Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Dewey's Bakery takes its thin crispy cookies nationwide tapping into permissible indulgence trend

23-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

After years of a slow build, Dewey's Bakery is entering national retail accounts where it can reach consumers in search of permissibly indulgent snacks with its line of thin crispy cookies that deliver on taste without breaking the caloric bank.

SPECIAL REPORT: Bioengineered food labeling: ‘They kind of shot in the middle and missed every constituency’

23-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

Advocates arguing for greater transparency about the use of GMOs in food scored a minor victory this month after a district court told USDA to re-work the digital disclosure portions of the bioengineered food labeling law, which came into effect in January....

From 'Coffeetok' influencers to 'textured' cold coffee drinks, fourth wave coffee is here, says Mintel: 'Expect to see more brands take a less serious approach to coffee'

22-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The US coffee market is now entering its fourth wave driven by Gen Z's 'easy-going' approach to coffee and surging demand for at-home specialty coffee drinks, according to Mintel.

Not all indulgent snacks contribute equally to obesity and not all strategies to reduce their consumption are effective

20-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Curbing consumption of sugary beverages and sweet baked goods could take center-stage in future obesity-fighting campaigns while chocolate and confections move to the wings after new research from Georgetown University reveals the former are more likely...

Mondelez bets big on chocolate, biscuits with early returns buoying year-over-year growth

12-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Mondelez is ready to go all in on core chocolate and biscuits with plans to divest most, if not all, of the 20% of its business that falls outside of the categories in the next two to five years while simultaneously pursuing acquisitions in the spaces...

Nestlé taps confections expertise to enter snack space with Rallies Nut Butter Bombs

08-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

More than four years after Nestlé sold its US confectionery business to Ferrero, the CPG giant is dipping a toe back into the bite-sized sweets segment but through a better-for-you “snacking” lens with the national rollout of Rallies Nut Butter Bombs.

Study finds link between ultra-processed foods and mental health

29-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

A study exploring the connection between ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and reported adverse mental health symptoms found that participants who had a diet high in UPF were more likely to report instances of 'mentally unhealthy' and...

Fazer investigates cellular agriculture for sustainable cocoa

19-Aug-2022 By Katy Askew

Finnish confectioner Fazer is working to secure a sustainable future cocoa supply. The company believes cellular agriculture could be part of that vision.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Mintel shares areas ripe for innovation that balance post-pandemic and tighter financial needs

15-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As Americans continue to adjust to post-pandemic life and mounting economic uncertainty, consumer research from Mintel shows that many believe there is no going ‘back to normal’ and as such are changing the way they think about, budget and shop for, and...

'Plant cell culture is now emerging from a very cold winter...' Cell-cultured chocolate startup California Cultured turns attention to coffee

12-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Microbes can produce a host of ingredients traditionally made by plants or animals more sustainably and efficiently. But if you want to make complex plant-based ingredients such as coffee or cocoa, single-celled microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria...

Seasonal candy

Hershey calms Halloween nerves after shortage of treats scare

08-Aug-2022 By Anthony Myers

Hershey has moved quickly to reassure consumers that there will be plenty of candy for this year’s Halloween celebrations.

Snacking behavior holds strong in face of inflation, says Mondelēz

27-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In the face of inflation and consumer price sensitivity, Mondelēz International saw positive volume growth and price resiliency across its snacking portfolio especially in its core areas of snacking and chocolate, reported chairman and CEO Dirk Van de...

Sustainabilty

Fairtrade America urges consumers to think about the cost of confectionery

11-Jul-2022 By Anthony Myers

Fairtrade America has launched a new campaign that aims to ignite conversation about how little cocoa farmers earn for their crops while they also face pernicious inflation, impacts of Covid-19 and supply chain challenges.

5 trends from Summer Fancy Food: From veggie-enhanced non-dairy cheese to convenient baking solutions to keto-friendly snacks and booze-fueled treats

08-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Invigorating sleepy segments, tackling persistent category challenges and balancing consumer desire for taste, convenience and experience, companies at the 66th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City late last month showcased innovative solutions to...

Quest and Atkins outperform the competition in active nutrition and weight management categories

01-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Simply Good Foods, parent company to Quest Nutrition and Atkins brands, registered solid net sales growth in Q3 2022 as snacking behaviors stabilized and consumers adjusted to the company's new pricing actions.

Mavericks Cookies ramps up distribution: 'We very strongly believe and designed this brand to be a mainstream proposition'

30-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Two years after launching at the height of the pandemic, Mavericks Cookies has established a strong foothold in the under-served better-for-you kids snacking category with new distribution at 1,250 Target stores and a streamlined portfolio focused exclusively...

'I think cacao water is the new coconut water': Blue Stripes sees mainstream future for cacao fruit

27-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Blue Stripes has recently unleashed a broad line of cacao-based products made from underutilized and wasted parts of the cacao fruit to Whole Foods stores nationwide and will be launching its star product -- cacao water -- next month, which founder Oded...

