Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Interpack 2017

GEA sees rise in label-on-stick lollipops

16-May-2017 By Jenny Eagle

GEA showcased its Aquarius BunchWrapper wrapping machine at Interpack which is fitted with labelers for placing labels inside a wrapping film and on a stick.

Direct selling

‘The Cocoa Exchange’: Mars sets up e-commerce party program for chocolate

15-May-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Mars Chocolate North America is recruiting ‘curators’ to host parties promoting a specially created range from Mars, which can be sold on an online store.

Interpack 2017

GEA debuts Comas and Imaforni processing lines

15-May-2017 By Jenny Eagle

GEA debuted its Comas cupcake production line and Imaforni multi-zone tunnel oven for crackers, cakes, pies, biscuits and cookie manufacturing at Interpack.

Mars joins Nestlé, Lindt and Ferrero in calorie reduction goal

15-May-2017 By Douglas Yu

Mars-Wrigley, Nestlé USA, Ferrero, Lindt, and Ferrara Candy say half of their individually wrapped products will be 200 calories or less by 2022.

Chocolate and candy tax proposed in the UK

12-May-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Pressure group Action on Sugar is urging the UK government to expand a sugar tax on soft drinks to chocolate and sweet confectionery – a move seen as “punitive” and "discriminatory” by industry bodies.

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: Confections hold steady in face of the war on sugar

12-May-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite significant headwinds generated by the escalating war on sugar and increasing consumer preferences for healthy products, the confectionery industry is holding its own with sales climbing 1.2% in the last year to reach a whopping $25 billion, according...

Interpack 2017

Treofan turns to phthalate-free packaging films and mineral oil barriers

11-May-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Treofan has started to offer its customers phthalate-free packaging films on request using phthalate-free base polymers in the extrusion process.

Raisio confectionery sales hit by Poppets delistings

10-May-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Raisio has reported a decline in first quarter confectionery sales due to a weaker British pound and reduced UK demand for its brands, which include Poppets and Fox's Glacier.

Ferrero-owned Kinder secures licensing deal with Despicable Me 3

09-May-2017 By Douglas Yu

Kinder is rolling out Despicable Me-themed Surprise Eggs in the UK under a partnership with Universal Pictures.

Smells like teen spirit? Different age groups have specific food smells - and that's important for tailored NPD

26-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

Vanilla is associated with children, roasted nuts with seniors and floral notes with adults, and the findings will provide "a deeper understanding" for tailoring new product development (NPD) to age groups, according to a recent study.

Nestlé departs UK for Poland taking 300 Blue Riband jobs

26-Apr-2017 By Will Chu

Nestlé is to move production of its Blue Riband chocolate brand from the UK to Poland with a loss of around 300 jobs.

RSPO issues first ever RSPO Next palm oil certification

25-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has issued its first RSPO Next certification, a stricter voluntary add-on, to Colombian-based agribusiness Daabon Group.

How to reduce sugar scientifically and creatively in confectionery

24-Apr-2017 By Kathy Groves, Head of Microscopy, Leatherhead Food Research

Soluble dietary fibers, dextrins and added vanilla can help manufacturers cut sugar beyond reducing portion size, writes Leatherhead Food Research’s head of microscopy.

DuPont health & nutrition president on mega mergers, start-up successes and new product launch plans

21-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

Despite its recent mega mergers and billion-dollar business deals, DuPont is still very much focussed on collaborating with start-ups. “Not everything has to be invented in our labs,” its nutrition and health president Matthias Heinzel tells FoodNavigator.

PureCircle plans to bring glucosylated stevia to Europe with EFSA request

20-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

PureCircle has requested a safety opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for glucosylated stevia as it hopes to bring the enzymatically modified sweetener to the European market in 2018.

UK confectionery prices fall slightly despite Brexit

20-Apr-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Supermarket price wars have forced UK confectionery down in spite of the Brexit vote, says market intelligence firm IRI.

