Chocolate

Natural Products Expo East

Chocxo innovates at the intersection of indulgence and lower sugar to help consumers balance physical, mental wellness goals

28-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Hershey leans into Halloween, increased capacity to overcome challenges in second quarter

28-Jul-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Financial results

Nestlé improves organic sales outlook after strong first-half results

27-Jul-2023 By Anthony Myers

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.

Sustainabilty

Love Cocoa & H!P Chocolate secure B Corp Certification

10-Jul-2023 By Anthony Myers

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.

Seasonal

American consumers celebrate National Candy Month with less sugar

15-Jun-2023 By Anthony Myers

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.

Sweets & Snacks Expo

Ferrero North America builds US manufacturing facility, expanding chocolate production for the first time outside of Europe

06-Jun-2023 By Deniz Ataman

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...

Sweets & Snacks Expo

Unwrapping consumers' candy and snack preferences across generations

31-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

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...

Sustainability

Barry Callebaut ‘sharpens’ its Forever Chocolate sustainability plan

10-May-2023 By Anthony Myers

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.

Financial

Mars, Incorporated completes $500 million Sustainability Bond to help tackle global environmental threats

27-Apr-2023 By Anthony Myers

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...

Easter 2023

Candy expected to take up a large chunk of Easter spend, US research reveals

06-Apr-2023 By Anthony Myers

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...

Financial results

Barry Callebaut lowers sales volume guidance after ‘flat to modest’ growth

05-Apr-2023 By Anthony Myers

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...

Easter 2023

Is there a right way to eat a chocolate Easter bunny? Confectionery industry looks forward to a bumper weekend

03-Apr-2023 By Anthony Myers

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 expands US confection lead with ‘occasion-based’ innovation, personalized marketing

30-Mar-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

3D-printed chocolate and cream cheese reveals links between taste and texture

27-Mar-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

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...

Mondelez sees payoff from focus on chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks categories

14-Mar-2023 By Lauren Nardella

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.

Sustainability

Sweet news for chocolate lovers - and cocoa farmers - as more products added to Fairtrade

13-Mar-2023 By Anthony Myers

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...

SOTIC 2023

NCA expected to call for greater collaboration and workplace awareness at its annual State of the Industry Conference

02-Mar-2023 By Anthony Myers

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).

Supply chain

Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa regulator expects exporters to honour contracts

22-Feb-2023 By Anthony Myers

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.

Financial results

KitKat achieves single-digit growth for Nestlé after price rises hit profits

16-Feb-2023 By Anthony Myers

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...

Sustainabilty

Chocolate processors Baronie & Cémoi join Tony’s Open Chain to improve its cocoa traceability

08-Feb-2023 By Anthony Myers

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’

Hershey doubles down on advertising to offset impact from price hikes, reinforce consumer connection

03-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Sustainability

Fairtrade launches new map to identify human rights and environmental risks in cocoa and other commodities

26-Jan-2023 By Anthony Myers

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’.

Health

Dark chocolate producers urged to act on ‘harmful’ levels of cadmium

25-Jan-2023 By Anthony Myers

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...

Mars returns for Super Bowl LVII ad spot with M&M’S

05-Jan-2023 By Anthony Myers

Mars has announced that the brand is kicking off 2023 with a return to the Super Bowl - and a specially commissioned ad for M&M'S.

M&As

Mars snaps up premium whole-fruit snacking brand Trü Frü

21-Dec-2022 By Anthony Myers

Mars, Incorporated has acquired better-for-you, whole-fruit snacking brand Trü Frü for an undisclosed amount, the confectionery giant has announced.

Growth in non-chocolate candy is outpacing all other confectionery market segments, says NCA report

21-Dec-2022 By Anthony Myers

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...'

Lab-grown cocoa? Celleste Bio backs plant cell culture to solve ‘chocolate supply crisis’

21-Dec-2022 By Shane Starling

Israeli start-up Celleste Bio is building momentum to disrupt the chocolate supply chain… by growing cocoa in a lab.

Mondelēz International offloads gum business as it doubles down on core snacking categories

20-Dec-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The move advances its strategy to accelerate growth and focus portfolio on attractive chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks categories.

Health

NCA issues statement on Consumer Reports study into heavy metals in chocolate and cocoa

19-Dec-2022 By Anthony Myers

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...

Seasonal

Hershey covers all candy bases with Christmas heat map for consumers

15-Dec-2022 By Anthony Myers

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...

Ferrero snaps up major US ice cream brands

08-Dec-2022 By Anthony Myers

The Ferrero Group has bought Wells Enterprises, maker of ice cream brands Blue Bunny and Bomb Pop, the two parties have announced.

Seasonal

Candy canes all round: Americans set to spread Christmas holiday cheer with confectionery

07-Dec-2022 By Anthony Myers

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.

Seasonal

Hershey renews partnership with The Grinch to bring festive joy this season

28-Nov-2022 By Anthony Myers

Hershey has announced its holiday lineup for winter 2022 with classic festive favourites including Grinch-themed Hershey’s KISSES and Reese’s Peanut Butter Trees returning once again, and brand-new treats such as Hershey’s Hot Chocolate Bombs.

Hershey braces for elasticity moderation even as it predicts ongoing strong sales through Q4

07-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While consumer spending on groceries has yet to dramatically slow in the face of rising prices to offset inflation, some CPG companies – including Hershey – are bracing for an eventual pushback, even as they continue to pass additional costs through to...

Mondelēz International to invest $600m to scale cocoa sustainability program

26-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mondelēz International is investing an additional $600m by 2030 in its cocoa sustainability program, Cocoa Life, for a total investment of $1bn since the start of the program 10 years ago.

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.

Market research

US consumers look for taste, flavour and utility in their confectionery buys

23-Jun-2022 By Anthony Myers

Taste and flavour are the product characteristics highly desired by chocolate consumers in North America when buying chocolates, according to the latest research by Clootrack.

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...

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...

FDA denies request to exempt tagatose from added sugar labeling in decision slammed as ‘contradictory and illogical’

20-May-2022 By Elaine Watson

The FDA has denied a request to exempt rare sugar tagatose from the total and added sugars declaration on the Nutrition Facts panel, three years after granting the same request for rare sugar allulose, a decision petitioner Bonumose has slammed as “contradictory...

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...

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.

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,...

Godiva: Self-care, pandemic-strain fuel surge in Valentine’s Day chocolate sales as licensing deals reinforce year-long demand

10-Feb-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Historically people have celebrated Valentine’s Day by sharing sweets with others they love, but the pandemic-fueled rise of ‘self-care’ means more people also will treat themselves this year – helping push confection sales leading up to the holiday beyond...

Tru Fru plans to cover one billion pieces of fruit in chocolate in 2022

03-Feb-2022 By Asia Sherman

Sweet treat innovator Tru Fru has increased production capacity by 400% and set big goals for the coming year.

Taza Chocolate celebrates milestone, shines light on industry

02-Feb-2022 By Asia Sherman

Taza Chocolate is celebrating the release of one million pounds of finished goods and its best year since it set out in 2005 to make “stone ground chocolate that is seriously good and fair for all."