This year, the chocolate industry’s most glamorous trade fair spanned five days and commanded two floors of the Paris Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, engaging and delighting the general public and attracting chocolatiers and chefs from across the...
As ISM Middle East prepares to open the MENA region's premier trade fair for confectionery and snacks at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 7 to 9 November, organisers Koelnmesse has announced it will be moving its usual November date to September...
Consumers are adapting their attitudes about food to a changing climate and aiming for more sustainable eating habits, research in Tetra Pak’s 2023 Index suggests. The research also indicated that consumers are gravitating towards healthier products,...
The European Union has urged Cote d’Ivoire to ramp up its efforts regarding the traceability of its cocoa if the country is going to meet the criteria of the EU deforestation law that comes into effect in January 2025.
A recent article in National Geographic described York as ‘England’s chocolate capital’. The city was home to two major confectionery companies, Terry’s founded in 1767 and Rowntree’s in 1862, the inventor of KitKat, which is still produced today at the...
Higher prices to combat slower demand pushed Hershey’s shares up approximately 3% on Wall Street before trading opened on Thursday (26) as the market reacted to higher-than-expected quarterly sales and profit in its third-quarter 2023 Financial Results.
While the vanilla industry is seeing low prices and low demand this year, Virginia Dare’s partnerships with 1,300 growers in Madagascar are focused on fortifying communities’ livelihoods through social, environmental and economic initiatives that help...
Consumer Reports (CR), a US independent, non-profit member organisation, has doubled down on its campaign against lead and cadmium in chocolate and urges changes after a new survey finds a third of products contain ‘concerning’ levels of heavy metals.
One of the major challenges facing the premium chocolate industry is the practice of ‘greenwashing’ where consumers are deceived by meaningless icons and false claims on labels purporting that the brand is committed to a responsible and transparent supply...
Special Edition: Natural & Clean label confectionery
The cocoa liquour market is forecast to expand at 6% CAGR through 2033, according to new data released by Future Market Insights (FMI) reaching an estimated value of $12,229.3 million.
IFIS Sustainability a cutting-edge, free Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database that curates the latest scientific research at the intersection of food and sustainability, has launched a new digital tool providing food innovators access to the latest...
Ingredients supplier Henley Bridge has unveiled a new range of chocolate drops from Chocolat Madagascar created directly in response to customer demand.
Food and beverage companies adopting more sustainable business practices, including more environmentally-friendly packaging and reducing emissions across their supply chain, are eager to share successes with consumers – but doing so can, and has, landed...
The UK Government has accepted a recommended legal THC limit for CBD products in an ‘historic’ move that aims to bring some legal clarity to the industry, but an expert warns there are muddy waters yet to be cleared.
California’s Food Safety Act (AB 418) bans the inclusion of four food additives—propyl paraben, brominated vegetable oil, Red Dye No. 3 and potassium bromate—in food and beverages, a landmark state-wide law highlighting the potentially widening gap between...
olam food ingredients’ (ofi’s) flavour experts share their predictions on how families will tap into this season’s flavour trends to create a ‘Spooktacular’ 31 October.
Off the back of Tony's Chocolonely’s warning that the new cocoa farmgate price is still too low, other chocolate brands and global organisations call for an end to corporate greed and push for equity.
Plans are already underway for the National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Miami next year with a call-out for nominations of outstanding industry leaders across several disciplines for awards
Cocoa prices climbed this week as the result of stronger global cocoa demand, with barchart.com reporting that Gepex, an exporter group that includes six of the world's biggest cocoa grinders, said that its Q3 cocoa processing was 183,731 MT, up...
Amid rising farmgate prices yet insufficient Living Income Reference Prices (LIRP), cocoa companies turn to communication, connection and collaboration throughout the sector to advocate better wages for farmers.
Alfred Theodor Ritter, chairman of the advisory board of Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, has been announced as the winner of the 50th Anniversary European Candy Kettle Award.
Law provides a framework to investigate the use of forced labour in companies’ supply chains. All goods made using forced labour to be halted at EU borders and withdrawn from the market.
