Ingredients

Chocolate companies drive growth for global hazelnut market

28-Aug-2018 By Douglas Yu

The global hazelnut market is expected to reach $9.45bn in sales by 2026 with the chocolate category being a major driver behind its growth, according to Persistence Market Research (PMR).

Synergy Flavours creates Ruby Chocolate to target 18-34 year olds

13-Aug-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Synergy Flavours has developed a Ruby Chocolate flavour to expand its range of chocolate flavour profiles.to create a buzz among 18-34 year olds.

Results

Cargill posts rising fiscal 2018 revenue; makes progress in cocoa sustainability

10-Aug-2018 By Douglas Yu

Cargill has posted a 5% revenue increase year-over-year in 2018, reaching $114.7bn, partially driven by its growth in the chocolate and cocoa sector.

Hemp chocolate

Marketing hemp as marijuana in chocolate is misleading, Plamil Foods’ MD says

01-Aug-2018 By Douglas Yu

Advertising bars with a bright green cover that features a weed leaf on the front is not a 'positive and logical sale, says PF boss.

Cocoa crop losses are 38% and rising - so what can be done?

31-Jul-2018 By Niamh Michail

A staggering 38% of global cocoa is lost each year to disease or pests - and this figure looks set to rise - yet research is scant compared to rice, corn or wheat. Why is this and what is being done to reduce it?

Innovation

Start-ups Vs traditional companies – how to launch an ‘innovative product’

25-Jul-2018 By Jenny Eagle

There is a huge gap between start-ups that launch innovative products and traditional companies who don’t, irrespective of company scale, according to Practical Innovation.

Hemp chocolate

Chocolate and weed: Ritter Sport’s hemp seed chocolate might come to US next year

25-Jul-2018 By Douglas Yu

German chocolate producer Ritter Sport has said its hemp seed chocolate might come to the US on April 20th, Weed Day, in 2019.

Rising demand for egg white peptides in bakery & confectionery

23-Jul-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Use of egg white peptides is rising among global bakery and confectionery manufacturers because the animal-based protein is a rich source of bioactive peptides that can improve human health, according to Fact.MR research firm.

Reaction as Mondelēz  to launch 30% less sugar Cadbury bar

20-Jul-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Mondelēz  International has announced plans to launch a 30% less sugar Cadbury Dairy Milk next year but some consumers are taking to social media to air their grievances.

Functional Gums launches 100% natural chewing gum, made of 100% biodegradable and natural gum base

17-Jul-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Functional Gums has launched Natur Gum, which it claims is the first 100% natural chewing gum, made of 100% biodegradable and natural gum base.

Supreme Sweets to capitalize on gluten-free and low-calorie products

17-Jul-2018 By Jenny Eagle

US Highland (UHLN) has completed the acquisition of Supreme Sweets, a commercial bakery that designs, produces and delivers custom private-label products for restaurant chains and grocery retailers, for an undisclosed sum.

Japanese food manufacturer sets up independent factory to produce allergen-free chocolates

16-Jul-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Allergen-Free Foods, an arm of Nikkoh Co., is targeting growth with free-from chocolates after establishing an independent factory to develop products that do not contain 27 types of allergens.

IFT Preview

Popping crystals aim to be as big as gummies for nutrient delivery

11-Jul-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

PFHIX started as a food ingredients company selling its effervescent popping crystals in bulk and under private label, but has recently made a hard pivot into the nutraceutical space, working with companies such as Applied Food Sciences, Glanbia, and...

Exclusive Interview

That’s It expands into US chocolate market to compete with Godiva

11-Jul-2018 By Douglas Yu

Fruit bars maker, That’s It, has entered the confectionery category by introducing a line of truffles made with 64% dark chocolate: dark chocolate and dates, and dark chocolate and figs.

SweeTARTS on the lookout for the next Gummy shape

09-Jul-2018 By Jenny Eagle

SweeTARTS has announced a competition to find the next Gummy shape in conjunction with its latest launch of gummies shaped as a turntable, VR (Virtual Reality) headset and rocket ship.

Goupie meets demand for a longer shelf life as export demand grows

06-Jul-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Goupie, which makes handmade chewy confectionery, has extended the shelf life of its entire portfolio of products from six to nine months.

