Premium chocolatier brand Guylian has moved to streamline its portfolio to ‘improve focus’, while simultaneously expanding its dark chocolate offerings.
Indian consumers are increasingly leaning toward dark chocolate due to higher awareness of its benefits, according to the founder of the country’s D2C hot chocolate beverage firm Tiggle, Anuva Kakkar.
Cadbury promised to bring back bar after a Facebook poll called for its return and the dark chocolate rum and raisin flavoured bars are now on sale across the UK.
The eco-conscious chocolate company has hired a Blue Bottle Coffee and Primal Kitchen vet, and promoted current marketing director Antoine Ambert to lead innovation and sustainability.
The Swiss chocolate maker is banking on consumer interest in the health benefits of dark chocolate with the taste of creamy milk bars in three varieties, now available in the UK.
The sustainable chocolate maker spent three years developing a solution for its truffles, as part of its commitment to packaging its full portfolio in recyclable or compostable material by 2020.
Latvian company Chocolette Confectionary has developed patented technology to cut calories in dark chocolate by 45% and has launched own brand Red to target health conscious shoppers.
Australian study couldn't convince enough pregnant women to eat chocolate daily
A trial testing the powers of dark chocolate reducing pre-eclampsia has failed after only 3.5% of the needed participants signed up for a daily dose of the sweet treat.
Researchers say commercial prospects for extra virgin olive oil enriched dark chocolate are strong after finding potential cardiovascular health benefits.
Divine Chocolate is expanding its export portfolio announcing new listings with existing customers Waitrose and BP Connect in the UK, and Walgreens in the US.
Sweets and snacks companies are increasingly targeting consumers by branding their products “thin” to suggest convenience or health, or to tap the snacking chocolate trend.
Energems has been accepted as a member at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and says the new confectionery category of chocolate energy supplements it has created is poised for growth.
Global dark chocolate sales are expected to rise 9% each year up to 2019 due to increased demand in developing nations and associated health benefits, according to Technavio.
Dark chocolate often steals the spotlight for health claims, but new research suggests milk chocolate, which is sweeter, fattier and more popular, could offer the same benefits in high doses.
Japanese consumers are eating more dark chocolate at the expense of milk varieties as interest grows in cocoa polyphenols, says leading domestic chocolatier Meiji.
A study says regular dark chocolate consumption raises children's exposure to cadmium but they would have to eat over 100 regular sized bars a month to exceed health guidelines.
Dark chocolate may help restore flexibility to arteries and prevent white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels, but increasing flavanol content will not affect these effects and may even put consumers off, say researchers.
Rising dark chocolate consumption is driving up prices, according to data from Euromonitor International, with China, Switzerland and the US having the highest retail value.
Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate may improve the function of the cells lining blood vessels and help control blood pressure in younger, but not older, hypertensives, says a new study.
More people in the US favored dark chocolate in 2012 than they did the prior year due to its potential health benefits, according to market analysts Mintel.
Diabetes UK says there are not enough cocoa flavanols in chocolate to benefit diabetics after a study found that a cocoa extract could help people with the condition regulate insulin levels.
The potential heart health benefits of dark chocolate may be only partly linked to the flavanol content, with white chocolate - devoid of such compounds - also offering potential cardiovascular benefits, says a new study.
Dark chocolate and cocoa ingredients do not improve motor function for those with Parkinson’s disease despite increased consumption among those with the disease, according to a study.
The flavonoid epicatechin that is present in dark chocolate could be used to treat human diseases, but studies to date have been too small and longer controlled tests are required, according to a study.
Consuming polyphenol-rich dark chocolate or cocoa products may reduce total and LD cholesterol levels, but has no effect on HDL levels, according to a meta-analysis of 10 clinical trials.
There is growth potential for dark chocolate in the functional food sector, with the product carrying most of the heart health claims in the confectionery segment, says Leatherhead Food Research.
The sugar confectionery category in China achieved growth of 3 and 4 per cent in retail value and volume terms respectively in 2010, according to estimates from Euromonitor.
Consuming flavonoid-rich dark chocolate prior to exercise may decrease the potential muscle damaging effects of oxidative stress, suggests a new study.
Frequent chocolate consumption was associated with a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in men and women independent of traditional risk factors, according to a review of a national US based heart, lung and blood study.
A new meta-analysis of studies investigating the effect of dark chocolate and flavanols on hypertension has drawn mixed conclusion and suggest more studies be done on dietary habits and genetic factors.
Eating dark chocolate reduces damage to the blood vessels of cirrhotic patients and also lowers blood pressure in the liver, according to research presented this week at the International Liver Congress in Vienna.
Daily consumption of 40 grams of dark chocolate for two weeks can reduce stress and benefit metabolism and microbial activity in the gut, claims scientists based at the Nestle Research Centre.
Cereal, cocoa and fruit ingredient prices may have soared in the past year, but these building blocks in confectionery formulation hold sway, evident in the recent swathe of product designs that boast a health and wellness twist.
The wave of health and wellness comes ashore for chocolate makers,
with latest figures from Mintel showing the fresh healthier image
for dark chocolate has brought a much-need, and strident, upward
shift in sales for 2007.
Research suggests that Americans prefer foods high in solid fats
and added sugars whilst Abbott Nutrition aims for the health
conscious with a new chocolate nutrition bar and Cadbury announces
board changes and predicts strong first...
