Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Chocolate prices expected to climb as industry relays cocoa burden

12-Apr-2024 By Flora Southey

Cocoa supplier Barry Callebaut is passing on soaring costs to its customers, and predicts manufacturers will do the same.

Cocoa cooperatives in Côte d'Ivoire: A conduit for collective action

11-Apr-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Cooperatives help cocoa farmers sell their produce, as well as work with ingredients companies to learn new agricultural techniques.

Why are consumers turning away from dairy?

10-Apr-2024 By Donna Eastlake

The consumption of dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese is on the decline. But what’s the reason for this and can the dairy industry turn this trend around?

Food security: How can we create resilient food systems for the future?

08-Apr-2024 By Donna Eastlake

The rise of extreme weather events across the globe is posing a major threat to food security. So how can we create more resilient supply chains to ensure food supplies in the future?

Cocoa crisis hits chocolate: Which companies can weather the storm, financially?

04-Apr-2024 By Flora Southey

Unsurprisingly, some chocolate makers are struggling to afford cocoa, which has risen in price by 400% in a year.

New cocoa marketplace aims to strengthen relationships between producers and buyers

03-Apr-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

A new platform aims to create a stronger relationship between cocoa farmers and producer organisations, and those who buy their cocoa.

Chocolate made from faba beans? ‘We’ve developed a brand-new ingredient’

25-Mar-2024 By Flora Southey

Unlike some other cocoa-free chocolate powders entering the market, this invention relies on just one raw material: the humble broad bean.

NPD Trend Tracker: From Easter-egg ice cream to dairy-free chocolate eggs

25-Mar-2024 By Donna Eastlake

We’re getting ready for Easter in this week’s new-product roundup. There’s everything from egg-cellent (not sorry!) mini-egg ice cream to egg-citing (still not sorry!) dairy-free chocolate eggs. There’s also a range of drinks from energy-sparking mixers...

Changing freshwater cycle: Are we on a collision course with disaster?

22-Mar-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Human activity has significantly altered the freshwater cycle. But is this change reversible, and if not, what does it mean for the future of food and water supplies?

From non-HFSS cereals to desserts: How unlikely foods hit the sweet spot with regulators

20-Mar-2024 By Flora Southey

How are brands cutting fat, salt, and sugar from popular product categories to hit the mark with both policymakers and consumers?

Unilever to get out of ice cream, immediately

19-Mar-2024 By Flora Southey

The owner of Wall’s, Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s will begin the spin-off right away, with plans to complete by the end of 2025.

Will EU delay EUDR deadline?

19-Mar-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Rumours are rife that the EU is planning to delay the EUDR deadline past 30 December 2024. But is this true, and if not, are suppliers and manufacturers ready?

UK's eighth wettest winter on record: How will this affect food production?

08-Mar-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Extreme weather events are becoming commonplace across the globe as the effects of climate change really start to bite. But what does this mean for food production, and ultimately, the future of food security?

Ultra-processed food linked to 32 poor health outcomes in largest study to date

05-Mar-2024 By Flora Southey

We ask lead author Melissa M Lane where she stands on the ultra-processed food debate.

NPD Trend Tracker: From ice cream inspired sweets to blood-flow boosting apple juice

04-Mar-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Spring is in the air and summer is firmly on the horizon in this week’s new product roundup: there are ice-cream inspired sweets and a seasonally special-edition menu. In other news we discover a supercharged apple juice, with heart-healthy properties,...

The case against ultra-processed food: 'UPF is designed to increase consumption and profit'

23-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Do ultra-processed foods lead to poor health outcomes by definition? A ‘hyper-literal’ focus on definitions is not the point, suggest Henry Dimbleby and Chris van Tulleken: ‘ultra-processed food’ as a category encapsulates the toll that an industry dominated...

NPD Trend Tracker: From mandarin orange juice to AI-generated recipes

19-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we see how high orange juice prices have led to the development of mandarin orange juice, and the rise of generative AI has led to the creation of an AI cookbook. Furthermore, we see a rebranding from Mallow &...

Could low-sugar chocolate actually taste better?

