Confectionery & Snacks

Unite sounds warning over Kraft split

Unite sounds warning over Kraft split

By Anne Bruce

Union the Unite is seeking assurances about UK jobs and production at Kraft and Cadbury’s, following the announcement that Kraft is set to split its business into two independent companies.

Retailers may spring surprise audits on suppliers

Retailers may spring surprise audits on suppliers

By Freddie Dawson and Ben Bouckley

Version 6 of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standard for Food Safety could lead to more unannounced audits being forced on manufacturers, according to a third-party certification body.

Small fortune

Small fortune

By Rick Pendrous

With accusations of misleading advertising from consumer groups Which? in the UK and Foodwatch in Germany, and bad publicity about the way its Nutella hazelnut spread has been marketed in the US, Ferrero md for UK and Ireland, Christian Walter is remarkably...

First British Sugar strikes in 30 years loom

First British Sugar strikes in 30 years loom

By Anne Bruce

Unite the Union is preparing to ballot members at four British Sugar plants on industrial action over pay, in what could lead to the first strike action at the firm in 30 years.

Zetar boss plans premium own-label push

Zetar boss plans premium own-label push

By Ben Bouckley

Zetar says its key focus over the next three years will be to drive sales of premium private label and branded products across both its confectionery and snacks divisions.

Blackstone Group realises Tangerine dream

Blackstone Group realises Tangerine dream

By Ben Bouckley

US private equity firm Blackstone Group has bought a majority stake in Blackpool-based Tangerine Confectionery, FoodManufacture.co.uk understands, while management has also reinvested in the firm.

All hands on spec

All hands on spec

By Freddie Dawson

Chocolaterie Casemir is defiantly marching to the beat of its own accordion. When most firms are automating, streamlining and cutting costs, Casemir is looking for ways to diversify revenue sources that allow it to continue making chocolate by hand and...

Stobart warns of BOGOF supply chain strain

Stobart warns of BOGOF supply chain strain

By Ben Bouckley

Transport giant Eddie Stobart has warned that the supermarket demand for two-for-one offers is placing a strain on logistics firms, and increasing the number of miles the company’s fleet runs empty.

Smaller food brands face increased own-label threat

Smaller food brands face increased own-label threat

By Ben Bouckley

Manufacturers of lower-profile food brands could fall victim to the retailer-driven trend towards more own-label products over the next 15 years, according to a new report from financial services provider Rabobank.

Kraft ceo Rosenfeld counters UK hostility

Kraft ceo Rosenfeld counters UK hostility

By Ben Bouckley

Kraft ceo Irene Rosenfeld has countered criticism of her no-show at a parliamentary select committee looking into Kraft’s takeover of Cadbury, and says she has spoken to the ''folks that really matter to me'' in the UK.

Real growth lies in retail, says Lees Foods boss

Real growth lies in retail, says Lees Foods boss

By Ben Bouckley

Despite his firm's successful push to boost foodservice sales over the past year, Lees Foods ceo Clive Miquel believes the retail sector is where the “real growth lies” , as the company looks to extend its brands into complementary product areas.

Burton's Foods revises Moreton closure plans

Burton's Foods revises Moreton closure plans

By Anne Bruce

Local MP Angela Eagle has slammed Burton's Foods as "disloyal" after it announced today that it was going ahead with closing its biscuit factory in Moreton.

Zetar counts the cost of snacking...

Zetar counts the cost of snacking...

By Ben Bouckley

Confectionery and snacks group Zetar has described the last year as a ''difficult period'' for its snacks division, as sales flatlined and commodity costs rose.

Nestlé to expand York R&D centre

Nestlé to expand York R&D centre

By Graham Holter

Nestlé has revealed to FoodManufacture.co.uk that it is planning a significant extension to its confectionery and biscuit product technology centre (PTC) in York.