Grindings

Slight climb in cocoa prices as chocolate production slows

27-Jun-2022 By Anthony Myers

Cocoa prices rallied in the week ending 24 June, after the Cote d’Ivoire government reported that cocoa farmers sent a cumulative 2.24 MMT of cocoa to its ports from 1 October 1 to 19 June, down -1.8% y/y.

Nude Mints aims to revamp mints category with a more effective and modern breath freshening solution

23-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Nude Mints wants to modernize the mints category, which co-founder Sean Davis believes is outdated and lacking innovation, by launching breath mints using a new multi-layer capsule technology that promises a deeper and extended breath freshening experience...

Mars unveils ‘earth-friendly’ animal-free dairy chocolate brand CO2COA: ‘We believe there is a sizable consumer opportunity in this space’

16-Jun-2022 By Elaine Watson

Mars is dipping its toes into the emerging animal-free dairy space with the launch of a lactose-free milk chocolate brand called CO2COA featuring Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa and Perfect Day’s non-animal whey protein, which is made by genetically...

Mondelēz International CEO sees more growth and acceleration for snacking portfolio amid inflation

15-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mondelēz International has generated consistent growth across its portfolio of biscuits, chocolate, cakes, and pastries, and will keep its focus on these categories as the company navigates current economic volatility, says Mondelēz International CEO...

Production

Ferrero invests in new Bloomington plant to produce Kinder Bueno for US market

15-Jun-2022 By Anthony Myers

Ferrero North America has announced plans to invest up to $214.4m to expand its chocolate processing and product manufacturing plant in Bloomington, Illinois.

Barry Callebaut expands chocolate distribution in Latin America: 'This is just the beginning of our expansion'

10-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut has signed a long-term agreement with Colombian food ingredient supplier Levapan to expand its distribution to key parts of Latin America.

Hershey replaces milk solids with roasted grain flour for improved dairy-free chocolate

07-Jun-2022 By Flora Southey

The Hershey Company has filed a patent application covering the substitution of dairy solids with roasted grain flour, which it says yields ‘improved organoleptic and rheological properties’ over known dairy-free chocolates.

Barry Callebaut: Mindful indulgence fuels next wave of chocolate consumption

06-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Consumers are taking a more mindful approach when it comes to chocolate consumption by balancing their cravings for indulgence with a growing interest in various better-for-you attributes whether it be health related or environmental, says global chocolate...

Good Good closes $20m Series B funding round to fuel next chapter of growth

16-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Good Good, an Icelandic breakfast brand of no-sugar-added products, has closed a $20m Series B funding round which will help support new low-sugar product innovation and future US product distribution.

Cacao-free ‘alt choc’ mimics the real thing, with 80% fewer CO2 emissions

11-May-2022 By Flora Southey

UK start-up WNWN Food Labs is launching what it claims to be the ‘world’s first’ cacao-free chocolate. Made from two ‘hero ingredients’ – barley and carob – we ask co-founders Arhum Pak and Dr Johnny Drain what makes their product better than the real...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Climate Neutral helps brands calculate, offset emissions & tell sustainability story

09-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

More consumers are factoring sustainability into their purchase decisions, according to data from NielsenIQ, but effectively and efficiently communicating a product’s environmental impact in less than the 10 seconds most shoppers spend deciding what to...

NEWS IN BRIEF

Voyage Foods lands $36m Series A funding, first product launch planned for Q2 2022

05-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Oakland, California-based food tech company Voyage Foods has raised $36m in a Series A funding as it prepares to launch its first product in Q2 2022.

Mars exec talks innovation: 'We're at a fascinating moment, where we will be creating the next relevant portfolio for consumers'

05-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

As a 100+-year-old company of some of the most well-known CPG brands, Mars Inc. sees innovation as the driving force behind the company's next chapter of growth and the key to maintaining consumer relevancy.

Manufacturing

Barry Callebaut to scale up its North American production with new factory in Ontario

03-May-2022 By Anthony Myers

The Barry Callebaut Group has announced plans to expand its North American presence by building a new specialty chocolate factory in Ontario, Canada.

Can Hershey hold on to share gains as capacity constrains bump against increased demand?

29-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Hershey’s higher-than-expected sales and market share gains in the first quarter is a double-edged sword for the confection and snack company – allowing it to raise its full year guidance but simultaneously straining inventory and increasing the company’s...

Keto in focus, part six: ‘The second coming’ of keto – low-sugar, high-protein launches bet big on the diet

28-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Undeterred by a drop in Internet searches in North America for ‘keto’ and ‘ketogenic’ that might suggest declining interest in the high-fat, moderate-protein and ultra-low-carb diet, many packaged food manufacturers appear to be doubling down on the claim...

