News & Analysis on Chocolate, Candy and Cocoa
As conflict disrupts key trade routes and energy supplies, the confectionery sector is among the first to feel the strain. How vulnerable are manufacturers, and what can be done to protect the industry?
New product development
Seasonal NPD momentum continues across confectionery as brands lean into flavour mashups, texture-led indulgence and customisable gifting formats
Clean label chocolate is gaining momentum, and reshaping indulgence
KitKat’s latest Formula 1 collaboration is more than a viral stunt, it’s a strategy shift
From rising innovation to shifting consumer demands, chocolate is entering a new era
Strategic deals, powerhouse brands, and disciplined growth – inside Mondelēz’s journey to global leadership, and its vision for the future
The MAHA Rally for Real Food echoed RFK Jr’s agenda to clean up US food, including a formal definition of UPFs expected next month, but critics worry a lack of evidence-based policy will confuse consumers and impact companies’ bottom lines
The ongoing tensions in Iran could disrupt supply routes and drive volatility across key food commodities such as rice and meat
From premiumisation to supply-chain control, Ferrero’s strategy is redefining the competitive landscape
Mars invests in community resilience worldwide, starting with cocoa growers
Swiss food and beverage giant unveils bold new strategy for the future
Big Food is tearing up the rulebook – but what’s driving the sudden rush to rebrand, reformulate and reinvent?
Ferrero is growing steadily, with new products and expanding brands helping to drive sales. How do we predict the pipeline to evolve?
From protein‑packed chocolate bars to big‑brand collaborations, sports nutrition and confectionery are merging fast
Reformulation may steady margins, but unless manufacturers tackle cocoa’s income gap at source, volatility will keep coming back
The world’s biggest chocolate makers are working together to futureproof cocoa and support growers
CEO scandals and surprise shake-ups – the world’s biggest food and drink giants are undergoing a leadership overhaul. But is this a moment of crisis or a chance for positive change?
After negotiations failed to finalise a global treaty on plastic pollution last year, new hope is on the horizon
Expo West lands in Anaheim this March, and protein isn’t just a trend – it’s the baseline. The real fight is over taste, texture and who can make functionality feel effortless
The decision is likely to spark a wave of lawsuits from businesses across the food and beverage industry and beyond
Nestlé celebrates strong results and a sharper strategy, but crisis casts shadow over the food and beverage giant’s future
Hershey’s rocky start to 2026 has raised questions about its long‑term direction
The company is tailoring its strategy by region, courting value‑seeking US shoppers, fixing European chocolate margins and using Oreo‑led biscuits and cakes to unlock runway across China, India, Brazil and Mexico
Dietary Guidelines pose a challenge for formulators around non-nutritive sweeteners
Ingredients Compendium No 2: Trehalose
As manufacturers grapple with sugar reduction, texture loss and longer shelf-life demands, trehalose is emerging as a functional ingredient to watch in 2026
Reese family sends open letter to Hershey, challenging whether the confectionery giant is protecting the Reese’s legacy
Trends shaping the future of chocolate and the opportunities they create for the confectionery industry
Functional chocolate is stepping into the spotlight. Discover the ingredients, trends and early innovators reshaping the future of indulgence
Cocoa prices plunge to two‑year low as surpluses reshape the market
Nestlé is redefining the confectionery landscape with smarter technologies and progressive innovations that keep its brands leading worldwide
After a year marked by a CEO shake-up and its biggest ever product recall, the Swiss CPG major is embarking on a strategic reset in 2026
The cocoa crisis is winding down, but the biggest producers of chocolate still want to protect themselves in a volatile sector
Following $5.2B in 2025 candy sales, brands are unveiling inventive products and campaigns to capture modern consumers’ hearts
Explore the new supertrend that’s reshaping snacking
Key players in chocolate already have the year’s cocoa supply locked in. But smaller players may not
Barry Callebaut has unveiled a new AI‑powered innovation hub, promising faster flavour creation and personalised chocolate experiences
Soaring cocoa prices are quietly reshaping how chocolate is formulated, where it’s used and how far the industry can stretch expectations without losing trust
Barry Callebaut plans to modernise Wieze and Halle sites, bolstering reliability and efficiency across its European supply network
From faster R&D to predictive product design, AI is transforming the future of sweets
Executives warn rising costs, labour gaps and tech disruption are reshaping the industry’s future
FDA eases ‘no artificial colors’ claims, but ambiguity over ‘petroleum-based dyes’ leaves manufacturers cautious
Hershey’s profits have plunged again, but rising sales and recent acquisitions hint at a more complicated story
New CEO Hein Schumacher enters a company in decline. Here are the five decisive moves that could put the world’s biggest chocolate maker back on track
New product development
Seasonal confectionery is gearing up for a high‑intensity year as brands lean into flavour experimentation, multisensory formats and nostalgia‑led innovation
The company’s 2025 full-year earnings point to substantial challenges, but changes in the cocoa market could be cause for optimism
The confectionery giant is changing fast, and setting the pace for the entire sector
From megamergers to shocking splits, Big Food is reshaping itself at breakneck speed. So, who’s next?
Leadership shake‑up at Barry Callebaut reveals deeper strategic tensions at the world’s biggest chocolate maker
From celebrity cameos to cashback promos, food and beverage brands are pulling out all the stops ahead of kickoff
Super Bowl week snack sales reached $742m last year, and snack makers are leaning into shareable formats, bold flavors and activations again as the Big Game approaches