Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

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,...

Ingredion signs joint venture with Grupo Arcor in South America

12-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Ingredion and Grupo Arcor -- a leading confectionery exporter in South America -- have signed a joint venture agreement to broaden food and beverage ingredient offerings in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.

Kraft Heinz enters 2021 with lighter portfolio and agile growth ambitions, announces $3.35bn sale of Planters to Hormel

11-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Kraft Heinz has ended 2020 on a high note reporting a 6.2% increase in organic net sales and a 27% lift in household penetration in Q4, driven by significant gains in Ketchup, Lunchables, and Ore-Ida.

Knowde launches food & nutrition online marketplace: ‘This is a massive market that is ripe for change’

10-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

San Jose-based Knowde – a b2b online marketplace for chemicals, ingredients and polymers - is moving into the food and nutrition industry, enabling R&D and procurement professionals to research and compare products, connect with suppliers, request...

Mondelēz predicts solid growth in 2021 as it gradually revs up in-house product innovation

29-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In a challenging environment for all of the food industry, Mondelēz International posted net revenue growth of 5.6% and increased gross profit by $113m for the full year ended Dec. 31, 2020.

Ben & Jerry’s pioneers living income for cocoa farmers: ‘The challenges we face as a planet come back to economic justice’

27-Jan-2021 By Katy Askew

Ben & Jerry’s has ramped up its living income approach for Cote D’Ivoire cocoa farmers in partnership with Fairtrade. Global Values Led Sourcing Manager Cheryl Pinto tells FoodNavigator that addressing poverty is key to tackling supply chain issues,...

‘Wellness’ inspires emotionally-soothing indulgent snacks along side immunity-boosting options

26-Jan-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

As the pandemic expands consumers’ definition of wellness to include not just physical fitness but also emotional welfare, they increasingly are seeking snacks that balance both – opening the door for products that are nostalgic and indulgent as well...

Coronavirus

Godiva shuts up shop in North America and Canada

25-Jan-2021 By Anthony Myers

‘Waning demand’ caused by the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in luxury chocolatier Godiva announcing it will close all its retail outlets in North America and Canada by the end of March this year.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tate & Lyle receives Non-GMO Project Verification for crystalline allulose ingredient

20-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Tate & Lyle has received Non-GMO Project Verification for the crystalline form of its DOLCIA PRIMA Allulose sweetening ingredient.

BeyondBrands enters sugar-free chocolate category with launch of GoodSam Foods

13-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

GoodSam Foods, a new brand of no-sugar-added, direct-trade chocolate launched by BeyondBrands, has entered the sugar-free chocolate confectionery category with products sweetened with emerging sweetener allulose.

Partake attracts $4.8m investment and announces plans to enter 2,700+ stores in Q1 2021

08-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Allergy-friendly food company Partake has completed a $4.8m Series A funding round backed by a diverse and star-powered lineup of investors from private equity investment firm CircleUp Growth Partners to Rihanna and Seattle Seahawks' Bobby Wagner.

Mondelēz acquires Hu Products: 'There's significant opportunity to take Hu to the next level'

05-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mondelēz International has acquired full ownership of Hu (pronounced ‘hue’ as in ‘human’) Products, a well-being snack company best known for its premium vegan chocolate bars.

General Mills forecasts increased at-home eating to be 'new normal' post-pandemic

18-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

General Mills net sales increased 7% to $4.7bn for Q2 2021 as the company continued to benefit from elevated at-home demand for its core brands within its meals & baking and cereal segments, which grew net sales by 9% for the quarter.

Consumers will seek convenience, comfort, health from food in 2021 as they await ‘return to normalcy’

17-Dec-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Encouraged by the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine administered in the US this week, many Americans are eager for a return to normalcy in the new year, but they also recognize widespread inoculation and economic recovery will be slow and so they...

Study: Consumers see craft chocolate as ‘novel and exciting’

07-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Premium packaging and label design, unique brand backstories, and products that evoke novelty and excitement are highly-sought-after product attributes for craft chocolate consumers, according to research conducted by food scientists in Penn State’s College...