Mondelez, PepsiCo profits hit as Russia invasion of Ukraine hinders production, sales

27-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine is taking a toll on major CPG companies, including PepisCo and Mondelez, both of which reported a hit to annual profits yesterday due to restricted production and sales in the countries and surrounding area as well...

Impulse purchases evolve to meet new consumer demands, shopping habits post COVID

27-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

After taking a hit early in the pandemic, sales of impulse purchases are beginning to rebound – but they look different now than before the outbreak as brands and retailers redefine the category to better align with consumer needs and lifestyles reshaped...

Keto in focus part three: Catalina Snacks CEO... 'The majority of our audience just want to eat less sugar and fewer carbs'

19-Apr-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Fast-growing keto snacks company Catalina Snacks is proving that 'keto' is no longer reserved for the low-carb, moderate protein diet's devotees but has a broader consumer scope and appeal.

Misfits Market launches private label line: 'It's clear shoppers are looking for new ways to save'

14-Apr-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Direct-to-consumer online grocer Misfits Market has launched its own private label offering of 'Odds & Ends' pantry staples specifically designed to address certain supply chain inefficiencies around sourcing, food waste, and elevated pricing,...

Larger Easter and Passover celebrations boost confection sales despite higher prices

12-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

After forgoing large Passover and Easter celebrations for the past two years, Americans are eager to gather with friends and family beyond their households – driving up projected unit sales of confections and groceries despite higher prices, according...

Mars Wrigley invests $175m in facility expansion to ramp up candy bar production

11-Apr-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mars Wrigley is investing $175m into expanding its Topeka, Kansas, facility where the company produces its M&M's Peanut, Twix, Snickers, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers product lines.

KeHE ‘golden ticket’ winners reveal hot trends retailers and consumers want

06-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

In a highly competitive industry in which 80-85% of new products fail in the first two years, natural grocery distributor KeHE consistently picks winners and fosters growth among emerging brands thanks to several key initiatives, including its TrendFinder...

Do current advertising rules for children’s products go far enough to protect their health?

05-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Recently strengthened self-regulatory efforts to curb marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children still do not go far enough to “meaningfully protect” children, argue public health advocates after new analysis reveals “loopholes” in the Children’s...

Retail

US chocolate and candy sector in good health as sales soar over 11% in 2021

15-Mar-2022 By Anthony Myers

American candy and chocolate consumers are increasingly focused on seasonal celebrations, sharing and gifting, along with their emotional wellbeing, according to the NCA’s third annual State of Treating report.

DoorDash launches accelerator program for early-stage startups and local entrepreneurs

14-Mar-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Third-party meal delivery service DoorDash is debuting its DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods, a program designed to support local packaged food brands owned by women, BIPOC, immigrant, and transgender entrepreneurs.

Sales growth of natural, organic products continues to drop but holds long-term promise

14-Mar-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

The drop in US sales growth of natural and organic products following the 10% pantry-stocking surge early in the pandemic will linger well into 2023 – dropping to less than 4% before starting to climb again slowly to about 5% in 2024, according to analysis...

Financial results

Lindt suspends its operations in Russia, remains confident on growth

10-Mar-2022 By Anthony Myers

Swiss confectionery brand Lindt & Sprüngli has announced it is closing its retail outlets and suspending deliveries to Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Coca-Cola withdraws business from Russia while other companies remain

09-Mar-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Coca-Cola is the latest major global food and beverage giant to suspend operations in Russia as an act of protest against the Russian invasion and continued attack on Ukraine and follows similar announcements made by PepsiCo, Starbucks, and McDonald's....

Dream Pops rolls out confectionery lineup: 'We are trying to prove that we are more than just an ice cream brand'

09-Mar-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Dream Pops is rolling out its latest plant-based indulgent extensions into the shelf-stable confectionery and sweetened syrups categories, which CEO and co-founder David Greenfeld says will challenge the likes of industry incumbents Hershey, Ferrero,...

Dovetailing Russian invasion & US drought could threaten wheat supplies, raise prices

03-Mar-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Buyers of US wheat and other grain commodities could find themselves in a “Katy bar the door” moment if growing conditions in the Midwest don’t improve and if buyers who typically source from Russia and Ukraine are forced by the escalating war to find...

Belgian Boys secures $7m in funding led by KIND Snacks founder's investment platform

01-Mar-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Belgian Boys, a fast-growing brand selling European-inspired treats and fresh breakfast items, has received $7m in funding led by Equilibra Ventures, a startup and investment platform from KIND Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky, to expand the brand's...

UN demands more diverse food production methods as report warns climate change risks are greater than thought

01-Mar-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Nearly a third of the world's crop fields will be unsuitable for food production by the end of this century unless carbon emissions are curbed, warns the latest instalment of the IPCC climate change report.