Chewing gum tax proposed in Mexico

Mexico is considering forcing gum manufacturers to pay a 50% tax on top of the selling price of products to pay for clean-up costs on streets.

Guar gum buyers aren’t buying, sellers aren’t selling: Industry expert

Guar gum prices have dropped a long way from peaks of $20 to $25 a kilo – but there is now a standoff between buyers and sellers, according to hydrocolloids...

News in brief

Hershey joins Abidjan sustainable cocoa pledge

The Hershey Company has joined other major chocolate manufacturers in signing a new cocoa pledge to give Ivorian farmers a fair deal and ensure a sustainable supply.

Beneo thinktank produces ‘Tooth-friendly’ and fibre-boosting sweets

Belgian supplier Beneo’s dessert thinktank is showing off some product concepts using sugar-free, ‘tooth-friendly’ isomalt and an already launched oligofructose-stevia blends for functional fibre candy.

Graphic Packaging pushes into Europe with second acquisition in a month

Graphic Packaging has announced its second deal in the space of a couple of weeks as it looks to build on its European packaging business.

Healthy indulgence: What’s possible in chocolate reformulation?

Consumers have high expectations of chocolate in terms of taste and mouthfeel – so how easy is it to tinker with chocolate formulations to create an indulgent product that also...

News in brief

Operational Efficiency 2012: Free Access To Today's First Ever Dedicated Online Event!

Register now for free access to today's first ever online event devoted to Operational Efficiency in food and beverage processing, organized by FoodProductionDaily.com and William Reed Business Media.

News in brief

Major chocolate players sign new cocoa pledge

Mondelez International, Nestlé, Ferrero and Mars have all signed the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration and pledged to create a sustainable cocoa industry that guarantees a fair deal for farmers.

Advent calendar chocolates present cancer risk, says consumer group

Potentially cancerous mineral oils have been found in advent calendar chocolates including ones from Nestlé, Mondelez and Lindt, leading a consumer group to call for manufacturers and packaging firms to...

Advent calendar chocolates safe, says BDSI

The German Confectionery Association (BDSI) has said that chocolates in advent calendars pose no health risk after a consumer group linked products to ‘cancerous’ mineral oils.

Mondelez to lose Dinosaurus in Galletas Artiach takeover

Nutexpa has acquired Spanish biscuit manufacturer Galletas Artiach in a deal that means Mondelez International will lose its license for the Dinosaurus biscuit brand to Lotus Bakeries

Interactive Map

Global chocolate markets: Biggest sinkers and risers

ConfectioneryNews.com presents an interactive map of the fastest growing and fastest falling chocolate markets in the world over the past five years complete with analysis from Euromonitor International.

Cut reliance on seasonal confectionery in Brazil with premium goods – Leatherhead

Confectioners are struggling to reduce their dependence on seasonal products in Brazil, but could benefit from the growth of premium chocolate, according to an analyst from Leatherhead Food Research.

News in brief

Printpack launches HRG tech for sharper printing quality

Printpack has claimed its new printing technology offers sharper print quality than other flexible packaging printing processes.

UK confectionery wholesaler Hancocks sold to private equity firm

The UK’s leading confectionery wholesaler Hancocks Group has been sold to H2 Equity Partners for around £50m ($78m).

Perfetti Van Melle enters Burma with DKSH deal

Chupa Chups maker Perfetti Van Melle has teamed with market expansion firm DKSH to enter the Burmese market.

Mondelez in fresh tax evasion probe in India

Mondelez International subsidiary Cadbury India is under investigation for alleged evasion of excise duties by authorities in India.

Rising incomes in developing countries driving processing machinery growth, says report

The demand for bakery and confectionery food processing machinery is to increase over the next few years as employment and incomes rise in developing countries, according to Freedonia.

Improved allergen detection in chocolate with extra step, say researchers

Nut traces can be better detected in dark chocolate and biscuits by adding a clean-up step, say Italian researchers.

