Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Higher Fairtrade prices are still unfair, says Cacao for Change founder

11-Dec-2018 By Niamh Michail

The higher minimum prices and premiums that Fairtrade guarantees farmers are "unfair", according to the founder of social venture Cacao for Change.

Analysts predict £7bn UK grocery spree in Christmas run-up

11-Dec-2018 By Niamh Michail

UK shoppers are set to spend £7 billion (€7.8bn) on food and drink in the next two weeks, according to analysts.

Sustainability

Barry Callebaut announces 44% of cocoa beans in its supply chain sustainably sourced

06-Dec-2018 By Anthony Myers

Swiss chocolate manufacturer says it’s on target to be 100% sustainable by 2025 after releasing its Forever Chocolate Progress report.

Farmlogics ag-tech brings sourcing closer to SDGs by 'digitising the field'

06-Dec-2018 By Niamh Michail

Farmlogics' ag-tech give suppliers more control of their supply chains, aligning commodity procurement with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it says.

ScanUp: The app that tells consumers if food is 'ultra-processed' and helps manufacturers reformulate

04-Dec-2018 By Niamh Michail

The developers of ScanUp, a French app that allows consumers to scan food products and see just how ‘processed’ or ‘ultra-processed’ they are, are working with manufacturers to develop simple products that score more highly.

Sustainability

Fairtrade to increase its Minimum Price for cocoa and farmers’ Premium payments

03-Dec-2018 By Anthony Myers

Farmer organizations will be guaranteed a higher price for cocoa sales on Fairtrade terms, as part of foundation’s strategy towards enabling living incomes it said. Changes will come into effect October 2019.

RSPO suspends FGV palm oil mill and four plantations over labour rights abuses

30-Nov-2018 By Niamh Michail

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has suspended the membership of one mill and four plantations belonging to Malaysian palm oil giant FGV, which supplies manufacturers including Nestle and Mars, due to labour rights abuses.

The kids are alright: How Germany’s best-selling Fairtrade chocolate was created by children

29-Nov-2018 By Niamh Michail

When a group of children asked global chocolate firms to help finance their plant-a-tree campaign, not a single company stepped forward. This spurred the children on to create their own brand, The Change Chocolate, which is now Germany’s biggest-selling...

EXCLUSIVE

Bon Voyage - The Travelling Frenchman scales-up distribution of its single-origin chocolate

27-Nov-2018 By Jenny Eagle

The Travelling Frenchman is scaling up production and distribution of its single-origin chocolate with two launches in time for Christmas from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Venezuela.

'Patchy' roll-out of WHO advice on junk food marketing

26-Nov-2018 By Niamh Michail

European uptake of World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on junk food marketing to children has been "patchy" in part because of intense private sector lobbying, according to a WHO report.

WATCH

Thermal tasters: Linking phantom taste, product perception and temperature

21-Nov-2018 By Katy Askew

People who are ‘thermal tasters’ report phantom taste responses when orally exposed to different temperatures. Understanding this phenomenon is important for product development in the food industry.

The end of the ENL? Nestlé pulls out of Evolved Nutrition Label; others suspend involvement

20-Nov-2018 By Niamh Michail

Nestlé is ceasing involvement in the Evolved Nutrition Label (ENL) while the four remaining companies, Unilever, Mondelez, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, have put trials for food "on hold".

Flavour beyond sweetness: Givaudan's 'counter-intuitive' approach to sugar reduction

16-Nov-2018 By Niamh Michail

Can onion really make soda taste sweeter? By identifying the molecules responsible for complex, full-bodied flavour notes, Givaudan uses “counter-intuitive” ingredients, such as onion or celeriac, to reduce sugar by up to 50% without losing flavour.

Rousselot partners with Baker Perkins on tests to accelerate gelation process of gummies

14-Nov-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Rousselot has partnered with Baker Perkins on tests to accelerate the gelation process of gummies from 24 hours to 5-10 minutes.

