All news articles for March 2019

‘Free chocolate’? Where’s the catch?

Sustainability

‘Free chocolate’? Where’s the catch?

By Anthony Myers

Tony’s Chocolonely, ‘crazy about chocolate, serious about people’, brings its mission to the UK to make ‘100% slave free the norm’ in chocolate – and starts with a hard-hitting launch in London’s Soho.

Kallari Chocolate from Ecuador will open a chocolate factory near its plantations in Tena this year. Photo: Kallari.

Industry insights

Cocoa origin claims on chocolate – who benefits?

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa origin claims on chocolate products are rare and at odds with the main sourcing regions of cocoa, a study from Lumina Intelligence has found, is it worthwhile for brands to indicate cocoa origin on-pack and online?

Toyo Printing Inks Manisa plant. Photo: Toyo Ink.

Toyo Ink Group to expand in Africa

By Jenny Eagle

Toyo Ink Group has announced plans to open a sales subsidiary in Casablanca, Morocco, to expand across the African continent.

Bristows of Devon and Crawford & Tilley will be brought together as one entity

Bristows and Crawford & Tilley brought under one roof

By Gwen Ridler

Bristows of Devon and Crawford & Tilley owner the Paramount Retail Group is to bring the two companies together under one entity, the Great British Confectionery Group, for trading purposes.

Could heavy metal regulations undo Ecuador’s value-added cocoa efforts?

Sustainable Food & Drink Podcast – Episode One

Ecuador’s sustainable cocoa future after cadmium

By Oliver Nieburg

Ecuador’s efforts to create value at origin could be damaged by the EU’s recent regulation of heavy metal cadmium in chocolate, claims the president of the country’s cocoa export association.

Pic: GettyImages

Technology

Blockchain innovation in the cocoa supply chain

By Anthony Myers

Technology is creating consumer expectations on privacy, trust and traceability and cannot be overstated, said mobile and digital marketing guru Tom Daly. His answer? Blockchain.

Flat Wine Bottle by Delivering Happiness. Photo: Dow.

Dow opens entries for its 2019 Packaging Innovation Awards

By Jenny Eagle

From a Flat Wine Bottle, to Mix On Command (MOC) Shaker Bag, PaperBoat Thandai Retortable Profile Pouch and KitKat Celebreak box; Dow is on the hunt for this year’s breakthrough designs for its Packaging Innovation Awards 2019.

Free2b's sunflower chocolate cups were one of many allergen-friendly chocolates showcased at Expo West in Anaheim, March 6-9, 2019. Pic: K. Sherred

Expo West

Free-from and alt-sugars rule chocolate offerings at Expo West

By Kristine Sherred

Confectionery and chocolate might not seem an ideal fit for a natural foods show, but longstanding artisan chocolate brands found their place at Expo West alongside new companies looking to make their mark on the industry.

NCA SOTIC 2019: ‘Digital is the new front door’ for candy sales - video

NCA SOTIC 2019

NCA SOTIC 2019: ‘Digital is the new front door’ for candy sales

By Anthony Myers

The 135th gathering of the NCA State of the Industry Conference ended as it began on a high, more Queen songs blasting over the PA and a promise to return next year with an even better event. Here’s a brief roundup of some of the discussions that took...