Our own cocoa buying company in Ghana cuts out middlemen to benefit farmers, says Cargill

20-Apr-2017 By Douglas Yu

Cargill says its recently established licensed buying company (LBC) in Ghana helps cocoa farmers avoid being paid through a third party.

Orkla cuts palm oil from 98% of its Nordic sweets and snack brands

19-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

Orkla Confectionery & Snacks Sweden has removed palm oil from 98% of its products, meaning 1,500 fewer tons of saturated fat in consumers' food. But what were the technical challenges and how was it received by fellow members of the Roundtable...

Soaring packaged food sales gives industry three healthier options: Euromonitor

18-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

In some European countries, calorie intake from packaged food is four times greater than for fresh - a golden opportunity for industry to make processed food healthier in one of three ways, says one Euromonitor analyst.

Naturex looks for partners to develop natural colours and preservatives

13-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

Botanical extract supplier Naturex is looking for partners – both technical and commercial – to work together to develop natural solutions for red, green and blue colours and preservatives.

Radfords Fine Fudge to launch Fairtrade fudge and honeycomb

13-Apr-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Radfords Fine Fudge has started a crowdfunding campaign to launch a range of Fairtrade fudge and honeycomb confectionery.

ANSES: We can’t challenge EFSA’s opinion on titanium dioxide (yet) but industry should find replacements

13-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

French food safety agency ANSES has said while it cannot challenge EFSA’s greenlight for titanium dioxide at the current time, it is nonetheless advising industry to replace the white food colouring with suitable alternatives.

EU scientists warn against methods that overstimate carcinogen levels in food

11-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

EU scientists have warned against pitfalls in the method used to analyse carcinogenic contaminants 2-MCPD, 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in food, recommending an additional ‘clean-up step’ to avoid skewing results.

Haribo to downsize two production sites in France

05-Apr-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Haribo will downsize 15% of its workforce in France as part of restructuring plans to improve competitiveness and to focus on its first manufacturing plant in the US.

The big debate: Can sugar survive a public health crisis?

31-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

The world is getting fatter and unhealthier - are smaller portions and diet drinks really going to help when they sit next to full-sugar, supersized products? Is it time to tax or is industry doing enough? Catch the highlights from our live debate.

Ferrero names internal candidate as next CEO

30-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Ferrero has appointed a CEO to take over duties from Giovanni Ferrero, who will become executive chairman.

First solid chocolate Easter Egg hits UK shelves

30-Mar-2017 By Jenny Eagle

The Solid Chocolate Company has launched what it claims is the world’s first Solid Chocolate Egg.

Sugar, salt and fat taxes are 'very positive', says Health Commissioner

30-Mar-2017 By David Burrows

The EU Health Commissioner has said that taxation on certain ingredients and products can be a “very powerful” tool for tackling health issues, including obesity. Campaigners have welcomed his comments but food industry representatives said small businesses...

KitKat cocoa content upped 13% in sugar reduction push

28-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Nestlé UK & Ireland has upped the cocoa and milk content of KitKat in its bid to cut sugar by 10% across its confectionery range.

Nestlé "very concerned" over deforestation links to Wilmar palm oil

27-Mar-2017 By Louis Gore-Langton

Nestlé says it is "very concerned" by allegations that its palm oil supplier Wilmar International has again been implicated in sourcing palm oil from the protected Leuser ecosystem in Indonesia, according to a report by the Rainforest Action...

Blood fat levels an indicator of kids’ diet quality and disease risk: Study

27-Mar-2017 By Will Chu

Family-based lifestyle interventions, such as a diet high in unsaturated fat, can have a dramatic impact on children's blood fatty acid make-up, Finnish researchers have determined. 

EFSA to recommend daily intake values for added sugar by 2020

24-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will publish a scientific opinion on how much sugar can be included in a healthy diet by 2020, it has confirmed.

A 20% sugar cut by 2020? ‘It won’t be possible,’ says FDF

23-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

A 20% sugar cut across all food categories by 2020 – as per voluntary targets set by the UK government – is not technically possible, nor would it be acceptable to consumers, industry lobby the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has said.

