Ingredients

Special report - part two

The Right Price: Industry sees progress in cocoa premiums, but it's complicated

18-Jul-2019 By Kristine Sherred

ConfectioneryNews spoke with three facets of the industry – a leading certifier, a boutique producer, and a nonprofit – to understand the potential efficacy of higher prices paid to farmers.

Sustainable Food & Drink Podcast

Sustainable cocoa defined: What will be the impact of the ISO standard?

18-Jul-2019 By Oliver Nieburg

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard on sustainable cocoa will help mainstream ethical cocoa, says the chair of the standard, while an NGO worries uptake will be limited.

Sugar Reduction or Nature's Sweetspot

Sugar derived from sucrose and berry-based sweetener prepped for takeoff

16-Jul-2019 By Kristine Sherred

The naturally modified table sugar from Global Biolife, called Laetose, carries 30% fewer calories and about half the glycemic index compared to glucose.

Special report - part one

The Right Price: Could premiums paid by the government eradicate child labor in Ghana’s cocoa industry?

15-Jul-2019 By Kristine Sherred

Researchers set out to determine how much, if at all, a price premium would affect the reality of child labor in cocoa production in Ghana. Through three scenarios, they settled on an 11% bump transferred directly from government to farmer.

Sustainability

Barry Callebaut’s Forever Chocolate snags top spot in sustainability ranking

15-Jul-2019 By Kristine Sherred

Sustainalytics, a third-party assessor, analyzed 229 packaged food companies for their environmental, social and governance risks. Barry Callebaut received the lowest risk rating.

Orkla scoops up British toffee and fudge maker Confection by Design

10-Jul-2019 By Kristine Sherred

Through its subsidiary Orchard Valley Foods, the Nordic manufacturer and distributor already purveys two-thirds of the UK confectioner’s products.

Barry Callebaut consolidating distribution with ‘milestone’ Belgian facility

09-Jul-2019 By Kristine Sherred

The chocolate supplier’s 60k-square-foot, green-certified facility – located in the northern town of Lokeren – should open in the third quarter of 2021.

HMS distribution expands high-end ingredient sphere with Henley Bridge acquisition

04-Jul-2019 By Kristine Sherred

As one of the Europe’s largest food ingredient distributors, HMS reaches further into the premium market with HB Ingredients, which serves bakeries as well as chocolate and ice cream manufacturers.

Chocolate made with jackfruit seeds nearly ready, says Indian co-op

27-Jun-2019 By Kristine Sherred

The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) has been developing a chocolate product made from vacuum-fried jackfruit bits.

Technology

Print your own: German startup introduces first low-cost 3D printer for chocolate structures

24-Jun-2019 By Kristine Sherred

Focusing on the food and hospitality industry, Print2Taste wants pastry enthusiasts to use the printer, known as mycusini, to create decorative chocolate pieces at home.

Almond Board looks forward to sustainable indulgent snacks, chocolate 50 years in - video

21-Jun-2019 By Kristine Sherred

As snacking occasions abound, the Almond Board of California (ABC) has committed to promoting the sustainability and usefulness of the world’s favorite nut.

Sustainability

100% Traceable: Olam’s tech links producers and farmers through data

20-Jun-2019 By Kristine Sherred

The cocoa and spice supplier unveiled sustainability goals in 2017 with a 2020 goal of nurturing a ‘fully traceable’ cocoa supply chain. We discussed progress with Olam's North American innovation lead, when we caught up with him at IFT.

Sustainable Food & Drink Podcast

What do farmers and the ICCO think of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire’s minimum cocoa price?

19-Jun-2019 By Oliver Nieburg

The World Cocoa Farmers Organization (WCFO) is asking Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to reconsider setting a minimum cocoa price, while the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is suprised the price was not higher.

Flavors

Natural vanillin: Is it the stable flavor source the industry needs?

14-Jun-2019 By Kristine Sherred

We sat down with the Solvay team at the recent International Food Technologists’ annual expo in New Orleans, Louisiana, to discuss its expanded line of natural vanillin and why it matters as vanilla bean prices soar.

Free-from

No Nuts: Guittard gains nut-free status across production plants

12-Jun-2019 By Kristine Sherred

The California-based chocolate maker already boasted peanut-free manufacturing, but now that certification extends to all tree nuts.

Financial

South African bank and Ghana cocoa board explore business expansion strategies

10-Jun-2019 By Kristine Sherred

The Standard Bank Group, Africa’s biggest lender by assets, sent 17 members as part of an immersion program to discuss opportunities for growth in the Ghanian cocoa sector.

