Hershey's expansion of its health and nutrition initiative
underlines the extent to which chocolate makers are keen to tap
into consumer health concerns.
The opinion of an advocate-general of the European Court of Justice
on UK anti-tax avoidance rules could benefit multinationals such as
confectioner Cadbury Schweppes.
Swiss food giant Nestlé has announced a first-quarter sales rise of
14.1 per cent to CHF22.8bn (€14.5bn), beating analyst expectations
and reconfirming its full-year target of a five to six per cent
growth rate.
Iconic chocolate and snacks brand Hershey has announced
disappointing sales figures, but posted a seven per cent rise in
quarterly profit as the company works on product innovation and
cost minimisation.
Kraft Foods has recorded stable first quarter results, masking
falling operating income with a favourable tax settlement and
raising prices to combat spiralling production costs.
New products and seasonal success may have given Hershey increased
2005 sales, but income for the confectionery colossus remains
blighted by the cost of reorganisation.
Prices for raw materials and energy are forecast to rise by around
five to 10 per cent this year, but Nestlé believes cost cuts will
balance the equation out, the company's chief executive said
yesterday.
Italian confectioner Ferrero has won its battle against Chinese
counterfeiters who have been producing copycat versions of its
products for the Asian market.
Cadbury Schweppes has announced it plans to sell its European
beverages arm for £1.2bn to a private equity consortium led by Lion
Capital and Blackstone.
Kraft Foods has confirmed that it is increasing prices of many of
its products in the United States by an average of 3.9 per cent
because of rising energy and packaging costs caused by higher
global oil prices.
Nestlé says it will embrace moves by hard discounters to sell more
branded products as part of its plan to recover from difficult
times on Europe's food and drink market.
Food giant Kraft, which saw earnings drop 13.5 percent in third
quarter earnings yesterday, moved a step closer to being spun off
from parent Altria after a $280 billion government lawsuit against
the tobacco industry fell through.
The level of antioxidants commonly available in chocolate is
directly linked to the level of natural cocoa contained in the
product, says a new study from the US.
On the back of growing consumer interest in healthy eating, leading
US food maker Kraft Foods is focusing on its increasingly
successful health and wellness segment, announcing plans to further
limit products advertised to children...
After months of secrecy and whisperings, Cadbury Schweppes has
finally confirmed that it is looking to dump its European soft
drinks arm for a greater focus on confectionery.
Cadbury Schweppes still looks likely to ditch its European soft
drinks arm for the right price, yet it is difficult to find a buyer
for a stumbling business with little growth prospects.
Wrigley will be expanding its Chattanooga factory to accommodate
the production of Altoid mints, which will be transferred to the US
from Wales, the leading confectionery company announced on Monday.
Food giant Nestlé is being squeezed by tough international
confectionery markets, its modest overall half-year sales dragged
down by disappointing performances from its chocolate,
confectionery and biscuit categories.
US confectionery company Hershey is marching along the acquisition
trail, announcing this week that it has bought another premium
chocolate firm, Californian-based Joseph Schmidt Confections.
British confectionery and soft drinks giant Cadbury Schweppes may
be turning its focus to the confectionery market, if recent
speculation on a decision to sell its European soft drinks business
is fulfilled.
Leading US confectionery firm Hershey announced last week its plans
to acquire Californian-based chocolate maker Scharffen Berger in a
deal which the company hopes will allow it to break into the niche
premium quality dark chocolate...
British confectionery and soft drinks company Cadbury Schweppes
yesterday revelled in its best performance for a decade, with
half-year results flattered by a trade buy-up of extra stocks of
chocolate in the UK, reports Lorraine Heller.
Cadbury-Schweppes looks set to try and sell its European soft
drinks arm, again, but whoever buys it may have a tough time
improving the division's rather average performances, reports
Chris Mercer.
Nestlé has launched new sweets and biscuits in Russia as intense
competition has forced the firm to invest heavily in what is now
the world's fourth biggest confectionery market, reports Angela
Drujinina.
Nestle, the world's biggest foodmaker, has apologised to Chinese
consumers after the country's safety authorities detected too much
iodine in one of its milk-power brands.
Confectionery makers continue to tap into consumer weight and
health concerns in a bid to boost stagnant sales as UK confectioner
Cadbury launches a new range of chocolate bars with under 99
calories.
British confectioner Cadbury Schweppes confirmed today that it
remains on track to meet its annual financial targets, although
warned of tough trading conditions in the second half, Tom
Armitage reports.
British confectioner Cadbury is to enter the flourishing organic
chocolate sector for the first time, after acquiring Green and
Black's - the company behind the UK's fastest growing confectionery
brand, Tom Armitage reports.
Cadbury Schweppes, the world's number two confectionery
manufacturer, is to revamp its famous Bournville chocolate-making
facility, as demand for its Dairy Milk brand continues to soar,
Tom Armitage reports.
Nestlé, the world's biggest food and drink manufacturer, has
announced a modest increase in Q1 profits after successfully
offsetting rising raw material costs with price increases across
the UK and Continental Europe, Tom Armitage...
