Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Nestlé-backed Swiss scientists create novel process for foams that last 'essentially forever'

20-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

Ever-lasting foam in ice cream or beer without artificial stabilisers? Swiss researchers have "for the first time" developed a novel strategy to make foam bubbles last "essentially ‘forever".

There's an untapped opportunity in organic kids' food, says Mintel

19-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

European parents are consistently willing to pay more for organic, says Mintel. Yet while organic claims are common on baby food, they are less used on food and drink aimed at kids. Are manufacturers missing a trick?

Purple chocolate ups the possibilities for healthy indulgent foods: Herza

15-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

Purple chocolate, coloured with nutrient-packed fruit and vegetable powders, can make healthy foods such as muesli more appealing or give indulgent ice cream a healthy halo, says Herza Schokolade.

Sustainability database can help manufacturers avoid buying bad palm oil

12-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

There's "a gold rush mentality" in the palm oil sector preventing it from becoming truly sustainable, says Danish NGO NepCon. But its database Sourcing Hub can help manufacturers make the most sustainable possible choices when buying palm...

Euromonitor: 20 most influential megatrends to shape the world by 2030

07-Sep-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Euromonitor International has identified 20 of the most influential megatrends to shape the world by 2030 with analysis on eight megatrends with the furthest-reaching impact on industries and consumers in the years to come.

Sacmi to expand and reorganize its chocolate division

05-Sep-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Sacmi is reorganizing one of its business units, which focuses on chocolate processing, wrapping and packaging.

3D food printing: Precision and accuracy an obstacle to fulfilling potential

05-Sep-2017 By Will Chu

Printing precision and accuracy, process productivity and the production of colourful, multi-flavour, multi-structure products remain the biggest challenges to wider industry adoption of 3D food printing.

Beneo boss: “Sustainability is part of our DNA”

04-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

Sustainability has always underpinned the way Beneo does business from ingredient sourcing to investing in greener factories, according to its executive board member.

What next for coconut’s millennial appeal?

01-Sep-2017 By Katy Askew

The popularity of coconut-based products continues to rise thanks, in part, to their particular resonance with millennial consumers: What will the next big trend for coconut applications be?

Flavour pairing with plant proteins: What’s best for your product?

01-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

Plant proteins such as hemp, brown rice and pea have complex taste profiles that work best with tailor-made flavours. But it's not always obvious that sulphur pairs well with strawberry...which is why it helps to have a flavourist on board to explain.

R&D

Olive oil enriched dark ‘chocolate’ has heart health pros, claims study

01-Sep-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Researchers say commercial prospects for extra virgin olive oil enriched dark chocolate are strong after finding potential cardiovascular health benefits.

Danish supplier serves up a healthy dose of hemp product innovation

31-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

Bored with the usual hemp launches - granola and cereal bars - one Danish supplier is helping manufacturers think outside the box. Hemp cheese, gin, salami and marzipan are just some of its latest creations.

Hain Celestial grows natural brands in Europe

30-Aug-2017 By Katy Askew

Hain Celestial, the US-based natural and organic food manufacturer, insisted that it sees “tremendous opportunities” for the natural and organic food sector as it grows its business in Europe.

Evolva to axe almost half its workforce in restructuring overhaul

30-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

Evolva will cut its workforce by 43% and spin off its Indian R&D laboratory to become a product-based company. "Technology will always be the backbone at Evolva but we've reached the point where we need to be laser focused on commercialising...

Cocoa prices to stay low in short term even as chocolate markets are ‘strong’

29-Aug-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Cocoa prices are expected to remain fairly flat until Q1 2018 even as the world’s largest chocolate market, the US, is growing, according to Rabobank.

Danish juice firms create value-added bakery ingredients with fruit pulp waste

28-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

Leftover fruit pulp from the juice industry is being transformed into a value-added and healthy ingredient for cereals, baked snacks and chocolate.

Nestlé defends new Whip chocolates for not including walnut

22-Aug-2017 By Douglas Yu

Nestlé says the Walnut Whip with a walnut will remain on sale alongside its new vanilla, caramel and mint versions without a walnut in the UK and Ireland.

Innovation, health & home delivery: Drivers for organic food growth amongst consumers

18-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

Innovative products in the organic sector are continuing to contribute to its growth in 2017, as non-dairy milks, nutty butters and confectionery join traditional recipe snacks.

UK targets calories in next phase of childhood obesity plan

18-Aug-2017 By Katy Askew

The UK has set its sights on foods with a high calorie count as it updates the country’s childhood obesity plan, which previously focused on sugar reduction.