Spain to officially adopt NutriScore

13-Nov-2018 By Niamh Michail

Spain has become the third European country to adopt the front-of-pack NutriScore as its official nutrition label.

WCF conference, Sao Paulo

Bahia notebook: An expert’s view of cocoa production in Brazil’s Atlantic forest - video

02-Nov-2018 By Anthony Myers

Independent cocoa expert Ray Major provides an oversight of how cocoa has continued to survive against all the odds by adopting the cabruca method to manage the most valuable of crops.

Eight reasons we need to stop focusing on nutrients – and what this means for processed food makers

31-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

The rise of nutritionalism – focusing on nutrient content rather than the whole food – has created a ‘nutritional cacophony’ that leaves people confused. Nutritionist Bernard Lavallée explains how manufacturers can create healthy processed foods.

Farm waste, sweet taste: Comet Bio transforms harvest leftovers into sweeteners and fibre

30-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

Comet Bio transforms farm leftovers, such as wheat straw, into functional ingredients such as sweeteners and fibres with a lower carbon footprint.

From quinoa couscous to green banana chips: What we saw at SIAL

29-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

From quinoa couscous to green banana chips; organic ghee to 'raw' olive oil, FoodNavigator rounds up some of the most interesting products we saw at this year's SIAL in Paris.

WCF Conference, Sao Paulo

Cocoa and peace in Colombia: how the country went from ‘guns to pruners’ - video

25-Oct-2018 By Anthony Myers

Juana Botero, director sustainability at Casa Luker, on how the cocoa industry is taking the fight to the drugs gangs by building a successful human-centred business with social inclusion throughout the supply chain based on empathy and support for the...

Is enough being done to weather the cocoa sector against climate change & cocoa shortages?

19-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

Climate change is one of the biggest long-term threats to cocoa production. But is enough being done today to make the sector more resilient?

Editor's spotlight

Former Green & Black’s co-founder talks about Gusto Cola, biochar, sugar tax & the plastic waste debate

19-Oct-2018 By Jenny Eagle

Brothers Craig and Greg Sams will take to the stage next week to talk about how they entered the healthy-eating market with their Whole Earth Food Brand in the early 70s, before it became on-trend and how biochar is changing the future of organic farming.

FoodNavigator's biggest stories of 2018 so far

17-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

From the rise of foodtech to the end of the commodities era; from the organic sector's boom to the Mediterranean diet's bust, these are the most read stories on FoodNavigator this year so far.

From vegan ice-cream to gluten-free bakery: Can chestnuts conquer new categories?

16-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

Chestnuts can add creaminess to dairy-free products, work well in gluten-free bakery and are naturally sweet allowing for sugar reduction, giving them massive potential beyond Christmas, says supplier Porter Foods.

Chr. Hansen CEO talks tapping food’s top five mega-trends

15-Oct-2018 By Katy Askew

In his first international interview as Chr. Hansen chief executive, Mauricio Graber explains why he feels the company is uniquely positioned to capitalise on global mega trends shaping the food and beverage sectors.

Commission proposes 2% trans fat limit

05-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

The European Commission has proposed limiting industrially produced trans fatty acids to 2 g per 100 g of fat.

EU starch industry looks to protein & plastic potential following isoglucose 'disappointment'

03-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

It’s been one year since the end of EU sugar quotas but contrary to the hopes (of starch producers) and fears (of public health campaigners), Europe has not been flooded with isoglucose. FoodNavigator caught up with Starch Europe to talk isoglucose, Brexit...

Mug cakes evolve into healthy and high protein breakfast choice

03-Oct-2018 By Natasha Spencer

As the easy-to-make, convenient and rich dessert variety draws fans from all over Europe, we look at the latest product launches, innovative industry players and how cake and food manufacturers can harness this treat in a mug for a new set of customers....

UN commitment to tackling NCDs: ‘Landmark step’ or 'lacking ambition'?

02-Oct-2018 By Katy Askew

Heads of state and global governments came together last week with a commitment to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as obesity and diabetes. The food sector has welcomed the initiative but health campaigners warn the measures ‘lack ambition’.