The International Chocolate and Cocoa Festival, which has been established in Brazil for more than 30 years, returns to Portugal for its second European edition, with a main theme of exploring the concept of terroir.
Visual artificial intelligence's role in retail offers a potential solution to streamlining operations in real time, according to Doug New, chief information officer, Nouria Energy and Dr. Bruce Porter, chief science officer, Spark Cognition, who...
Scary monsters (and super creeps) with false teeth may not be the only ones to bite this Halloween as inflation is also hitting households across the United States, forcing many families to keep tight control of the purse strings.
John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association (NCA), has sent an email to Robert M. Califf, commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating the new California Food Safety Act ‘undermines consumer trust and creates...
The global ingredients supplier provided health and nutrition support for 105,000 people in its cashew and hazelnut supply chains last year - one of several achievements listed in its impact report that looks back over the past 12 months.
Five million, mainly small-scale farmers produce 75% of the world’s cocoa, and earning a living income has become the key objective for the cocoa sector. Still, despite various initiatives, it hasn’t changed core business practices so far. According to...
After an absence of two years because of the pandemic, Japan’s master chocolatiers are set to return to Paris for this year’s Salon du Chocolat as part of a full international delegation that includes 25 countries when it opens at the Porte de Versailles...
As VP of Corporate Communications at Barry Callebaut Group, Christiaan Prins was at the forefront of many of the recent sustainability challenges in the cocoa sector. He has now established a new strategic communications consultancy, theLOOP Communications,...
Belcolade, the Puratos-owned Belgian Chocolate brand, has opened a new carbon-neutral chocolate factory, running on 100% renewable electricity, sourcing 90% of its water from collected rainwater, and using five times less energy in heat production.
Cocoa production is decisively linked with women, and sustainable value chains are, too. However, how will their roles differ with the upcoming EU legislation on deforestation, and in a broader issue, will it threaten cocoa and chocolate exporters?
C-stores can attract and retain customers who are looking for a quick and easy meal or snack by offering a variety of fresh and convenient food options, as well as bundling deals that offer discounts on popular products, Kathy Risch SVP, shopper insights...
French cocoa supplier the Touton Group said it is adjusting its business strategy to meet upcoming sustainability and compliance requirements with a fresh investment in climate-friendly solutions and a commitment to strengthen its collaboration with partner...
With 95% of exported beans classed as ‘fine flavour cacao’, Colombia's reputation in the world of chocolate is unparalleled, and after a successful showing at Seattle’s NorthWest Chocolate Festival by a quartet of artisanal companies, the word is...
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Food Safety Act on Oct. 7, 2023. The statewide legislation, the first of its kind in the US, “will prohibit any food product manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held or offered for sale in...
The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) marked half a century of commitment to sustainable growth in the cocoa sector with a special celebration held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, where it is now headquartered.
The American confectionery industry is looking forward to increasing sales this Halloween after a survey revealed 98% of Americans will be offering treats to young visitors knocking at their doors.
NPD takes time. Long hours of R&D lie between an idea and a product launch. AI, however, is helping a range of major companies generate product ideas, as well as do market research and gain insights into the minds of consumers.
According to the most recent Corbion Consumer survey, the primary drivers for consumers of confectionery remain centered around flavour and reputable brands. In the realm of sugar confectionery, fruit flavours continue to hold sway as the top choice among...
India’s West Godavari region is emerging as a craft chocolate capital, and the launch of Manam Chocolate could well put Indian cocoa on the global map.
The National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) Sweets & Snacks Expo is accepting education curriculum proposals for its 2024 event, which takes place at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 13 to 16 May.
The ingredients specialist for the bakery, sweet treats and chocolate industry revealed its industry trends and consumer preferences at its Taste Tomorrow conference.
The European single market was established 30 years ago with the freedom of movement of goods, which initially boosted foreign trade for Germany’s confectionery industry – but a lack of clarity is now threatening its very future, the German Confectionery...