Confectionery giants amass almost $500 million in US advertising spend
One multinational confectioner dominates the spend total for campaigns in the US. Can you guess who it is?
Videos
New approach puts farmers at the center of crop testing
Discover how an innovative approach to assessing new crop varieties is transforming farming practices and boosting food security
Natural Products Expo West
Mondelez: As snacking becomes more ‘purposeful' portion control becomes key
Nearly nine out of 10 consumers snack daily to fuel their busy days, carve out a mindful moment of ‘me time,’ and connect with family and friends – but according to Mondelez International’s recently released 5th State of Snacking report, what they are...
Natural Products Expo West
Expo West: Clean Label Project helps brands align with ‘consumer definition of safety’
As consumer concerns rise over a variety of food ingredients and food additive bans increase, the non-profit Clean Label Project is helping brands make sense of it all, the organization’s executive director Jaclyn Bowen told FoodNavigator-USA in an...
Tackling obesity and addressing inequality: FDF Scotland calls on SME’s to join the reformulation challenge
‘We know from evidence that measures to transform the food environment are more likely to be effective in improving diet – and reduce health inequalities – than measures aimed at encouraging individuals to change their behavior, said Scotland’s Minister...
Startup Spotlight
Rotten’s ‘gross-out’ culture branding expands appeal of better-for-you candy to consumers often overlooked by health brands
Better-for-you confection newcomer Rotten’s early distribution gains since it launched in September underscores an unmet consumer desire for candy that cuts back on sugar and artificial ingredients, but not the fun.
Tate & Lyle hits the sweet spot
Ingredient solutions firm Tate & Lyle continues to build its sweetener portfolio as consumers shift from full-sugar to reduced-sugar offerings.
Startup Spotlight
Harken Sweets reimagines ‘what a candy bar can be using the power of date fruit’
The founder of startup Harken Sweets, which launched earlier this month, wants to “nutritionally overhaul” the candy bar category by using “the power of the date fruit,” like how she helped Caulipower reinvigorate the pizza category with the “power of...
Futureproofing The Food System
Can third-party certification protect against greenwashing allegations? Maybe, maybe not
Increased scrutiny of environmental sustainability claims by regulators and competitors has many brands turning to third-party certifications to reassure consumers about claims’ veracity and to protect against litigation – but recent movements in the...
Salon du Chocolat 2023
Māori chocolate carves out its own niche at the Paris Salon du Chocolat – WATCH!
The Salon du Chocolat’s reputation for showcasing artisanal chocolatiers from across the globe was enhanced this month with Paris providing an ideal backdrop to an event that attracted 250 exhibitors, drawing more than 60,000 people over five days to the...
EXCLUSIVE
The ‘Cocoa Chanel’ effect: Salon du Chocolat woos Paris with mix of high fashion, taste and the best in bean-to-bar chocolate - WATCH!
This year, the chocolate industry’s most glamorous trade fair spanned five days and commanded two floors of the Paris Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, engaging and delighting the general public and attracting chocolatiers and chefs from across the...
Natural Products Expo East
Chocxo innovates at the intersection of indulgence and lower sugar to help consumers balance physical, mental wellness goals
Sugar has emerged as public enemy No. 1 among consumers and FDA is looking for sugar reduction strategies at the behest of the White House – and yet, most Americans still want moments of indulgence with many people justifying them as much-needed support...
Summer Fancy Food Show
Unbound Snacks wants to reposition walnuts as more than topping or baking inclusion
When most Americans think of walnuts, if they think of them, they think of a topping for oatmeal or salads or an inclusion in baked goods, not as a standalone snack – but newcomer Unbound Snacks wants to change this with the launch of a line of brightly...
Special report
'A higher purpose' - Cordillera Chocolates launches new sustainability initiative for female cocoa farmers in Colombia
The importance to the cocoa sector of female farmers has been increasingly recognised in the past decade with the introduction of specific support for female-led Fairtrade cooperatives in West Africa, along with initiatives from other actors in different...
HI-Chew creates an experiential pop-up for its latest candy launch
FoodNavigator-USA visited HI-Chew's pop-up to speak with Teruhiro Kawabe, Chief Representative for the USA & President, CEO of Morinaga America Inc. and Joanne Hsu, senior brand marketing manager, to discuss the brand's HI-Chew bites launch.
Sweets & Snacks 2023
Sweets & Snacks closes Chicago with a record-breaking show
This year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo will be remembered for many reasons, not least because it was the last one to be held in Chicago, its home for the past 26 years.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023
Hershey gears up for the summer season with a raft of new launches at Sweets & Snacks
Hershey continues to innovate its popular Kit Kat brand by unleashing a limited edition churro flavour at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, just in time for summer.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023
Adios Chicago: Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023 set to leave its home on a high note
Chicago in May, without the Sweets & Snacks Expo rolling into town, is going to feel different and it will also be a blow to the city’s coffers, as it is estimated the huge trade fair historically pulls in at least $21 million when it sets up shop at...
