Review of the year

Confectionery in 2012: Sustainability, innovation and highlights

We look back at the biggest news of this year including groundbreaking innovations, the push towards sustainable cocoa, and the launch of a new confectionery titan.

News in brief

Green future for packaging in Asia-Pacific, says report

Bioplastics are likely to replace common plastics in various packaging applications in the Asia-Pacific, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Mondelez now uses cage free eggs in Toblerone

Mondelez now uses eggs laid by cage free hens in its Toblerone bars; a move welcomed by animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS.

Texture analysis spots candy cane flaws, says equipment firm

Confectionery manufacturers can reduce the breakage of candy canes and compare products to rivals with texture analyzers, according to eqipment supplier Texture Technologies.

EFSA on caramel colours: Consumer exposure lower than previously estimated

Consumer exposure to three caramel colours used in a variety of food and drink applications is ‘considerably lower’ than a 2011 scientific opinion published by EFSA suggested, says the Authority.  ...

Functional chocolate bars must target a niche, says Herza

There is no end to the possibilities of functional chocolate bar development and firms must specialize to succeed in a sector dominated by big players, a Herza Schokolade product developer says....

News in brief

American Sugar Alliance: ‘The country is swimming in sugar’

Sugar prices in the US have fallen more than 40% since last summer and are now at “dangerously low levels for producers who are facing ever-increasing input costs”, according to...

Confectionery mergers and acquisitions in 2012: An interactive timeline

ConfectioneryNews,com presents an interactive timeline taking a look back at some of the most significant mergers and acquisitions in the sector in 2012.

5-minute festive flick

Happy holidays from William Reed Business Media!

The working year is almost done, time to pause from ‘the business’ and embrace the festive season…go on, give it a big hug. Happy holidays!

Lindt and Haribo Gold Teddy row to rumble all the way to German Supreme Court

Lindt and Haribo’s trademark battle over golden bears in Germany will drag on until a Supreme Court decision despite yesterday’s ruling in favour of Haribo, sources told this site....

Acquisition takes us closer to production goal, says Dunapack

Dunapack Packaging has acquired a Turkish paper and packaging company in its bid to double production to 2bn m2 (1m tonnes) by 2020.

Patent Watch

Hershey develops pill-like film coating for confectionery

Hershey has filed a patent for an alternative to conventional coating and robing of confectionery products that uses film coating normally used to encase medical pills.

Hershey, Mars and Nestlé to face $727m chocolate ‘price fix’ case

Hershey, Mars and Nestlé may be liable for $727m in damages for alleged conspiracy to raise chocolate prices in the US between 2002 and 2007.

High antioxidant cookies possible with grape seed extracts, says IFT

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) claims that grape seed extracts can up the antioxidant content in cookies by 10 times when microencapsulated.

News in brief

Orkney Fudge forms JV with Highland Park Whisky

UK confectionery firm Orkney Fudge has developed a new joint venture with Highland Park Whisky for a new product.

Stevia in Europe: PureCircle highlights emerging trends

Regulatory restrictions and lessons learned from other markets are shaping the way food manufacturers are using stevia-derived sweeteners in Europe, according to supplier PureCircle.

EU health claims: FoodDrinkEurope welcomes “certainty and clarity”

The EU’s biggest food industry group – FoodDrinkEurope – has backed Friday’s enabling of the article 13 list of 222 approved and 1500+ rejected health claims in the European Union’s 27 member states.

Ghirardelli faces ‘fake’ white chocolate claims

Lindt & Sprüngli's US subsidiary Ghirardelli Chocolate is facing a class action lawsuit over allegations that five of its products purported to contain white chocolate mislead consumers by containing none....

It’s official! There are 222 general function approved health claims in the EU; 1500+ rejected

From today food and supplement products marketed in the EU’s 27 member states must comply with the article 13, permitted list of health claims or face prosecution for misleading marketing.

Crown offers Europe seated end tin opportunities

Crown Speciality Packaging is offering premium food and beverage brands in Europe easier access to a form of tin design intended to make their products stand out more.

Expensive taste? Barry Callebaut defends hefty $950m Petra Foods deal

Market analysts have branded Barry Callebaut’s $950 million takeover of Petra Foods' cocoa division ‘pricey’, but the Swiss chocolate giant has defended the move despite admitting it will hurt its...

Gourmet fruit range targets artisan chocolatiers and bakers

Taura Natural Ingredients has developed a range of natural concentrated fruit pieces to specifically target and cater to the needs of artisan chocolatiers and bakers.

Hershey backs industry-wide sustainability standards

The Hershey Company has joined the advisory council of a new non-profit organization – the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) - that aims to develop industry-wide standards on sustainability.

Taxing junk food could improve diets, review finds

Taxes on soft drinks and foods high in saturated fat and subsidies for fruits and vegetables could improve diets and overall health, according to a new review from New Zealand...

December 14 EU health claims deadline

Stakeholder vox pop: December 14 EU health claim deadline

With the December 14 enforcement of the EU's article 13 general function health claim list that includes 200+ approved claims and about 1500 rejections just two days away (after a...

EC study: Do retailers’ own brands reduce consumer choice and industry innovation?

The European Commission (EC) has said it intends to conduct a study on whether expanded use of private label food and beverage products has restricted consumer choice and industry innovation.

