While there is no indication the world is not about to run out of chocolate any day soon, there are concerns from manufacturers and suppliers that the current high prices and shortage of cocoa beans will push up costs further and, in some cases, restrict...
Confectionery sales in the United States hit $48 billion in 2023 (up from $42.6bn in 2022 ), according to the National Confectioners Association’s 2024 State of Treating report, which was released at its Cconference in Miami this week.
Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s largest chocolate and cocoa supplier, has announced it is cutting approximately 2,500 manufacturing and administration jobs across its global operations.
Bakery ingredient supplier Dawn Foods launched a European-style chocolate buttercream that is ready to use for bakers, Allison Hornev, senior director marketing core portfolio
& innovation, told FoodNavigator-USA.
Less is apparently more when it comes to the amount of sugar used in the creation of the perfect chocolate bar. So will manufacturers reduce the amount of sugar they use in the making of this sweet treat and will consumers welcome the change?
This Valentine's Day, consumers are predicted to spend a record amount on sweet treats from chocolates to gummy candies, as the confectionery industry navigates supply-chain challenges and increasing demands for better-for-you indulgences.
Love may be in the air this Valentine's Day – but so is the eye-watering price of cocoa on the market, making the cost of the key ingredient in chocolate more expensive than ever, according to analysts.
Justin’s launch of its Dark Chocolate Candy Pieces continues the brand’s emphasis on offering clean confectionery ingredients that are USDA-certified organic, use Rainforest Alliance cocoa and are Non-GMO Project Verified, aligning with the brand’s corporate...
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the eight confectionery industry professionals selected for its 2024 Future Leadership Programme.
Consumers are increasingly focusing on their health without compromising on taste, which is why healthy indulgence has become a serious trend. Millennials (Gen Y) and Centennials (Gen Z) are looking for foods and beverages that are tasty, good for you,...
Spurred on by a drive to pursue positive impact and leave the corporate world, four founders came together to launch their Mediterranean cacao-free chocolate brand.
As an early adopter of the “triple bottom line” framework, the premium confection company Endangered Species Chocolate has been “doing well by doing good” for 30 years by responsibly sourcing ingredients, supporting fair trade, prioritizing sustainability...
Large chocolate and cocoa companies, including multinationals including Mars, Ferrero, Mondelēz, Hershey, Nestlé, and traders like Barry Callebaut and Cargill, are not paying prices that allow cocoa farmers to earn a living. This is the conclusion of...
Dark chocolate “can be contaminated with lead and cadmium, two heavy metals linked to serious health problems,” Consumer Reports warned this week, referencing its 2022 test of 23 chocolate brands; while the National Confectioner Association reaffirms...
The American confectionery industry is looking forward to increasing sales this Halloween after a survey revealed 98% of Americans will be offering treats to young visitors knocking at their doors.
Sugar has emerged as public enemy No. 1 among consumers and FDA is looking for sugar reduction strategies at the behest of the White House – and yet, most Americans still want moments of indulgence with many people justifying them as much-needed support...
While recent price hikes may be reinforcing sales of Hershey’s confections and snacks, they are taking a toll on how much consumers buy – a dynamic compounded by inventory constraints and promotional shifts that executives optimistically project will...
Nestlé has reported better-than-expected first-half organic sales in its half-year results for 2023 and said it improved its full-year organic sales outlook after raising prices to cope with higher production costs.
London-based sustainable chocolate brand Love Cocoa’s mission to drive positive change within the chocolate industry has received an added boost after recognition as a certified B Corporation, achieving an overall B Impact Score of 88.3.
Halfway through the National Confectioners Association’s National Candy Month campaign and new data reveals 47% of consumers are seeking out ‘healthy’ candy options to lower their sugar intake.
The company’s manufacturing plant in Bloomington, Ill.n will feature a chocolate processing facility and a Kinder Bueno production line. The plant is expected to strengthen the company’s presence in the US, while showcasing its diverse portfolio, Hugh...
