Big Brands

Sales of cocoa beans have fallen in Cote d'Ivoire. Pic: CN

Cocoa

Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa exports plummet as COVID and LID disrupt market

By Anthony Myers

Sales of Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa crop are the worst in decades, industry sources say, as COVID-19 drives down global demand for chocolate and the controversial Living Income Differential (LID) increases the price of its, and neighbouring Ghana’s, cocoa...

Mondelēz predicts 2020 earnings growth, and beats third quarter results. Pic: Mondelēz

Financial results

Mondelēz predicts 2020 growth as consumers stock up on candies and cookies

By Anthony Myers

Mondelēz International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dirk Van de Put said he was “very encouraged” by its financial performance, after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly results as consumers stocked candies and cookies at home...

Pic: Nestlé

Online

Nestlé launches webshop to offer Quality Street all year round

By Anthony Myers

Nestlé has announced a new webshop for its perennial Christmas favourite Quality Street brand so fans no longer need to leave their street, home or even their armchair to buy personalised tins of their favourite sweets.

 Mars said it remains committed to working with others to create a sustainable cocoa supply chain in-line with its Cocoa for Generations strategy. Pic: Mars Wrigley

Sustainability

Mars welcomes minimum price guarantee for cocoa farmers in West Africa

By Anthony Myers

Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, the world’s largest cocoa producers, have hiked up their minimum price guarantee given to farmers by 21% for the 2020-2021 growing season that starts in October, and has support of major chocolate companies including Mars Wrigley.

The amount of packaging in Cadbury share bags has been cut, says Mondelēz  International. Pic: Mondelēz International

Sustainability

Mondelēz slashes packaging on Cadbury large share bags

By Anthony Myers

Snacking giant announces it will reduce the packaging by 15% across its iconic large Cadbury share bags as part of the company’s strategy to eliminate 65,000 tonnes of packaging by the end of 2020.

Join the club: KitKat fans in US get chance of the inside scoop on new flavors. Pic: The Hershey company

Marketing

KitKat fans in US get chance to become tastemakers

By Anthony Myers

KitKat, which made under license in the US by the HB Reese Candy Company, a division of The Hershey Company, is giving 200 fans the opportunity to be among the first to taste the brand's newest flavor innovations through membership to an exclusive...

A cocoa farmer in Cote d'Ivoire  Pic: Mars

Coronavirus

Mars updates its ongoing COVID-19 Response Plan

By Anthony Myers

In April, Mars committed US$20m in cash and in-kind donations to support the people, pets, and communities most affected by COVID-19, including communities in cocoa-growing.

The new Reese's Franken-Cups are now paired with a franken-green crème, especially for Halloween. Pic: Hershey

Halloween Special Edition

Hershey’s ‘fang-tastic’ Halloween treats hit the shelves early

By Anthony Myers

Hershey was one of the first out of the blocks of the big candy companies to reveal its Halloween treats this year when way back at the beginning of July it introduced Reese's Franken-Cups, KIT KAT Witch's Brew, Hershey's Kisses Vampire...

Early signs from Ferrero reveal shoppers are getting into the spirit of Halloween. Pic: Ferrero/Pinterest

Halloween Special Edition

Ferrero to launch ‘31 Days of Halloween’ campaign

By Anthony Myers

Although trick-or-treating might look different this year, Ferrero says it has a bunch of new treats to share for those celebrating virtually, socially distancing with friends or from the comfort of their own homes.