Snack

Sridhar Ramamurthy. Pic: pladis

Appointments

pladis announces Sridhar Ramamurthy as new CFO

By Anthony Myers

Ramamurthy joins the pladis leadership team as it focuses on driving innovation to increase revenues, improve operating capabilities, capture productivity and enhance profitability.

Video interview: Sally Lyons Watt on snack innovation and trends

Emerging trends

Video interview: Sally Lyons Watt on snack innovation and trends

By Anthony Myers

Sally Lyons Watt is executive vice president and practice leader at IRI. She spoke exclusively to ConfectioneryNews on the new products on show at the Sweets & Snacks Expo and why innovation in the industry is crucial.

Dragon fruit - this year's new flavor trend. Pic: GettyImages

Emerging trends

New flavor trends for candy and snacks

By Anthony Myers

What’s driving the latest marketplace and consumer trends in flavor innovation in candy and snacks? Julie Laughter, confectionery market manager at Fona international, revealed all at the Sweets & Snacks Expo.

'Anytime is snack time'. Pic: Getty images

Emerging trends

'Five snack trends you need to know about right now’

By Anthony Myers

Marcia Mogelonsky, PHD, director of insight, Mintel Group, talks us through the five undeniable macro-snacking trends to meet the needs of today’s candy and snack consumers.

Bars 4.0: the bar of the future. Photo: Bosch.

The future of bars is functional

By Josua Schwab

‘Healthy snacks, including a wide range of bars, are flying off the shelves. As a consequence of functional ingredients, snack bars are being revamped as version 2.0.

© iStock/G-StockStudio

Superchocolate: Can chocolate really be a functional food?

By Emma Jane Cash

A chocolate bar containing 33% pure refined turmeric has been launched into the global functional foods market, as a convenient and enjoyable way to increase daily dosage of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric.

'Only 40% of us have a healthy weight,' said health minister Simon Harris in a foreword to the report. 'In terms of scale, this represents one of the biggest public health challenges Ireland is facing today.'  © World Obesity Federation

Ireland launches national obesity plan

By Niamh Michail

The Irish government has launched an ambitious national obesity plan which proposes a sugary drinks tax, maximum portion sizes, marketing restrictions and reformulation targets - but the lack of funding to implement the policy has led to criticism from...

'The presence of a food matrix had a significant effect on polyphenol bioaccessibility from almond skin in both the gastric and duodenal environments.' ©iStock

Food affects almond skin polyphenol release: Study

By Eliot Beer

Milk may significantly lower the release of polyphenols from almond skins during digestion, while consuming almond skins with food also has a significant effect on their release, according to a study.

The big issue: How can industry be part of the obesity solution?

The big issue: How can industry be part of the obesity solution?

By Niamh Michail

Obesity and overweight rates continue to rise across the globe and although no country has managed to reverse the trend to date, all agree action is required. Join us for a free online event on May 25 where key issues will be up for debate.

Soups and cereals offer a white space for raw product launches in Germany. © Mintel

Raw foods on the rise as clean-label consumers crave more

By Niamh Michail

From snack bars to spreads, chocolate to cheese, the trend for raw ingredients in processed foods is spreading across Europe, says Mintel, as consumer attention goes beyond the ingredient list to look at clean-label processing methods.

EU politicians voted today to scrap nutrient profiles. 'We deeply regret the EU Parliament chose to stand by the food industry and let down consumers,' said consumer rights group BEUC. © iStock

European Parliament votes to scrap nutrient profiles

By Niamh Michail

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) voted today to scrap nutrient profiles, a result that leaves consumer rights groups, public health campaigners and some industry players sorely disappointed.