Chocolate

Just Born's Bethlehem factory after the move from Brooklyn in the 1930s. Pic: Just Born

Heritage

Just Born celebrates a century of candy perfection

By Anthony Myers

With less than one percent of all family-owned companies in the United States reaching 100 years in business, Just Born will also be celebrating the milestone by honouring and thanking its associates, stakeholders as well as the local community at it...

Pic: Lindt & Spruengli

Financial results

US subsidies help boost organic sales for Lindt

By Anthony Myers

Strong international sales, particularly in the North American market, helped organic sales grow by 8.4% in 2022, according to the latest financial results released by Lindt & Spruengli.

Image: Getty/Cultura RM Exclusive/Diana Miller

The secret to making healthier chocolate: Lubrication

By Oliver Morrison

UK scientists have uncovered what makes chocolate so popular: lubrication and fat release are key. This understanding, they say, can unlock opportunities to develop a new, healthier, generation of chocolate.

Fudge Kitchen’s renowned slab fudge comes in four vegan flavour varieties. Pic: Fudge Kitchen

Veganuary

Fudge Kitchen ramps up plant-based offering for Veganuary

By Anthony Myers

UK High Street brand Fudge Kitchen has joined the Veganuary campaign by expanding its vegan offering. The fudge brand, which still batch-makes all of its products at its HQ in Kent, saw a 3.5% rise in vegan sales in 2022 with 10% of all its online sales...

Big in Japan? Hotel Chocolat boss Angus Thirlwell has announced a new venture with a Tokyo company. Pic: Hotel Chocolat

Investment

Can Hotel Chocolat be big in Japan on second attempt?

By Anthony Myers

Hotel Chocolat has unveiled another push into the Japanese market by signing a new deal with Tokyo-based Eat Creator Corporation to include 21 Hotel Chocolat-branded shops across the country.

ofi's Dezaaan single origin cocoa. Pic: ofi

Special report

Asian consumers driving demand for single origin cocoa

By Anthony Myers

As ConfectioneryNews reported last month, the trend for single-origin cocoa ingredients has been growing for some time, as consumers with a sweet craving also look more closely at how and where their cocoa is sourced.

Decorating the Christmas tree is popular in Utah (82%), New York (79%) and Vermont (79%), according to a Hershey survey. Pic: GettyImages

Seasonal

Hershey covers all candy bases with Christmas heat map for consumers

By Anthony Myers

American candy lovers can now discover what Christmas tradition is most popular in their state with Hershey’s holiday tradition heat map and then use the candy pairing guide to make sure they’re stocking up on the right iconic sweets to help make holiday...

Germany's popular chocolate Santa Clauses are proving more popular this year. Pic: CN

Seasonal

Germany’s chocolate Santa Clauses enjoy export boom

By Anthony Myers

Despite soaring energy costs and supply chain issues, the German confectionery industry said it has produced approximately 5.6% more chocolate Santa Clauses for the Christmas season this year.

Raw cacao pioneers Lovechock has a new owner. Pic: Lovechock

M&As

Lovechock eyes expansion after company takeover

By Anthony Myers

Lovechock, the Dutch raw cacao company, has been acquired by Belgian family-owned company Pauwels Engineering NV, the two parties have announced in a statement.