Health & Functionality

Red Chocolate are offering #AllPleasureNoGuilt at this year's Sweets & Snacks Expo. Pic: CN

Sweets & Snacks 2022

Red Chocolate debuts Blonde offering at Sweets & Snacks 2022

By Anthony Myers

Europe’s Red Chocolate will have a significant presence in the better-for-you category at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo with its dark chocolate varieties that contain 40% fewer calories than other chocolates, offering consumers #AllPleasureNoGuilt.

Three HAPPi SKUs - Plain M!lk, Salted Caramel and White - are now available in Tesco in the UK. Pic: HAPPi

Free-from

HAPPi Oat Milk Chocolate brand secures Tesco listing

By Anthony Myers

Oat milk chocolate brand, HAPPi, has secured a major listing in the UK with the news that it is now available on the shelves of Tesco stores nationwide, with three SKUs: Plain M!lk, Salted Caramel and White.

© Getty Images

Evidence suggests cocoa flavanols can prevent CVD mortality

By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

US researchers conducting a Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) observed a 27% reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults treated with the extract, although there was no improvement in the death rate for...

A mock-up of the H!P Chocolate & Love Cocoa pop-up that opens in London on Thursday (7 April). Pic: Love Cocoa

Retail

H!P Chocolate & Love Cocoa host first Pop-Up in London

By Anthony Myers

British chocolate brands H!P Chocolate and Love Cocoa (both founded by James Cadbury, the great-great-great grandson of the original Mr Cadbury) are hosting their first ever London pop-up this week.

Healthy products are one of the main features in the ISM New Products Showcase in 2022. Pic: Koelnmesse

ProSweets/ISM Cologne

ISM 2022 in full swing with emphasis on plant-based and healthy products

By Anthony Myers

ProSweets/ISM Cologne opened its doors on Sunday after a two-year break due to the pandemic and organisers Koelnmesse said the event this year is running at 80% of exhibition space booked with 24% of companies from Germany and 76% from abroad.

Uncle Joe’s sweet brand has a wide range of vegan-friendly sweets. Pic: Uncle Joe's Mint Balls

Veganuary

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls sees ‘Veganuary’ sales boost

By Anthony Myers

Traditional British sweets maker Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls has reported a 15% increase in sales since the launch of the annual Veganuary initiative, which encourages people to try a plant-based diet.

Survey reveals what millennial women want in wellness

Survey reveals what millennial women want in wellness

By Danielle Masterson

Millennials have surpassed baby boomers as the nation’s largest living adult generation, according to population estimates from the United States Census Bureau. And as the fastest growing demographic in the US, millennials are wielding a lot of purchasing...

Pic: CN

Cocoa ingredients trends to watch in 2022

By Anthony Myers

Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) has revealed five top trends for the confectionery sector this year, with planetary health a key focus, along with amplified taste experiences and premiumization all set to dominate.

In a traditional chocolate bar, sugar accounts for around half the product. Pic: GettyImages

Sugar reduction/reformulation special edition

Replacing sugar in confectionery is ‘incredibly hard’

By Anthony Myers

Sugar is an important ingredient in confectionery, not only for its taste but also because it contributes to texture, bulk, mouthfeel, aroma, colour, and a number of other attributes that make up chocolate and candy.

Parents want snacks that offer nutrition and satiety - along with the bonus of looking after the planet - for themselves and their kids. Pic: GettyImages/Sinenkiy

Plant-based eating is trending in snacks for kids

By Gill Hyslop

Human nutrition specialist ADM has unveiled the next big consumer trends for 2022, among them the dynamic growth of plant-based snacks that deliver nutrition and satiety for kids.

Peanuts are ticking a lot of consumer boxes. Pic: GettyImages

Why US peanut consumption has hit record highs

By Gill Hyslop

Peanut consumption in the US has hit record levels for the second year in a row – rising to an all-time high of 7.9 pounds (3.5kg) per American in 2021. However, the National Peanut Board (NPB) said the consistent rise of the nut’s popularity is not surprising,...

Excessive sugar consumption is a factor in COVID hospitalisations, the AHA stated. Pic: GettyImages

Sugar reduction/reformulation special edition

Sugar in the time of COVID

By Anthony Myers

Four in 10 consumers in Innova Market Insights’ global Health and Nutrition Survey in 2020 claimed to have decreased their sugar consumption over the studied 12-month period, with prevention of health conditions the leading reason, followed by weight...