Pricing fears grow ahead of Halloween
Cocoa and sugar prices are reported to have reached frightening highs, with alarming price rallies predicted.
Seasonal
Top need-to-knows about cocoa ahead of the new season
A round-up of the cocoa sector as we move into the 2024/2025 season.
How gifting brings together top confectionery trends
Sweet-treat gift-giving creates engagement and brand loyalty, so it’s no wonder many global brands are tapping into the purchasing driver.
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
The rise of 'Summerween' expects to boost confectionery sales
Core holidays like Halloween are being planned for earlier by consumers who are simultaneously looking for value in their holiday preparations and a desire for extended celebrations, which gives brands an opportunity to offer more assortments, formats...
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
How to turn summer into a season of boosted sales
Looking for NPD inspiration? Try leaning into sunny season with these six tips for making the most of summer
Seasonal innovation
How to get ready for halloween 2024
As the majors finalise their campaigns for candy’s ‘biggest moment’ how can smaller confectioners turn spooky season into sales?
Airheads debuts underwater candy vending machine
Taking its marketing efforts to new depths, the US candy maker is focused on fun
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
News
69% of Brits say Easter egg packaging is excessive
While Britain is a nation of chocolate lovers, two thirds of consumers believe chocolate eggs comprise too much packaging – yet despite concerns over sustainability and inflation, we’ll still be dipping into our pockets for the sweet stuff.
What’s on shelf for Easter: Chocolate, of course, but also Fruit ‘n Yogurt Eggs, Almond Cake Mix and an inspirational food waste target
From Cadbury Mini Eggs Chocolate Cookies to a Popcorn Easter Egg, there’s certainly a bounty available for chocoholics. But Easter isn’t all about chocolate, so we’re also shining a spotlight on better-for-you Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Eggs, a Moist...
Seasonal
Moo Free extends Easter range with three new products
UK vegan chocolate brand has expanded its best-selling Easter collection with the launch of three new products: the White Bunnycomb Crunch Easter, Moofreesas Organic Egg, and Easter Egg Hunt Kit.
Seasonal
Eggs in one basket? Consumers in Europe and US hit by ‘shrinkflation’ and chocolate costs this Easter
As Easter approaches, consumer experts warn not to wait until the last minute to buy Easter eggs and other chocolate treats, as prices are likely to increase further.
Easter 2024
H!P Chocolate updates plant-based Easter eggs
Next generation oat m!lk chocolate H!P (Happiness !n Plants), has revamped its plant-based eggs for Easter 2024.
Easter 2024
Pierre Marcolini presents 'Easter in colours' chocolate collection
Luxury chocolatier Pierre Marcolini has launched a new 'Easter in colours' collection ro celebrate the purest form of spring influenced by bright flowers, budding new shoots and vibrant leaves.
Easter 2024
Hershey provides a mini twist on Easter favourite
Hershey is hitting Easter with its Reese's Peanut Butter Mini Eggs Unwrapped, a poppable sensation that adds a touch of innovation to the cherished seasonal traditions.
Eggs-traordinary changes: Cadbury Australia introduces reduced-plastic packaging for Easter specials
Mondelez International-owned Cadbury Australia has revamped the packaging for its Easter series to meet consumer demand for sustainable packaging, and as part of the firm’s long-term efforts to reduce plastic use and wastage.
Easter 2024
Lindt adds Easter sparkle with Golden Bunny TV advert
Creative agency Leo Burnett UK developed the latest ad for the business, titled ‘Golden Trails’.
Easter 2024
Divine Chocolate launches new Fairtrade Easter range
Farmer-owned Fairtrade chocolate maker Divine has launched a new range in the UK for Easter, including limited-edition Joyful Hot Cross Bun Bar and ‘Flat Eggs’.
International Women's Day
Hershey's limited-edition SHE bar returns for fourth year
Hershey has announced it is marking International Women's Day (Friday, 8 March) and Women's History Month with limited-edition Hershey's SHE bars highlighting the impact of women and girls from all walks of life.
Premium
Lily O’Brien’s adds Desserts Chocolates to its gifting portfolio
Irish luxury chocolatier Lily O’Brien’s has unveiled a new and exclusive Desserts Collection to complement its boxed chocolate gifting portfolio.
Seasonal
Moo Free chocolate obtains listings in major supermarkets in run-up to Easter
Moo Free has announced two new products for its Easter collection, along with the re-formatting of a bestseller in a new sharing pack and the return of five popular SKUs.
Seasonal
Love me do: Americans want sweet treats for Valentine’s Day
Chocolate and candy's role as a social currency has been reinforced during the Valentine’s Day season in the US, with 92% of Americans claiming they plan to share confectionery with friends, family, and loved ones.
Financial results
Knoops strikes chocolate gold with Wonka movie tie-in
Knoops, the UK retailer of artisan chocolate drinks, is celebrating a merry Christmas after announcing solid financial growth and ambitious expansion plans for 2024 – partly the result of becoming the brand partner of choice for Wonka, the hit film...
Seasonal
Christmas 2023: Festive flavour favourites for cocoa and confectionery
Olam food ingredients (ofi) has identified four chocolate and confectionery trends set to shape this year’s festive season, with the growth of artisanal and handcrafted treats particularly noteworthy.
Seasonal
Hames Chocolates warms up Christmas with new hot chocolate range
Private-label chocolate supplier Hames Chocolates has expanded its hot chocolate range for this winter’s peak sales season to cater to what it calls ‘the growing demand for self-treating and affordable luxury.’