15-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Less is apparently more when it comes to the amount of sugar used in the creation of the perfect chocolate bar. So will manufacturers reduce the amount of sugar they use in the making of this sweet treat and will consumers welcome the change?

A fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work? Banana workers could earn living wage

14-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Due to informality, lack of contracts, lack of unionisation and low awareness of workers’ rights, many banana workers do not earn a living wage. A range of UK retailers, including Sainbsury’s, aim to challenge this.

The cost of sugar is soaring: What does this mean for food manufacturers and consumers?

06-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

From confectionery to cakes, breakfast cereals to beer, sugar is a huge part of the modern diet, but why is the cost of one of our most indulgent ingredients increasing and how will this affect both food manufacturers and consumers?

Tackling trans fat: WHO awards top 5 countries for elimination

01-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

World Health Organization partners with Resolve to Save Lives to recognise countries working to remove industrially produced trans fat from their national food supplies.

Food allergy breakthrough: omalizumab displays promising results for kids and teens

30-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

A study on the effects of using omalizumab, in the treatment of food allergies, has shown an improved tolerance to a variety of everyday foods in children and adolescents.

NPD Trend Tracker: From blank drinks cans to regenerative agriculture bread

29-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have a range of bread made with regenerative agriculture-derived flour. We also have desserts, Valentine's Day doughnuts, a new range of fully loaded brownie tray bakes, and a new version of that classic...

‘Like chocolate, it is good for the masses’: Using cacao fruit in beer and wine

26-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Cacao fruit, or cocoa fruit, is drawn from the same pod as cocoa beans. Normally thrown away, the juice, pulp and peel of the pod can be used as a sweetener in a range of products. Across Europe and beyond, cacao fruit has appeared recently in a range...

Protein ‘made from air’ enters snacks category

23-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

A collaboration between two Finnish companies – Solar Foods and Fazer – has seen protein ‘made from air’ added to a chocolate snack bar for consumers in Singapore.

The race to meet the EUDR deadline is intensifying, so what help is available?

22-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

December 30, 2024 marks the day by which supply chain stakeholders, including producers, importers, manufacturers, brands, and retailers within the European Union must ensure they are selling, importing and exporting EUDR compliant cocoa, coffee, palm...

NPD Trend Tracker: From paper bottled cocktails to dark chocolate KitKat

15-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have KitKat's new 70% dark chocolate, which will run for a limited time in the UK. We also have a new cocktail range released in paper bottles and an exciting new investment for Italian food brand Crosta...

‘Prime makes drinks, not foods’: Fake branded chocolate bars spark food safety warning

08-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a warning after fake chocolate bars branded ‘Prime’ and ‘Wonka Bars’ were identified on the UK market.

Boosting regulatory compliance through technology: Traceability, adaptability and streamlining

04-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Regulatory compliance can be one of the most time-consuming and cost-intensive parts of running any business, and the food industry, with its myriad complex supply chains and novel products, is no different. Technology, however, can streamline this process.

The next generation of confectionery? Mediterranean cocoa-free chocolate addresses the darker side of production

03-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Spurred on by a drive to pursue positive impact and leave the corporate world, four founders came together to launch their Mediterranean cacao-free chocolate brand.

From ‘travelling through taste’ to cognitive health: The 2024 trends predicted to shake-up food and beverage

03-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

What food and drink trends have been predicted for 2024? We catch up with ingredients suppliers ADM, Arla Foods Ingredients, and Prinova Europe to ask how they’re preparing for the year ahead.

Do consumers prefer sugar or non-nutritive sweeteners? It’s complicated

02-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

Consumer confusion over how best to reduce sugar in one’s diet persists. Are they still looking for ‘zero added sugar’ in sweet drinks? Regulatory and ingredients experts weigh in.

Health and taste from fruit-based sweeteners

21-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Fruit has been used for sweetness in Europe since before we even knew about refined sugar. It’s still in widespread use as the basis for sweeteners.

Butter’s time to shine? The innovations churning up traditional spreads

06-Dec-2023 By Flora Southey

After decades of ‘very little’ innovation by heritage brands, is butter (and its plant-based counterparts) having a moment? FoodNavigator investigates.

