Spanish confectionery group Chupa Chups has announced a 17 per cent
drop in sales for 2002 - a decline which has forced it to close
most of its foreign production units.
Despite strong sales in confectionery speciality fats, Danish
Aarhus Oliefabrik on Wednesday reported a drop in post-tax profits
to DKK 19.4 million (€2.61m) for the first quarter of 2003.
Exceptionally hot weather in the last week before Easter meant that
like-for-like sales at UK confectionery maker and retailer
Thorntons dropped by 7 per cent.
Ingredients developer zuChem this week announced that it has raised
a considerable chunk of capital in order to develop new methods to
manufacture alternative sweeteners.
Swedish ingredients company Karlshamns reports that growing
competition and decreasing margins characterised the market for
chocolate fats designed to replace cocoa butter.
Barry Callebaut, the Swiss chocolate producer, has continued to go
from strength to strength despite depressed consumer spending and
the strength of the Swiss franc. As in Q1, first half figures were
boosted by the Stollwerck acquisition...
Topps, the US-based company behind the Bazooka bubblegum has
reported a decline in sales for 2002, caused mainly by the collapse
in sales of its Pokemon branded confectionery items.
AVK, the Ukrainian confectionery group, claims that it increased
its share of that country's chocolate market in 2002 with a 32 per
cent increase in sales.
