What’s hot in natural and clean confectionery?
New Product Development spotlight on emerging startups
R&D
‘Modern-day Willy Wonka’ presses ahead with sustainable cacao
Global chocolate company makes multi-million investment in upcycled cacao brand that produces chocolate using parts of the fruit that are typically thrown away.
Quick bites: Can a no-sugar-added snack truly be irresistible?
Continuing our series on disruptive startups, we explore the rise of NICK’s, a Swedish-style snack brand that’s making a splash on the US market by redefining diabetes- and keto-friendly treats that don’t skimp on taste. What’s the brand’s secret?
Sweet innovation: Confectionery NPD at SIAL 2024
There was no shortage of confectionery innovation at SIAL in Paris this month: with innovation tapping into health and wellness trends, future flavors and more...
Cracking cocoa-free chocolate consumption wide open
As one industry leader opens a new large-scale purpose-built manufacturing plant, is cocoa-free chocolate on an upward trajectory?
New product development
What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Perfetti Van Melle to Terry’s
From Kamala Harris-themed mints to flavour-changing gum, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
Pucker up: Haribo pursues sour-led multipack trend in APAC to attract younger consumers
Global gummies specialist firm Haribo believes that a combined focus on sour flavours and variety packs will be its route to attracting more teenage and young adult consumers to the brand in the APAC region.
Thinking beyond the bar: Hershey enters the hot cocoa market
In its latest brand extension, Hershey is hoping some consumers like it hot. Here's what's behind the move
New product development
What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Hershey and Liquorice Flyers
From an unexpected Coca-Cola x Mondelēz mash-up to Halloween fever at Hershey, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
New Product Development
What’s hot in confectionery? New Product Development from Mondelēz and Bazooka Candy
From Cadbury’s ‘fast start’ on Christmas to a pop-up return of the Caramac, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
2024's top confectionery flavour trends
Discover the five flavour trends taking over the confectionery world, from 'swicy' sensations to nostalgic treats and functional delights
Have scientists discovered climate-proof chocolate?
A scientific breakthrough may pave the way for developing more climate-resilient cocoa trees, potentially ensuring the continued production of cacao-based products like chocolate.
New Product Development
What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Cadbury to Smart Sweets
From cannabis-infused candy to a better-for-you Twix, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
New product development
What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Nestle to Swizzels
Giant marshmallows and natural mochi flavours are making it big this summer
New Product Development
What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Oreo to Barratt
Blonde chocolate, ice cream-flavoured cookies and fudge, oh my! Meet summer’s hottest confectionery launches
What's hot in confectionery? New product development from Chupa Chups to Cadbury
From Mondelēz to McVities, here’s the latest products candy manufacturers are launching around the globe
What's hot in confectionery? New product development from Skittles to Reese's
From Skittles supporting Pride to a supersized Reese’s Cup, these are the latest products launching around the globe
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
Chocolate brands cash in on America’s largest candy and snack trade show
The 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo became a launch pad for companies looking to crack the US confectionery market with new products from Colombia’s Vivamor, Canada’s Lovo Chocolate, along with reboots of classic brand Godiva and a new partnership deal for...
Should brands look to India for novel flavour inspiration?
With a thriving start-up scene and a youthful consumer base hungry for candy innovation, India is a crucible of confectionery creativity. Here’s what you need to know
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
Sweets & Snacks Expo launches with ‘Oscars of the candy world’
This year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo opened its four-day stay in Indianapolis with a ceremony for the 2024 Most Innovative New Product Awards winners, which recognise excellence across 13 categories.
R&D
New US candy lab and factory set to transform the ‘Wonka’ landscape
Sprinkk, a real-life Willy Wonka candy lab, is set to open in Nebraska in June, the brainchild of millennial candy scientist Tessa Porter, who aims to revolutionize confectionery manufacturing.
R&D
Warheads corral fans for new flavours to its chewy portfolio
Warheads, a brand of Impact Confections, Inc., has launched Sour Berry Mix Cubes, a sweet addition to its #1 selling chewy line.
Mondelēz’s CoLab Tech accelerator seeks startups with ‘cutting edge technologies of the future’ focused on personalized nutrition, sustainability
Mondelēz International wants to team with early-stage startups through its CoLab Tech program to develop “groundbreaking” technology that can accelerate its Vision 2030 Growth strategy and meet consumer demand for personalized nutrition and products that...
Artificial Intelligence - special report
How AI can improve product quality and consumer experience in confectionery
Two of the standout sessions at the NCA’s recent State of the Industry Conference covered ‘The transformative power of AI for business and personal use,' where experts unlocked the secrets of artificial intelligence to help brands stay ahead of the...
Plant-based confectionery
Cargill explores cocoa and nut-free vegan confectionery
Global cocoa and ingredients company Cargill has announced a new commercial partnership with Voyage Foods to produce alternatives to cocoa-based products and nut spreads without using cocoa, peanuts, and hazelnuts.
Feature
NPD: Understanding the ‘most important’ process in food manufacturing
Food Manufacture takes a closer look at the new product development (NPD) process, learning about the firms displaying best practice and why collaboration is so important.
Amsterdam Cocoa Week
2023 Cacao of Excellence Awards winners celebrate the beauty of the bean during Amsterdam Cocoa Week
Along with the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting, Chocoa’s Cocoa Sustainability Conference, Amsterdam Cocoa Week was also the setting for the Cacao of Excellence awards, which recognize excellence in cacao cultivation while supporting and...
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...
From fledgling startup to rising food star: EIT Food opens applications to connect intrepid entrepreneurs with finance, resources and support
If you believe you have a groundbreaking answer that solves a global challenge – either as an established startup or at the start of your journey – EIT Food is inviting you to apply for one of its 2024 entrepreneurship programs.
