De-risking cocoa: The chocolate giants leaning into novel technologies
Amid a cocoa crisis, the biggest names in chocolate are working to futureproof supply
Mars
New product development
What’s hot in confectionery? Skittles heat up, Mars Christmas and more
From sour innovations to festive indulgence, here’s a bumper haul of the latest new product development in confectionery
Mars to reformulate iconic brands in 2026
M&M’s, Skittles, and Starburst will ditch artificial colours, but not every product is making the switch
Mars bets on CRISPR to save cocoa from climate chaos
Mars teams up with biotech firm Pairwise to futureproof cocoa crops using gene editing
Mars scales up for snack domination with $2bn power play
With a new $240m Nature’s Bakery plant opening in Utah and a $36bn Kellanova deal underway, Mars is laying the groundwork for a US snack empire
Mars-Kellanova deal in jeopardy as Commission ‘stops the clock’
European Commission pauses review of $35.9bn Kellanova deal, citing “missing information”
Mars-Kellanova deal to reshape global snacking market
What happens when a confectionery giant takes a step into the snacking world? We’re about to find out
Texas AG targets Mars over continued use of artificial colours
Despite making a public commitment nearly a decade ago to phase out artificial colours, the M&M’s and Skittles maker is in hot water over its continued use of synthetic dyes in the US
GROWTH ASIA SUMMIT 2025
Mars Wrigley taps consumer obsession to fuel brand growth in APAC
New tactics emerge as a global giant rethinks how to win hearts, minds – and wallets – across a complex region
Mars-Kellanova deal cleared in US, faces EU showdown
Mars’ $36 billion takeover of Kellanova has been given the green light from US antitrust regulators but Brussels pushes forward with antitrust investigation
Is the $36 billion Mars-Kellanova merger at risk of collapsing?
Mars wants to rule the snack aisle but Brussels may have other ideas. A full-blown EU antitrust probe now threatens to derail the confectionery giant’s biggest-ever bet
From candy giant to snacking powerhouse: the new Mars playbook
With an ambitious growth target for the next five years, vice president of new innovation territories at Mars, Greg Hocking, explains how it’ll achieve it through fun formats, functionality and fostering sustainable start-ups
New product development
What’s hot in confectionery? Harry Potter Haribo, Galaxy Dates and more…
What are the latest chocolate, gummi and candy launches on the market now? We reveal the biggest confectionery new product developments (NPD) this week
Stretching out Halloween has a spellbinding effect
Mars unveils new seasonal products and consumer data as it taps into early demand, shifting treating habits and the rise of microseasons to boost confectionery sales
New product development
What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Mars and Hu
From an early look at Halloween candy to two on-point fruity flavours, meet the latest confectionery launches shaking up the shelves in 2025
How brands are tackling cocoa shortages, shrinkflation, and pricing pressures
With cocoa costs soaring and price-sensitive consumers, confectioners face tough choices in 2025. From reformulation to pack changes, how will brands navigate the financial squeeze?
New product development
What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Hershey to Hi-Chew
From new confectionery SKUs from Diageo to the wildest Christmas-themed flavor, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
Opinion
Mondelēz’s Hershey interest is a defensive move against Mars Kellanova
Mondelēz International’s rumoured bid for The Hershey Company would create a big business, but would it be big enough to counter the potential threat of a dominating Mars Kellanova?
New Product Development from Toblerone to Hotel Chocolat
Staying up to date with the newest confectionery products, trends and flavour combinations on the market is key to keeping on top of the fast-paced and competitive sweet sector.
What’s Mars’ convenience store strategy for 2025?
The global confectionery giant revealed its upcoming plans at this year’s 2024 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) event.
Mars scales its sustainable dairy sourcing efforts
Manure management, getting methane under control and seaweed feeds are among its climate-smart initiatives
Sustainability in confectionery: Six ways to drive a greener future
In recent years, consumer demand and evolving government regulations have led to significant advancements in sustainability within the confectionery sector.
New Product Development
What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Cadbury to Smart Sweets
From cannabis-infused candy to a better-for-you Twix, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
Mars-owned Hotel Chocolat opens 25 new stores
Chocolatier bets big on bricks and mortar stores as it begins a new era under new ownership. Here’s why Hotel Chocolat thinks IRL retail still matters
Inside Mars Wrigley's strategy to tap emerging global markets
The confectionery giant Mars Wrigley shares its five-point plan for hitting an untapped market of five billion consumers
Seasonal innovation
How to get ready for halloween 2024
As the majors finalise their campaigns for candy’s ‘biggest moment’ how can smaller confectioners turn spooky season into sales?
What's hot in confectionery? New product development from Skittles to Reese's
From Skittles supporting Pride to a supersized Reese’s Cup, these are the latest products launching around the globe
Sweets & Snacks Expo
Mars-Wrigley appeals to Gen Z through product innovation, including gummies and peanut butter
Gen Z consumers prefer new snacking experiences "that are talking to them in an authentic way," Mike Gilroy, the Mars-Wrigley’s VP of trade development and sponsorship, told FoodNavigator-USA at the Sweets & Snacks Expo earlier this month.