‘These attacks are a caricature’: French industry reacts to ultra-processed food report

01-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

French trade group ANIA has reacted angrily to the parliamentary report last week that called for tough measures to make 'ultra-processed' food healthier through stricter regulations.

NPD trend tracker: Pulse-based rice, sweet beet bars & seasonal launches

01-Oct-2018 By Niamh Michail

From snack bars made with beetroot to rice made from pulses, manufacturers continue to invest in better-for-you products. Brands are also gearing up for Halloween and Christmas with themed products aiming to drive impulse purchases.

‘Ingredients lists are powerful purchasing motivators’: Study finds consumer care more about ingredients than brand

28-Sep-2018 By Katy Askew

Fresh consumer research demonstrates the ongoing importance of the clean label trend and suggests that the ingredients list trumps both the brand and product description in motivating purchase.

Brussels Bulletin

Fake food, origin labelling & cheap US soy: A round-up of EU news and views

28-Sep-2018 By Niamh Michail

From fake food to cheap soy; origin labelling to EU exports, we round up the biggest news from Brussels affecting the food industry this month so far.

French MPs attack processed & ‘ultra-processed’ food, demanding tougher laws

27-Sep-2018 By Niamh Michail

A French parliamentary report, voted yesterday, calls for a raft of measures to make processed and 'ultra-processed' food healthier, from maximum limits on salt, sugar and fat to caps on the number of additives used per product.

From ‘revolutionary’ tech to empowering farmers: How Olam leverages its African footprint to improve cocoa sustainability

27-Sep-2018 By Katy Askew

Olam International has a “considerable” presence in Africa as the world’s leading originator of cocoa beans and a globally leading cocoa processor. Andrew Brooks, Olam Cocoa’s head of sustainability for Africa, speaks to us about how the group leverages...

Stakeholders launch International Fair Trade Charter: 'Our goal is to render Fair Trade labels unnecessary'

26-Sep-2018 By Niamh Michail

Over 300 organisations have launched an International Fair Trade Charter that sets down the fundamental values of Fair Trade.

Better than bouillon: Carrés Futés blends cocoa butter & vegetables in healthy 'flavour bar'

25-Sep-2018 By Niamh Michail

French start-up CarréLéon has created a culinary aid that blends cocoa butter and vegetables in a bar that consumers add to sauces and other dishes to make them more healthy and tasty.

Sustainability

‘Cocoa for generations’: Mars to launch new sustainability strategy

19-Sep-2018 By Anthony Myers

Confectionery giant’s plan to put smallholder farmers at the center of its ambitious strategy broadly welcomed by peers and suppliers.

PepsiCo innovation chief on seaweed, insects & accessible nutrition: 'It’s through experimenting that you work out what consumers will buy'

19-Sep-2018 By Niamh Michail

PepsiCo is on a drive to grow its healthy portfolio faster than its core 'treat' products. We talk to its director of innovation about finding the right healthy ingredients, working with start-ups and how it plans to give 'more nutritious...

Could sorghum syrup rival beet as Europe's home-grown sugar?

18-Sep-2018 By Niamh Michail

A Hungarian company is bringing sorghum syrup to Europe for the first time, a liquid sweetener with a caramel flavour that can be used across food and beverage categories.

MycoTech brings mushroom-based bitter blocker to Europe

17-Sep-2018 By Niamh Michail

As US supplier MycoTechnology turns its attention to the European market, its CEO explains how fermented mushrooms can reduce sugar, block bitterness and improve the nutritional content of plant protein. “It’s really unlimited what we can do with our...

DouxMatok & Südzucker bring sugar tech to Europe: 'We want to be like Intel Inside, powering industry's sugar reduction,' says CEO

01-Aug-2018 By Niamh Michail

Israeli start-up DouxMatok has partnered with German sugar giant Südzucker to produce, market and sell its patented sugar-reducing technology to Europe.

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