Special report
How one Swiss company set the standard for Fairtrade organic cocoa production - WATCH
PRONATEC, an owner-run Swiss family company that maintains long-standing partnerships with cooperatives in the countries of origin, has been a pioneer in the global organic and Fairtrade movement for 45 years. In 2022, it opened its own impressive and...
Single origin cocoa: Colombia
How Cordillera’s Yariguíes Cocoa Farm is cultivating a productive and sustainable future for Colombia’s single-origin cocoa growers
Located in the heart of the country’s cocoa-growing region, the former yuca farm has been leading research not only into sustainable practices but also into developing two new types of cocoa bean varieties. ConfectioneryNews paid a visit recently to find...
Special report
Talking ‘bout second generation chocolate: Barry Callebaut’s renaissance moment in Venice
The Italian city of Venice has a long and interesting history dating back to the 5th century. Venetian merchants traded across the globe and were famous for making sails, ropes, ordinance, glassware, carnival masks – but never chocolate. So why did Barry...
Colombian chocolate - special report
Cordillera Chocolate – a brand with a mission to take Colombia’s fine cocoa on a new inspiring journey
Like Medellin, the city in Colombia where the company is headquartered, Cordillera Chocolates has been quietly going through its own transition over the past decade, in this case, positioning itself to become a global leader in the cocoa sector....
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2022
‘Tap it, unwrap it and enjoy it’: Terry’s Chocolate Orange makes a comeback at Sweets & Snacks Expo – WATCH!
First created by the family-run Terry’s Chocolate factory in York in 1932, the popular orange-flavoured ball was a Christmas treat for many families in the UK – but the brand lives on and is now produced by Carambar in France.
Sweets & Snacks
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2022 kickstarts summer with show of strength - WATCH
This year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago didn’t disappoint, but then North America’s largest confectionery trade show never does ...
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2022
Trend or fad? How can brands unpack the human brain to stay ahead of the game? - WATCH
A definite trend at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo was plant-based, with free-from products popping up at booths all over the floorspace. But what other trends are here to stay, and which will go away? Marcia Mogelonsky, Director of Insight Mintel Food...
Mondelēz SnackFutures VP talks future of snacking: 'I think COVID shocked our systems in a lot of ways'
Snacking behaviors evolved in a few key ways over the past few years as consumers balanced familiarity with health and wellness and are now looking to expand and diversify their snacking routines, says Brigette Wolf, VP, global head of SnackFutures at...
Survey reveals what millennial women want in wellness
Millennials have surpassed baby boomers as the nation’s largest living adult generation, according to population estimates from the United States Census Bureau. And as the fastest growing demographic in the US, millennials are wielding a lot of...
Salon du Chocolat 2021
Small artisan makers steal the show at this year’s Salon du Chocolat
The Salon du Chocolat attracted over 60,000 visitors when it returned as a live event to the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles earlier this month - and this year, its 26th edition, more space was given to young start-up companies.
Calling all wellness snack brands: Mondelēz SnackFutures launches CoLab startup program
Mondelēz SnackFutures – the company's innovation and venture hub – has launched CoLab, a "startup engagement" program, targeting snack brands in the wellness space as the global snacking giant digs deeper into the startup community.
Valentine's Day
Ferrara aims to win hearts and minds this Valentine’s season with new treats and online innovations
Fans can discover their ‘Love Language’ this Valentine’s Day with Ferrara’s new confectionery Matchmaking Quiz and Crushworthy seasonal lineup.
Clean label special feature
Olam’s deZaan TrueDark cocoa ticks all the clean label boxes
To meet demands of customers increasingly looking for low sugar and clean label products, cocoa companies are meeting the trend for darker chocolate flavours using natural ingredients. Charlene Zhu, head of ingredient development and innovation for Olam...
Coronavirus
Barry Callebaut Group releases ‘Consumer Responses Post-Lockdown’ research for confectionery sector - WATCH
Extensive research carried out by the Barry Callebaut group into consumer responses around the coronavirus pandemic has revealed new implications and opportunities for the confectionery market. In an exclusive video interview, Bas Smit, Global Vice...
Interview with Satelligence founder and CEO, Niels Wielaard
CNVIDEO: Satelligence to focus on cocoa's deforestation problems
Satelligence is a new company that specializes in assessing patterns and trends in forests, agriculture and water, providing highly detailed satellite images for mapping purposes to help combat deforestation.
