Number one confectioner emerges on green light for Wrigley-Mars deal

Wrigley shareholders have cleared the final obstacle in its merger with US chocolate firm Mars, creating the world’s number one confectionery company.

Demand for cranberries close to outstripping supply

Ocean Spray has opened what it describes as the largest cranberry processing facility in the world but it said that it could be expanded further, if only there was enough...

Comment

What to do when safety studies smell a rat

Using animals, and specifically rats, to build the science behind ingredients is vital, but dismissing conflicting studies just because a rat is not a human is not acceptable.

Cadbury recalls all chocolate products made at Beijing plant

British confectionery firm Cadbury has recalled all of its chocolate products manufactured at its Beijing plant as a precautionary step 'after monitoring' melamine-contamination events in China, the chocolate maker said...

Ethical claims appeal to kids growing older younger

Children are becoming more aware of environmental issues from an earlier age, offering food and drinks manufacturers a chance to directly target them with ethical products, according to a new...

Healthy confectionery gains market share worldwide

Sugar-free candy and sweet products offering specific health benefits are set to increase rapidly in popularity over the next few years, answering a growing market demand for functional confectionery and...

Consultancy to integrate technical and compliance advice

A new consultancy in The Netherlands has been established to give more closely targeted advice to food developers on technical issues on the one hand, and how to comply with...

Europe's first polydextrose production planned

Tate & Lyle has announced plans to build a new polydextrose line in The Netherlands, which it says will be the first facility for the manufacture of the prebiotic fibre...

Dark chocolate linked to lower risk of heart disease

Moderate consumption of dark chocolate can help to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to an Italian study published this week.

New resin targets dairy and confectionery packaging markets

A new polypropylene (PP) injection moulding grade of plastic resin allows food packagers the ability to increase production, while cutting down on the material needed, the manufacturer claims.

Self regulation of junk food ads in the spotlight again as pressure mounts

Dannon has become the latest company to sign up to a scheme against junk food ads for children, but it comes as the kids channel Nickelodeon is accused of mainly...

Australia recalls melamine tainted chocolate

A Chinese chocolate brand sold in Australia and New Zealand has been recalled after authorities found it to be contaminated with the chemical melamine, source of an ongoing contamination scandal.

Tate & Lyle loses sucralose patent case

Tate & Lyle is to appeal against a court ruling which concluded that Chinese importers and manufacturers of sucralose did not infringe the sugar giant’s patents, as it had claimed....

No additives or preservatives lead label claims: Mintel

Food products with ‘no additives/ preservatives’ claims are leading the way in European and international launches, according to data from Mintel.

Chocolate maker takes HFC refrigerant from Arkema on board

Fluorochemicals player Arkema has speared chocolate processing, announcing that chocolate maker Leonidas has installed the firm's forane 427A refrigerant fluid ahead of virgin HCFC bans.

Comment

Consumers fear the packaging - a BPA alternative is needed now

“I have a bad feeling about this.” Luke Skywalker’s warning in the movie blockbuster Star Wars could equally be applied to consumers’ concerns about Bisphenol A (BPA).

Which? demands tougher action for TV junk food ads

Bans on advertising HFSS foods (high in fat, sugar and salt) to children in the UK are not working, according to consumer watchdog Which?

Danisco confident xylitol will pick up

Danisco has charged an internal task force with identifying new applications for xylitol, as the sweetener continues to blight its otherwise positive financial results – but has reduced production in...

Asian firm to boost corn sweetener supplies

Hong-Kong listed firm Global Sweeteners has delivered mixed results for the first half of 2008, but escaped a potential hit from the price hike in corn by passing on...

Chocolate: Demand flies above finance squeeze

Consumers in the US view chocolate as an “indulgent pleasure” that they are not willing to give up despite the tight economic environment, according to Mintel.

Production costs push up Ajinomoto aspartame price

Higher production costs are taking their toll on aspartame, as Ajinomoto Food Ingredients announces a 15 per cent price hike for non-contractual customers.

Chocolate industry spears opportunities in booming Russian market

Two major confectionery players have this month announced inroads into Russia, demonstrating that cocoa ingredients suppliers and their customers are seeking to spear fresh wins in Russia's emerging, and...

Comment

Dietary supplements win Olympic gold

To coin a phrase oft-used by winning athletes, Beijing was 'a good games’ for an increasingly mature dietary supplements industry.