Speical Report
Amazon chocolatiers: Biofactory offers ‘new way of living’ for forest communities
The Surucuá community in Brazil's state of Pará is the first to receive an Amazonian Creative Laboratory, a compact mobile biofactory designed to help kick-start the Amazon’s bioeconomy to process, package and sell bean-to-bar chocolate and similar...
'AI is not the future, it's the present,’ Tastewise’s CMO discusses speeding up industry's digital transformation
AI has the power to speed the food and beverage industry's digital transformation, as companies leverage it for product develop and to forecast upcoming trends, Jacques Botbol, CMO of Tastewise, told FoodNavigator-USA.
How a Hungarian tech company is using blockchain to trace food supply chains
Technology is often crucial for keeping supply chains traceable, and blockchain, with its reliability, is supremely well-suited for this. Hungarian tech company TE-Food uses blockchain, alongside QR codes, to help its customers ensure their supply chains...
National Association for Convenience Stores
How visual AI can improve operations in retail convenience
Visual artificial intelligence's role in retail offers a potential solution to streamlining operations in real time, according to Doug New, chief information officer, Nouria Energy and Dr. Bruce Porter, chief science officer, Spark Cognition, who shared...
Mars, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and Givaudan on how AI can improve NPD
NPD takes time. Long hours of R&D lie between an idea and a product launch. AI, however, is helping a range of major companies generate product ideas, as well as do market research and gain insights into the minds of consumers.
The emergence of the creatine gummy
Gummies are making an inroad as delivery format for creatine, one of the biggest performing subcategories in a booming performance nutrition market.
R&D
WNWN Food Labs to preview its non-cocoa chocolate at Fortnum & Mason showcase
Cocoa-free chocolate pioneers WNWN Food Labs is collaborating with Fortnum & Mason in a series of sustainability-led activations, masterclasses, talks, and dinners.
R&D
Uplift for Rev Gum as it secures $6m investment for its caffeinated chewing gum
Mission-driven energy gum company Rev Gum, the revolutionary fast-acting caffeinated chewing gum made with zero sugar, has announced it has raised $6 million from investors led by YETI Capital; founders of Drunk Elephant; former co-CEO of Whole Foods,...
R&D
Ferrero invests in Chicago with new confectionery R&D labs
Ferrero North America, part of the global company the Ferrero Group, has opened a new Innovation Center and North America R&D Labs in Chicago.
Invent, invest and amplify: The inaugural class of innovators leading the charge with Mondelēz’s tech-forward engagement programme
CoLab Tech is is designed to build a venture pipeline of early-stage snack brands focused on ideas that address tech-driven processes, sustainability and other priority areas for the Oreo maker.
News
AI tool predicts regional flavour trends poised to go global
The next big regional flavour trends set to go global have been predicted by new artificial intelligence- (AI-) powered research by Olam Food Ingredients (OFI).
Singapore’s REVIT looks to carve a niche with gummies amid rising competition in anti-hangover category
Singapore-based REVIT is eyeing a bigger market share in the anti-hangover category with its gummy product, on the back of sales numbers that have been tripling month-on-month since its launch in January this year.
Webinar
Free webinar: Sweetest innovations – can an AI-powered algorithm crack the sweetness code in confectionery?
In the upcoming webinar (airs 13 September), ConfectioneryNews will profile some of the key innovations in the sector that are being driven primarily by consumer trends. As R&D budgets are increased, we have seen ground-breaking innovations in the gummy...
R&D
Innovators needed to transform Colombia’s cocoa sector
A new initiative to promote innovation in Colombia’s cocoa sector has been launched with grants and awards for projects that promote peace building and forest conversation.
From securing cross-sector collaboration to managing red tape: tips for food tech start-ups traversing today’s headwinds
In a squeezed investment climate, we spoke to Fiona Choppe-Magal, Partner, Foodtech and Agritech, at Israel-based Cukierman Investment House, who reveals some crucial advice for Europe’s agrifood tech entrepreneurs to maximize their chances in dealings...
Döhler acquisition of SVZ to boost red fruit and vegetable ingredients portfolio
German ingredients company Döhler has announced plans to acquire SVZ, a Dutch supplier of fruit and vegetable ingredients, from Royal Cosun. The move is expected to buildout Döhler’s portfolio, notably in red fruit and vegetable ingredients.
Joyful Venture launches fund focused on sustainable food technology startups
"We're not just passively investing in promising sustainable food technology startups," said co-founder and general partner Jennifer Stojkovic in a press release. "Our team is fully committed to leveraging our expertise, powerful network, and industry...
Making chocolate without cocoa: Inside the R&D lab
WNWN Food Labs is rethinking chocolate, without cocoa. FoodNavigator visits the start-up’s R&D lab to see how its dark and ‘milk’ chocolate alternatives are made.
Innovation
Puratos gives the stage to confectionery start-ups at iba 2023
Ingredient supplier Puratos has underlined its commitment to global bakery and confectionery start-ups by launching a new innovation platform at iba’s 2023 flagship event in Germany.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023
New innovations and intense indulgences revealed at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo
Launched in Europe towards the end of 2022, Barry Callebaut’s latest headline innovation - 2nd Generation Chocolate - landed in the United States this week, with an exclusive first taste for Expo attendees intrigued by claims of ‘a redesigned approach to...
Sweets & Snacks 2023
Kopper’s and Tru Fru triumph at Sweets and Snacks 2023
Sweets & Snacks Expo announces 2023 Most Innovative New Product Award winners in the opening ceremony to kick off this year’s trade show.