Chocolate manufacturers must invest in luxury and premium to drive sales in developed economies but dedicate focus on distribution and mid-priced products for emerging markets, an analyst says.
German confectioner Ritter Sport has said that its biggest challenge this year is fitting all product information onto labels amid escalating pressure from the European Commission to increase text sizes.
American teenage girls are two times more likely to consume gum than the average US consumer, according to the US National Confectioner’s Association (NCA).
Chocolate giant Barry Callebaut has announced the opening of its first ever Chocolate Academy in Mexico – the latest product of its exclusive distribution partnership with Chocolates Turin.
Confectionery could become the ‘new tobacco’ as regulators clamp down on unhealthy eating, but manufacturers can invigorate offerings by seizing on future functional trends, according to an analyst.
Research from Kantar Media has unearthed the countries that consume more chewing gum than anywhere else worldwide, which could help manufacturers choose their geographic focus.
Products from US chocolate giant Hershey will be a fixture on Tesco store shelves in the UK as the supermarket launches dedicated US sweet and snacks bays.
Rev7 degradable chewing gum maker Revolymer is set to exploit Canada’s lucrative nicotine gum market following two distribution deals with pharmacies, its CEO said.
Armajaro Trading is showing ‘genuine commitment’ to cocoa labour issues by becoming the first cocoa trader to join the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), says the foundation.
Hershey’s CEO has said that pacing is important in innovation and while efforts have been “far more disciplined” than in the past, it is still committed to new product development (NPD).
ConfectioneryNews.com explores how the leading players are gearing up for a PR brand building exercise that comes around only once every four years and asks how high-fat, high-sugar chocolate can be reconciled with the health charged London Olympics.
Australian manufacturers of branded foods could face strong competition over the next five years, suggests a new report, which predicts the share of private label products in supermarkets to increase rapidly over this period.
Secret wartime papers have been uncovered that detail a Nazi plot to plant exploding chocolate in the British War Cabinet dining room in a bid to kill former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, according to reports.
Fairtrade product sales rose 12% worldwide in 2011 due to ethical sourcing commitments from the food and drink industry and increased consumer awareness.
The association of chocolate, biscuit and confectionery industries of Europe (CAOBISCO) has been discussing a multi-stakeholder approach to improving working conditions in hazelnut orchards in Turkey and boosting supply.
ConfectioneryNews.com looks at a new UK confectionery market report from Keynote and asks how manufacturers can boost sales in a volatile economic climate as consumers tighten purse strings.
Sales of natural flavours in Western Europe are set to be overtaken by sales in the Asia-Pacific market within the next three years, according to market research firm RTS.
Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli USA has partnered with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to collaborate on chocolate innovation, sponsoring education sessions, donating chocolate, and launching a student scholarship contest.
Suppliers that want to jump aboard the private label surge will face a fine balancing act of co-producing for the sector and branded goods, according to Rabobank.
Ferrara Pan may have bypassed a big opportunity to expand to the dynamic Asian market after it chose to merge with fellow US company Farley's & Sathers, according to an analyst.
Confectionery and bakery technology supplier Baker Perkins has opened its first sales office in South America in order to tap into potential in the market and to be closer to its customers
Spanish chocolate and cocoa processor Natra has signed a Belgian chocolate supply contract in China with an unnamed distributor that it says will boost sales in the market by 70% in 2012 and help it grow in Asia.
US Chocolate giant Hershey has entered a sales and marketing partnership with Asian expansion group DKSH to help raise its profile in the emerging Malaysian market.
Market expansion group DKSH has announced plans to open its second innovation centre in Mumbai, India to help companies introduce confectionery and bakery products tailored to the Indian market.
The Australian confectionery market has remained resilient in the face of economic struggles due to investment in product development from the industry, accoding to a report.
UK chocolate brands have indulged in a British-homage in the run up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on June 2 and consumer spending will be up, driving the usual post-Easter sales dip, an industry analyst said.
Demand for more ‘personalised’ chocolate aimed at individuals is a major trend confectionery manufacturers should tap into in the near future, according to Datamonitor.
Egypt’s confectionery market will slump over the next two years spurred by political and economic unrest, but manufacturers can create appeal with NPD of low-cost, healthier products, according to an industry expert.
Confectioners face big rewards by tapping into market potential in Mexico, but will face “oblivion” if they fail to address growing health concerns, according to an analyst.
An African-financed, FAO directed trust fund will provide resources needed to drive sustainable food production across the continent and the oil sector will play a crucial role, according to FAO’s director-general.
Europe’s food and drink industry has tipped its decade-long downward export balance; a shift defined by strong export figures underpinned by emerging market demands, according to FoodDrinkEurope.
The number of confectionery launches achieving sales of over $7.5m in the first year has almost tripled compared to historic averages, according to a report from Symphony IRI.
SMEs are not bound by corporate structure and are therefore flexible to respond to market changes quickly and innovate accordingly with many eyeing the premium, niche segment, according to industry expert.
Norwegian firm Orkla Brands has acquired a 100% stake in Polish bakery and confectionery ingredients sales and distribution company Kobo as it plans to modernise a plant in Poland.
The Hershey Company is facing a boycott of its products as a school it funds in the US refused to admit a 13-year-old boy over his HIV-positive status.
The bakery and confectionery industry claims it has been hit with a “dire and unprecedented” EU-wide egg shortage as suppliers of egg replacers look to profit and offer up their opinions on how long the situation will last.
New product launches for Easter have soared on last year, but consumers are favouring familiar brands in their Easter confectionery choices, according to an analyst at Mintel.