Ghana
Ghana to increase its cocoa output by 5.8% in next growing season
Ghana is the world’s second-biggest cocoa producer, after its West African neighbour, Cote d’Ivoire. Its main growing season runs from October to September, and while output may increase - a glut in the global market has raised wider concerns about...
Coronavirus
Cocoa and the coronavirus: can it boost the immune system?
Cacao beans have been consumed by humans for over 3,000 years and the ingredient is well-known for its wide range of health benefits, recent research suggests it can provide stronger protection against influenza virus infection.
WATCH: Mars reveals sustainability plan to tackle cocoa supply deficit in APAC
Cocoa and chocolate in the Asia Pacific is in a state of ‘regional imbalance’, according to chocolate giant Mars, which has also revealed how it plans to use sustainability as a means to tackle challenges in Asia.
Colors & Flavors Special
EXBERRY’s Coloring Foods portfolio powers demand for plant-based products
Made from fruit, vegetables and edible plants, EXBERRY’s Coloring Foods are an ideal option for manufacturers seeking to tap into this year’s vegan confectionery trend.
Vegan
Cadbury set to launch vegan chocolate bar, as trend steals the show at ISM2020
Arriving on the back of ‘Veganuary’, impassioned speeches on veganism by Hollywood actor Joaquin Phoenix, and a raft of new plant-based launches, companies promoting healthy alternatives became this year’s trendsetters at ProSweets Cologne.
Innovation
Barry Callebaut opens world's first 3D printing studio to craft ‘unseen chocolate’ experiences
The Belgian chocolate supplier, known for its innovations, is now offering the world’s first personalized 3D printed chocolate at scale through its global decoration brand Mona Lisa.
ProSweets/ISM2020
ISM 2020 weathers coronavirus scare to make its 50th edition a sweet affair
One of the world’s largest sweets and snacks fair sees record number of exhibitors and sets consumer trends for the year, while Brazil increases its presence on international stage.
La dolce vita: Italy’s ‘sweet spot' on track with consumer demand
Six key characteristics indicate the future of Italy’s bakery, confectionery and gelato sectors – quality, innovation, expertise, design, passion and last, but not least, Italian spirit – all evident at Sigep, held in Rimini last month.
ProSweets/ISM2020
Barry Callebaut underscores dairy-free with new 'M_lk Chocolate' range
Group launches 'M_lk Chocolate' at ISM2020 in Cologne, as part of a new 'Plant Craft' range that spans chocolate, cocoa, nut products, fillings and decorations. Chief innovation officer Pablo Perversi and marketing VP Bas Smit talk exclusively to CN...
Sustainability
Forever Ghana: Barry Callebaut 'on track to making sustainable chocolate the norm'
In the third article in our series, we look at Barry Callebaut's work in Ghana, the second largest cocoa growing country in the world, as the group released results of its Forever Chocolate global sustainability progress report.
Sustainability
Forever Ghana: How Barry Callebaut’s subsidy of efficient cooking stoves for cocoa farmers is also helping its carbon footprint
In the second of a series of articles on Barry Callebaut’s operations in Ghana we look at the company’s carbon reduction strategy in West Africa – as the group announced that it is contributing to the collective efforts of climate change to cap global...
The Salon du Chocolat 2019
Review of The 25th Salon du Chocolat in Paris - video
The 25th Salon du Chocolat wrapped up in Paris at the weekend, before its next reincarnation in New York City. The event attracted over 100,000 visitors.
ABB prepares for future electricity distribution with NeoGear
ABB Distribution Solutions has redesigned its low-voltage switchgear to launch NeoGear across Europe in 2020, following trials in Switzerland and China.
ECMA Congress 2019
Confusion remains over compostability of cartons and SUP directive on coated cartonboard
Manufacturers in the carton industry are concerned that confusion remains over the compostability of cartons, MOSH (Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons) and MOAH (Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons) and the SUP (Single-Use Plastics) directive on coated...
New Product Development
Barry Callebaut unleashes full power of 'cacaofruit' in next-gen food & drink category – watch
Cacaofruit snacks are currently being piloted in select retail stores in California, after the giant chocolate supplier unveiled its latest innovation in San Francisco.
ECMA Congress 2019
Malta PM: ‘We were more prepared for the Millennium Bug than Brexit’
‘Your guess is as good as mine on Brexit’, said Joseph Muscat, the Prime Minster of Malta, at the opening of the ECMA Congress 2019 last week (September 19-20), ‘But what is obvious, is during the next few days there needs to be a meaningful engagement’.
Snackex 2019
How to access tomorrow’s snacker in a world driven by artificial intelligence
The biggest challenge tomorrow will be to get the consumer to specifically ask for a product by name.