All news articles for January 2022

Healthy products are one of the main features in the ISM New Products Showcase in 2022. Pic: Koelnmesse

ProSweets/ISM Cologne

ISM 2022 in full swing with emphasis on plant-based and healthy products

By Anthony Myers

ProSweets/ISM Cologne opened its doors on Sunday after a two-year break due to the pandemic and organisers Koelnmesse said the event this year is running at 80% of exhibition space booked with 24% of companies from Germany and 76% from abroad.

Uncle Joe’s sweet brand has a wide range of vegan-friendly sweets. Pic: Uncle Joe's Mint Balls

Veganuary

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls sees ‘Veganuary’ sales boost

By Anthony Myers

Traditional British sweets maker Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls has reported a 15% increase in sales since the launch of the annual Veganuary initiative, which encourages people to try a plant-based diet.

Pic: NCA

Confectionery

NCA’s 2022 Confectionery Leadership Awards honour industry stalwarts

By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the recipients of the 2022 Confectionery Leadership Awards: Todd Gean, Category Manager – Candy, Hy-Vee, Inc.; and Drew Germain, Director of Merchandise Buying, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store,...

Pic: Firetree

Special Edition: The rise of vegan/plant-based chocolate

5 vegan chocolate bars for a plant-based diet

By Anthony Myers

As Veganuary turns nine this year with a record number of sign-ups, we check out some of the latest vegan chocolate bars to hit the shelves over the past 12 months.

Rob Whitehead, MD Serious Sweets.Pic: Serious Sweets

Acquisitions

Serious Sweets snaps up Mighty Fine Confectionery

By Anthony Myers

Serious Sweets, the UK own label confectionery brand, has acquired Mighty Fine Confectionery, adding homemade honeycomb to its growing portfolio of sweet treats.

The Chocoa conference is normally held n Amsterdam's Beurs van Berlage, Pic: Equipoise.

Chocoa 2022

Chocoa pulls online format, hopes to go live later in year

By Anthony Myers

The influential Chocoa conference, which was planned as a virtual meet-up for the second year running in February because of the COVID pandemic, has been postponed until later in year, organisers Equipoise have confirmed.

Chocolate lovers in the US are pushing up cocoa prices. Pic: GettyImages

Commodities

US demand for chocolate drives up cocoa prices

By Anthony Myers

Record surge for chocolate by American consumers has pushed sales to $29bn, with retail chocolate sales climbing more than 5% a quarter, according to data from Chicago-based researcher IRI.

GNT will be demonstrating how EXBERRY can be used to maximise visual appeal in confectionery at this year's ProSweets 2022. Pic: GNT

ProSweets/ISM 2022

GNT set to add colour to ProSweets Cologne 2022

By Anthony Myers

GNT, one of the industry’s main natural ingredients and food colour providers, is set to showcase its EXBERRY Colouring Foods in a vast array of confectionery applications at ProSweets Cologne 2022, which is scheduled to run from 30 January 1 February.

Ghana's cocoa carriers began their industrial action on 5 January. Pic: CN

Agribusiness

Ghana’s cocoa carriers end strike after management increases pay

By Anthony Myers

Ghana’s cocoa carriers have announced they have called off their strike after meeting with the licensed buying companies and officials from COCOBOD, the government-controlled body that fixes the buying price for the country’s cocoa exports.

Survey reveals what millennial women want in wellness

Survey reveals what millennial women want in wellness

By Danielle Masterson

Millennials have surpassed baby boomers as the nation’s largest living adult generation, according to population estimates from the United States Census Bureau. And as the fastest growing demographic in the US, millennials are wielding a lot of purchasing...

This year's future leaders class will be unveiled at the NCA's SOTIC in March. Pic: CN

Industry voices

NCA unveils its 2022 Future Leadership Program Class

By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced its new intake of future leaders for 2022 who will help young professionals across the confectionery industry access networking and professional development opportunities to grow their careers.

Pic: CN

Cocoa ingredients trends to watch in 2022

By Anthony Myers

Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) has revealed five top trends for the confectionery sector this year, with planetary health a key focus, along with amplified taste experiences and premiumization all set to dominate.