Daivd Beckham: Pepsi's YouTube video of the football icon is indicative of a growing trend

Large brands boost online advertising spend

By Rick Pendrous

Major brand owners such as Coca-Cola, Mars and Unilever are increasing their marketing spend on social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to interact directly with consumers using smartphones, while small firms are also upping their...

Peter Thornton with copies of his book 'Thorntons - My Life in the Family Business'

Thorntons: far from chocolate heaven in 2011?

By Ben Bouckley

Former Thorntons chairman Peter Thornton says the firm's current woes are due to an unduly large shop chain, poorer product quality and "extremely bad" retail marketing.

Artist's impression of the new Ruskin Square development

Nestlé UK may be tempted to stay in Croydon

By Graham Holter

Nestlé UK may keep its headquarters in Croydon, despite reissuing a warning that it is "reviewing other options" outside the London borough in a bid to escape its dilapidated site by 2014.

Sizzling weather spoils Thorntons Easter

Sizzling weather spoils Thorntons Easter

Unseasonably hot Easter weather dented Thorntons sales for the crucial third quarter sales period up to April 30 2011, while the firm has predicted a drop in full-year profits.

Sweet revolution

Sweet revolution

By Rod Addy

Sugar reduction is just the start. Confectionery can now claim to deliver benefits ranging from gut health to a good night’s sleep.

Browne's the Chocolatiere hopes to score new supply deals with the likes of Harrods and Waitrose

Browne's Chocolates saved from liquidation

By Anne Bruce and Ben Bouckley

Former Harrods supplier Browne’s Chocolates has been bought out of liquidation by entrepreneurs who previously transformed a Cornish brewer, FoodManufacture.co.uk can reveal.

Haribo plans to open Leeds factory in 2013

Haribo plans to open Leeds factory in 2013

By Anne Bruce

Sweet manufacturer Haribo has revealed to FoodManufacture.co.uk that it will open a new 500,000 sq ft factory and distribution facility in Normanton near Leeds in 2013.

Storck confirms Bendicks Winchester closure

Storck confirms Bendicks Winchester closure

By Ben Bouckley

Storck announced today that it will close its Bendicks manufacturing site in Winchester and consolidate production in Germany with the loss of 84 jobs.

The Tate developer

The Tate developer

By Rod Addy

Paul Cornillon seems amazingly laid back for a man responsible for coordinating Tate & Lyle’s global development plans, or as he phrases it, “putting the 'D' in R&D”.


Faith in Christian Easter egg pays off

Faith in Christian Easter egg pays off

By Anne Bruce

The manufacturer of a 'faith based' ethical Easter egg say the product has been an overwhelming success with supermarkets and mail order clients.

Such a sight is less common on the UK high street, with sluggish gum sales throughout 2010.

Sticky times for gum in confectionery, says Keynote

By Ben Bouckley

The UK market for chewing- and bubble gum has hit a sticky patch, says research firm Key Note, with a focus from major brands such as Wrigley on mint gum marking a return to “simpler and more effective products”.

Cocoa loco

Cocoa loco

By Michelle Knott

People have been promoting the health benefits of dark chocolate and cocoa for years. But new research goes a step further, elevating cocoa beans to the status of a super fruit, rivalling blueberries, cranberries and pomegranates.

Full force of the law

Full force of the law

By Lynda Searby

January marked the end of the two-year transition period for flavouring regulation EC 1334/2008, which means firms are expected to have completed any changes necessary to comply with the new law.

Soaring commodity prices and energy costs are a major problem for the bakery sector

McGhee's liquidates Fords Bakery

By Anne Bruce

McGhee’s Bakery Group put its Fords Bakery business into liquidation on 20 March, following continued trading losses, less than a year after it bought the business from administrator KPMG.

PM sets date for Bendicks closure meeting

PM sets date for Bendicks closure meeting

By Ben Bouckley

Steve Brine MP will meet with a government minister and Storck UK representatives on March 30, to discuss the proposed closure of Winchester chocolate firm Bendicks.

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