Breaking News on the Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector

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Suppliers

Mondelēz starts UK manufacture of Oreos

10-May-2013 - Mondelēz International opened its first UK production line for the manufacture of Oreo biscuits in Sheffield today (May 10).

Caramel product set to ‘revolutionise chocolate market’

03-May-2013 - Cargill claims to be revolutionising the chocolate market with a caramel offering that is the “fourth type of chocolate” alongside milk, white and dark.

Feature

Change of heart

02-Apr-2013 - A joined up approach to research means cocoa flavanols are poised to become the next big heart health ingredient, writes Lynda Searby

ADM shakes up structure

02-Apr-2013 - ADM Cocoa has restructured its organisation into five key regions and business units as it looks to enhance the level of service and support offered to customers by its global cocoa and chocolate team.

News in brief

Nestlé recalls Kit Kat Chunky bars after contamination

25-Mar-2013 - Nestlé has apologised to its customers and recalled some of its Chunky Kit Kat after seven people found pieces of plastic in the bars.

Isomalt 'beets' sugar stability

04-Mar-2013 - Beneo's Isomalt can successfully replace the commonly used polyol mannitol in chewing gum, offering confectionery producers an attractive commercial alternative which maintains the gum's shape, chewability and texture.

News in brief

Thorntons to close 40 stores to focus on multi-channel sales growth

25-Feb-2013 - Confectionery manufacturer Thorntons plans to close a further 40 stores in this financial year, as it continues to focus on “significant growth” in multiple-channel sales via supermarkets and Thorntons Direct online.

News in brief

Sweet manufacturer prosecuted after worker’s hand crushed

22-Feb-2013 - A sweet manufacturer has been ordered to pay £6,375 after a worker’s hand was crushed when he tried to clear a jammed machine.

Cocoa range targets Middle East

07-Feb-2013 - Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) will be showcasing the latest additions to its deZaan range of chocolate and cocoa products at this month's Gulfood 2013 in Dubai.

Nestlé launches smartphone nutritional label scanning

01-Feb-2013 - Food giant Nestlé has chosen the UK for the global launch of its new digital scanning system, designed to provide customers with smartphone access to information about the nutritional profile and environmental and social impacts of its products.

Thorntons' sales up but firm misses out on online sales boom

16-Jan-2013 - Thorntons missed out on the Christmas online shopping boom due to the late deployment of its new website and operational issues that “had a significant impact on sales in the period”, new figures reveal.

Bristol couple sell shop to set up chocolate factory

14-Jan-2013 - Bristol couple Ian and Ruth Yard sold their food retail outlet and invested the £250,000 in setting up their first factory manufacturing Ooh! Chocolata chocolate bars.

Growing demand for own-label fudge creates 26 jobs in Cornwall

08-Jan-2013 - A family owned confectionery manufacturer is creating 26 new jobs in Cornwall to meet increased demand for its own-label chocolate and fudge products.

Nestlé claims KitKat legal scalp in chocolate war with Cadbury

03-Jan-2013 - Nestlé has won the latest legal spat in its chocolate war with Cadbury after it stopped its rival from copying the shape of its KitKat fingers.

Feature

Cult classics

02-Jan-2013 - Lynda Searby goes back to the future to explore the retro confectionery revival

Opinion

Labelling, obesity and the Titanic's deckchairs

04-Dec-2012 - In recent weeks, the discussions have all been about food labelling in general and traffic lights in particular. Deja vu pervades.

Nestlé boosts confectionery R&D with technology centre

21-Nov-2012 - Global food giant Nestlé is aiming to boost confectionery research and development with the inauguration of its newly extended Product Technology Centre (PTC) for confectionery in York.

Are cake pops the new cup cakes?

31-Oct-2012 - A US-themed stand at a London Coffee Festival inspired a Welsh bakery to launch US-style chocolate cake pops for the UK's coffee shops and retail outlets.

Nestlé boosts Fairtrade by certifying 800M 2-finger Kit Kat bars

26-Oct-2012 - Fairtrade certification for two-finger Kit Kat bars will double Nestlé UK & Ireland’s commitment to the ethical sourcing brand from January 2013.

Opinion

Cadbury wins Nestlé colour purple row but what next?

15-Oct-2012 - Cadbury has recently been successful in extending the trademark protection for its purple colour, despite spirited resistance by Nestlé, writes Christopher Pett, consultant at Dehns Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys. But what are the implications of the decision? 

Chocolate control with infra-red

02-Oct-2012 - A 9kW carbon infra-red heating system from Heraeus Noblelight is helping to ensure consistent chocolate quality while reducing production line downtime at OP Chocolate's South Wales factory.

News in brief

Banbury Barry Callebaut workers call off strikes

27-Sep-2012 - Unite union members at chocolate maker Barry Callebaut’s Banbury site in Oxfordshire have cancelled plans for strikes later this week after agreeing a pay deal with the firm.

Nestlé faces union legal action over women workers in HQ move row

27-Sep-2012 - Nestlé UK is being threatened with legal action by the GMB union over the fate of low-paid catering workers affected by its move to new headquarters.

Barry Callebaut rejects ‘paltry pay offer’ claim after strikes

25-Sep-2012 - Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has rejected claims by Unite the union of making “a paltry pay offer”, after more than 100 members of the union staged two one-day strikes on September 22 and 24 at the firm’s Banbury site in Oxfordshire.

Thorntons suffers from savvy shoppers and weak footfall

12-Sep-2012 - Sales savvy shoppers and weak footfall on the high streets contributed to a drop in sales and profits at chocolate retailer Thorntons.

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