Cocoa certification: Pros, cons and costs

Cocoa certification brings more advantages than disadvantages for farmers and communities as improved yields and pay outweigh rule differences among certifiers and potentially unequal payments, a study has found.

UK food park continues development

The UK's Southglade food park is expanding further thanks to a fresh injection of cash from a local council, despite the current challenging economic environment.

Nestlé ups sustainability efforts at expanded UK innovation center

Nestlé has opened an extended product technology center for confectionery in the UK, which will better enable it to develop products and packaging with sustainable materials.

Cadbury develops temperature tolerant chocolate

Mondelez International-owned Cadbury has filed a patent for a chocolate that can tolerate hot climates by re-refining the chocolate after the conching step.

Chewing gum tax calls in Northern Ireland

A political party in Northern Ireland is pressing for a domestic chewing gum tax to pay for clean-up costs on streets.

News in brief

OFT investigating Graphic Packaging deal

The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is reviewing Graphic Packaging’s £71m anticipated takeover of Contego announced last week.

Sugar Update

EU greets added sugar supplies as US confectioners row with producers

Sugar users in the EU have welcomed plans to release more sugar to the market, while counterparts in the US have condemned the sugar lobby for allegedly exaggerating available supplies.

RAN urges Cargill to take stronger action on palm oil sustainability

The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has urged Cargill to take clear, decisive action to ensure its palm oil suppliers commit to sustainable production, while Cargill has said that RAN allegations...

No health risk from candelilla wax, says EFSA

Confectionery glazing agent candelilla wax (E 902) has been deemed safe to use in Europe after a reevaluation from the European Food Safety Authority.

DISPATCHES FROM BRAU BEVIALE 2012, NUREMBERG

Anti-microbial air treatment will become ‘important’ hygiene factor - Ecolab

Anti-microbial air treatment systems will become a “very important” hygiene factor in the food manufacturing industry in coming years, Ecolab’s Marcus Ley told reporter Mark Astley.

Mondelez pumps $400m in sustainable cocoa supply chain

Cadbury owner Mondelez International has announced plans to invest $400m in its cocoa supply chain over the next ten years.

Hershey antioxidant labeling claims under spotlight in US court

Hershey is to face a lawsuit over antioxidant labeling claims made on its Special Dark Cocoa and Special Dark Kisses.

News in brief

Mars, Mondelez and Callebaut gear up for World Cocoa Conference

Major industry players including Mars, Mondelez International and Barry Callebaut are due to appear at the World Cocoa Conference in the Ivory Coast, which gets underway today.

Hostess Brands throws in the towel: Strikes cause full business closure

Twinkies and Wonder Bread maker Hostess Brands has today filed a motion with the US Bankruptcy Court for permission to close the business and sell all assets.

Exclusive interview

Price-conscious Portuguese moving to private label chocolate, says Imperial CEO

Consumers in Portugal are turning their backs on branded chocolates in favor of supermarket brands as the domestic economy bites, according to the CEO of Portuguese confectioner Imperial-Produtos Alimentares.

Gelatine price increases continue at Rousselot

Rousselot has said it plans to increase gelatine prices 7% up to low double digit levels for 2013 as continued growth in demand has not been met by raw material supply.

Cloetta feels pinch in several EU markets

Sweden’s leading confectioner Cloetta has posted falling profits in the third quarter (Q3) as it struggled in several EU markets and was hit by higher raw material prices and restructuring...

Tangerine closes UK factory with 75 jobs cut

UK firm Tangerine Confectionery has closed its factory in Poole, Dorset, UK, in a bid to improve operating efficiency.

French Senate rejects palm oil tax

The French Senate rejected its so-called ‘Nutella tax’ on Thursday, which aimed to quadruple the tax on palm oil, a key ingredient in the hazelnut-chocolate spread.

Graphic Packaging CEO: “Deal takes us into new end markets”

Graphic Packaging has agreed to acquire the European Food Carton Business of Contego for £71m to expand into new end markets.

Asian innovation: Wasabi Kit Kats and cheese chocolate

Confectioners are vigorously innovating to build market share in the developing Asian market. We take a look at some of the latest products to hit Asia.

