Retail & shopper insights

The Sweets & Snacks Expo returns to Chicago from 23 May. Pic: NCA

Sweets & Snacks 2022

Sweets & Snacks Expo 2022 to highlight confectionery start-ups

By Anthony Myers

The confectionery and snack industries’ premier business-to-business event returns on Monday 23 to Chicago with a packed agenda featuring new product launches, business-building solutions and merchandising innovations, as well as 100 hundreds of exhibitors...

Three HAPPi SKUs - Plain M!lk, Salted Caramel and White - are now available in Tesco in the UK. Pic: HAPPi

Free-from

HAPPi Oat Milk Chocolate brand secures Tesco listing

By Anthony Myers

Oat milk chocolate brand, HAPPi, has secured a major listing in the UK with the news that it is now available on the shelves of Tesco stores nationwide, with three SKUs: Plain M!lk, Salted Caramel and White.

There’s plenty of truth that ‘we eat first with our eyes', coined by Apicius, a well-known Roman gourmand from the 1st Century. Pic: GettyImages/Renphoto

The psychology of colour in baking

By Gill Hyslop

Colour is one of the most important sensory cues when it comes to choosing what to eat – influencing what consumers see, what they taste and what they feel while doing it. How can bakery brands capitalise on this?

A mock-up of the H!P Chocolate & Love Cocoa pop-up that opens in London on Thursday (7 April). Pic: Love Cocoa

Retail

H!P Chocolate & Love Cocoa host first Pop-Up in London

By Anthony Myers

British chocolate brands H!P Chocolate and Love Cocoa (both founded by James Cadbury, the great-great-great grandson of the original Mr Cadbury) are hosting their first ever London pop-up this week.

Four new flavours were introduced in candies at the European ‘FlavourDay’. Pic: EFFA

Special edition: Flavour trends 2022

European ‘FlavourDay’ features four new candies with pan-continent appeal

By Anthony Myers

At a recent meeting of European ‘Flavour Ambassadors’, a passionate group of flavour professionals who serve as spokespersons of the industry, four new sugar-reduced candies were launched using typical ingredients available on the continent.

Americans consumed the equivalent of 270 jumbo jets-worth of snacks on Super Bowl Sunday. Pic: GettyImages/Lew Robertson

Super Bowl Sunday snacking was more serious than ever before

By Gill Hyslop

While Americans forked out $30.5bn for snacks in 2021, according to Chicago-based market researcher IRI, the event that really got them tucking in was this year’s Super Bowl Sunday, with SNAC International data showing a whopping 112 million pounds of...

Healthy products are one of the main features in the ISM New Products Showcase in 2022. Pic: Koelnmesse

ProSweets/ISM Cologne

ISM 2022 in full swing with emphasis on plant-based and healthy products

By Anthony Myers

ProSweets/ISM Cologne opened its doors on Sunday after a two-year break due to the pandemic and organisers Koelnmesse said the event this year is running at 80% of exhibition space booked with 24% of companies from Germany and 76% from abroad.

ISM/ProSweets Cologne 2022 looks sets to open its ddoors again at the end of this month. Pic: Koelnmesse

ISM/ProSweets Cologne 2022

ProSweets Cologne and ISM set for take off in 2022

By Anthony Myers

Koelnmesse, organisers of ProSweets Cologne/ISM trade fair for sweets and snacks, said it is under starter's orders and will open its doors on 30 January 2022 for this year’s event.

Latest chocolate fashion is one of the highlights of Salon du Chocolat. Pic: Salon du Chocolat

Trade

Salon du Chocolat 2021 returns as a live event

By Anthony Myers

After going online in 2020, the Salon du Chocolat is back for its 26th edition at its usual home, the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre in Paris, France.

Americans are looking forward to this year's Halloween, with candy sales up. Pic: GettyImages

Halloween 2021

No panic over Halloween confectionery, says NCA

By Anthony Myers

With candy sales up 48% on last year and trick-or-treating regarded as a ‘safe activity’, Americans can look forward to the holiday season despite costume shortages in some stores.