Retail & Shopper Insights

Check out the NCA's Valentine's digital hub for fun facts and resources on how to celebrate the special occasion. Pic: GettyImages

Seasonal

NCA reveals America’s favorite Valentine’s Day chocolate filling

By Anthony Myers

Chocolate and candy are an iconic part of modern-day gifting, but while many people enjoy a piece of chocolate from a heart-shaped box during the Valentine’s Day season, not every consumer approaches selection in the same way, the National Confectioners...

M&M’s to open three experiential stores by 2021. Photo: MRG

M&M’s to expand, opening three experiential stores by 2021

By Jenny Eagle

Mars Retail Group (MRG) is expanding the M&M’s brand by opening three ‘experiential’ stores by 2021 including Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida, Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota and its first store in Berlin, Germany.

ProSweets/ISM 2020 is set to welcome a record number of international participants when it opens this weekend. Pic: Koelnmesse

ProSweets/ISM 2020

ISM set to welcome record numbers for its 50th birthday party in Cologne

By Anthony Myers

Together, ISM and ProSweets cover the entire value chain in the production of sweets and snacks - from chocolate and chocolate products, to sweets, biscuits, through to trending snacks. Here is a preview of what to expect at this year’s event when it...

UK adults most associate Quality Street with Christmas. Pic: Nestlé

Christmas

New survey from Nestlé reveals how the nation eats its festive treats

By Anthony Myers

A timely new online survey, carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Nestlé, has revealed that one fifth (20%) of UK adults (aged 16-75) typically start eating chocolate before or at breakfast time on Christmas Day – with almost half (48%) tucking in by...

NCA president and CEO John Downs rocked Boca Raton in March and delivered a rousing state of the candy industry speech, which became one of our highlights of 2019. PIC: NCA

2019

2019 in review: Our Top 10 stories on ConfectioneryNews

By Anthony Myers

From 100% recyclable packaging by Nestlé to a personal account of the life of a cocoa farmer in Ghana, and let's not forget NCA boss John Downs rocking Boca! Here is our rundown of some of our best read stories of 2019.

A glimpse of Hotella Nutella (Photo courtesy of Ferrero)

Marketing

Ferrero creates Hotella Nutella for one January weekend

By Kristine Sherred

After opening a Nutella Café in New York and Chicago, Ferrero offers fans of the hazelnut chocolate spread to live the Nutella life in California’s wine country with culinary pros.

At the NACS show in Atlanta, Hershey showed off its queue, where shoppers can 'relax' enough to browse and impulse-buy.

Hershey embracing fresh approach to modern retail challenges

By Kristine Sherred

Stand-up packaging, consumer-driven innovation and loyalty data are upending the candy aisle and checkout area. We talked with two Hershey execs at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) show to understand how one of the world’s most beloved...

Ruby, the ‘fourth type of chocolate’, is set to make its New York debut later this month at the Salon du Chocolat. Pic: Barry Callebaut

Salon du Chocolat NY 2019

Ruby to debut at Salon du Chocolat New York

By Anthony Myers

Barry Callebaut officially introduced ruby couverture in the United States earlier this year and is available in more than 50 countries worldwide, setting the stage for its New York premiere.

Hundreds of new products are launched at the NACS show every year, in part to catch retailers in time for their December resets.

NACS 2019

Candy gets a snack makeover at NACS

By Kristine Sherred

Brands looking to capitalize on the ‘permissible indulgence’ trend have turned to the candy aisle for inspiration. Catch a glimpse of what we saw at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual show in Atlanta, October 1-4.