Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Unilever joins with Solidaridad to tackle sustainable sugar cane challenge

15-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

Food manufacturing giant Unilever will work with international non-profit Solidaridad to drive the sustainable development of the sugar cane industry in Central America.

Soil Association chief: “I want us to be known for what we are for, not what we are against”

15-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Organic food advocates gathered at the Soil Association conference in London last week with a programme that extended well beyond organics in an effort to “start where people are” on their journey toward healthier eating, according to chief executive...

Europe’s chocolate industry plays catch as Q3 cocoa grind climbs 5%

11-Oct-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

The tonnage of cocoa beans processed in Europe in the third quarter by the likes of Barry Callebaut and Cargill has risen by 4.7%. Euromonitor says the industry is playing catch up and rising cocoa butter prices may led to more expensive chocolate for...

Patent Watch

'It's too milky!': Unilever files patent to control color of aerated chocolate

10-Oct-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Adding low levels of red and black pigments to chocolate prior to aeration can prevent aerated chocolate from getting lighter and potentially putting off consumers, according to a patent filed by Unilever.

CP Kelco invests a further €8m to expand pectin production in Denmark

09-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Hydrocolloids firm CP Kelco has said it will invest a further 60m Danish krone (€8m) to expand its facility in Lille Skensved, Denmark, on the back of increased demand for its amidated pectin, used in low sugar and sugar-free foods.

RAN: Kellogg cannot deflect palm oil heat onto supplier

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

Kellogg cannot shirk its palm oil responsibility by deflecting attention to its supplier, says RAN following a statement from Kellogg calling for productive talks between its supplier Wilmar and the environmental group.

E-tail trends

Confectionery omitted from most UK online shopping baskets

03-Oct-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

The majority of UK consumers who admit to regularly buying confectionery in-store do not purchase confectionery online, according to research by Kantar Media, which says confectionery has huge growth prospects on the web.

Associated British Foods responds to Oxfam land grab criticism

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

Sugar producer Illovo – a subsidiary of Associated British Foods – has defended itself against the criticism released in an Oxfam report yesterday in a statement detailing its initiatives within the areas of health, education and community infrastructure.

Factory News

Barry Callebaut opens chocolate plant in Turkey; SunOpta completes Dutch cocoa site

03-Oct-2013 By Oliver NIEBURG

Barry Callebaut has opened its first chocolate factory in Turkey, while SunOpta has completed a organic and specialty cocoa processing facility in the Netherlands.

Chocolate shape affects flavour perception: Study

01-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The shape of chocolate can affect flavour and texture perception, according to a study published in the journal LWT – Food Science and Technology.

Bitter sweet: Rising dark chocolate consumption drives up price

25-Sep-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Rising dark chocolate consumption is driving up prices, according to data from Euromonitor International, with China, Switzerland and the US having the highest retail value.

Unilever and Nestlé biggest improvers in Oxfam sustainability report

18-Sep-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Many major food companies are slowly improving their sustainability policies but all still have a long way to go, according to an updated ‘Behind the Brands’ sustainability report from Oxfam.

Junk-free checkout campaign launched

16-Sep-2013 By Rick Pendrous

A new campaign is being launched today (September 16) urging supermarkets to permanently remove unhealthy snacks from checkouts and queuing areas.

Enough cocoa for chocolate makers this year but price hike looms: ICCO

05-Sep-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) has slightly reduced its cocoa deficit forecast for the current crop year and says there are ample stocks for chocolate manufacturers, but a deficit next year could raise prices.

Does Callebaut's EU flavanol claim add health bite or bark to dark choc's image?

05-Sep-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Barry Callebaut's R&D department talks to ConfectioneryNews after winning a blood flow health claim for cocoa flavanols in dark chocolate and cocoa beverages.

Natra reports weak Europe and out-of-season Asian chocolate consumption

28-Aug-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Natra Cocoa and Chocolate has reported flat sales in its first half results due to weak consumer spending in Europe and a blip in chocolate consumption in its growth driver Asia.

ADM launches 0.5% fat cocoa powder

22-Aug-2013

ADM Cocoa has introduced a low fat cocoa powder that it claims is well suited to nougats and other protein foam based confectionery that lose structure in the presence of fat.

Mondelez develops 3-D object for quicker flavor release in gum

19-Aug-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Mondelez has filed a patent for a quicker way to release flavors and actives in chewing gum using a 3-D object made of polymers.

Accessing FoodNavigator on the move? Check out our new app

19-Aug-2013

FoodNavigator’s new app for Android and iPhone is now available (and free) to download, allowing you to keep up with the latest food and beverage industry developments, even when you’re not connected to the internet.

Freudenberg acquires confectionery coater Capol

09-Aug-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Confectionery glazing and release agent supplier Capol has been snapped up by German-based firm Freudenberg for an undisclosed sum.

Nestlé cuts growth forecast as Q2 sales miss expectations

08-Aug-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Nestlé has cut its sales growth expectations for the full year – but even the revised target will be a stretch, according to the company’s financial chief.

Pectin promise: Researchers uncover new methods to extract ingredient from cocoa waste

07-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

The use of citric acid as an extractant could boost the industrial recovery of pectin from waste cocoa husks that are generated during cocoa production, say researchers.

Fairtrade: Scaling up with integrity is ‘a difficult and arduous task’

06-Aug-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Fairtrade International today works with more than 3,000 companies and represents a global network of farmers and workers in 70 countries – but scaling up to this level has been a long, difficult journey, says the organisation’s CEO Harriet Lamb.

Front-of-pack nutrition labels have little impact on consumer choice: Study

01-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

Front-of-pack nutritional information, in any format, has a very limited impact on the way consumers choose products in a retail setting, according to new data.

Synthetic spearmint supplier scales up production to offer purer alternative

01-Aug-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Paramount Aromachem India will move to a new facility near Delhi where it plans to produce half of the global demand for synthetic spearmint flavor L-carvone which is used in chewing gum.

Wrigley files patent for ‘natural’ tooth friendly gummies

29-Jul-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Mars-owned Wrigley is attempting to patent a method to produce ‘natural’ tooth friendly gummies using erythritol.

AAK profits rise in Q2 in spite of confectionery fats lag

23-Jul-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Specialty fats supplier AAK has reported 12% growth in operating profits in its second quarter (Q2) results despite declining confectionery fat sales.

Functional confectionery niche continues to grow, says Naturex

19-Jul-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The functional confectionery market remains niche but is growing rapidly as candy makers look for new ways to differentiate their products, according to ingredients firm Naturex.

Sweet alternatives: Better sugar understanding is needed for sugar-free chocolate success, say researchers

11-Jul-2013 By Nathan Gray

A better understanding of the complex functions that sugar fulfils in a chocolate product is required by manufacturers before they can reliably develop a high-quality sugar-free chocolate that is acceptable to consumers, say researchers.

Sticky problems: Economic downturn to stunt global chewing gum growth

08-Jul-2013 By Kacey Culliney

Global chewing gum growth is being stunted by the economic downturn and declining numbers of children and teenagers, says Leatherhead.

Novel chocolate sensory analysis method touted by researchers

04-Jul-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Brazilian researchers say a new method for sensory analysis of chocolate could slash description times in half compared to the conventional technique.

Weighing up the possibilities: Cutting calories in chocolate through fat reduction

28-Jun-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

The global reduced fat chocolate category is set for 13.4% sales growth this year. We ask how chocolate makers can formulate to get a piece of the action.

Mint confectionery oral care claims rising, says Mintel

27-Jun-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Around a quarter of recent product launches in the tablet confectionery category have made claims for breath freshening or oral care. Mintel explores the latest flavor trends and health claims in the most common sub-group: Mints.

EU reaches deal on CAP reform

27-Jun-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

European institutions reached a deal on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on Wednesday, including a compromise that will end sugar quotas by 2017.

Nestlé’s answer to non-melting chocolate

18-Jun-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Nestlé has followed in the footsteps of Mondelez by coming up with its own non-melting chocolate, which could prove a game changer in emerging markets with hot climates.

Cocoa butter substitute use growing in Russia, says EFKO

17-Jun-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Russian fats and oils supplier EFKO Group has reported rapid sales growth in cocoa butter substitutes in its first quarter (Q1) results as the domestic confectionery market picks up.