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
New product development
From new confectionery SKUs from Diageo to the wildest Christmas-themed flavor, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
New Product Development spotlight on emerging startups
Global chocolate company makes multi-million investment in upcycled cacao brand that produces chocolate using parts of the fruit that are typically thrown away.
Continuing our series on disruptive startups, we explore the rise of NICK’s, a Swedish-style snack brand that’s making a splash on the US market by redefining diabetes- and keto-friendly treats that don’t skimp on taste. What’s the brand’s secret?
There was no shortage of confectionery innovation at SIAL in Paris this month: with innovation tapping into health and wellness trends, future flavors and more...
As one industry leader opens a new large-scale purpose-built manufacturing plant, is cocoa-free chocolate on an upward trajectory?
New product development
From Kamala Harris-themed mints to flavour-changing gum, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
Global gummies specialist firm Haribo believes that a combined focus on sour flavours and variety packs will be its route to attracting more teenage and young adult consumers to the brand in the APAC region.
In its latest brand extension, Hershey is hoping some consumers like it hot. Here's what's behind the move
New product development
From an unexpected Coca-Cola x Mondelēz mash-up to Halloween fever at Hershey, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
New Product Development
From Cadbury’s ‘fast start’ on Christmas to a pop-up return of the Caramac, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
Discover the five flavour trends taking over the confectionery world, from 'swicy' sensations to nostalgic treats and functional delights
A scientific breakthrough may pave the way for developing more climate-resilient cocoa trees, potentially ensuring the continued production of cacao-based products like chocolate.
New Product Development
From cannabis-infused candy to a better-for-you Twix, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
New product development
Giant marshmallows and natural mochi flavours are making it big this summer
New Product Development
Blonde chocolate, ice cream-flavoured cookies and fudge, oh my! Meet summer’s hottest confectionery launches
From Mondelēz to McVities, here’s the latest products candy manufacturers are launching around the globe
From Skittles supporting Pride to a supersized Reese’s Cup, these are the latest products launching around the globe
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
The 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo became a launch pad for companies looking to crack the US confectionery market with new products from Colombia’s Vivamor, Canada’s Lovo Chocolate, along with reboots of classic brand Godiva and a new partnership deal for...
With a thriving start-up scene and a youthful consumer base hungry for candy innovation, India is a crucible of confectionery creativity. Here’s what you need to know
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
This year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo opened its four-day stay in Indianapolis with a ceremony for the 2024 Most Innovative New Product Awards winners, which recognise excellence across 13 categories.
R&D
Sprinkk, a real-life Willy Wonka candy lab, is set to open in Nebraska in June, the brainchild of millennial candy scientist Tessa Porter, who aims to revolutionize confectionery manufacturing.
R&D
Warheads, a brand of Impact Confections, Inc., has launched Sour Berry Mix Cubes, a sweet addition to its #1 selling chewy line.
Mondelēz International wants to team with early-stage startups through its CoLab Tech program to develop “groundbreaking” technology that can accelerate its Vision 2030 Growth strategy and meet consumer demand for personalized nutrition and products that...
Artificial Intelligence - special report
Two of the standout sessions at the NCA’s recent State of the Industry Conference covered ‘The transformative power of AI for business and personal use,' where experts unlocked the secrets of artificial intelligence to help brands stay ahead of the...
Plant-based confectionery
Global cocoa and ingredients company Cargill has announced a new commercial partnership with Voyage Foods to produce alternatives to cocoa-based products and nut spreads without using cocoa, peanuts, and hazelnuts.
Feature
Food Manufacture takes a closer look at the new product development (NPD) process, learning about the firms displaying best practice and why collaboration is so important.
Amsterdam Cocoa Week
Along with the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting, Chocoa’s Cocoa Sustainability Conference, Amsterdam Cocoa Week was also the setting for the Cacao of Excellence awards, which recognize excellence in cacao cultivation while supporting and...