The Netherlands cracks down on child labour with due diligence bill

04-Jun-2019 By Flora Southey

The Child Labour Due Diligence Law aims to stamp out modern slavery in the Netherlands’ global supply chains, according to the Senate.

Ruby Chocolate

Ready for Ruby: Barry Callebaut formally launches 4th type in US and Canada

14-May-2019 By Kristine Sherred

The chocolate supplier has made ruby readily available in the US and Canada – to be labeled as ruby couverture – and vows to fight for FDA approval of a fourth standard of identity.

Cocoa

Côte d’Ivoire rainfall instills hope for decent year after an unusually dry April

08-May-2019 By Kristine Sherred

Farmers told Reuters that they expect the mid-crop to bounce back in May and June, despite below-average rainfall so far this year.

Packaging

Conscious Chocolate launches reformulated recipes, redesigned packaging

11-Apr-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Conscious Chocolate has found investment from Fortissimo Group launching reformulated recipes, brand redesigns, NPD and increased market support.

Guittard Chocolate on ethics, education, and ‘the evolution of artistry’

02-Apr-2019 By Flora Southey

San Francisco-based Guittard Chocolate Company has invested in farmer training to preserve chocolate flavours from cocoa growing regions and advance its sustainability mission, director of marketing Amy Guittard told FoodNavigator.

Sugar confectionery to grow at the highest rate, due to growing consumer preference for soft & chewy products

02-Apr-2019 By Jenny Eagle

The global confectionery ingredients market is expected to grow to $97.38bn by 2025, at a CAGR of around 6.1% between 2019 and 2025, according to Zion Market Research.

‘Making cocoa a tool for change’: Luker Chocolate talks single origin cocoa

01-Apr-2019 By Katy Askew

Luker Chocolate is a Colombian cocoa supplier and chocolate maker that believes cocoa production can deliver positive societal change: “We believe that chocolate makes the world a better place.”

Orkla to acquire majority stake of Greek confectionery, bakery and ice-cream firm

01-Apr-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Orkla Food Ingredients, part of Orkla Group, has entered into an agreement to purchase a majority stake in Greek confectionery, bakery and ice-cream business Stelios Kanakis Industrial and Commercial.

Mergers & acquisitions

Archer Daniels adds another natural citrus to the mix with Ziegler Group acquisition

21-Mar-2019 By Kristine Sherred

The agriculture and nutrition company will acquire the German provider of natural citrus flavor ingredients for an undisclosed amount, pending approval by the end of the second quarter.

Sustainable Food & Drink Podcast – Episode One

Ecuador’s sustainable cocoa future after cadmium

20-Mar-2019 By Oliver Nieburg

Ecuador’s efforts to create value at origin could be damaged by the EU’s recent regulation of heavy metal cadmium in chocolate, claims the president of the country’s cocoa export association.

Bartek to expand its products & packages in 2019 to meet market demand

21-Feb-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Bartek Ingredients, which produces malic and fumaric acid for beverages, confectionery and baked goods, has completed a 4,000 ton/year capacity increase of its malic acid production facilities, in Canada.

Givaudan, Nestlé and Bühler join Future Food Initiative

05-Feb-2019 By Jenny Eagle

The Swiss federal institutes of technology ETH Zürich and EPFL (Ecole polytechnique féderale de Lausanne) have launched Future Food – A Swiss Research Initiative (“Future Food Initiative”) with Givaudan, Nestlé and Bühler.

Germany pushes for EU-wide ‘binding regulations’ in cocoa production

31-Jan-2019 By Flora Southey

Establishing a single standard for sustainably-produced cocoa could impact how industry buys and processes the soft commodity.

Little Moons launch vegan Belgian chocolate Japanese Mochi range

30-Jan-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Little Moons has launched a range of vegan Belgian Chocolate Mochi, in Selfridges, in the UK and Ocado next month.

RED Delight low calorie chocolate to launch in the US

25-Jan-2019 By Jenny Eagle

RED Delight low calorie chocolate which claims to have only 16 calories per piece, has launched in the US.

Start-up dessert brand praised for great taste while reducing sugar content

17-Jan-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Start-up brand GATO & Co, which makes indulgent desserts, has been praised for its great taste while keeping the sugar content down. (They rely on the natural sweetness of high-quality ingredients, which means their puddings are 40%-50% lower in sugar...

Herza to debut white, dark & milk organic chocolate couverture pieces

09-Jan-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Herza is launching a range of white, dark and milk organic chocolate couverture pieces for “adventurous consumers” on the lookout for new and unusual flavor experiences.

