Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Should food labels also specify activity calorie information?

Food activity labels ‘need more research’: FDF

By Michelle Perrett

Food activity labels – which specify the exercise needed to burn off the calories contained in the product – needs more research, according to trade body the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Premier's partnership with Nissin will deliver five key benefits, said the Mr Kipling manufacturer

Premier Foods latest: Nissin Foods buys 17% stake

By Michael Stones

Nissin Foods has acquired a 17.27% shareholding in Premier Foods, after the Mr Kipling manufacturer rejected a hostile takeover bid from McCormick & Company, claiming that it significantly undervalued the firm’s growth prospects.

Premier Foods has fended off a hostile takeover bid from McCormick & Company

Premier Foods fends off hostile takeover bid

By Michael Stones

Premier Foods has fended off a hostile takeover bid from McCormick & Company – because it “significantly undervalues [the manufacturer’s] growth prospects” – and agreed a partnership with Nissin Foods Holdings.

Lidl has now withdrawn some Snickers and Mars products from sale

Mars recall

Now Lidl recalls Mars and Snickers in the UK

By Michael Stones

Discount store Lidl is recalling Mars and Snickers six pack chocolate bars, on fears they may contain pieces of plastic, following the chocolate manufacturer’s recall in 55 countries.

Mars has recalled UK productsm after possible plastic contamination at its plant in the Netherlands

Mars confirms UK recall of confectionery brands

By Michael Stones

Chocolate maker Mars has confirmed it is recalling some Mars, Milky Way, Snickers and Celebrations products in the UK – as part of a food safety recall spanning 55 countries – following the discovery of plastic pieces in confectionery manufactured in...

The Mars recall later spread to the UK

Mars ‘confirms UK distribution of recalled chocolate bars’

By Michael Stones

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is probing the food safety implications of Mars Chocolate's confirmation yesterday (February 23) that batches of Mars and Snickers bars recalled in Germany, on fears of contamination with pieces of plastic, were also...

The Mars recall, sparked by fears of plastic contamination, later spread to UK products

Mars Chocolate recalls millions of bars in Germany

By Michael Stones

Millions of Mars, Milky Ways and Snicker bars have been recalled by Mars Chocolate in Germany – on fears of contamination with pieces of plastic – while the recall later widened to include UK products. 

Food manufacturers should not target competitors' workers as a means of plugging the skills gap

Skills boss sets out scale of food industry challenge

By Michael Stones

The boss of the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) set out the scale of the challenge facing the food and drink manufacturing industry at the organisation’s Food & Drink Skills Conference this week.

Nestlé is still feeling the impact of the Maggi noodles incident

Nestlé results show Maggi incident still hurts

By Laurence Gibbons

Nestlé’s still suffering from its Indian Maggi noodle recall and has lost touch with the Chinese consumer, hitting growth for the global food and drink manufacturer, according to market analysts.

Nestlé ended the sponsorship deal on fears the association may have damaged its reputation

Nestlé decision sparks sports sponsorship row

By Michael Stones

Food and drink manufacturing giant Nestlé has sparked controversy by ending its sponsorship deal with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), after the organisation became mired in both corruption and doping allegations.

It was unlikely a student would be unwrapping a free lifetime supply of Kit Kat after purchasing a defective bar

Kit Kat claim woman ‘won’t get lifetime supply’

By Laurence Gibbons

A woman who has demanded a lifetime supply of Kit Kats after purchasing a defective multipack of the biscuits was unlikely to succeed despite claiming monetary and emotional distress, according to a legal expert.

Dawn Foods: guarantees to offer the same taste quality in day five as in day one

Exclusive

Doughnuts set for five-day shelf-life revolution

By Noli Dinkovski

Doughnuts are set for a “massive leap forward” with the imminent launch of a mix that will guarantee them a five-day shelf-life, FoodManufacture.co.uk can reveal.

Sweet success: Nestlé UK & Ireland will become the first big confectionery business to source 100% certified sustainable cocoa

Nestlé reaches 100% sustainable cocoa target

By Michael Stones

Nestlé UK & Ireland claims to be the first big confectionery business in both countries to source 100% certified sustainable cocoa for its chocolate sweets and biscuits.

Not so sweet: Claim and counter claim surround Mondelēz's UK tax payments

Mondelēz hits back at critics in UK tax row

By Michael Stones

Mondelēz International has hit back at critics who argued the global food giant avoided meeting its UK tax liabilities last year, after it was revealed the business paid no corporation tax in 2014.

Sweet to sour: interest in sugary products is waning in favour of sour flavours

FIE reports

Euro consumers more interested in low sugar products

By Michael Stones

European consumers’ appetite for sugary foods is waning in favour of low-sugar products, according to new Mintel research revealed at the Food Ingredients Europe show in Paris.

Nestlé will focus on the energy used to manufacture its KitKat bars

Nestlé forms energy reduction partnership with Sheffield Hallam

By Laurence Gibbons

Food and drink manufacturers could benefit from improved resource efficiency and cost savings across the supply chain as a result of a partnership between Nestlé UK and Ireland and Sheffield Hallam University’s National Centre for Excellence for Food...

More than 40,000 people have learnt how chocolate is made at Wickedly Welsh Chocolate this summer

Chocolate factory welcomes 40,000 visitors

By Laurence Gibbons

Pembrokeshire-based chocolate manufacturer Wickedly Welsh Chocolate welcomed more than 40,000 people into its factory over the summer holidays, the firm has revealed.

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.

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.

Poundland sales topped £1bn for the first time

Poundland sales top £1bn for first time

By Michael Stones

Discount retailer Poundland has posted sales up by 11.8% to top £1bn for the first time, in full-year results to March 29 but warned trading in the first half of this financial year will be subdued.

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.

Nick Clegg won praise for his manifesto's commitment to EU membership

Liberal Democrat manifesto to ‘finish the job’

By Michael Stones

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg launched his party’s manifesto on Wednesday (April 15) claiming that it built on a record of policies delivered in national government.

Business leaders gave a mixed reaction to Labour's manifesto

Election 2015

Labour plans draw mixed reaction from business

By Michael Stones

Business leaders have given a mixed response to Labour’s manifesto published on Monday (April 13), with praise for its commitment to EU membership but criticism of its curb on zero-hours contracts.

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...