New lowerator designed for easy maintenance, says Nercon

A new easy-to-clean, two-storey horizontal shelf lowerator with removable stainless steel trays is targeted at manufacturers wary of hygiene considerations, claims its US manufacturer.

Confectioners offered trip to Cargill choc-school

Cargill says that efficient chocolate making and other industry start up challenges will be the order of the day for participants of its chocolate workshop taking place this November.

Impulse snack buys contradict healthy intentions, study

New product design for health-profiled snacks demands a clear message, as a new study demonstrates consumers may opt to ignore the healthy snack, despite what they say.

Private-label opens doors for confectionery makers

Opportunities for private label confectionery formulations are set to rise as food inflation starts to pinch the consumer purse.

Maja Foods bring natural butter flavours to Europe

Maja Foods is introducing a range of natural butter flavours in Europe that are produced using fermentation technology, as it aims to cater to natural flavour needs and the challenges...

Search is on for choc pack functional thinking

A Belgium-based packer is hoping to discover innovative new concepts in chocolate packaging at both retail and storage level as part of its own inaugural design competition.

Opportunities for cocoa powder as study shows antioxidant levels

Confectioners may seek to develop new formulations that use cocoa powder and baking chocolate, as new evidence suggests these two chocolate foods deliver the highest levels of the health-busting...

Companies poised for changes in stevia regulations with new deal

The march to bring stevia into the mainstream continues as GLG Life Tech Corporation has struck a deal with US-based Weider Global Nutrition to take the sweetener to mass markets...

Confectioners slow to formulate fairtrade products?

In a market that showed year-on-year growth of 47 per cent, the signs are evident that opportunities exist for confectioners to win gains through fairtrade confectionery products, but the...

Study identifies best colourants from blueberries

The blueberry pigment cyanidin glucoside may be the best option for food scientists to colour products, according to a new study from Slovenia.

EU sugar woes are not yet over at ABF

While there has been more optimism hovering over the post-reform EU sugar industry this year, ABF cites the new regime as having an on-going effect on the profits of its...

Comment

Hurricane wake-up call for business and boy scouts

Louisiana was holding its breath when Hurricane Gustav made landfall last week. It promised to be the mother of all storms as it roared towards the Gulf Coast but fortunately...

Processors look set to gain from Bosch acquisition

Bosch Packaging Technologies has announced its purchase of German end packaging equipment builder, Paal Verpackungsmaschinen, in a move that could have cost benefits for food and confectionery manufacturers.

Farm-gate cocoa prices in Ghana to rise

Cocobod, the cocoa regulator for Ghana, has raised the fixed price it pays to farmers, a move that may not directly impact cocoa processors and buyers but could ultimately...

Mars braced for ongoing reformulation battle

Mars says it will continue to reformulate its products to remove artificial colours, additives and saturated fats where feasible, as it launches a new advertising campaign to play up its...

Chinese aspartame firm makes UK move

SinoSweet is stepping up its activities in the UK this month with the opening of a new sales office for aspartame, which it believes will help sales of the sweetener...

Pack and functional innovation to drive candy growth

Innovation in the use of functional ingredients and packaging is expected to dominate worldwide growth in the confectionery market, according to a new report.

Sedge extracts may be natural additives for food

Extracts from sedge plants (Carex distachya) are rich in antioxidants and could offer industry an alternative to synthetic additives, says new research from Italy.

Chewing gum takes the stress out of life, study

Chewing gum: an anxiety reliever; an alertness kick; and a stress reducer, all rolled into one. So finds new research from Australia, adding fresh ammunition to boost a challenging...

Chocolatiers dip into cocoa bank to identify flavor profiles

The owner of the confectionary company Chocolove has joined an expert taste panel to identify the unique flavors of different cocoa plants as part of a preservation project which could...

Oat and fruit focus for new Cadbury granola launch

Cereal, cocoa and fruit ingredient prices may have soared in the past year, but these building blocks in confectionery formulation hold sway, evident in the recent swathe of product...

New pod-to-pallet chocolate maker takes flavour focus

While bean-to-bar chocolate firms spear consumer demand for 'percentage cocoa content', a new chocolate maker eschews focusing on this trend, instead opting to push the 'Flavour Wheel'.

Branded ingredients need equity, says analyst

The success of branded food ingredients should be measured by their ‘brand equity’, not just their market share, according to a new market insight from Frost & Sullivan.

Comment

Rising to the health claims challenge

Europe’s health claim assessment process kicked off with the rejection of almost 90 per cent of the first bunch. But industry must accept its shortcomings if credibility is to be...