Despite inflationary pressures, consumers at all life stages continue to treat themselves both in-store and online with candy and snacks, Acosta Group's Kathy Risch shares in this first story in the two part series about consumers' candy and...
Barry Callebaut Group has announced significant changes to its Forever Chocolate sustainability programme adding additional targets and sharpening existing ones as it looks to make sustainable chocolate the norm beyond 2025.
The new $500 million Sustainability Bond offering will help Mars fund projects that contribute to a more sustainable future, and represents another milestone in the company’s journey to meeting its science-based targets set as part of Mars’ Sustainable...
US Consumers plan to spend a collective $24 billion on Easter this year, up from $20.8 billion in 2022 and the previous record high of $21.7 billion in 2020, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights...
In news over-shadowed by the shock resignation of CEO Peter Boone, Barry Callebaut announced sales volumes in the six months ending 28 February fell 2.9% to 1.13 million tonnes and has lowered its sales volume guidance as inflationary pressures continue...
A new survey commissioned by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) reveals 84% of Americans say they plan to celebrate the 2023 Easter season by sharing or gifting some kind of confectionery treat.
Hershey is gaining market share in the US confection market while its top competitors fall farther back by replacing its old playbook of innovating and marketing to masses with a more targeted “occasion-based” approach to product development and “mass...
Using 3D-printed food, researchers have found it's possible to change the way we taste by the way food is structured. 3D-printing a structure of chocolate and cream cheese, they found that the order the two foods were printed in, which determined...
Consumer demand for snacks continues to increase, and Mondelez International sees itself as well-positioned to not only meet those needs but increase its market share in the process.
Strong consumer demand for affordable, sustainable products will drive the Fairtrade market in 2023, the organisation said after a successful awareness campaign in the UK brought ethically sourced products, such as chocolate, bananas and coffee, into...
Senior figures from US confectionery are set to gather in Miami this weekend for its annual State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC), hosted by the National Confectioners Association (NCA).
Conseil du Café-Cacao (CCC), Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa regulator, has issued a statement that it expects the country’s cocoa exporters to fulfill their contracts despite supply chain issues at ports.
Nestlé has reported its net profit fell to CHF 16.9 billion ($18.33 billion) in its full year results for 2022, with sales increasing to CHF 94.4 billion ($102.38 billion), missing forecasts for CHF 95.02 billion ($103.05 billion), despite price increases...
Tony’s Open Chain, an initiative by Tony’s Chocolonely that invites other chocolate manufacturers to ramp up sustainability efforts in their own supply chains, has announced it is partnering with chocolate processor Baronie & Cémoi.
‘Chocolate and salty snacks rank a two of the top three resilient treats that consumers are not willing to forgo’
Sweets and snacks giant Hershey will double down on advertising and production capacity for its fastest growing brands, including Reese’s and Skinny Pop, in the coming year to help offset price elasticity and meet consumer demand, which executives say...
In a statement, Fairtrade said: ‘Risk assessment and collaboration with farmers and workers are cornerstones of sustainable supply chains and essential for evolving due diligence requirements’.
Consumer Reports, the independent, non-profit member organisation that allegedly tested and discovered harmful levels of cadmium and other harmful heavy metals in some chocolate products, has urged the producers to commit by Valentine's Day to reduce...
As 2022 draws to close on what has been a challenging year for many industries, chocolate and candy continues to buck the trend in the US, according to a new report by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) that reveals non-chocolate candy is a...
'Cocoa used to be in a fruit on a tree. Through technology we make it in a cell mass in a bottle...'
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has issued a statement on the findings of a consumer report released in the United States that claims to have found dangerous amounts of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in chocolate from popular brands including...
American candy lovers can now discover what Christmas tradition is most popular in their state with Hershey’s holiday tradition heat map and then use the candy pairing guide to make sure they’re stocking up on the right iconic sweets to help make holiday...
As Americans start to plan their winter holidays, chocolate and candy companies are set to meet the demand for special treats with news that half of consumers plan to celebrate the season by gifting confectionery products.