Workers to strike at Yorkshire chocolate crumb factory

08-Jan-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Unite members have voted by 73% to strike at Meadow Foods chocolate crumb factory in Holme on Spalding Moor, Yorkshire, UK.

Investment

Cadbury scion to pitch his ethical chocolate business to the Dragons’ Den

20-Dec-2018 By Anthony Myers

James Cadbury carrying on family tradition to create handmade chocolate manufactured in UK, with his Love Cocoa company.

Globally-recognized plant-based certification will meet snacking trends

18-Dec-2018 By Gill Hyslop

The Allergen Control Group (ACG) – which owns the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) – is inviting applications from brand owners, retailers and manufacturers to participate in the development of the first internationally-recognized Plant-Based...

EXCLUSIVE

Bon Voyage - The Travelling Frenchman scales-up distribution of its single-origin chocolate

27-Nov-2018 By Jenny Eagle

The Travelling Frenchman is scaling up production and distribution of its single-origin chocolate with two launches in time for Christmas from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Venezuela.

Palm oil

Goupie: ‘It is not palm oil which is the problem, but how it is produced’

19-Nov-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Goupie chewy chocolate manufacturer has spoken out about palm oil following a number of calls from customers asking if they use it.

Dina Foods expands its Lebanese Baklawa selection

06-Nov-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Dina Foods has expanded its Baklawa range, launching a sweet pastry called Filo-Delight.

‘The words entrepreneur, organic and fair trade have become abused and institutionalized’

06-Nov-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Rude Health co-owner Nick Barnard talks about the challenges and hurdles he overcame to launch his food lifestyle brand, claiming people are more promiscuous than ever about their shopping habits, and businesses need sustainable friendships and relationships...

Hacienda Victoria interview

‘Cities of fine flavor cocoa’ and lost varieties never before found in chocolate

29-Oct-2018 By Oliver Nieburg

Smallholder cocoa farmers in Ecuador can match the yields of CCN-51 with Nacional fine flavor, says the world's largest fine flavor cocoa plantation Hacienda Victoria.

Editor's spotlight

African Food Forum to celebrate African food and highlight struggles with supply chains, ingredients & sustainability

23-Oct-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Entrepreneur Zoe Adjonyoh is at the forefront of championing African food to the masses, having evolved from setting up a food stall in London seven years’ ago to opening her first restaurant, ‘Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen’, and now vocally promotes the challenges...

‘It’s important not to follow food fads but to look at lifestyle choices’

23-Oct-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Sugar-free, gluten intolerance, food labelling, vegan, dairy and on-the-go snacking; consumers are following more food trends than ever before but is it having a detrimental effect on our health?

Editor's spotlight

Former Green & Black’s co-founder talks about Gusto Cola, biochar, sugar tax & the plastic waste debate

19-Oct-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Brothers Craig and Greg Sams will take to the stage next week to talk about how they entered the healthy-eating market with their Whole Earth Food Brand in the early 70s, before it became on-trend and how biochar is changing the future of organic farming.

Inclusivity

Cocoa farmer voice grows, but next step is a seat at decision-making table

17-Oct-2018 By Oliver Nieburg

Cocoa farmers’ voice in the chocolate industry is rising, says the World Cocoa Farmers Organization (WCFO), but a Declaration from farmers urges greater involvement in decision making on industry and government policy.

Processing innovation: Pack Expo 2018

Candy production equipment companies bet on booming cannabis industry for growth

16-Oct-2018 By Douglas Yu

The cannabis industry had never been a major customer base for the candy production equipment company, Savage Bros, until three years ago when it sold10 depositors to the US edible manufacturers for about $200,000.

Chocolate’s use in bakery is a booming business in China

08-Oct-2018 By Gill Hyslop

Once perceived as an exotic delicacy – bought only as a luxury gift or an extravagant treat – the Chinese consumers’ taste for chocolate is growing and the ingredient is quickly cementing a niche for itself in bakery.

'The Sweet Business With Yu' podcast -- Nick Symmonds, Run Gum

Nick Symmonds-created Run Gum to raise $500k of capital after gaining listing in Target

08-Oct-2018 By Douglas Yu

Run Gum, a caffeinated gum brand created by two-time US Olympian Nick Symmonds, has secured listing in Target stores across the USA, and now the company is looking to raise $500k of capital through an external investor to further fuel its exponential...

Sugar

Top 10 UK sugar confectionery brands

02-Oct-2018 By Anthony Myers

Major sugar confectionery manufacturers are starting to fight back as UK government legislation and consumer choice force them to innovate and reformulate.