Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Blood money: World Bank found lacking in palm oil investment review

28-Jan-2014 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

An internal report on the World Bank’s multimillion dollar loan to a palm oil company embroiled in human rights allegations has concluded that the investment bank should have been more diligent in its assessments.

Natra sets sights on UK with new office

27-Jan-2014 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Spanish firm Natra has opened a sales office in London in a bid to strengthen its UK presence.

Private labels borrow brand tactics to grow market share

23-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The private label sector still has enormous growth potential, as it accounts for only 10% of global grocery value, according to a report from Euromonitor International.

Lindt-backed research discovers method to authenticate premium chocolate

23-Jan-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Researchers financially supported by the USDA and Lindt have developed a non-sensory method to determine when fine flavor cacao beans have become adulterated with inferior beans.

Ditch ‘possibly carcinogenic’ white color for clean label rice starch, says Beneo

21-Jan-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Confectioners should replace white color titanium dioxide with rice starch to alleviate consumer health concerns, says supplier Beneo, even though toxicity has not been demonstrated by any authority in typical food uses.

Mondelez adds investor Nelson Peltz to board

21-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Mondelez International has added US ‘activist’ investor Nelson Peltz to its board of directors, the company has said.

ABF growth dampened by sugar price drop

17-Jan-2014 By Rod Addy

Plunging world sugar prices hampered sales growth for Associated British Foods (ABF) in the first quarter of its current financial year, but its Twinings and Allied Bakeries brands delivered strong performances.

War of words erupts as Cadbury’s ill-fated Israel venture heads to court

16-Jan-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Cadbury’s Israeli distributor Carmit Candy Industries has accused the Strauss Group of employing a war-like strategy to block Cadbury’s entry into Israel, while Strauss says Carmit only has itself to blame for Cadbury’s failings.

EU agrees rules to curb food speculation

16-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Commission has agreed new rules to curb speculation in food commodities, in order to avoid a repeat of the global food price spikes seen in 2008.

Shining light or dying star? European cocoa grind registers 6% rise

15-Jan-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Cocoa grinds are up in Europe and the chocolate market is set to follow, but other markets are shining more brightly and will continue to do so, according to Euromonitor.

Ritter Sport wins 'natural flavor' German court battle

14-Jan-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Ritter Sport has been granted an injunction preventing a German consumer group from claiming the chocolate firm is deceiving consumers with misleading natural flavor claims.

Isoglucose may take a third of EU sugar market

14-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Isoglucose may take up to 30% of the current European sugar market after quotas are removed in 2017, according to a new report.

European Candy Group snaps up Kraepelien & Holm

13-Jan-2014

Private label confectioner European Candy Group has acquired Dutch licorice firm Kraepelien & Holm.

Big interview

Bye-bye black box: Could ‘radical transparency’ transform the food industry?

10-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Lack of transparency in blended ingredients is harming trust in the food industry – but there is another way, says president and CEO of Premium Blendhub, Henrik Stamm Kristensen.

Orchard of possibilities with freeze-dried fruit in chocolate, claims Chaucer Foods

06-Jan-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Freeze drying could unlock the potential of red berries and citrus fruits as decorations and inclusions in chocolate while preserving the color and nutrients of the fruit, says supplier Chaucer Foods.

FoodNavigator predicts top five industry drivers in 2014

06-Jan-2014 By Caroline Scott-Thomas and Nathan Gray

As the New Year dawns, FoodNavigator predicts the top five drivers of the European food industry in the year ahead.

Godiva to sell online in the UK

06-Jan-2014

Premium chocolate brand Godiva is to launch a website in early 2014 to serve the UK.

FoodNavigator 2014: What’s on our editorial calendar?

03-Jan-2014

From the newest developments in sweeteners, fats and oils and flavours, to the latest trends in gluten-free formulation and plant-based diets, FoodNavigator's special editions calendar for 2014 spans the hottest topics for the European food and drink...

Oxfam aftermath: Women central to the future of cocoa, says Mars

02-Jan-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

A sustainable cocoa supply chain is reliant on women, who provide a large portion of the labor and often invest earnings on items that benefit their community, says Mars Chocolate in a response to harsh criticism.

infographic

Sweet tooth Scots: Scotland has poorest diet in UK

23-Dec-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

According to new government research Scottish people consume more fizzy drinks and sweets and eat less fruit and vegetables when compared to the UK average.

Hershey to acquire iconic Chinese confectionery firm

19-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Hershey Netherlands B.V. has signed an agreement to acquire an 80% stake in Chinese confectionery and snack firm Shanghai Golden Monkey Food Company (SGM) - and the remaining 20% in 2015.

Third time unlucky: Cocoa deficit to hit prices in 2014?

16-Dec-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

A third consecutive cocoa deficit will send prices skyrocketing in 2014, according to Rabobank analysis.

Sugar limits should be halved to protect teeth: Study

12-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations for added sugar intake should be halved to protect teeth from dental caries, suggests a review published in the Journal of Dental Research.

Chocolate in the tropics: Heat tolerant cocoa butter replacer with mango seed fat

12-Dec-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

A cocoa butter replacer derived from mango seed fat and palm stearin could help chocolate withstand high temperatures and may benefit manufacturers in tropical countries, according to a study.

Excessive gum-chewing may contribute to headaches, say researchers

11-Dec-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Excessive gum-chewing may be associated with chronic headaches, according to a study published in the journal Pediatric Neurology.

