Chocolate

Fudge Kitchen’s renowned slab fudge comes in four vegan flavour varieties. Pic: Fudge Kitchen

Veganuary

Fudge Kitchen ramps up plant-based offering for Veganuary

By Anthony Myers

UK High Street brand Fudge Kitchen has joined the Veganuary campaign by expanding its vegan offering. The fudge brand, which still batch-makes all of its products at its HQ in Kent, saw a 3.5% rise in vegan sales in 2022 with 10% of all its online sales...

Big in Japan? Hotel Chocolat boss Angus Thirlwell has announced a new venture with a Tokyo company. Pic: Hotel Chocolat

Investment

Can Hotel Chocolat be big in Japan on second attempt?

By Anthony Myers

Hotel Chocolat has unveiled another push into the Japanese market by signing a new deal with Tokyo-based Eat Creator Corporation to include 21 Hotel Chocolat-branded shops across the country.

ofi's Dezaaan single origin cocoa. Pic: ofi

Special report

Asian consumers driving demand for single origin cocoa

By Anthony Myers

As ConfectioneryNews reported last month, the trend for single-origin cocoa ingredients has been growing for some time, as consumers with a sweet craving also look more closely at how and where their cocoa is sourced.

Decorating the Christmas tree is popular in Utah (82%), New York (79%) and Vermont (79%), according to a Hershey survey. Pic: GettyImages

Seasonal

Hershey covers all candy bases with Christmas heat map for consumers

By Anthony Myers

American candy lovers can now discover what Christmas tradition is most popular in their state with Hershey’s holiday tradition heat map and then use the candy pairing guide to make sure they’re stocking up on the right iconic sweets to help make holiday...

Germany's popular chocolate Santa Clauses are proving more popular this year. Pic: CN

Seasonal

Germany’s chocolate Santa Clauses enjoy export boom

By Anthony Myers

Despite soaring energy costs and supply chain issues, the German confectionery industry said it has produced approximately 5.6% more chocolate Santa Clauses for the Christmas season this year.

Raw cacao pioneers Lovechock has a new owner. Pic: Lovechock

M&As

Lovechock eyes expansion after company takeover

By Anthony Myers

Lovechock, the Dutch raw cacao company, has been acquired by Belgian family-owned company Pauwels Engineering NV, the two parties have announced in a statement.

Pic: gettyimages

Seasonal

Chocolate advent calendar guide

By Anthony Myers

Not bought a chocolate advent calendar yet? Here is a selection to help you choose and get in the festive mood, from vegan options to luxury best buy ...

Single origin, sustainable cocoa is becoming more in demand. Pic: Cargill

Single origin cocoa: consumer trends

Why single origin cocoa is so important

By Anthony Myers

As interest in cocoa sustainability intensifies among EMEA consumers, two studies highlight why bean-to-bar authenticity is on the rise.

Guylian's famous chocolate seashells will now carry the Fairtrade logo. Pic: Fairtrade America

Sustainability

Guylian commits to 100% Fairtrade Certified cocoa

By Anthony Myers

The premium Belgian chocolate brand said the move demonstrates its commitment to sustainable production in its supply chain by prioritising the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.