'This is the largest emotional dataset linked to real business outcomes in existence'

Facial expressions show Mars the adverts that will drive sales

23-Mar-2017 By David Burrows

It’s a claim that will raise a few eyebrows: researchers working for Mars can identify with 75% accuracy whether or not an advert will deliver a big sales uplift by studying facial expressions.

'The best kind of bad': Chocolate makers need premium ingredients not sugar reduction

22-Mar-2017 By Douglas Yu

Sugar and calorie reduction has taken its toll on the chocolate category, but focusing on quality ingredients can foster growth, suggests a Euromonitor analyst. 

Interview: WCF President

Big 12 cocoa and chocolate players pledge to end deforestation in cocoa

17-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

The 12 major players in cocoa and chocolate have united with public sector partners to eradicate deforestation in the cocoa supply chain.

5-C NutriScore to be France's official nutrition label

16-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

The five-colour NutriScore is the most effective nutrition label in promoting healthier food choices and will be adopted as the official (but voluntary) label in France, the health minister has said. 

Snack time? Consumers almost always crave chocolate and high calorie treats

15-Mar-2017 By David Burrows

When consumers crave snacks, it’s chocolate and other high calorie ones they go for, according to new research.

Unilever wants stronger UK protection from foreign takeovers

15-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

Anglo-Dutch giant Unilever has called on the UK government to revisit the country's rules on takeovers and acquisitions to protect ‘national champions’ against foreign takeovers.

Katjes International CFO: Sugar confectionery consumption in Europe may have reached its limits

15-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Sugar confectionery consumption in Europe may have peaked, but a spike in Germany’s birthrate signals hope for the future, says Katjes International’s CFO.

Natural flavours and colours can reassure health-conscious parents

14-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

Industry used to shy away from scrutiny towards ingredients lists, but by choosing the right colour or flavour firms can add value to products and reassure consumers, according to colouring food supplier GNT and kids' food brand Appy Kids Co. 

Champagne crisps and Tabasco popcorn: Innovations at ife 2017

10-Mar-2017 By Gill Hyslop

UK exhibitors will be showcasing novel products at ife 2017, the international food & drink event in London from March 19 to 22.

Gelatin-free winegums texture problems cracked with starch blend launch - Cargill

09-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Cargill has developed a starch blend that it claims can more closely match the texture of gelatin and can cut drying time in half.

FOOD VISION 2017

Subscription snacking: How Love with Food is gathering consumer opinions through its products

08-Mar-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

Love with Food is a subscription service that allows food companies to gain consumer feedback on their products.

Nestlé UK to cut 10% of sugar in confectionery range by 2018

08-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Nestlé has pledged to remove 7,500 metric tons of sugar in its UK confectionery range via reformulation, calorie limits and new technology.

Six industry giants to launch UK-style traffic light labels in Europe

08-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

Coca-Cola, Mars, Mondelez, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever will add nutrition logos modelled on the UK’s traffic light label to their European portfolios. However, critics have slammed the use of portion size as a reference.

EU lawmakers to discuss companies selling poorer quality food in Eastern Europe

28-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council will discuss the issue of dual quality foods next week as Slovakia and Hungary push for EU legislation to prevent manufacturers selling poorer quality products in Eastern countries of the single market bloc.

Obesity caused by parents, not social or economic factors: Study

27-Feb-2017 By Louis Gore-Langton

Up to 40% of obesity in children is inherited from parents - irrespective of wealth and social status, new research has found.

Media’s role in cocoa sustainability

Stop the white noise: How can chocolate makers be tempted to bite into cocoa's poverty and child labor crisis?

27-Feb-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Reporting effective approaches to tackle deep-rooted poverty and child labor in the cocoa sector should take precedence over shock headlines, writes ConfectioneryNews’ editor.

Children's sugar intake equivalent to five doughnuts a day: Obesity Health Alliance

24-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

Children in the UK are eating the equivalent of five doughnuts a day in sugar, according to the Obesity Health Alliance, as it calls on industry to reformulate its products.