emulsifier sunflower lecithin, according to ingredients supplier Cargill.

Barry Callebaut’s sales boosted by volume gains in Americas

Barry Callebaut has posted modest growth in its nine-month sales figures driven by volume gains in North and South America.

Editor's Blog

Facebook and Twitter: How confectioners measure-up on social networks

ConfectioneryNews.com asks how active the major confectioners are on two major social media platforms: Facebook and Twitter.

Rivals up menthol capacity to meet gum makers' demands

Menthol supplier BASF plans to open a new factory this summer to meet demands from confectioners soon after its rival Symrise boosted its own capacity earlier this month.

Optimise chocolate through cocoa traceability, say researchers

Chocolate manufacturers will risk a poorer quality final product unless they trace what happens to cocoa beans before they reach their factories, say researchers.

Nutrient profiling debate reignites

DG Sanco has reignited the nutrient profiling debate by initiating a consultation with other parts of the European Commission to test support for it to set nutrient profiles under health...

News in brief

Kraft wins innovation award for Trident Layers

Kraft Foods has bagged an innovation award from market analysts Nielsen for its Trident Layers gum brand.

Barry Callebaut aims to double farm productivity with $1m Ivorian cocoa centre

Barry Callebaut has announced that it is to spend $1 million (€833,000) on a Center of Cocoa Excellence in the Ivory Coast in a bid to double cocoa yields from...

‘Enough is enough’ says Nestlé procurement head on EU sugar regime

The EU sugar supply is constrained and the confectionery industry is nervous about upcoming sugar reforms, according to Nestlé’s procurement head, who is also chair of a UK sugar users...