How Mars is rethinking reformulation on its path to net zero

29-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

As part of Mars Inc.’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the confectionery major is optimising product recipes to include more environmentally friendly ingredients.

Sugar levy brings fall in hospital admissions, yet sugar in products still high across UK

17-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The UK’s soft drinks levy is responsible for a 5,500 fall in hospital admissions for tooth decay, according to research published by the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.

NPD Trend Tracker: From peanut butter stout to Christmas chocolate nut mix

13-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

This week in our NPD Trend Tracker, we have new products from Baileys, which is releasing a nut mix for the Christmas period, and Brixton Brewery, which has teamed up with ManiLife to create a peanut stout. Furthermore, Freedom Brewery, Milliways and...

Developing markets will lead the next wave of chocolate and nut growth: ofi

03-Nov-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The humble hazelnut is poised to tap into a host of new applications, trends and markets, says ingredients giant ofi (olam food ingredients).

Cocoa leaders demand a fair price for all

23-Oct-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Off the back of Tony's Chocolonely’s warning that the new cocoa farmgate price is still too low, other chocolate brands and global organisations call for an end to corporate greed and push for equity.

Nestlé 9-month sales report shows lower than expected growth, but the company predicts recovery

20-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Nestlé yesterday released its 9-month sales report, which showed lower-than-expected growth, likely due to price rises. Organic growth in Europe was significantly higher than growth overall.

Collaboration over competition? Cocoa companies push for equitable farming

20-Oct-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Amid rising farmgate prices yet insufficient Living Income Reference Prices (LIRP), cocoa companies turn to communication, connection and collaboration throughout the sector to advocate better wages for farmers.

Eight crops endangered by climate change

19-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

From staple crops like potatoes and maize, to cash crops for wealthier customers like cocoa and coffee, climate change is having a widespread impact on global agricultural production.

‘It’s imperative to recognise that not all CBD is created the same’: CBD players digest potential ‘dagger-blow to the UK industry’

12-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

In a move that has potentially far-reaching implications for the CBD industry in the UK, the Food Standards Agency has issued new precautionary advice, recommending healthy adults should limit their consumption of CBD from food to 10mg per day, down from...

Identifying some foods as addictive could bring health benefits, scientists say

12-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

An international team of researchers, writing in the British Medical Journal, have called for a global rethink of food choices.

‘More than mylk’: Alternatives to coffee, cocoa, salt and sugar on the table at Mylkcubator 3.0

27-Sep-2023 By Flora Southey

The Mylkcubator programme has largely focused on next-gen dairy innovation to date. But for the incubator’s third edition, dairy-major Pascual wants to expand its focus to alt coffee, cocoa, salt, sugar and more.

M&As

Nestlé to acquire majority stake in Brazil’s premium chocolate company

11-Sep-2023 By Anthony Myers

Nestlé has announced an agreement with Advent International to acquire a majority stake in Grupo CRM, which owns more than 1,000 chocolate boutiques under the Kopenhagen and Brasil Cacau brands across the county, along with a strong and growing online...

Unilever turns to manure enricher to make eco-friendly ice cream

31-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

German company GEA will install its new manure enricher solution ProManure E2950 on four dairy farms supplying milk to Unilever.

Sustainability

Starbucks targeted by campaigners over lack of transparency in its cocoa supply

18-Aug-2023 By Anthony Myers

A coalition of campaigners fighting to end environmental and human rights abuses in the cocoa sector has targeted coffee chain Starbucks to come clean on where it sources the ingredients for its chocolate products.

A new kind of ‘free from’ category: From cocoa-free chocolate to bean-free coffee

15-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Start-ups are rethinking how conventional products – such as coffee and chocolate – are made in an effort to reduce environmental and human rights violations in global supply chains. Join pioneers in the cocoa-free chocolate and bean-free coffee sector...

Nestlé’s Income Accelerator Program in Côte d'Ivoire aims to enhance productivity in cocoa farming

26-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Nestlé has published a progress report on its Income Accelerator Program, which aims to support cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire and incentivise them into greater productivity.