What's the difference between plant-based and vegan? Foodchain ID unveils new certification schemes

07-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

While the terms 'plant-based' and 'vegan' might appear to be interchangeable (they both exclude animal products), consumers do not view them in quite the same way, claims Foodchain ID, which has just launched separate 'vegan,'...

Mondelēz focuses on defending market share gains heading into 2021, 'We want to keep on reinforcing our core,' says CEO

04-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mondelēz International is pouring more investment into marketing and media efforts for its legacy brands with a focus on delivering more value to consumers as the company vies to maintain, and possibly gain, further market share in snacking categories...

Comfort foods take center plate in Grubhub’s 2020 ‘Year in Food’ report

03-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Analyzing user behavior for its more than 30 million active diners this year, online and mobile-food ordering platform Grubhub saw surging orders for comfort foods and a rise of ready-to-drink coffee orders.

Fairtrade

Way to Go! Lidl launches exclusive Fairtrade chocolate bars in US stores

02-Dec-2020 By Anthony Myers

European discount supermarket Lidl has announced a new deal with Fairtrade America to offer US customers a unique private label chocolate bar that contributes to a living income for cocoa farmers.

Flavor trends for 2021: fresh from the garden, breakfast all day, chicken & home baked goods

19-Nov-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers’ desire for comforting, nostalgic and indulgent foods and beverages as a way to cope with pressures from the pandemic, election and economic hardship in 2020 is about to clash with more austere preferences more typical of each new year, including...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Mondelēz finds snacking offers a ‘lifeline,’ antidote to loneliness during COVID

16-Nov-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

While snacking was on the rise long before the coronavirus outbreak, new research from Mondelēz International shows the pandemic has turbo-charged the trend – spurring more people to snack more often, but for entirely different reasons than they did before...

Tracking COVID-19 cases by zip code allowed Hershey to target inventory, marketing to gain share, sales

10-Nov-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of The Hershey Co.’s iconic chocolates and confections significantly outpaced the category during the company’s third-quarter thanks to targeted, nimble marketing that positioned the sweets at the center of socially distant and much needed get-togethers...

Researchers call for crackdown on ‘kid influencers’ promoting unhealthy food, beverages on YouTube

27-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

After discovering a “staggering level of exposure” of fast food, candy, soda and other unhealthy branded foods and beverages on YouTube videos featuring and targeting young children, researchers from New York University are calling on the Federal Trade...

Blue Stripes blends whimsy, functional health & sustainability to start a ‘whole cacao revolution’

20-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Cacao currently may be most prized by manufacturers and mainstream consumers for its beans to make chocolate, cocoa and cocoa butter, but the fruit and shell surrounding the bean also are packed with nutrients and potential, which famed chocolatier Oded...

Staying true to values helped SkinnyDipped secure funding, drive YOY growth of more than 6,000%

15-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Entrepreneurs desperate for capital or unsure of the best path forward for growth may be tempted to overlook dismissive or demeaning comments from potential investors, but the co-founder of the fast-growing brand SkinnyDipped warns these are huge red...

Tune into the Consumer Parents' Panel in part one of the FOOD FOR KIDS 2020 virtual summit

14-Oct-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

How are parents coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in their households when it comes to feeding their kids? Has the extra time spent at home given families more opportunity to cook and experiment with new recipes, or has the anxiety left parents scrambling...

Conagra posts strong Q1 2021 results: ‘Our business is healthy, our products are relevant, and our capabilities are strong’

01-Oct-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Conagra Brands posted stronger-than-expected Q1 2021 (13 weeks ended Aug. 30) results, which saw organic net sales increase 15% with significant growth coming from its grocery & snacks (+16%), refrigerated & frozen (+17.9%), and international...

Introducing the FOOD FOR KIDS 2020 virtual summit: From kids and the plant-based trend to dietary guidelines for infants and toddlers

29-Sep-2020 By Elaine Watson

School closures – and tentative re-openings – have compounded stress levels for families, while COVID-19-induced economic anxiety is also straining household budgets. So how can food and beverage brands come up with enticing – but affordable – recipes,...

