Confectionery & Snacks

Consumers are becoming bored with 'dull' everyday food, says Young

Reignite senses with exciting new products

By Nicholas Robinson

Food manufacturers must work harder to excite “bored” consumers and find ways to engage their senses, master chocolatier Paul A Young said following his involvement in Tate Britain’s Sensorium exhibition in London.

New Cadbury production line opened by business secretary

Business boss opens Cadbury line with a promise

By Michael Stones

Business secretary Sajid Javid has opened Mondelēz International’s new Cadbury production line with a pledge that government wants to make the Midlands “an engine for growth” for the UK economy.

'Nothing new about sugar' in the SACN report, industry leaders say

SACN report

Industry: SACN report says ‘nothing new’

By Nicholas Robinson

There’s “nothing new about sugar” in the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition's (SACN’s) report on carbohydrates, but more needs to be done to increase fibre intake, food and drink manufacturing leaders have said.

Not so sweet: Nestlé could face strike action over its pension reform plans

Nestlé denies ‘pension betrayal’ in unions row

By Michael Stones

Nestlé has denied union claims of “pension betrayal”, after revealing plans to close its defined benefit pension scheme and replace it with a defined contribution scheme.

High sugary foods are being partially blamed for the UK's obesity epidemic

AoS ‘wrong about fruit-based snacks’ – nutritionists

By Nicholas Robinson

Action on Sugar’s (AoS’s) latest research into fruit-based snacks masks useful nutritional information, confusing parents and potentially stopping children from having healthier treats, nutritionists have warned.

Food and drink start-ups have a lot to consider

Food start-ups share top tips

By Laurence Gibbons

Food and drink start-ups should have a strong brand identity, continuously improve their product and research both the market and consumer response to their product.

Hart has decided to leave Thorntons at the end of its financial year

Thorntons boss to stand down

By Laurence Gibbons

Thorntons ceo Jonathan Hart will stand down from his role at the end of the chocolate manufacturer’s financial year on June 27 2015.

£50M has been spent at United Biscuits' Harlesden biscuit factory and more investment across the group is planned

UB plans further multi-million pound investments

By Nicholas Robinson

United Biscuits (UB) will boost its overall output by pumping millions of pounds into its UK manufacturing facilities, following an initial £50M investment at its Harlesden site.

Small-scale support: small food firm bosses have signed a letter supporting Conservative policy. Or did they?

Election 2015

Small food firm bosses 'back Conservative policy'

By Michael Stones

Small food and drink firm bosses – including a dairy, a butchery and a confectionery manufacturer – have signed a letter of support urging the Conservatives be “given the chance to finish what they started”. But the letter’s authenticity was later challenged...

England stars Cahill, Rooney and Oxlade-Camberlain with the prize winning balls

Mars aims to score with millions of football fans

By Laurence Gibbons

Chocolate manufacturer Mars has launched its “biggest ever” football giveaway in a bid to score big with millions of football fans and boost sales of its chocolate bar.

The Labour manifesto pledged a long-term strategy for the food sector

Election 2015

Labour’s manifesto: food industry implications

By Michael Stones

Labour pledged to expand the role of the supermarket watchdog to protect food producers, create better paid jobs and apprenticeships across the rural economy, while creating a “world-leading food, farm and fisheries sector” in its manifesto released yesterday...

Instagram offers a platform for food and drink firms to connect with millions of consumers

Use emotions to connect with millions on Instagram

By Laurence Gibbons

Food and drink manufacturers should use emotions to connect their brands with a growing community of consumers on social media site Instagram, according to the site’s boss.

Hotel Chocolat in not so sweet allergen withdrawal

Hotel Chocolat withdraws products on allergen fears

By Michael Stones

Posh chocolate manufacturer and retailer Hotel Chocolat has withdrawn its ‘Milk Free Milk’ chocolates due to fears they may contain traces of milk, which were not mentioned on the product label.

WHO issued a strong recommendation for sugar to form less than 10% of an individual’s daily energy intake

Food firms ‘sow seeds of doubt’ in WHO

By Rod Addy

World Health Organisation (WHO) sugar guidance is “disappointing” and suggests food firms have persuaded it to take a softer line on consumption, claims pressure group Action on Sugar (AoS).

Chaucer Foods makes a range of freeze-dried fruit and vegetable inclusions

Chaucer Foods to create 25 jobs in Hull

By Rod Addy

Chaucer Foods aims to create 25 jobs in Hull as the company adds a third production line there and looks to expand into gluten-free bakery items by 2016.

Cocoa prices shot up at the tail end of last year

Thorntons takes £7.7M hit as retailers reduce orders

By Rod Addy

Thorntons took a £7.7M hit to UK commercial sales in the first half of its financial year after two major accounts significantly reduced orders, although international sales partially offset the damage.

Mondelēz makes a range of confectionery products at sites across the world

Mondelēz to cut 200 jobs in Ireland

By Rod Addy

Mondelēz International is restructuring its operations in Ireland and has confirmed plans to slash 200 jobs there as a result.

Research indicates cocoa flavanols can improve brain health

Cocoa improves cognitive health

By Nicholas Robinson

Cocoa flavanols can play an important role in maintaining cognitive health in ageing consumers, a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has claimed.

Ashbury makes own-label and branded confectionery for international customers

Duc d’O owner saves 236 Ashbury Chocolates jobs

By Rod Addy

Baronie UK has saved 236 jobs at Ashbury Chocolates, the own-label and branded confectionery manufacturer based in Corby, Northamptonshire, after buying the company out of administration.

Food businesses named and shamed for low welfare practices

Low animal welfare firms named and shamed

By Nicholas Robinson

Mars, Müller, Mondelēz International and 2 Sisters Food Group are four of 21 companies named and shamed as having very low or no animal welfare priorities by Compassion in World Farming (CiWF).

Chocolate ambassador Josephine Fairley warned major corporations often make mistakes when they acquire small brands

What big firms do wrong when buying small ones

By Rick Pendrous

One of the biggest failings that big companies make when they acquire smaller brands is to attempt to “value optimise” and cut costs, according to Green & Black’s co-founder Josephine Fairley.

Aldi said the contamination was an 'isolated incident'

German source for Aldi salmonella chocs

By Rod Addy

The chocolates contaminated by salmonella, which Aldi recalled at the end of last week, came from a German manufacturer, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed.

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