ConfectioneryNews takes a look back at changes at the leading confectioners Mars, and Mondelez in 2014 and showcases the biggest acquisitions of the year.
Budelpack Poortvliet is installing a Bosch vertical form-fill-seal machine (vffs) to package loose items such as chocolates, confectionery, nuts and snacks, to start operations in January 2015.
The Malaysian government says it is assessing what action it should take to address ‘no palm oil’ labels in France and Belgium, the legal grounds for which have come under scrutiny.
Dutch-Italian confectioner Perfetti Van Melle has developed a method to control the surface roughness of chewing gum pieces, which can be altered by migrating particles from powdered fillings.
Hershey has acquired its contract manufacturer for Jolly Rancher and Lancaster brands in North America Allan Candy, which also owns a series of Canadian confectionery brands.
At a time when lunch portions are growing, sweet tooths of a certain age across the antipodes can be heard lamenting how just the opposite has been happening with their favourite confectionery. However, one Nestlé line has turned the trend of shrinking...
Manufacturers can create reduced or no sugar hard and soft candy product extensions without the risk of changing the taste of a proven seller through reformulation, according to Cargill.
Clearfleau has built an on-site industrial anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at Nestlé's Fawdon confectionery factory, near Newcastle in the UK, which makes gums, pastilles and Rolo chocolates.
Haribo faces a GMB strike ballot, less than a week after the trade union announced that a similar vote at United Biscuits’ Jacob’s factory at Aintree had supported industrial action there.
Presto Products Company says consumers are demanding more from closure features and claims confectionery firms can leverage child resistant resealing technology and zippers giving auditory affirmation that a product is closed.
A gap in the market exists for smaller premium confectioners, but they must buy scalable processing equipment that caters to current volumes and not anticipated market demand, says Carle&Montanari-OPM.
Baker Perkins is urging manufacturers of functional confections to ditch starch-based molding because the method will not meet future hygiene standards.
Supermarket sales of UK Halloween confectionery in 2014 have taken a big hit as consumers look to popcorn as a trick-or-treat alternative, shop in bargain stores or prefer to spend on dressing up.
The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI) has highlighted strong growth in resealable stand-up pouches in confectionery, but says the rising online environment may change how candy is packaged.
Mondelēz International third-quarter earnings fell 11% compared to last year due to disputes with French retailers over wholesale pricing changes and 'soft' developed market demand.
Mondelēz International has officially opened its Asia-Pacific Chocolate and Confectionery Center of Excellence in Australia, creating a base for the largest food R&D team in the country, according to local government.
Hungary’s confectionery association Hunbisco says that the national tax on sugar puts a financial strain on confectioners to explore sugar alternatives.
Hershey has lowered its full year guidance after a slowdown in Brazil and Mexico and a gross profit margin decline due to higher dairy and cocoa costs.
The confectionery market is poised to welcome a host of energy drink manufacturers looking to differentiate their brands with energy gum and candy, says an analyst at Datamonitor.
Belgian firm Candy Pack says it understands why some people might be "touchy" about the idea of alcohol-themed confectionery, but insists it isn't targeting children for its Cocktail Candy range.
Spanish authorities have opened disciplinary proceedings against possible anti-competitive practices of half a dozen manufacturers of the country’s traditional almond candy turrón.
Food industry ‘tinkering’ with sugar content while foods and drinks remain relatively high in sugar may detract from more basic sugar reduction strategies, warns a public health expert.
Europe is the fastest growing market for food colourings driven by demand in natural and organic products, according to a new report from Grand View Research.
Fats and oils supplier EFKO has reported sales growth for its confectionery fats division in H1 as multinational confectioners post sales gains in Russia.
Nestlé’s R&D arm Nestec has filed a patent for inkjet printing on panned confections such as Smarties chocolate and biscuits using only ingredients it claims consumers would be familiar with.
A novel lollipop shape featuring two hard candy balls allows confectioners to combine colors and flavors in a single product and could prove popular in Asia, says equipment supplier Baker Perkins.
The Norwegian confectionery market is unusual by Western European standards since its domestic brands stand tall with the multinationals, according to a Leatherhead analyst.
Dispatches from Euro Fed Lipid Congress, Montpellier
British Sugar owner AB Sugar is fighting back against anti-sugar campaigners with the launch of a campaign informing people about sugar’s role in a healthy balanced diet.
Intakes of free dietary sugars should make up no more than 3% of total energy intake in order to battle the ‘significant’ financial and social burdens of tooth decay, warn researchers.
Mars Chocolate North America and Wrigley have introduced cash counter racks illuminated with LED lighting that they claim can increase front end confectionery sales by 10-12%.
Wild Flavors has developed a natural color series that includes a blue derived from microalgae spirulina, giving confectioners a natural option for fruit flavors like blueberry.
The National Confectioners Association is concerned that added sugar declarations on the Nutrition Facts Panel would force confectioners to give away recipe “trade secrets”.
