All news articles for May 2023

How retailers can enhance impulse purchases in-store and online

Sweets & Snacks Expo

How retailers can enhance impulse purchases in-store and online

By Deniz Ataman

While e-commerce impulse buys are evolving, in-store purchases are still critical in capturing snack and candy consumers—with the self-checkout lane offering tremendous potential growth for both brands and retailers, Kathy Risch, senior vice president,...

Mars has unveiled its new paper packaging for Mars bars. Pic: Mars

Sustainabilty

Mars bars undergo paper packaging trials in UK

By Anthony Myers

Mars Wrigley UK has announced that its Mars bars will be wrapped in more environmentally friendly paper packaging rather than its traditional plastic wrapper.

Image: Getty/Yagi Studio

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Let them eat plant-based cake

By Oliver Morrison

Why is the dairy industry embroiling in a silly battle about the labelling of plant-based alternatives?

Can Artificial intelligence solve the cocoa industry - and is it a threat to our livelihoods? Pic: GettyImages

Technology

Can Artificial Intelligence solve cocoa’s sustainability problems?

By Anthony Myers

As an experiment, I turned to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT* to obtain an outside eye on the current state of the cocoa industry. I was curious to know if a computer algorithm could come up with credible answers to the main issues that...

Pic: CN

Commodities

Cocoa prices pulled down by ICE inventories

By Anthony Myers

After consolidating recent gains, cocoa prices posted modest losses earlier this week after an increase in cocoa inventories weighed on prices.

Join our free-to-attend Healthy Snacking in 2023 webinar to find out what is shaping our snacking behaviour in 2023. Pic: GettyImages

Has indulgence taken a backseat to healthy snacking?

By Gill Hyslop

#healthandwellness, #better-for-you and #better-for-all – that is both people and the planet – have become familiar trigger words in the bakery and snacks sectors. But what is behind the consumer preference towards more natural, more nutritious, function...

Pic: GettyImages

Maple adds the sweet spot to bakery

By Gill Hyslop

The New England supplier of 100% pure and organic maple syrup and maple sugar recently highlighted how its maple products can help bakers tick consumer boxes: sustainability, plant-based/vegan, clean label, sugar alternative, organic and a good source...

Cadbury's historic Bournville factory. Pic: Cadbury

Reformulation

Cadbury looks to the future with plant-based bars

By Anthony Myers

Mondelēz International has announced major reformulation plans for its historic UK Cadbury brand that will include plant-based alternatives in an effort to cut up to 75% of sugar and fat.

Christine McGrath announced as new WCF chair. Pic: Mondelēz International

Appointments

Christine McGrath takes over from Boone as new WCF Chair

By Anthony Myers

The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) has announced Christine McGrath, SVP and Chief Impact & Sustainability Officer at Mondelēz International, as its new chair, along with two new board officers.

Pic: NOMO

Plant-based special

NOMO unleashes vegan cookie dough bar

By Anthony Myers

Vegan & free from chocolate brand NOMO has launched its ‘biggest chocolate bar yet’ with the arrival of the chunky Cookie Dough block.

Pic: H!P

Plant-based special

H!P Chocolate launches Crunchy Orange Bar

By Anthony Myers

Plant-powered confectionery brand H!P has released its latest offering - a Crunchy Orange bar - that ticks all the boxes for conscious consumers … smooth, creamy oat m!lk chocolate combined with zesty orange and crunchy waffle cone pieces.

Pic: GettyImages

Plant-based special

What next for plant-based confectionery?

By Anthony Myers

With new inventions and innovations coming thick and fast, the plant-based confectionery category is increasingly shifting into the mainstream market with big brands like Mars entering the space in the past couple of years.

The two West African countries produce over 60% of the world's cocoa Pic: Getty Images

Commodities

Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana await approval for IMF loans

By Anthony Myers

Both countries’ economies have been ‘hit hard by the triple shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, global financial tightening, and adverse spillovers from Russia’s war in Ukraine’.

How will the next generation of innovators win over consumers, and what hurdles will they need to jump to get there? GettyImages/snapphoto

How next-gen protein innovators plan to win over consumers

By Flora Southey

The taste and texture of meat and dairy analogues have come a long way. But according to alternative protein experts, ‘there is still room for improvement’. How will the next generation of innovators win over consumers, and what hurdles will they need...

Sweet Victory chewing gum. Source: Sweet Victory

Gum helps combat sugar cravings with 'sugar destroyer' ingredient

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Israeli food-tech startup Sweet Victory has released a chewing gum designed to curb sugar cravings. A consumer study on the gum found that it enabled its users to significantly cut down on sweets, as well as lose weight. The product, which is already...

Pic: GettyImages

Trendspotting for the King’s coronation

By Gill Hyslop

The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla takes place on Saturday, 6 May 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London. While only 2,000 guests have been invited to attend the event, more than 7,000 street parties and community events are expected to...