Plant-based milk chocolate made with oat flakes

60% less sugar: Finnish chocolatier introduces oat flakes-blended chocolate to compete with Nestlé’s Milkybar

28-Jun-2018 By Douglas Yu

Finnish chocolatier Goodio has developed a line of oat flakes-added chocolate bars ChocOat that contains 60% less sugar than traditional milk chocolate, such as Milkybar.

Protein chocolate in cereal

High-protein cereals are gaining ‘significance,’ says Herza Chocolate

25-Jun-2018 By Douglas Yu

Herza Chocolate has launched a line of protein-enriched chocolate pieces for cereal manufacturers.

A texture, taste and legal challenge: Chocolate start-up shirks sugar for dates

20-Jun-2018 By Niamh Michail

London start-up Kaakao managed to overcome texture and flavour challenges when sweetening its chocolate with dates instead of sugar but the regulatory challenge - the EU definition of chocolate - is proving to be more difficult.

Middle Eastern confectioner to save dropping US gum sales with high-end mastic gum

06-Jun-2018 By Douglas Yu

Confectioner Master Chewing Gum & Candies plans to bring its sugar- and aspartame-free mastic gum to the US, as it believes consumer’s dissatisfaction with the traditional gum flavors and packaging is to blame for the declining category sales.

Neighbors from hell: Cocoa farmers and elephants clash at boundaries of Ghana national park

04-Jun-2018 By Oliver Nieburg

The chocolate industry should support community-led buffer zones between tropical rainforest and cocoa farms to improve uneasy relations between farmers and their elephant neighbours, says a park manager in Ghana.

Mars hopes to turn around decline in gum with ‘gourmet’ Freedent Mints

31-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Mars has launched four ‘gourmet’ flavoured mints in France as part of its Freedent brand by Wrigley.

Ruby Chocolate

Ruby KitKat waits to sell in US as Barry Callebaut secures FDA marketing permit

30-May-2018 By Douglas Yu

American consumers may have to wait until next year to buy Ruby chocolate since Barry Callebaut’s latest creation doesn’t fit the FDA’s current definition of chocolate.

Carob's health halo beats cocoa for kids confectionery, says UK start-up

29-May-2018 By Niamh Michail

Far from being cocoa's poor cousin, carob powder is the ideal ingredient for healthy confectionery for kids, mimicking the "shine, snap and silky smooth texture" of milk chocolate without the stimulants caffeine and theobromine, says Supertreats...

Special edition: Functional confectionery

YouBar increases production for nutrition bars for individualized dietary needs

29-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

YouBar has seen increased demand for its ready-for-market nutrition bars that meet individualized recipes for a range of dietary and nutritional needs.

Market investment

Michigan food incubator bets big on protein for confectionery startups’ growth

28-May-2018 By Douglas Yu

Food incubator Rainmaker said incoming confectioners should mimic the snack category using protein as a functional ingredient to drive their sales.

MIA crowdfunding campaign to expand and increase production in Madagascar

24-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

MIA (Made In Africa) has launched a crowdfunding campaign via the Seedrs equity-based platform to raise £100K to expand, increase production, and fund equipment at its factory in Madagascar.

SweeTARTS: 55% of students choose strawberry as their favorite fruit flavor

23-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

SweeTARTS has launched Tangy Strawberry Soft & Chewy Ropes candy to coincide with National Strawberry Month in May.

Alland & Robert to train farmers to harvest acacia gum more sustainably

21-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Alland & Robert has welcomed sixth generation family member Charles Alland to take over the business from his father Frédéric Alland, announcing a number of forthcoming initiatives for the acacia gum firm.

Bebeto announces Halal-confectionery expansion

17-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Bebeto has announced it is expanding its Halal-accredited confectionery by supplying Morrisons supermarket in the UK for the first time.

The Marshmallowist launches ‘World’s first’ Bloody Mary marshmallow

17-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Gourmet marshmallow company, The Marshmallowist has launched a flavor pairings range to coincide with its debut in John Lewis stores.

Biscuit International acquires UK’s leading gluten and milk-free biscuit producer

17-May-2018 By Gill Hyslop

Private label manufacturer Biscuit International has acquired Northumbrian Fine Foods (NFF) from CriSeren Foods to extend its reach in the dynamic free-from market.

Sweet sales expected in UK by pladis for popular US snack

15-May-2018 By Gill Hyslop

The McVitie’s maker has high hopes for Flipz – the popular US chocolate-covered pretzel snack – which it rolled out across the UK this month.