The top five sustainability trends in confectionery
As consumers’ ethical values become ever more baked into their confectionery choices, from Hershey to Mondelez and Nestle, we explore the ways brands are pivoting to more sustainable practises
Will new ‘shrinkflation’ labelling in France truly boost transparency?
France is preparing to enforce ‘shrinkflation’ signposting in retail, but critics are unconvinced the measure goes far enough.
World Cocoa Conference 2024
Oxfam slams large chocolate companies at World Cocoa Conference
Against a backdrop of cocoa topping $11,000 per metric ton on the futures market for the first time last week, Oxfam says its experts will be highlighting the discrepancies in farmgate price at this week’s World Cocoa Conference (WCC) in Brussels (21-24...
Brands
Mars Australia rebrands iconic ‘Malteasers’
Mars Wrigley has announced it is renaming its Maltesers brand to ‘Malteasers’ in what the company is describing as an ‘Ah-ha’ moment.
Retail
trüfrü launches in UK to shake up Frozen Fruit Snack Range
Award-winning frozen snack brand, trüfrü has launched in the UK market with a national listing secured in Tesco with more outlets to be announced in the coming months.
News
Two Unilever leaders join Mars Wrigley
Two new recruits will join the senior leadership team at Mars Wrigley Global Emerging Markets (GEM) as the snacking business looks to strengthen its global position and innovation offering.
M&M’S Cookie Dough hits the shelves across Australia
Brand owner Mars Wrigley is rolling out a new flavour ‘world-first’ innovation across Australia this month, combining consumers’ love of chocolate & cookie dough into one bite-sized treat.
Environment
Mars reuses old iconic adverts to raise consumer awareness of climate action
Mars Incorporated has launched a first-of-its-kind digital and out-of-home campaign that ‘reuses’ fan-favourite advertisements, giving them a second life and claiming the new messages bring hope and progress around climate action.
How Mars is rethinking reformulation on its path to net zero
As part of Mars Inc.’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the confectionery major is optimising product recipes to include more environmentally friendly ingredients.
M&As
Mars buys luxury UK chocolate brand Hotel Chocolat in shock deal
Mars has bought ailing UK business Hotel Chocolat for approximately £534 million ($662.25 million) in a deal announced to the London stock market this morning.
Confectionery
UK choc lovers hit with triple whammy as Caramac, Milkyway Crispy Rolls and Animal bars discontinued
As if the news that Nestlé is discontinuing the decades-old favourite Caramac bar had left a bad taste in the mouth for some, UK consumers have been equally left devastated by the announcement from Mars that it is ending production of the Milkyway Crispy...
Mars, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and Givaudan on how AI can improve NPD
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.
Retail
Mars raises cost of Galaxy bars while reducing size in another example of ‘shrinkflation’
Mars Incorporated, owners of the popular Galaxy bar in the UK, has admitted to reducing its size while raising the price of a bar - in another example of so called ‘shrinkflation’.
Sustainability
Confectionery giant Mars to invest $1bn to cut greenhouse gases from its supply chain
Mars incorporated has announced it will cut carbon in half – or by roughly 15 million metric tons – by 2030 across its full value chain and will continue investing in climate action despite a weaker global economy.
Sustainabilty
Mars bars undergo paper packaging trials in UK
Mars Wrigley UK has announced that its Mars bars will be wrapped in more environmentally friendly paper packaging rather than its traditional plastic wrapper.
Sweets & Snacks 2023
Sweets & Snacks closes Chicago with a record-breaking show
This year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo will be remembered for many reasons, not least because it was the last one to be held in Chicago, its home for the past 26 years.
Sustainability
Dove Galaxy uses brand power to empower more women in the cocoa sector
Dove Galaxy said it will focus on women empowerment within cocoa growing communities and Dove Galaxy retail markets as part of an ambitious sustainability pledge to help one million people thrive by 2030 in its value chain.
Appointments
Mars beefs up its commitment to innovation with new head of R&D
Mars Food & Nutrition has announced that former Unilever executive Karina Zimerfeld has been appointed Vice President of the business’ R&D function, headquartered in London.
Reformulating HFSS, without sacrifice: Join us at Positive Nutrition 2023
Innovative R&D strategies and the onboarding of new ingredient solutions are unlocking clean label opportunities to cut salt, fat and sugar – without sacrificing taste. Find out how at FoodNavigator’s Positive Nutrition Summit.
Moving beyond COVID dynamics: How Mars Wrigley, Upfield are retooling approaches, marketing to consumers in 2023
As 2023 comes into focus, CPG brands are addressing yet more changes to supply chains, marketing, and how they approach consumers, retailers, and the markets they serve, as shared in a recent IRI and Boston Consulting Group webinar.
Safety
Authorities fine Mars Wrigley for factory accident after contractors fell into chocolate tank
Confectionery giant has been fined £12,000 ($14,500) by US federal workplace authorities after two workers at one of its factories fell into a vat of chocolate and had to be rescued.
Marketing
M&Ms ‘spokescandies’ given new roles by Mars in change to Super Bowl LVII commercial
Mars Wrigley is attempting to move on from its volte-face on its M&M’s ‘spokescandies’ after attracting controversy and a media backlash in US over their rebranded appearance and replacing them with actress Maya Rudolph.