News in brief

India has a ‘bright’ confectionery future

India’s confectionery market has a ‘bright future’ and will be bolstered by a growing gifting culture and increasing rural consumption, a report suggests.

New EFSA health claims chief: “I prefer pedagogic behavior”; offers 2013 hope

As the formlisation of the main organ (article 13.1 list) of the nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) kicks in this week, Professor Ambroise Martin, the new chair of the...

Picked by you: M&M’s launch new color mix selected by Facebook fans

Mars has announced the launch of a limited edition M&M’s mix containing new colors picked exclusively by fans on Facebook; including purple, aqua and dark pink.  ...

Guest article

Eight winners: Are EU diabetes-metabolic syndrome health claims set to explode?

Eight ingredients have won EU health claims that can be used to back messaging around metabolic syndrome – although the take-up to date has been lacklustre, says Euromonitor analyst, Diana Cowland....

Barry Callebaut adds a piece to its sustainable cocoa puzzle

Barry Callebaut’s joint venture cocoa partner Biopartenaire is now Rainforest Alliance Certified - a move that forms part of a wider puzzle of efforts towards sustainability, it said.

‘Packaging design gives personality, which is essentially what a brand should be’: Graphic designer

Packaging design is a crucial investment for premium chocolate firms in an overcrowded marketplace as it gives a product personality, which is essentially what a brand should be, says a...

Palsgaard backing Asian confidence with increased investment

The chief executive of Danish chocolate and extruded whipping cake emulsifiers major Palsgaard has outlined the reasons behind the company's recent significant investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Key Technology upgrades sorting technology to target smaller products

Key Technology is introducing three-way sorting on its Optyx machine to target the removal of potential contaminants in smaller products.

Kraft develops new formulation for tooth-whitening gum

Kraft Foods has filed a patent for tooth-whitening chewing gum that uses encapsulated solid peroxide within the base.

EU food industry competitiveness ‘lagging behind’: Report

The European Union’s food industry is lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of competitiveness, according to a new report from FoodDrinkEurope, which outlines priorities for new EU-wide...

Ferrero UK says it’s in the ‘top spot’ of food media spend this Christmas

Ferrero UK has lined up a flurry of seasonal promotion totting up to £6m ($9.6m) that it says puts it in second spot for food media spend this year, just...

Guest article

December 14 EU health claims crack down: Are B2B comms affected?

December 14 brings the long awaited and widely disputed EU crack down on health claims. That means 222 general function claims are good to go, another 1500 or so prohibited....

Intersnack snaps up KP Snacks for undisclosed sum

European Intersnack Group has snapped up United Biscuits’ KP Snacks for an undisclosed sum in a move that will enable the UK firm to 'dedicate focus' to its biscuits business, United...

‘No way back’ from natural colour trend, says Nestlé scientist

The trend toward natural colours for foods, drinks and sweets is here to stay – but raises huge technical challenges, according to Steve Tolliday, principal product technologist at Nestlé’s Product...

News in brief

Chocolate firm announces factory closure

Chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut is to close its Chester plant in a move that could lead to 25 job losses.

News in brief

Vitafoods Europe 2013 calls for conference speakers

Vitafoods Europe wants speakers to get in touch for its annual scientific an commercial conference which runs in conjunction with the trade fair to be held in Geneva, Switzerland on...

Thin models in chocolate ads tempt consumers to overindulge, study finds

Chocolate adverts portraying ‘ideal’ thin models may tempt even the most restrained of consumers to overindulge, suggest researchers.

Mondelēz International ready for biscuit boom

Mondelēz International - the new name for the snacking arm of Kraft Foods - is preparing to start biscuit production for the first time at its site in Sheffield.

Candy firms need to consider a fifth season for ‘concerning’ 2013, warns NCA

Candy firms must consider a fifth season and hit Halloween hard for 2013 as the year is set to harbor challenging volumes due to shorter holidays, the National Confectioners Association...

Ajinomoto wins EU chilli extract approval

Japanese supplier Ajinomoto’s chilli extract has won European Union Novel Foods status at various levels in 22 foodstuffs including flavoured waters, meal replacements, baked goods and sugar-free gum.

Biosensors a key area for nanotechnology

Nanobiosensors hold considerable potential as future areas of development for nanotechnology, according to a recent study.

News in brief

China not snacking on potato chips, but US and France are

China’s potato chip consumption is low with consumers choosing biscuits, candy and chocolate instead, but the US and France top the global consumption charts, new research shows.

Flexible packaging firm fined after laminating accident

A UK packaging company has been fined after one of its employees sustained a serious hand injury on an unguarded laminating machine.

Guest article

Provexis winner: EU health claims enforcement may dish rotten tomatoes

Steve Morrision was the COO at Provexis when the UK start-up won the EU‘s first ever article 13.5 health claim for its blood circulation-boosting tomato extract called Fruitflow in 2009....

New horizons

Foreign firms must take strategic look at entering China

The key to winning over Chinese consumers is mastering distribution strategies, according to a new report by Rabobank, which also suggests that the country should be on the radar of...

Sustainable cocoa: Action needed in two years, not ten

Action on sustainable cocoa must happen in two years, not ten and requires a holistic approach far beyond simple certification and increased production, the editor of a new report says.

News in brief

Packaging Dynamics acquires Groupe De Luxe

Packaging Dynamics Corporation has acquired Groupe De Luxe to expand into new geographies and end markets.