Hershey’s CEO Michele Buck recently said the US snacking market, especially the categories the company participates in – confections, salty snacks and meat snacks – remain robust.
German candy producer Katjes International, the international investment holding of the Katjes Group, has posted a 19.7% revenue increase in 2017, reaching €268.7m ($328.7m) compared to €224.5m in 2016 ($274.6m).
Windsor Fudge Kitchen has created a limited edition Lemon & Elderflower whipping cream fudge to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19.
Happy Mallows family-firm, established in 2017, by entrepreneur Sam Humphrey is launching a £3k Kickstarter campaign in June to expand its gourmet marshmallow brand.
Susquehanna International Group (SIG) said the robust chocolate industry will likely turn Hershey’s business around later this year even though the company is among ‘the worst performing CPG stocks in the last three months.’
RPC Bebo has partnered with German tool producer Marbacha to develop a thermoformed screw closure system for on-the-go snacks such as ice cream, snacks and sweets.
Cult lollipop brand DeBeukelaer has signed a licence agreement with Chupa Chups to fill its refreshment sticks with two liquid strawberry and apple flavors, covered in dark chocolate.
‘Concerns about processed sugar and the impending sugar tax means today’s consumers are looking for healthier and natural alternatives across all categories, including confectionery.
Nutella maker Ferrero has completed the acquisition of Nestlé’s US confectionery business, including more than 20 of its brands such as Butterfinger, BabyRuth, Crunch, and SweeTarts.
Malaysian supplier PureCircle must provide more data to prove the safety of both minor steviol glycosides and glucosylated stevia, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said in two separate opinions.
Claims such as ‘no added sugar’ on foods containing sweeteners are commonplace and an important part of healthy branding - but are they technically illegal under EU law? We put the question to a food law expert.
Bazooka Candy Brands has developed its first interlocking gummies made by a 3D mold called Match-Ems, as the US gummy business is now ‘on fire,’ said its senior director of marketing and innovation, Nicole Rivera.
Mintel’s latest report shows global launches of chocolate products described as ‘bites’ and ‘thins’ have grown 50% and 48% respectively over the past five years.
Nestlé will launch Milkybar Wowsomes exclusively in the UK and Ireland in the coming weeks with 30% less sugar than other chocolate products in its portfolio.
Mondelēz will close two manufacturing plants in Brazil (Bauru and Piracicaba, São Paulo) by the end of 2018, and transfer their production to two other facilities in the country.
Ferrero Group has closed its fiscal year 2017 with a consolidated turnover of €10.5bn ($12.96bn), an increase of 1.5% compared to the previous year at €10.3bn ($12.72bn).
Responding to a new report from Greenpeace, confectionery giant Hershey has named its palm oil suppliers, and has revealed that it has mapped almost 100% of palm oil supply chain to the mills, and approximately 14% to the plantations.
Nestlé has relaunched orange Smarties hexatubes in the UK and Ireland for spring after its orange Smarties giant tube received ‘overwhelming consumer response’ last year.
Three major confectioners will carry a redesigned ‘Be treatwise’ label on certain products in the UK to encourage moderate consumption. Separately Nestlé is cutting sugar in its UK confectionery range.
Hershey is interested in acquiring businesses with ‘strong revenue growth in the $100bn snack wheel,’ said Hershey’s CFO Patricia Little at the recent CAGNY conference in Florida.
Inaction is not an option for confectionery brands if they want to survive in an age of increased regulation on sugared products, writes Neil Davidson, managing director of brand agency HeyHuman.
Snack industry experts have long suspected Mars Wrigley’s acquiring a minority stake from KIND Snacks last year was its first move to eventually swallow one of the trendiest snack bar makers in the US.
Nestlé has posted flat organic sales growth in confectionery in fiscal 2017, but saw an uptick for premium brands such as Les Recettes De L’Atelier and sales in direct-to-consumer KitKat stores.
UK confectioner Bon Bon Buddies (BBB), 80% of whose business is in licensing, has unveiled a branded range of sour candies with new packaging under its Brain Blasterz range.
Premium chocolate manufacturer Russell Stover stepped out on the chilly Valentine’s morning in Chicago, giving away over 5,000 heart-shaped boxes of chocolate.