Mars hires former IFT chief science and technology officer as new head of R&D

11-Sep-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mars Inc. has hired Dr. Maria Velissariou as its new vice president of global corporate research & development and chief science officer to lead the company's quality and food safety, scientific & regulatory affairs and R&D strategy.

Nestlé is ready to buy after 18 months of divesting brands, but it will do so cautiously, CFO says

11-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Nestlé is ready to be “much more acquisitive” now after 18 months of aggressively selling underperforming businesses and brands that did not tidily fit into the company’s new image of itself as a primarily nutrition, health and wellness business, according...

Retail strategies to support Black-owned businesses, tap into $1.5 trillion buying power of Black shoppers

09-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Retailers interested in attracting more Black shoppers, who Nielsen reports wield an annual buying power of $1.5 trillion and make more grocery trips per year than all other racial groups, need to stock and prominently highlight more products by Black-owned...

Honey Mama's closes $4.5m Series A funding round led by Amberstone Ventures

03-Sep-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Honey Mama's, a brand of truffle-like chocolate wellness bars made with whole foods merchandized in the burgeoning refrigerated bar set, has closed a $4.5m Series A round led by Amberstone Ventures, to fast track the brand to mainstream consumer...

New leader in fresh snacking? Clio Snacks closes $8m funding round and doubles revenue this year

26-Aug-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Clio Snacks -- known its for chilled, chocolate-covered Greek yogurt bars -- has closed an $8m series C fundraising round led by long-term investment partner Alliance Consumer Growth (ACG) and new investor in the brand, AF Ventures, bringing total investment...

Behave grants consumers permission to enjoy candy again with low-sugar, chef-created gummy bears

21-Aug-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Upstart candy brand Behave has entered the buzzing low-sugar gummy candy category with its line of original and sour gummy bears which tout 3g of sugar, 6g of net carbs, and 90 calories per serving.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Chocolate, cereal, and snack brands rank among Morning Consult’s 50 Most Loved Brands list

14-Aug-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Fourteen food companies made global data intelligence company Morning Consult’s 2020 50 Most Loved Brands list, which analyzed more than 150,000 consumer interviews conducted by the firm in June and July 2020.

Post Holding’s spun-off BellRing off to a rocky start with pandemic, but confident in long-term results

11-Aug-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Executives from Post Holdings and its recently spun-off active nutrition business BellRing Brands may be confident that the new food company will meet its full-year targets, but analysts on the company’s third quarter call late last week sounded dubious.

Unlocking Innovation webinar Aug. 6: Discover how to reduce your environmental impact & improve sustainability

28-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even as the pandemic continues to strain the food system and pressure manufacturers to balance increased demand with restricted supply, companies must still pursue sustainability goals, including minimizing their environmental impact and improving the...

Citizen Petition argues toddler milks threaten children’s health and pose ‘economic harm’ to families

28-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

In a Citizen’s Petition filed today, children’s health advocates are ramping up pressure on FDA to address the labeling of so-called ‘transition formulas’ or ‘toddler milks,’ which they say offer “no unique nutritional value,” threaten the health of young...

Americans need to more than halve their consumption of added sugars, says Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

15-Jul-2020 By Elaine Watson

Americans need to more than halve their consumption of added sugars, reducing average consumption from 13% of daily energy intake to just 6%, the equivalent of 30g for someone on a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet, according to the expert committee advising the...

SHIFT20: 3 ways to ‘build back better’ a food-system damaged by social inequality & coronavirus

14-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The uneven impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has underscored systemic inequalities, but it also has created an opportunity “to build back better” the food system, according to a panel of experts gathered on the opening day of the Institute of...

MCTco protein keto bars enter beauty-from-within and immunity categories

13-Jul-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

MCTco is competing in the highly-competitive snack bar category, addressing major consumer demands around protein and sugar content as well as emerging ‘beauty-from-within’ and immunity trends with its line of products containing collagen protein and...