Freshly created AarhusKarlshamn, a merger between former vegetable
fats competitors Aarhus and Karlshmans, completes the building
blocks of its new structure.
The USDA has increased the levels of sugar that producers are
allocated to supply in a bid to avert total disaster following
hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Sugar reform may yet hijack December's WTO talks as Australia,
Brazil and Thailand again accuse the EU of shirking its obligations
by planning to increase sugar exports by two million tonnes.
A new centre-right government in Poland is unlikely to curb the
country's strong opposition to EU sugar reforms as Commission
representatives look for common ground to break the 'no' camp.
Dark chocolate made with flavonol-rich cocoa may help prevent
diarrhoea, say scientists who have found cocoa compounds to limit
the development of fluids that cause the condition.
CSM's sugar beet processing plant in Hoogkerk, the Netherlands is
now fully online following the closure of the firm's Breda factory
earlier this year.
EU farm ministers met with African and Caribbean counterparts on
Monday to discuss the sweeping EU sugar reform that will bring
cheaper sugar ingredients into the bloc.
Wrigley has unveiled its new Global Innovations Centre in Chicago,
asserting its commitment to expanding beyond chewing gum into the
wider confectionery market.
Oversupply of sugar in the EU and higher energy costs combine to
knock profits for the year at British Sugar, its owner Associated
British Foods warned today.
Refined sugar giant Imperial Sugar has announced a return to
operations at its Gramercy, Louisiana plant following the
devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
Seasonal chocolate sales in the US are forecast to reach $3.3bn
(€2.6bn) in 2005, marking a substantial decline over the past five
years, according to a new report published by Research and Markets.
Key to successful premium chocolate product development is an
understanding of the varying consumer habits, expectations and
behaviour in different countries, according to leading Swiss
premium chocolate manufacturer Lindt &...
Wrigley will be expanding its Chattanooga factory to accommodate
the production of Altoid mints, which will be transferred to the US
from Wales, the leading confectionery company announced on Monday.
Leading premium chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli has
reported record first half results on the back of increased demand
for premium products in an otherwise slow-moving European chocolate
market.
British chocolate maker and retailer Thorntons has announced that
its chairman Christopher Burnett is considering making a buyout
offer to the company.
US sugar processor Imperial Sugar will sell subsidiary Holly Sugar
Corp. as low margins coupled with high energy costs have put
pressure on the company.
A new research project aimed at improving the quality and yields of
cocoa crops through a better understanding of the plant's genetic
make-up is being undertaken by the UK's University of Reading.
US confectionery company Hershey is marching along the acquisition
trail, announcing this week that it has bought another premium
chocolate firm, Californian-based Joseph Schmidt Confections.
The Sugar Association wants the FDA to introduce more aggressive
labeling regulations that would split out the different sugars and
sweeteners on the nutritional facts panel, just as the labeling of
trans fats will be mandatory from...
Kraft Foods is to re-brand Dime bars in the UK in a long awaited
move to standardize the name of the popular crunchy milk chocolate
bars throughout Europe.
Despite some of the best-known confectionary brands leaving the
area, Chicago still deserves its 'candy capital' epithet, according
to Food Chicago's Candy Institute.
UK biscuit maker McVitie's is to cut 33 jobs at its Carlisle
factory, after damage caused by floods in January permanently
disabled four production lines, reducing the plant's total output
by 20 per cent.
Chocolate fountains are emerging as a must-have accessory at
weddings and, as the craze spreads to other events, confectioners
could be set to benefit, writes Lorraine Heller.
Leading US confectionery firm Hershey announced last week its plans
to acquire Californian-based chocolate maker Scharffen Berger in a
deal which the company hopes will allow it to break into the niche
premium quality dark chocolate...
Tate & Lyle has vowed to continue to pursue its ambitious
expansion plans despite warnings that proposed changes to the sugar
regime could begin to affect business as soon as 2007, writes
Anthony Fletcher.
In a move to secure its supplier base for its bakery operations and
expand its business, the UK's Real Good Food Company (RGFC) said
yesterday it would buy Napier Brown Foods, a sugar group, for
£67.7min stock.
Number one food enzyme supplier Novozymes likely to move production
to the US and China as a result of the new EU sugar reform, the
daily Berlingske Tidende reports.
Cocoa compounds can be extracted and marketed as functional food
ingredients, or even synthesised for use in pharmaceuticals, said
confectionery giant Mars this week, reports Dominique
Patton.
Global supplies for the hydrocolloid gum arabic could creep up as
Lagos announces plans to sow 500 million seeds to produce the
popular confectionery ingredient, writes Lindsey Partos.
A new low-carb cocoa, being launched by Spanish firm Natraceutical
this month, will help confectionery makers lift the fibre levels
and lower the glycaemic response of their products, reports
Dominique Patton.
The first wrangling over EU sugar reform proposals by agriculture
ministers saw protests and a passionate debate in Brussels
yesterday, but the opposition looks increasingly isolated,
reports Chris Mercer.
Biodar's new line of microencapsulated vitamins and minerals for
kids' chewable applications could help improve diets and even save
food makers money, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Barry Callebaut, the world's largest supplier of bulk chocolate,
plans to cut costs in Europe as the Swiss firm posts a fall in
revenue for nine month figures.
Tens of thousands of Snickers and Mars chocolate bars were recalled
in the Australian state of New South Wales following a threat to
contaminate the products, writes Claire Johnston.
Sales of diet candy more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2004,
fueled by better-tasting products, improved formulations and
heightened concern over weight gain in adults and children,
writes Anthony Fletcher.
Far from being an unhealthy treat, the scientific evidence is
support of the health benefits of eating dark chocolate are
stacking up. The latest research indicates that the flavonoid-rich
substance could have a protective effect...
Our journalist Angela Drujinina brings you the latest
research on Russia¡¯s chocolate market, including producers¡¯
concerns, the market situation and market leaders.
Food and drink makers could soon expect cheaper sugar ingredients
with Brussels expected to publish its proposals on EU sugar reform
today, writes Lindsey Partos.
Buffer stocks are the cornerstone of a new strategy unveiled to
stabilise price and sustain permanent supplies for gum arabic in
the world's top three producing countries, writes Lindsey
Partos.
The Central America Free Trade Agreement narrowly passed its first
Congressional test yesterday, but only after concessions were made
to the sugar industry writes Anthony Fletcher.
American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman agues that
the sugar industry is wrong to oppose the ratification of the
Central American Free Trade Agreement, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
The EU's Sugar Management Committee has backed a new regulation
demanding that five of the new member states destroy their surplus
sugar stocks or face fines, reports Chris Mercer.
US ingredients player reaches deeper into Europe, clearing a deal
this week to buy industrial chocolate facility Schierstedter
Schokoladefabrik from existing customer, Ludwig Schokolade,
writes Lindsey Partos.