Halve processing times with novel gum resin, says Wacker

German chemical group Wacker has developed a solid resin for gum bases that it claims halves processing times and eliminates the need for additional flavorings.

News in brief

Hershey packer ordered to back-pay foreign student laborers

The US Labor Department has recovered back wages for overworked and underpaid student laborers from a company that packaged Hershey chocolates.

Rapidly measure cholesterol in confectionery with new method, say researchers

Researchers have developed a method to quickly determine cholesterol levels in chocolate and sandwich-type biscuits that was not previously possible, they claim.

Stevia chewing gum appeals to ‘natural’ ingredients trend, says Cargill

Cargill has developed a stevia chewing gum that it claims will appeal to consumers looking for natural ingredients.

Meiji blames heat wave for chocolate slump

Japan’s second largest confectioner Meiji pointed the finger at hot weather conditions for chocolate sales declines in its half year results.

Chocolate shrinking lifts overall UK consumer prices

Confectionery downsizing was a big contributor to higher UK consumer prices in October, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as big players like Mars, Mondelez and...

Supergrains! Why quinoa, farro, chia and amaranth should be in every formulator's toolkit

'Super grains' - from farro, spelt, kamut, millet, quinoa and amaranth to chia, freekeh and teff - are high in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. They also come with a...

News in brief

POEX claims upped packaging capacity with shift to Ishida weighers

Czech confectioner POEX has increased its pack capacity by 88% by shifting from linear weighers and volumetric fillers to an x-ray and check weigher combination from Ishida, it claims.

Raisio expands with €20.5m Candy Plus buy

Finnish firm Raisio has acquired Czech confectionery company Candy Plus for €20.5m ($26m) to expand its global footprint.

Roshen acquires Hungarian firm Bonbonetti

Ukrainian confectioner Roshen has acquired Hungarian chocolate maker Bonbonetti after receiving regulatory approval from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine.

Cemoi private label subsidiary eyes Asia

Welsh premium private label confectioner OP Chocolate, part of the Cemoi Group, has secured a financing deal to help it move into international markets in Europe, North America and Asia.

Real Good Food Company on track for ‘critical’ Christmas period despite profit drops

Operating profits dropped in two of the Real Good Food Company’s (RGFC) bakery businesses – Haydens and R&W Scott – but analysts say the group is on track entering the...

Hostess Brands strike prompts three bakery closures; 627 jobs cut

Hostess Brands has permanently shut down three bakeries today as a result of nationwide union strikes; equating to 627 job losses.

News in brief

Callebaut plant reopens after bomb alert

Barry Callebaut's plant in Dijon, France has reopened after a bomb warning last week.

Not too late for confectioners in China, says Rabobank

Opportunities exist for confectioners yet to enter China, but they must come with a targeted distribution strategy, according to Rabobank.

French palm oil tax could increase trans fat consumption, says MPOC

A proposed 300% increase on French palm oil imports could lead to increased consumption of harmful trans fats and ignores the primary sources of saturated fat in the French diet,...

Danish government scraps fat tax, cancels planned sugar tax

The Danish government has officially scrapped its tax on saturated fat just a year after it was introduced, and has cancelled a proposed sugar tax.

Haribo and Lindt in Gold Bear trademark dispute

German candy firm Haribo and Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli are locked in a legal battle in a German court over a trademark for products in the form of a...

Bomb warning forces Barry Callebaut to temporarily close plant

A bomb alert has forced Barry Callebaut to temporarily close a factory in Dijon, France that it recently agreed to sell.

News in brief

Nestlé: We sincerely regret Nesquik recall

Nestlé USA has apologised to customers after a recall of Nesquik chocolate powder linked to salmonella.

Evolve Indian chocolate market in premium space, says analyst

Chocolate manufacturers can grow further in India with premium products after already opening up the market to low-income consumers, according to an analyst.