Seasonal
Celebrations pip Quality Street as Christmas favourite assortment in the UK
The UK’s favourite Christmas chocolates have been crowned just in time for the festive season – with Celebrations from Mars taking the accolade this year, according to polling by YouGov.
Seasonal
Oh! Oh! Oh! Is there a right way to eat a candy cane?
There’s no more evident sign that the winter holidays are here than the emergence of candy canes on store shelves in the US – but what is the “right” way to eat them? It’s a fun question that always gets American consumers in a twist, so here goes …
Seasonal
NCA gives First Lady a helping hand with Christmas candy at The White House
First Lady Jill Biden has enlisted the help of the National Confectioners Association's (NCA) help with Christmas decorations as she unveiled The White House 2023 holiday theme and décor.
Seasonal
Consumer confidence for seasonal chocolate and candy creates growth opportunities - new report finds
A new report from the National Confectioners Association (NCA) has found that 64% of total chocolate and candy sales in the US are attributed to the big four seasons – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays - ensuring that...
Seasonal
Top chocolate, confectionery, and bakery trends for Halloween 2023
olam food ingredients’ (ofi’s) flavour experts share their predictions on how families will tap into this season’s flavour trends to create a ‘Spooktacular’ 31 October.
Seasonal
Reality bites? US Halloween candy sales unspooked by inflation
Scary monsters (and super creeps) with false teeth may not be the only ones to bite this Halloween as inflation is also hitting households across the United States, forcing many families to keep tight control of the purse strings.
Seasonal
Chocolate and candy on hand for trick-or-treaters this Halloween
The American confectionery industry is looking forward to increasing sales this Halloween after a survey revealed 98% of Americans will be offering treats to young visitors knocking at their doors.
Seasonal
American consumers celebrate National Candy Month with less sugar
Halfway through the National Confectioners Association’s National Candy Month campaign and new data reveals 47% of consumers are seeking out ‘healthy’ candy options to lower their sugar intake.
Cherry blossom, matcha and yuzu: Heavenly Desserts unveils mocktail menu inspired by springtime in Japan
The luxury dessert franchise with 45 UK stores and two further afield is turning to the land of the rising sun for inspiration for its newest mocktail menu.
Easter 2023
NCA provides chocolate and candy for White House Easter Egg Roll, as Biden hints at reelection bid
The Easter egg roll is a White House tradition that dates back to 1878 and was started by President Rutherford B. Hayes. This year’s event (on Easter Monday) saw 30,000 people descend on the White House grounds under bright and blue skies with children...
News
Demand for vegan chocolate drops this easter
The demand for vegan chocolate has dropped by almost a quarter (23%) year-on-year this Easter, according to research by food label consultant Ashbury.
Easter 2023
Easter sees UK leading the world in chocolate innovation
From chocolate bunnies to candy chicks, this year is set to be a bumper year for Easter treats according to new UK research from Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), which claims launches of new seasonal Easter chocolate products have increased...
Easter 2023
Is there a right way to eat a chocolate Easter bunny? Confectionery industry looks forward to a bumper weekend
A new survey commissioned by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) reveals 84% of Americans say they plan to celebrate the 2023 Easter season by sharing or gifting some kind of confectionery treat.
Seasonal
Crash the cat wins this year’s coveted Cadbury Bunny ears accolade
After receiving an impressive number of votes from animal lovers across the country, Crash the Cat from Boise, Idaho, has been crowned the winner of Hershey’s fifth-annual Cadbury Bunny Tryouts, 'Rescue Pets Edition', the company has announced.
Seasonal
Love Cocoa extends eco-friendly egg collection
Luxury sustainable chocolate brand Love Cocoa is adding to its Easter portfolio this year with two delightful, marbled eggs, while the rest of the range has had a seasonal makeover.
Seasonal
Chocolate gives a lift to all ages, new survey reveals
A new UK nationwide study by Lindt, to mark the beginning of Spring, has revealed the list of everyday things that give Brits a lift, with a good night’s sleep (51%), a walk on a sunny morning (48%) and a hug (47%) appearing top of the list.
Easter 2023
Cadbury's Easter eggs come out tops for UK consumers, research reveals
With Easter in the UK becoming more of a celebration akin to Halloween and Christmas, new research has revealed that 82% of consumers said they'd spend the traditional long weekend with family, with approximately 20% spending it with friends. A third...
Seasonal
Brach’s new global flavours add to spring awakening
Brach’s is broadening its horizons beyond its own territory this spring by taking fans on a flavour journey with its first-ever globally-inspired jelly beans.
Easter 2023
Hershey puts a call-out for a rescue pet to be the next Cadbury Bunny
Rescue pet owners are being put on standby by Hershey as the Cadbury Bunny Tryouts are back for a fifth year and to celebrate the milestone it is looking to make one special rescue pet the star of its annual ad.
Easter 2023
Lindt Gold Bunny figures full of surprises this Easter
Luxury chocolatier Lindt has created a ‘Hoppiness campaign’ around its iconic Gold Bunny Easter treat with £50,000 worth of prizes available to be won by UK consumers.
Seasonal
Chocolove shares its recipe for a sweet Valentine’s Day
Chocolove, the Boulder, Colorado-based premium and ethical chocolatier, is making Valentine's Day sweeter with special heart-shaped bites that are individually wrapped in resealable pouches in Very Cherry and Salted Caramel flavours.