News

How visual AI can improve operations in retail convenience

National Association for Convenience Stores

How visual AI can improve operations in retail convenience

By Deniz Ataman

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...

US consumers will still have plenty of candy treats on hand this Halloween. Pic: Getty Images

Seasonal

Reality bites? US Halloween candy sales unspooked by inflation

By Anthony Myers

Scary monsters (and super creeps) with false teeth may not be the only ones to bite this Halloween as inflation is also hitting households across the United States, forcing many families to keep tight control of the purse strings.

Consumers are increasingly opting for cashews and hazelnuts for their taste and perceived nutritional benefits, yet the farmers producing these nuts don’t always have the means to meet their own health and nutrition needs. Pic: ofi

ofi ticks up the milestones in first Nuts Trails impact report

By Gill Hyslop

The global ingredients supplier provided health and nutrition support for 105,000 people in its cashew and hazelnut supply chains last year - one of several achievements listed in its impact report that looks back over the past 12 months.

Belcolade’s new green factory at Erembodegem, Belgium. Pic: Belcolade

EXCLUSIVE

Belcolade opens first carbon-neutral chocolate factory in Belgium

By Anthony Myers

Belcolade, the Puratos-owned Belgian Chocolate brand, has opened a new carbon-neutral chocolate factory, running on 100% renewable electricity, sourcing 90% of its water from collected rainwater, and using five times less energy in heat production.

Alejandra Sarasty, Chocolate Cordillera's Chief Global B2B Officer, embraces one of the women cocoa farmers from the ATENEA programme. Pic: CN

Webinar

The importance of women in the cocoa value chain

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa production is decisively linked with women, and sustainable value chains are, too. However, how will their roles differ with the upcoming EU legislation on deforestation, and in a broader issue, will it threaten cocoa and chocolate exporters?

C-store consumer habits: balancing impulse purchases with nuanced usage occasions

National Association for Convenience Stores

C-store consumer habits: balancing impulse purchases with nuanced usage occasions

By Deniz Ataman

C-stores can attract and retain customers who are looking for a quick and easy meal or snack by offering a variety of fresh and convenient food options, as well as bundling deals that offer discounts on popular products, Kathy Risch SVP, shopper insights...

Former ICCO Council President Abel Fernández addresses members at the recent Council Meeting. Pic: ICCO

Sustainability

ICCO celebrates 50 years of cocoa sustainability commitment

By Anthony Myers

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) marked half a century of commitment to sustainable growth in the cocoa sector with a special celebration held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, where it is now headquartered.

Many big players in the food industry have found regenerative AI helps them in NPD. Image Source: Hiroshi Watanabe/Getty Images

Mars, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and Givaudan on how AI can improve NPD

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

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.

Let's twist again: Candy companies can revitalise timeless classics with new flavours. Pic: Corbion/istock

Guest post

Survey shows confectionery consumers crave fruity flavours

By Linda Tomaselli

According to the most recent Corbion Consumer survey, the primary drivers for consumers of confectionery remain centered around flavour and reputable brands. In the realm of sugar confectionery, fruit flavours continue to hold sway as the top choice among...

The Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024 will be held in Indiana. Pic: NCA

Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024

NCA puts call-out for speakers for 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo

By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) Sweets & Snacks Expo is accepting education curriculum proposals for its 2024 event, which takes place at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 13 to 16 May.

Women from the  COOPAAPROMAN community in Cote d'Ivoire organise their Village Savings Loans. Pic: Magnum

Sustainability

AWA by Magnum supports more female cocoa farmers in Cote d’Ivoire

By Anthony Myers

To mark World Cocoa & Chocolate Day (which took place on 1 October) Magnum ice cream has released more details on its female empowerment programme, upscaling the work to reach thousands of additional women throughout cocoa communities in the West...

Pic: Werther's

SPECIAL EDITION: Flavour inspiration

Werther's Original taps into caramel

By Anthony Myers

Classic UK confectionery brand Werther's Original has captured this season’s flavour trend with the launch of its Chocolate Covered Caramels, combining the rich, buttery taste of Werther's caramel with the smoothness of milk chocolate.

The assessment carried out in September 2023 shows no pesticide cases in PRONATEC's organic cocoa butter, mass and powders. Pic: PRONATEC

Production

PRONATEC reports a clean bill of health for its organic cocoa beans

By Anthony Myers

The family-owned company has been processing cocoa beans into cocoa mass, butter, and powder at its own exclusively organic plant in Winterthur, Switzerland, since June 2022 and says an assessment carried out this month shows there have been no pesticide...

A Brazilian court has found 'unlawful' working conditions in Cargill's cocoa supply chain. Pic: Cargill

Sustainabilty

Cargill accused of child labour practices on Brazilian cocoa farms

By Anthony Myers

Cargill, one of the world’s largest cocoa suppliers, has been ordered by a Brazilian court to pay 600,000 reais ($120,185) as indemnity for allegedly buying cocoa from farms where child labour or forced work has been identified.

Caramel is making a splash in chocolate this season. Pic: GettyImages

Special edition: Flavour inspiration

The flavour trends redefining chocolate indulgence

By Anthony Myers

Luker Chocolate, a premium and sustainable brand from Colombia, has also been at the forefront of introducing new flavours to chocolate bars over the past couple of years, and the company has gathered valuable insights from recent trade fairs ExpoWest...

The guide will help cacao producers communicate the quality of their cacao. Image Source: Ilka & Franz/Getty Images

Cacao guide aims to help producers communicate the quality of their cacao

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

For a long time, there has been no commonly agreed way of assessing and communicating the quality of cacao, the seed from which stems cocoa and chocolate. Now, however, a new initiative has been unveiled that will aim to do just that, with contributions...

Pic: Cocoa Canopy

Packaging

Cocoa Canopy repackages its beads for the service sector

By Anthony Myers

UK-based drinking chocolate brand, Cocoa Canopy, has announced a new format for its 900g foodservice packs across all five of its varieties, supplying the sector with a product they can display all year round.

The emergence of the creatine gummy

The emergence of the creatine gummy

By Asia Sherman

Gummies are making an inroad as delivery format for creatine, one of the biggest performing subcategories in a booming performance nutrition market.

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars