Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Kellogg's MorningStar Farms and Incogmeato brands bolster Q1 2021 sales growth

07-May-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

More than a year out from the onset of the pandemic, and Kellogg's organic net sales remain elevated at +4% for Q1 2021 (compared to Q1 2020) largely driven by growth of its frozen foods portfolio.

Private label growth falls behind branded food for first time in a decade – driving need for new strategies

06-May-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite historically enjoying rapid gains during economically challenging periods, like the pandemic, private label growth fell behind branded products in all but a few niche food and beverage categories during the past year – a role reversal that hasn’t...

Ben & Jerry's, Magnum, and Hellmann's lead Unilever Q1 2021 food sales: 'Foods and refreshments did have a very good quarter,' says CEO

03-May-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Unilever – which has strong anchor portfolios across the CPG landscape including food & personalized nutrition, beauty & personal care, and home care – saw continued strong in-home consumer demand for its core ice cream brands and double-digit...

Pots & Co accelerates US expansion plans with General Mills 301 INC backing: ‘We’re on a mission to rescue people from bland, uninspiring food’

30-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

“There's no way we could have launched 10 years ago in America,” observes Julian Dyer, stockbroker-turned chef, turned-founder of London-based Pots & Co, which is looking to make a splash this side of the Atlantic with his upmarket desserts.

Hershey rides dual waves of at-home and on-the-go consumption as vaccines roll out to hit sales gains

30-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

The pandemic’s uneven recovery is creating a “unique window of dual strength” for The Hershey Co., which saw sales gains across all three segments of its evenly divided portfolio of at-home, on-the-go and seasonal products during the company’s first quarter,...

Mondelēz emerges from pandemic 'stronger than ever', says CEO

28-Apr-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mondelēz International is continuing to see healthy demand for its core snacking brands, proving that industry-wide sales spikes for packaged, shelf-stable products were more than just a COVID-inspired blip, said chairman and CEO Dirk Van De Put.

Conagra benefits from sustained and elevated at-home demand in Q3 2021

12-Apr-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Still benefiting from a sustained consumer shift to at-home eating over a year past the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Conagra has registered a nearly 10% increase in organic net sales for Q3 2021 compared to the same period last year.

Clio Snacks debuts snackable parfait bars: ‘The bar category will continue to grow if innovation is injected into it’

07-Apr-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Fresh snacking brand Clio Snacks – known for its chocolate covered Greek yogurt bars – had a breakout year in 2020, says VP of marketing Rachel Moore. This year, the company is ramping brand awareness and customer trial with its newest product innovation:...

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: What is the best way to reach consumers during and after the pandemic?

29-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

The coronavirus outbreak fundamentally changed how food and beverage brands are connecting with consumers – from abruptly halting live sampling and in-store promotions to altering the types of messaging consumers want to hear.

Investing in the Future of Food: Kroger & Village Capital offer $2.5m & training for upcycling solutions

24-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

As part of a “moonshot” to end hunger and eliminate food waste, The Kroger Co.’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation and seed stage funder Village Capital are offering $2.5 million in collective grants and development programming to 10 innovative startups...

KeHE’s ‘Crazy Good’ campaign underscores its digital-forward innovation, operational support to help retailers, brands grow

18-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Well-known for its service and compassion, KeHE’s new “Crazy Good” campaign that launched this month seeks to highlight how the food distributor’s other two pillars of “innovation and operational excellence” also can drive growth for its retail partners...

KeHE: ‘Treasure hunting’ may look different post-COVID, but consumers still seek innovation

18-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Innovation still drives the food landscape even though “treasure hunting” may look different now than before the pandemic sidelined casual in-store consumer browsing and retailers and brands rationalized SKUs to focus on best-sellers to alleviate supply...

Nabati Foods raises $7.7m, plans for IPO: 'The company received thousands of inquiries from interested parties looking to invest'

15-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Plant-based foods manufacturer Nabati Foods (part of the Eat Beyond Holdings portfolio) has closed over $7.7m in an oversubscribed funding round with plans to pursue a public listing on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE).

Target launches premium, indulgent Favorite Day private label line

09-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In early April, Target Corp. will introduce Favorite Day, its latest private label food line focused on affordable, sweet and savory indulgence.

Van Leeuwen CEO: ‘If I’m going to eat ice cream, I want 18% butterfat with lots of chocolate chips... Just don’t eat a pint of it every day’

19-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

The ice cream aisle used to be a lot less complicated. There were national brands, regional brands, a couple of super-premium players, and a smattering of dairy-free. Today, shoppers are presented with a bewildering array of options from lactose-free,...