Tooth-friendly candy promise with novel probiotic, says BASF-backed study

05-Dec-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

A short-term pilot study claims that a lactic acid bacterium holds potential for use in sugar-free candies to reduce the risk of dental caries.

Ritter Sport ‘natural’ bust up with consumer group gets litigious

02-Dec-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Ritter Sport and a German consumer group will go head-to-head in a court battle over the naturalness of vanilla flavoring piperonal.

Barry Callebaut: Just paying more for cocoa wouldn’t work

29-Nov-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Simply paying African cocoa growers more will not incentivize them to move away from the encroaching, more lucrative industries of palm and rubber, says Barry Callebaut.

Lotte finalizes deal for Kazakh confectionery firm

28-Nov-2013

Korean confectioner Lotte has overcome regulatory hurdles to acquire a 76% stake in Kazakhstan-based firm Rakhat.

Dispatches from FiE

Is the next generation of fruit functional?

27-Nov-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Fruit may have its own stand alone functionality but Taura Natural Ingredients says fortification with milk and pea proteins, green coffee and grains will bring the ingredient into new areas. 

Remove hydrogenated fats from chocolate with CristalGreen, says Loders Croklaan

27-Nov-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Fats and oils supplier IOI Loders Croklaan claims that its crystallization starter CristalGreen gives specific chocolate confectionery applications a clean label and longer shelf-life.

Euromonitor highlights Nordic food trends

26-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Healthy foods, premiumisation and private label all present untapped opportunities in Nordic countries, according to market research organisation Euromonitor International.

This year’s almonds ‘smallest in 40 years’

26-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

This year’s almond crop has produced the smallest almonds in 40 years, meaning potential problems for food manufacturers that rely on a particular size of whole or sliced almond, according to Blue Diamond Growers.

Dispatches from FiE 2013

Mars: Chocolate fat reduction challenge in EU

21-Nov-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

The chocolate industry can only go so far to reduce fat in the EU, says Mars R&D manager, meaning portion size is the only current option.

Could working with an ingredient distributor drive innovation?

20-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Specialty ingredients distributor IMCD says that working with a distributor, rather than individual suppliers, allows food companies to tap into application-driven expertise - beyond their own R&D capabilities.

Could cheese-chocolate put Spain on the chocolatier map?

17-Nov-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Natra is developing a range of Spanish olive oil, cheese and wine filled chocolates; the company hopes that the integration of these Mediterranean ingredients will put Spain on the map for chocolate.

‘The cocoa shell is a magnificent piece of material that hasn’t been exploited’ – Daintree Estates

15-Nov-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Waste shells from cocoa processing are rich in fibre and antioxidants and carry great potential as food ingredients, according to Australian plantation-to-bar manufacturer Daintree Estates.

European food industry backs ‘comprehensive free trade’ between EU and Japan

15-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Representatives of European food industry organisations have come out in support of a strong free trade agreement between the EU and Japan, ahead of talks in Tokyo next Tuesday.

EFSA calls for phosphates data to assess heart risk

14-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said it will call for data from industry on the levels of phosphates found in food, in an effort to understand whether they pose a risk to heart health.

Cloetta cautious on Italy and Scandinavia confectionery recovery

14-Nov-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Swedish-based confectioner Cloetta has improved its third quarter sales compared to the same period last year as most Scandinavian confectionery markets as well as Italy registered growth.

Barry Callebaut results: Petra costs and inefficiencies to blame for 2012/13 profit slump

07-Nov-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Barry Callebaut has recorded a 4.9% drop in net profit for the fiscal year 2012/13 as it integrates Petra Foods’ cocoa business and experiences capacity constraints.

Patent Watch

Mondelez eliminates cooking stage from candy production

06-Nov-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Mondelez International has developed a method to prepare hard and soft candies and gum without the energy and time intensive cooking process.

Lower BMIs for chocolate-eating teens, finds study

04-Nov-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Young people consuming larger amounts of chocolate each day have slimmer waists and lower body mass indices, according to research.

Mixed bag for Halloween confectionery in Europe

31-Oct-2013

Halloween confectionery sales are expected to grow in line with the overall market in Europe, but there are notably differences among EU countries, according to industry association Caobisco.

Don't change our treats! Smaller portions better than reformulation for confectionery, says dietitian

28-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Confectioners should reduce portion sizes rather than reformulate since indulgent treats help us enjoy our diets, says a dietitian. 

Coroner warns of energy sweets danger after man’s death

21-Oct-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

A coroner has written to the UK’s Department of Health warning of the dangers of high-caffeine confectionery after a man accidentally overdosed on caffeinated energy mints.

Mondelēz invests in sustainability goals

21-Oct-2013 By Rod Addy

Mondelēz International is pouring cash into sustainable farming projects, including $400M in cocoa farms in developing economies, to secure a strong and stable supply base.

Nestlé needs to up premium game, but are there better options than Ferrero?

21-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Nestlé should address its premium portfolio weaknesses, but perhaps there are better options than Ferrero, suggests a market analyst.

Nestlé nine-month sales growth below full-year target

17-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Nestlé organic sales growth slowed to 4.4% in the first nine months of the year, compared to 6.1% in the same period last year, hit by weaker demand from emerging markets and ongoing recession in Europe.

Crossing the Atlantic: Cémoi eyes growing US private label chocolate market as Europe stagnates

17-Oct-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

France’s leading private label chocolate maker Cémoi sees little growth in the European chocolate market and hopes instead to promote its branded goods in Asia and in the developing US private label market.