Marketing 'junk' food to children is raising blood pressure all round - and that's just the debate. FoodNavigator looks at some of the arguments that have been made in recent years and asks you, the reader, what you think.
Show traffic was up 12.5% at Vitafoods Europe this year meaning record numbers visited the 800+ suppliers and brands at the 3-day Geneva expo and conference.
The rise of social media has led to a shift in the way consumers view food brands – and the way that food brands interact with their customers, according to experts speaking on the side lines of Food Vision in Cannes.
Nestlé is aiming to reposition its Swiss Cailler brand as a high-end chocolate for international markets to fill a gap analysts have identified in its premium chocolate portfolio.
Chocolate makers should ensure that wholesale price increases do not stunt growth in the emerging markets, says an analyst at Euromonitor International.
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.
Ethical consumption, and consumer willingness to pay more for ethical products, is motivated by a need to turn emotions about unethical practices into action, say researchers.
A 40% increase in operating profits for its chocolate and confectionery fats business unit helped AAK to 'record high' results in Q2, while the firm continues its expansion with a deal to buy Turkish oil brand Frita.
Consensus was real innovation was difficult to perceive with the naked eye at Vitafoods Europe this year. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist, says Healthy Marketing Team president and expert consultant, Peter Wennstrom, in this guest article.
Understanding consumer expectations and respecting these, combined with a boldness to draw inspiration from new areas is the perfect mix for successful innovation, say experts.
German confectioner Halloren believes its best growth prospects lie in the fast growing markets in Thailand and Korea as well as North America amid intense competition in its home market.
Successful food packaging requires more than just good looks; here, one design expert shares his advice on combining structure, function, and aesthetics to create containers that entice consumers to buy.
Big brands may be dipping their toes in the interactive packaging pool, but two analysts question whether consumers really want this technology and ask if if manufacturers can keep the technology fresh and up to date.
Petra Foods reported group net profits down 20.6% from the previous year following the divestment of its cocoa ingredients business to Barry Callebaut, but say own brand sales are up 12.6%.
Exclusive interview with Bob Simpson, COO of Jelly Belly
For a company the size and scope of Jelly Belly—the confectionery giant sells more than 100 flavors in 80 countries (and growing) and across multiple market segments—finding untapped channels in the domestic market has become an “out of the box” endeavor....
Nestlé’s confectionery profit margin nosedive in 2013 was a consequence of higher cocoa prices and increased marketing spend that reflect faith in the category, according to the firm’s CEO.
Western European chocolate consumers are shunning mid-market products in favor of value or premium chocolate. Rabobank suggests how companies should adapt.
Barry Callebaut and Petra Foods have called on arbitrators to resolve a dispute over payment terms from the sale of Petra’s cocoa ingredients business to Barry Callebaut.
Bosch Packaging Technology claims that flexibility is crucial for smaller businesses as it launches two new bagging machines at Pack Expo designed for smaller confectioners looking for quick and easy changeovers between products.
Mondelez International hopes to strengthen its real-time engagement with consumers via its global partnership with Twitter, a move one marketing expert has dubbed 'clever' and 'innovative'.
UK premium confectioner Thorntons has claimed consumer sentiment for gift chocolates is strong in spite of a troubled UK economy as it posts positive full year results.
Chocolate brands have more social media likes than most other industries, but research suggests consumers will most likely never visit fan pages after liking and those that do will react angrily to attempts to influence them.
The functional confectionery market remains niche but is growing rapidly as candy makers look for new ways to differentiate their products, according to ingredients firm Naturex.
Thorntons chief executive Jonathan Hart expects further growth from supermarket sales in the coming year, he told FoodManufacture.co.uk, after the company posted strong fourth quarter growth in the division including that area.
Mondelez International has expanded its Mobile Futures initiative to Brazil to encourage start-up technology companies to come up with ways to promote its brands.
During Tuesday’s keynote address at the 2013 Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago, shopper marketing experts offered advice on engaging people to help ensure sales success.
UK chocolatier Thorntons has reported increased sales in the third quarter as its focus on the commercial channel drove performance over Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter.
A new interactive graphical database offering market insights for food and beverage ingredients will help manufacturers and suppliers identify new trends and grow their business, according to RTS.
Nestlé USA’s Girl Scout Crunch bars have exceeded sales forecast by 150% and have bagged several innovation awards since the product’s launch last year.
Two major chocolate brands have been launched in block format as Mars Chocolate unveils Maltesers Teasers and Lindt introduces Lindor single serve bars.
Confectionery manufacturer Thorntons plans to close a further 40 stores in this financial year, as it continues to focus on “significant growth” in multiple-channel sales via supermarkets and Thorntons Direct online.
