Hershey courts Gen Z with premium, better-for-you snacking playbook
From holiday occasions to social-first indulgence, Hershey is using premiumization, permissible treats and a bigger salty and protein presence to future-proof its snacking portfolio
Hershey
Hershey u‑turns as real chocolate makes a comeback
Hershey says it’s bringing real chocolate back to parts of its portfolio – could this small switch signal something much bigger for the confectionery industry?
Confectionery sales surge as market races towards $295bn
Confectionery sales are soaring. But what’s driving growth and which brands are best positioned for the future?
Barry Callebaut, Ferrero, Hershey & Tony’s Chocolonely join Cocoa Coalition
Global confectionery giants join NGOs and major retailers to create UK Cocoa Coalition
The Big 5: Power players defining confectionery’s future
Five giants dominate confectionery. What gives them the edge, and keeps them on top?
Hershey: Strategy shake‑up and leadership reset
Hershey is shaking up its strategy and its structure
The Big One: Cyberattack that could cripple food and drink
Cyberattacks are closing in on the food and drink sector, and the next one could be catastrophic. Is the industry ready for The Big One?
Hershey: The secret to success and what’s next
With new markets to enter and new categories to conquer, Hershey’s next wave of growth could be its most exciting yet
Why Lay’s, Oreo and M&M’s are engineering consumer experiences
PepsiCo’s Lay’s restaurant in Madrid highlights a growing strategy among snack giants to extend blockbuster brands beyond the supermarket shelf and into cafés, retail attractions and immersive consumer experiences
Opinion
Food and beverage still has a gender problem
Women can make it big in Big Food, but its most powerful seat still skews male
Confectionery sector braced for shortages as Iran conflict escalates
As conflict disrupts key trade routes and energy supplies, the confectionery sector is among the first to feel the strain. How vulnerable are manufacturers, and what can be done to protect the industry?
Mondelēz’s meteoric rise: The strategy behind the superpower
Strategic deals, powerhouse brands, and disciplined growth – inside Mondelēz’s journey to global leadership, and its vision for the future
Mars, Mondelēz, Nestlé, Hershey, and Lindt team up to transform future of cocoa
The world’s biggest chocolate makers are working together to futureproof cocoa and support growers
Trouble at the Top: Nestlé, Unilever, Barry Callebaut, Kraft Heinz
CEO scandals and surprise shake-ups – the world’s biggest food and drink giants are undergoing a leadership overhaul. But is this a moment of crisis or a chance for positive change?
Industry, brace for change: Momentum builds behind Global Plastics Treaty
After negotiations failed to finalise a global treaty on plastic pollution last year, new hope is on the horizon
Hershey blasted by Reese’s family over core ingredient changes
Reese family sends open letter to Hershey, challenging whether the confectionery giant is protecting the Reese’s legacy
5 trends powering chocolate’s $245bn boom
Trends shaping the future of chocolate and the opportunities they create for the confectionery industry
The ‘untapped potential’ of functional chocolate
Functional chocolate is stepping into the spotlight. Discover the ingredients, trends and early innovators reshaping the future of indulgence
Cocoa prices collapse following record highs
Cocoa prices plunge to two‑year low as surpluses reshape the market
Barry Callebaut launches global chocolate innovation hub
Barry Callebaut has unveiled a new AI‑powered innovation hub, promising faster flavour creation and personalised chocolate experiences
Barry Callebaut ploughs €250m into world’s biggest chocolate factory
Barry Callebaut plans to modernise Wieze and Halle sites, bolstering reliability and efficiency across its European supply network
AI drives new wave of confectionery innovation
From faster R&D to predictive product design, AI is transforming the future of sweets
Hershey profit shock: 60% drop despite sales bump
Hershey’s profits have plunged again, but rising sales and recent acquisitions hint at a more complicated story
Schumacher’s strategy: Five moves to revive Barry Callebaut
New CEO Hein Schumacher enters a company in decline. Here are the five decisive moves that could put the world’s biggest chocolate maker back on track
Opinion
The line between snacking and confectionery is disappearing
Over time, the world’s biggest confectionery companies have rebranded their products as ‘snacks’. So what’s the problem?
Biggest confectionery companies 2026 announced
Who’s dominating the sector and who’s falling behind?