Startup Spotlight
The founder of startup Harken Sweets, which launched earlier this month, wants to “nutritionally overhaul” the candy bar category by using “the power of the date fruit,” like how she helped Caulipower reinvigorate the pizza category with the “power of...
If you believe you have a groundbreaking answer that solves a global challenge – either as an established startup or at the start of your journey – EIT Food is inviting you to apply for one of its 2024 entrepreneurship programs.
Speical Report
The Surucuá community in Brazil's state of Pará is the first to receive an Amazonian Creative Laboratory, a compact mobile biofactory designed to help kick-start the Amazon’s bioeconomy to process, package and sell bean-to-bar chocolate and similar...
AI has the power to speed the food and beverage industry's digital transformation, as companies leverage it for product develop and to forecast upcoming trends, Jacques Botbol, CMO of Tastewise, told FoodNavigator-USA.
Technology is often crucial for keeping supply chains traceable, and blockchain, with its reliability, is supremely well-suited for this. Hungarian tech company TE-Food uses blockchain, alongside QR codes, to help its customers ensure their supply chains...
National Association for Convenience Stores
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 shared...
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.
Gummies are making an inroad as delivery format for creatine, one of the biggest performing subcategories in a booming performance nutrition market.
R&D
Cocoa-free chocolate pioneers WNWN Food Labs is collaborating with Fortnum & Mason in a series of sustainability-led activations, masterclasses, talks, and dinners.
R&D
Mission-driven energy gum company Rev Gum, the revolutionary fast-acting caffeinated chewing gum made with zero sugar, has announced it has raised $6 million from investors led by YETI Capital; founders of Drunk Elephant; former co-CEO of Whole Foods,...
R&D
Ferrero North America, part of the global company the Ferrero Group, has opened a new Innovation Center and North America R&D Labs in Chicago.
CoLab Tech is is designed to build a venture pipeline of early-stage snack brands focused on ideas that address tech-driven processes, sustainability and other priority areas for the Oreo maker.
News
The next big regional flavour trends set to go global have been predicted by new artificial intelligence- (AI-) powered research by Olam Food Ingredients (OFI).
Singapore-based REVIT is eyeing a bigger market share in the anti-hangover category with its gummy product, on the back of sales numbers that have been tripling month-on-month since its launch in January this year.
Webinar
In the upcoming webinar (airs 13 September), ConfectioneryNews will profile some of the key innovations in the sector that are being driven primarily by consumer trends. As R&D budgets are increased, we have seen ground-breaking innovations in the gummy...
R&D
A new initiative to promote innovation in Colombia’s cocoa sector has been launched with grants and awards for projects that promote peace building and forest conversation.
In a squeezed investment climate, we spoke to Fiona Choppe-Magal, Partner, Foodtech and Agritech, at Israel-based Cukierman Investment House, who reveals some crucial advice for Europe’s agrifood tech entrepreneurs to maximize their chances in dealings...
German ingredients company Döhler has announced plans to acquire SVZ, a Dutch supplier of fruit and vegetable ingredients, from Royal Cosun. The move is expected to buildout Döhler’s portfolio, notably in red fruit and vegetable ingredients.
"We're not just passively investing in promising sustainable food technology startups," said co-founder and general partner Jennifer Stojkovic in a press release. "Our team is fully committed to leveraging our expertise, powerful network, and industry...
WNWN Food Labs is rethinking chocolate, without cocoa. FoodNavigator visits the start-up’s R&D lab to see how its dark and ‘milk’ chocolate alternatives are made.
Innovation
Ingredient supplier Puratos has underlined its commitment to global bakery and confectionery start-ups by launching a new innovation platform at iba’s 2023 flagship event in Germany.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023
Launched in Europe towards the end of 2022, Barry Callebaut’s latest headline innovation - 2nd Generation Chocolate - landed in the United States this week, with an exclusive first taste for Expo attendees intrigued by claims of ‘a redesigned approach to...