News in brief

Open innovation in action: Tate and Lyle creates ventures fund

Tate & Lyle will pump up to £30m ($48m/€36.5m) over eight-years in a new venture capital fund that will invest in start-ups and expansion-stage companies in food sciences and enabling technologies....

‘Weak global chocolate consumption’ hurts Petra Foods

Singapore-based Petra Foods has posted sales and profit declines in the third quarter (Q3) as it complained of weak global demand for chocolate that halved profits in its cocoa ingredients...

Mondelēz takes tumble in developing markets

Mondelēz International was weighed down by operational issues in Brazil and Russia in the third quarter (Q3) which harmed overall performance in its first results since it split from Kraft...

Dispatches from Pack Expo 2012

TNA bagger takes firm into new markets

TNA Solutions has launched a groundbreaking bagger, delivering speedy bagging to markets the company was previously unable to reach.

California voters say 'No' to GMO labeling initiative Proposition 37

GMO labeling initiative Proposition 37 has failed at the ballot box in California.

Kit Kat rules Halloween social media buzz

Nestlé’s Kit Kat, manufactured on license in the US by Hershey, has grown its social media standing more than any other candy brand over the Halloween period, according to a...

Exotic flavor trend prompts Imperial passionfruit bar launch

Portuguese confectioner Imperial-Produtos Alimentares has added a new passionfruit chocolate bar to its Regina brand as it looks to seize on a market trend for exotic flavors.

Financials: Ajinomoto income down; AAK ingredients' record quarter

Only an extraordinary pension return of Y27.7bn (€268m) dragged Japanese food, ingredients and pharma player Ajinomoto into the black for the March-September period as ordinary income slid 11% to Y39.2bn...

News in brief

Mars Chocolate UK seeks strategy controller

Mars Chocolate UK is on the hunt for a new head of commercial strategy to handle top brands such as Mars, Snickers and Twix.

Barry Callebaut profits fall after big investments

Barry Callebaut full-year profits have fallen slightly after it made significant investments in its supply chain as factories in developed markets reached capacity.

Aluminium foil growth driven by flexible packaging demand, says EAFA

The first nine months of this year showed a positive development for the European manufacturers of aluminium foil, according to the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).

Sugar profits sweeten the deal for ABF as grocery and ingredients slump

A bumper performance in the sugar market has helped Associated British Foods balance sharply declining profits in its ingredients and grocery businesses.

AptarGroup to close two sites in European shake-up

AptarGroup is to restructure 12 facilities in Europe, including the closure of two sites, in a bid to boost future growth in the region.

Detectamet rolls out detectable accessories

Detectamet is rolling out a host of detectable accessories for food and drink manufacturers, from tote bin liners to ear plugs and hygienic gloves.

UK rules against slimming gum TV ads, despite EFSA approvals

The UK advertising watchdog has ruled against a TV campaign for a slimming gum even though some of the claims appeared to have won European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approval.

New Zealand almost ten years behind European premium chocolate trends, says local firm

Founder of a New Zealand chocolate firm says the country remains almost a decade behind Europe in terms of premium chocolate trends.

Barry Callebaut plans new factory in Turkey

Barry Callebaut has announced that it will construct a new factory in Turkey to tap into rising chocolate consumption in the market.

Hershey sued over alleged child labor abuses

The Hershey Company faces a lawsuit from a shareholder that claims it uses cocoa produced through unlawful child labor in West Africa.

Trade association highlights packaging innovation

Breakthroughs in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, colour changing film and packaging designed to extend shelf life are some of the latest innovations highlighted by the Active & Intelligent Packaging...

Cambodians file complaint with US government vs American Sugar Refining over ‘land-grabbing’ deal

Cambodian villagers who claim they were illegally evicted from their land to make way for a sugar plantation that supplies American Sugar Refining (Domino Sugar), have filed a complaint with...

Mondelēz Canada to chew over 550 jobs after biscuit factory closure

Mondelēz Canada has announced plans to close its Lakeshore Bakery in the West End of Toronto in the third quarter of 2013 with 550 jobs hit.