The big 5: Functional confectionery trends to watch
From protein bars to gut-friendly gummies, functional confectionery is exploding, and it’s changing the game for indulgence
Hershey and Shaq spark bold new era in playful confectionery
SLAMS isn’t just another gummy - it’s a signal that play‑powered confectionery could be the category’s next big move
Barry Callebaut: The rumoured split that could change chocolate
Could Barry Callebaut’s next move reshape the future of chocolate and snacks?
The future of confectionery: Innovations driving success in 2026
Discover how brands are reimagining indulgence and why the sweetest opportunities lie ahead
New product development
Hershey’s Reese’s unwraps Christmas NPD with bold festive launches
Reese’s is ramping up its Christmas offer for 2025, revealing a raft of new products and returning best-sellers
Has the cocoa crisis changed chocolate forever?
The cocoa crisis is forcing chocolate manufacturers to rethink everything - from sourcing and compliance to innovation and consumer trust
Hershey closes deal on snack brand LesserEvil
Acquisition broadens American multinational’s better-for-you offering
Why premium confectionery is the sweet spot for growth
Premiumisation is driving double-digit growth in confectionery - what does this mean for manufacturers?
Top 5 Christmas confectionery trends 2025
Holidays are coming! Discover the confectionery trends driving festive sales in 2025
Nestlé, Mondelēz, Hershey - How chocolate giants are coping with price hikes
The largest players in food are making bold decisions in an effort to boost growth
Hershey Q3 earnings: Sales rise but profits plunge amid cost pressures
The confectionery giant beat expectations in Q3, but soaring costs and shrinking profits reveal deeper industry troubles
What’s hot in confectionery? Reese’s pumpkin, Nerds, Tim Tam and more…
From nostalgic formats to seasonal exclusives, confectionery brands are leaning into bold flavours, gifting appeal and multisensory experiences
Confectionery market to hit $278bn by 2032 as candy sales surge
The confectionery market is entering a new growth phase, driven by evolving consumer preferences, seasonal demand, and innovation in non-chocolate formats
TFWA 2025: Top 5 confectionery innovations from the show
From hazelnut Twix to halal Haribo, TFWA 2025 delivered a sweet showcase of innovation under the Cannes sun. Discover the top launches shaking up confectionery
Cocoa market stable for first time since 2022
Cocoa prices have finally cooled after a historic surge - but will the calm last?
Hershey doubles down on s’mores as a seasonal growth engine with caramel innovation and retail partnerships
By extending its seasonal leadership and tapping consumer nostalgia with a modern twist, Hershey is driving incremental sales and household penetration
Hershey warns tariffs and higher cocoa costs will take a toll in back half of 2025
The sweets and snacks giant trimmed its outlook for the full year despite surging second quarter sales as it braces for the full impact of potential tariffs and higher cocoa costs
7 dos and don’ts for confectionery innovation in 2025
The confectionery space is evolving fast – from AI and agile R&D to stealth health and consumer-first design. Here are seven insights from industry leaders on how to innovate successfully in 2025
Past the PFAS deadline: Hershey’s dual lawsuits highlight rising risk for snack brands
The FDA’s PFAS deadline has passed and US brands are now under intense scrutiny. Hershey’s two simultaneous class-action lawsuits underscore just how high the stakes have become for the industry
What does the future of chocolate look like?
As cocoa prices soar and consumer tastes shift, industry leaders from Hershey to the most promising alt-choc start-ups share how they’re rethinking chocolate
Sweets & Snacks Expo
Hershey’s innovation strategy: Flavor mashups, fan demand and Gen Z focus
The Hershey Company is doubling down on flavor innovation, cross-category growth and consumer-driven launches — from legacy brand extensions to buzzy partnerships
One ingredient, one mission: reinventing cocoa
Sophisticated formulation strategies are stripping back their launches to single ingredients, sustainable stances and speciality ingredients
Hershey sharpens its 2025 strategy with sweet innovations and a packaging overhaul
Hershey is doubling down on innovation in 2025, unveiling a bold product lineup and a transformed packaging strategy at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo
Big-name brands drop their chocolate volume predictions
Barry Callebaut, Mondelēz International and Hershey International rethink production strategies to manage the cocoa crisis