R&D

Potential cocoa substitute: Jackfruit seeds create chocolate aroma, say researchers

17-Aug-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Jackfruit seeds are a waste product that can be fermented, roasted and converted to flour imparting a chocolate aroma, according to research.

FDF, BRC back ‘coordinated’ approach to sugar reduction

16-Aug-2017 By Katy Askew

Industry bodies representing the UK’s food and drink sector are backing a “coordinated” drive to reduce the amount of sugar in products.

Sweetener combos in food result in irrational metabolic response: Yale study

14-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

A greater metabolic response to a sweet-tasting, lower-calorie drink could explain the link between artificial sweetener use and diabetes, according to Yale University scientists.

Chinese supplier Layn to bring monk fruit to Europe

04-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

Chinese supplier Guilin Layn Natural Ingredients wants to be the first firm to sell monk fruit in Europe, and has submitted a request for a scientific opinion to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Cereal, sugar and dairy drive global food prices upwards

04-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

World food prices rose for the third month in a row, driven by higher values for cereals, sugar and dairy, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) Food Price Index.

Quarterly Earnings

McCain Foods president to become Mondelēz’s new CEO amid Q2 revenue decline

02-Aug-2017 By Douglas Yu

Dirk Van de Put will succeed Irene Rosenfeld as Mondelēz’s new CEO in November.

Does Europe need a legal definition of natural food?

31-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

With the US considering a legal definition of ‘natural’ food, does Europe need one too? It would increase clarity for a complex concept, but defining 'degrees of naturalness’ for origin, ingredients and processing may be better, say the researchers...

French people eat too much salt and not enough fibre: ANSES

26-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

The French population is consuming more processed foods, too much salt, and - “most importantly” - not enough fibre compared to ten years ago, according to a survey by the country’s food safety agency ANSES.

Nestlé seals 5-year deal with Netherlands logistics firm

26-Jul-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Nestlé has partnered with Kuehne + Nagel logistics company to store its chocolate, coffee and culinary products over the next five years.

ONS recognises “shrinkflation” as reason for smaller (but not cheaper) chocolates

25-Jul-2017 By Will Chu

Servings of confectionery, fruit juice and biscuits are getting smaller without getting any cheaper, the UK government confirm as findings appear to strengthen what many consumers have long suspected.

EU agri-food exports on the rise

25-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

The total value of EU agri-food exports increased by 9% in May this year compared to 2016, according to trade figures from the European Commission.

Barry Callebaut expands specialties and decorations arm with Italian purchase

21-Jul-2017 By Will Chu

Barry Callebaut has added to its European Specialties & Decorations segment with the purchase of Italian firm D’Orsogna Dolciaria for an undisclosed amount.

'We're the first product that dreams of impeaching the US president'

German start-up Smuus mixes food, politics & tongue-in-cheek marketing

21-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

German start-up Smuus has an original concept with its fruit and vegetable smoothies for yoghurts, desserts, bread, meat and cheese. But the campaign for its peach-flavoured product, which promises to donate 10% of profits to charities fighting the policies...

Stevia-based flavour modifier cuts need for expensive cocoa and vanilla

21-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

Stevia supplier Pure Circle has developed a stevia-based flavour modifier that enhances vanilla and cocoa flavours as well as sweetening.

Titanium dioxide should be avoided if you have colitis, say researchers

20-Jul-2017 By David Burrows

People with colitis should avoid food containing titanium dioxide particles, according to research carried out in Switzerland.

Cocoa in the Congo: Emerging origin for organic chocolate makers

20-Jul-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Cocoa production is thriving in the Democratic Republic of Congo, presenting an opportunity for the chocolate industry, say stakeholders working in the country.

Long-fibre prebiotics show promising sweetness, say scientists

19-Jul-2017 By David Burrows

How to keep things sweet without adding calories – is it a Holy Grail or could UK scientists have found a solution thanks to long-fibre prebiotics?

Caramel supplier Nigay to open €20m French factory

19-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

French caramel supplier Nigay is to invest €20 million in a second factory in Northern France.

Mondelez’s Toblerone may have grounds for candy shape-based lawsuit against Poundland

19-Jul-2017 By Douglas Yu

A British business advisory lawyer says Mondelēz could take action against Poundland for launching Twin Peaks chocolate that looks like its Toblerone brand because of its “unique and distinctive” shape.

Lithuania moves to cap industrial trans fats

19-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

Lithuania has drawn up a draft law that will limit the amount of industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs) to a maximum limit of 2 g per 100 g of total fat content.

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