Branded chocolate makers could get a sales boost by cutting prices for fairtrade products in developed markets and making items more readily available, according to an analyst from Euromonitor.
The global reduced fat chocolate category is set for 13.4% sales growth this year. We ask how chocolate makers can formulate to get a piece of the action.
The Archer Daniels Midland Company is holding discussions to sell its cocoa ingredients business - a business unit that saw profits plunge 24% last year.
Bitesize confectionery has seen 40% growth over the last four years in the UK and is now worth £550m ($859m), according to Mars which has launched its first share bag versions for its Twix and Mars brands.
Nestlé has followed in the footsteps of Mondelez by coming up with its own non-melting chocolate, which could prove a game changer in emerging markets with hot climates.
Russian fats and oils supplier EFKO Group has reported rapid sales growth in cocoa butter substitutes in its first quarter (Q1) results as the domestic confectionery market picks up.
Global certification association ISEAL Alliance has developed a set of principles for defining what makes an ecolabel, standard or certification credible.
Corporate sustainability programs do not go far enough to stamp out child labor on cocoa farms - only third party certification will do, says a new campaign.
The European Commission has said there is enough competition from ADM and Cargill to make Barry Callebaut’s $950m acquisition of Petra Foods’ Ingredients division free from competition concerns.
UK chocolatier Thorntons has reported increased sales in the third quarter as its focus on the commercial channel drove performance over Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter.
Mondelez has reported growth through innovation in the atypical French market that favors premium and dark chocolate more than most places in the world.
Barry Callebaut has reported a slight dip in half-year profits as lower cocoa prices meant customers were paying less for the company’s range of cocoa ingredients compared to last year.
The Belgian confectionery association Choprabisco is considering applying for protected geographical indication for Belgian chocolate to protect authentic producers from imitations.
The UK is demonstrating a healthy appetite for peanut butter as sales for the nutty spread have grown 20% in the last two years while jam sales have remained flat, according to market analysts Mintel.
Lindt & Sprüngli’s operating profit rose 10.3% in 2012 and the company has declared itself “partially unaffected” by the continuing economic downturn as consumers still seek quality chocolate in tough times.
SunOpta plans to increase its cocoa processing capacity with a new facility in Middenmeer, Netherlands as it looks to grow its organic and specialty cocoa business to serve the specialty chocolate industry.
Barry Callebaut has developed a formula to reduce the bitterness of high cocoa chocolate using green coffee that doesn’t give a coffee taste and ups antioxidant content.
Oxfam has called on the three biggest chocolate manufacturers to conduct independent audits on conditions for women on cocoa farms supplying their factories after finding evidence of unequal pay, discrimination and hunger.
Eleven chocolate companies including Nestlé and Kraft have been fined over €60m ($82m) for colluding to raise chocolate prices in Germany, while price fixing investigations continue in the US and Canada.
Barry Callebaut has unveiled new cocoa and chocolate products at ISM in Cologne, including Cameroon origin cocoa for baked goods, and single origin chocolate from Cameroon and Java.
Barry Callebaut has acquired Sweden’s ASM Foods from Carletti and has taken over additional operations from Carletti in Demark to up its production capacity in Scandinavia.
Euromonitor International is predicting that demand for cocoa products will not outstrip supply by 2017, contrary to the International Cocoa Organization’s (ICCO) forecasted cocoa deficit.
Market analysts have branded Barry Callebaut’s $950 million takeover of Petra Foods' cocoa division ‘pricey’, but the Swiss chocolate giant has defended the move despite admitting it will hurt its pockets in the short-term.
Taura Natural Ingredients has developed a range of natural concentrated fruit pieces to specifically target and cater to the needs of artisan chocolatiers and bakers.
Barry Callebaut is set to acquire the cocoa ingredients division of Petra Foods in a $950 million (€730m) deal that will see the firm ‘significantly strengthen its position in cocoa processing'.
Action on sustainable cocoa must happen in two years, not ten and requires a holistic approach far beyond simple certification and increased production, the editor of a new report says.
Spanish chocolate and cocoa processor Natra has more than doubled its operating profit in its ninth-month results helped by relaxing cocoa prices, North American expansion and a shift to value added products.
Cocoa compounds found in dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure in the short term and could help guard against cardiovascular disease, according to a recently released study.
Cocoa products do not represent a major source of the potential carcinogen ochratoxin A in the diet, but may still requite monitoring, according to a new analysis of the supply chain.
Spanish ingredients producer Natra has unveiled a new granulated chocolate product that it says will form a ‘new generation’ of powdered chocolate for the industry.
Fairtrade product sales rose 12% worldwide in 2011 due to ethical sourcing commitments from the food and drink industry and increased consumer awareness.
Sourcing cocoa from certified farms can minimise incidence of child labour, but if that’s enough, why else should chocolate manufacturers commit to third-party certification?
Biotech firm Lycotec has developed an ingredient that it claims can harness the health potential in both dark and milk chocolate and lead to products with anti-ageing, injury recovery and increased physical performance properties.
The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) anticipates a lower than expected global cocoa shortage in the 2011/12 season due to ideal weather conditions and higher grinds in some cocoa producing countries.
A consecutive deficit in 2012/13 is set to move cocoa prices higher as supply struggles to meet rising demand for chocolate products in Asia, according to financial services group Rabobank.