US-based Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory this week reported an
eight per cent revenue increase for the three months to 31 May,
compared to the same period last year.
Private label bakery products continue to hold a strong foothold in
the growing UK market, accounting for 58 per cent of sales by
value, according to a study by Nielsen.
A task force designed to examine the link between food advertising
and childhood obesity has delayed the release of its formal report
to take into account the new marketing measures expected to be
imminently announced by major food...
Mergers and acquisition activity is always ongoing in every segment
of industry, but this summer looks to be a particularly hot one for
food and beverage manufacturers.
Zurich-based chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut said today
that like-for-like sales increased 6.1 per cent in
the nine months to 31 May, despite the unstable cocoa
market.
European confectionery private label market share is continuing to
grow strongly, according the latest statistics by Neilsen for the
Private Label Market Association.
The owners of Israeli food giant
Willi-Foods announced yesterday that they will sell
45 per cent of the company to international businessman
Arcadi Gaydamak for $40.5m (€30.1m).
A UK-based pressure group campaign against companies
that buy cocoa from the Ivory Coast has accused
the industry of funding conflict and civil unrest.
Fruit from the African baobab tree moved a step closer to approval
for use as a food ingredient in the EU yesterday, with the
publication of a positive opinion from the FSA's novel foods
committee.
CSM has announced that it is selling its French frozen bread
operations to Neuhauser for €7.7m, a move that follows heavy
restructuring to improve efficiency of its European bakery supply
unit.
Eastern European confectionery company Roshen has produced more
than 80,000 tonnes of confectionery in the year's first quarter,
taking $140 million (€104m) in sales and confirming its position as
a market leader in Ukraine's...
Masterfoods' U-turn over its plan to reformulate its famous
confectionery brands using animal-derived whey sets a precedent
that will prevent any other food manufacturer from flying in the
face of the global trend towards the...
A European court has said that the marketing of the sweetener
Splenda is misleading to consumers, and has ordered that its
advertising slogans be ceased.
Marketing strategies - two words that incorporate everything from
pseudo scientific research to shock value advertising campaigns.
But shouldn't honesty be the best policy?
German equity investment company Arques has taken over
confectionery firm van Netten in yet another example of private
investors moving into the food industry sphere.
The trend towards food manufacturers outsourcing their chocolate
ingredient needs translated into impressive volume and sales growth
for Barry Callebaut's industrial business segment for the first six
months of the fiscal year.
Danisco recorded revenue of DKK 15,220 million in the first three
quarters of 2006/07, a period which saw significant structural
change within the company.
Swiss premium chocolate maker Lindt & Sprungli has performed
well in the competitive North American market - helping to push
consolidated full year sales for the company 15.1 per cent to
CHF2.586 billion (€1.6bn).
The UK's second largest biscuit manufacturer, Burton's Foods, has
been acquired by British buy-out firm Duke Capital from US group HM
Capital Partners for what is believed to be around a £200 million
(€292.3m) sum.
UK food processor Premier Foods remains undaunted by last year's
rising raw material costs and unseasonably warm summer weather -
posting a 12 per cent rise in pre-tax profits in its preliminary
results announced yesterday.
US chocolate maker Hershey has embarked on a three-year
restructuring plan to further increase the company's global
footprint and allow it to outsource production of low value-added
products.
US Confectioner Hershey is to form a joint venture with Korean
counterpart Lotte Confectionery, as it looks to enter the dynamic
Chinese chocolate market to offset declining domestic sales.
A new power washer, using ozone mixed with cold water to
decontaminate food processing premises, will reduce costs and help
the environment, its manufacturer claims.
A new sweetener supplier in the US claims to allow food and
beverage firms to access ingredient supplies from low-cost
manufacturing countries while maintaining Western standards of
quality and service.
Two different new bag making machines have been released on the
market, one designed to produce large bags at high speed, while the
otheris targeted at dry and frozen food manufacturers.
If the Chinese government gives in to mounting international
pressure to revalue its currency, it could spell the end of cheap
exports, a move that many anticipate would have a knock-on effect
on raw materials costs for the food industry....
Changes to Danisco's ingredients division will lift the EBIT margin
for the segment to above 15 per cent, according to the firm's
announcement of Q1 2006/07 results.
Tough trading conditions in the confectionery industry have forced
UK group, Lees Foods, to look at ways of diversifying -
highlighting the tactics smaller sweet makers must adopt to ensure
their survival in an increasingly competitive...
Godiva chocolates have proved sweet for the Campbell Soup Company
as the food group noted a significant increase in sales this year -
pointing to increased demand for luxury confectionery.
The iconic UK Highland Toffee bar has been saved from extinction
after the company which produces it, Millar McCowan, was bought out
of receivership this week.
A cool spring and late Easter has contributed to booming business
at Swiss chocolate maker Lindt, who announced it has more than
doubled its profits in the first half.
John Thornton, the last family member on the board of one of the
UK's leading confectionery companies, Thorntons, has announced his
resignation, bringing to an end nearly a century of direct family
ownership.
The domination of the confectionery market by global heavy weights
such as Nestlé, Mars and Cadbury Schweppes is forcing small
companies to target highly specialised markets, according to a new
report.A number of high profile mergers...
Danisco's takeover of Genencor International, the EU sugar reform
and rising raw material prices feature prominently in the group's
recently published annual report.
The world's largest lollipop manufacturer, Chupa Chups SA has been
sold to Italian-Dutch company, Perfetti van Melle after its failure
to recover from falling sales.
Leading chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has reported an
increased operating profit (EBIT) of 14.6 per cent for the first
nine months of fiscal year 2005/06.