WHO urges ban on industrial trans-fats by 2023

15-May-2018 By Joseph James Whitworth

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on governments to eliminate industrially produced trans-fatty acids from the food supply by 2023.

Cocoa in the cloud: Traceability goes paperless in digital evolution

15-May-2018 By Oliver Nieburg

Cocoa traceability is entering the digital era with companies aiming to collect far more than the weight of a bag via a paper receipt.

3M completes integration of Food Allergen Kits for peanuts, milk & gluten

14-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

3M Food Safety has completed the integration of Elution Technologies, adding 33 allergen specific lateral flow and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test kits to its portfolio to test for food allergens, such as peanuts, milk and gluten.

Startup tracker

Not just Thanksgiving: Baking chocolate could sell all year round, says Artisan Kettle Organic Chocolate founder

11-May-2018 By Douglas Yu

Baking chocolate is a niche category that walks on a fine line between confections and bakery, but startup Artisan Kettle Organic Chocolate has found great opportunity in it and is ready to make its products prevail throughout the year.

Limit trans-fats and saturated fats to reduce CVD risk - WHO

07-May-2018 By Joseph James Whitworth

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a public consultation on draft guidelines for intake of saturated fats and trans-fats.

How will the chocolate industry approach cocoa farmer ‘living income’?

03-May-2018 By Oliver Nieburg

The president of the World Cocoa Foundation and Mondelēz’s Cocoa Life director discuss how the chocolate industry will tackle calls to guarantee cocoa farmers a living income.

Low sugar Battle Bites take on confectionery sector

02-May-2018 By Gill Hyslop

UK nutrition brand Battle Oats has launched a new high protein, low sugar snack product aimed at the impulse market looking for a chocolate fix.

Bristows of Devon rises from the ashes to relaunch confectionery line

02-May-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Bristows of Devon, formerly Crediton Confectionery, plans to relaunch its traditional products with a contemporary twist, cut and wrap fudge and toffee.

Exclusive interview

FlavaNaturals to pitch Amazon as e-commerce is good 'for healthy chocolate', says CEO

02-May-2018 By Douglas Yu

Healthy chocolate startup FlavaNaturals has been testing its reception at various retail environments for the past four years: café, specialty stories, even yoga studios etc., but the company’s CEO Alan Frost has a bigger plan in mind for the coming fall...

Windsor Fudge Kitchen creates Lemon & Elderflower fudge to celebrate Royal Wedding

24-Apr-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Windsor Fudge Kitchen has created a limited edition Lemon & Elderflower whipping cream fudge to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19.

Happy Mallows to launch £3k Kickstarter campaign to expand gourmet marshmallow business

19-Apr-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Happy Mallows family-firm, established in 2017, by entrepreneur Sam Humphrey is launching a £3k Kickstarter campaign in June to expand its gourmet marshmallow brand.

News in Brief

Mars Wrigley Confectionery launches fruit, chocolate sorbet

19-Apr-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Mars Wrigley Confectionery has launched Dove Mango Sorbet with Dark Chocolate.

Deli Star merges with confectionery-fudge producer King’s Food Products

18-Apr-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Deli Star has merged with Illinois-based King’s Food Products, which produces confectionery fudge and sauces in the US.

DeBeukelaer refereshment sticks launches Chupa Chups liquid fillings

16-Apr-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Cult lollipop brand DeBeukelaer has signed a licence agreement with Chupa Chups to fill its refreshment sticks with two liquid strawberry and apple flavors, covered in dark chocolate.

Special edition: Functional Confectionery

‘Being able to enjoy confectionery that has a health benefit, is still largely untapped’

13-Apr-2018 By Nick Hewitt

‘Concerns about processed sugar and the impending sugar tax means today’s consumers are looking for healthier and natural alternatives across all categories, including confectionery.

Startup tracker

Chewpod enters US functional gum market; founder not intimidated by declining gum sales

12-Apr-2018 By Douglas Yu

Functional gum brand Chewpod has entered the $25.1bn US gum market starting this month, primarily targeting millennials with an active lifestyle.

Gum innovation

Is Hershey’s Ice Breakers glitter gum the next unicorn Frappuccino?

12-Apr-2018 By Douglas Yu

Hershey will release its first edible glitter-sprinkled gum in the US under its Ice Breakers brand starting April 15, 2018, as it believes the sparkle trend will sweep the food industry in 2018.