Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

I.T.S celebrates its expansion after acquiring its second site

News

Newbury flavour house secures second site

By Bethan Grylls

Following rapid year-on-year growth, flavour expert I.T.S is set to expand its capabilities as it invests into a new site close to its existing premises in Berkshire.

Mintec breaks down the latest changes in confectionery ingredients prices. Image: Getty, fcafotodigital

Exclusive report

Confectionery ingredients price report

By Gwen Ridler

In this exclusive report for Food Manufacture, Mintec explores the changes in confectionery ingredients prices over the past year.

DuelFuel's founder warns functional food innovators of alleged inconsistences in VAT rules, which has 'crippled' his business

Long read

What makes a cake a cake?

By Bethan Grylls

Food Manufacture speaks with DuelFuel's founder Tim Davies after his business has been forced to shut up shop, following what he calls 'an incorrect' decision and a potentially 'dangerous precedent' from HMRC around his product's...

The panel at Small Beer's recent event, featuring (third from left and moving right) Emma Loisel, Felix James and James Cadbury

Short read

Can one business make a difference?

By Bethan Grylls

Food Manufacture looks at whether start-ups with strong ethical and sustainable foundations can make meaningful and positive change in the way things are done.

Two thirds of Brits believe Easter eggs contain too much packaging. Credit: Getty/Pollyana Ventura

News

69% of Brits say Easter egg packaging is excessive

By Bethan Grylls

While Britain is a nation of chocolate lovers, two thirds of consumers believe chocolate eggs comprise too much packaging – yet despite concerns over sustainability and inflation, we’ll still be dipping into our pockets for the sweet stuff.

Food Manufacture unwraps the Easter 2024 market. Credit: Getty/Bruno Netto

Long read

Easter 2024: Trends, new product launches and cocoa prices

By Bethan Grylls

Food Manufacture cracks open Easter NPD, relaying the key trends for 2024 – from experimental flavours, to flat eggs, and free-from innovation – and looks at how unique weather events are impacting Brits’ pockets.

Danone, Synergy Flavors and LoSalt speak to Food Manufacture about reformulation. Credit: Top - Danone/Bottom - Synergy Flavors

Feature

Food and drink reformulation: the story so far

By Bethan Grylls

Accelerated by the health-conscious consumer and new UK rules, food and drink producers have been working hard to reformulate their recipes. But what have been the obstacles in their way, is there any benefit to these tweaks, and will it help curb obesity?

What's the secret to HARIBO's success? Credit: Getty/deepblue4you

Short read

Standing the test of time

By Bethan Grylls

Food Manufacture interviews Phil Murphy, HARBIO’s UK head of marketing, to find out how the sweets brand has maintained relevance since it rolled out UK production more than 50 years ago.

Dawn's Mojito doughnut: Taking formats and flavours from different categories was originally championed in smaller bakeries and is now big news across the mainstream bakery and desserts category too

Feature

How Gen Z is influencing bakery trends

By Bethan Grylls

Born between 1996 and 2020, Gen Z is a key consumer to lock-down. Here’s how their experiences have influenced the bakery category.

Tracey Hughes is no stranger to challenging times, taking on the role as MD of Henley Bridge shortly before the Covid pandemic hit

Me & My Team

Surviving hard times in business

By Tracey Hughes

Tracey Hughes, managing director of the sweet treat sourcing and suppling specialist, Henley Bridge, discusses how she has been leading a team through these tough times we’ve all felt.

Healthy indulgence continues to be a buzz-phrase in bakery

Digital feature: long read

Bakery & confectionery trends 2022

By Alyson Magee

Pressure to make products healthier for shoppers may have temporarily eased as prices have soared, but that doesn't mean processors are easing off reformulation or innovation, says Alyson Magee.

Barry Callebaut claims to be the largest manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products

Barry Callebaut factory in Moreton faces closure

By Rod Addy

Chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has begun consulting with employees over the proposed closure of its Moreton factory in Merseyside, which employs 45 full-time staff.

Allan, with Macphie chairman Alastair Macphie

Macphie appoints sustainability manager

By Rod Addy

Food ingredients manufacturer Macphie has appointed Kirsty Allan to the newly created post of sustainability manager to drive forward its environmental agenda.

Bakery & confectionery trends: good for shoppers and the planet

Digital feature: bakery & confectionery ingredients

Bakery & confectionery trends: good for shoppers and the planet

By Michelle Perrett

The advent of COVID-19 in the UK sparked a major shift in the outlook of consumers: home baking surged and issues such as health and sustainability assumed greater importance.

Orchard Valley Foods Group rebrands to OV

Orchard Valley Foods Group rebrands to OV

By Jerome Smail

Confection, ingredients and food decoration supplier Orchard Valley Foods Group has unveiled a new corporate identity with a rebrand to OV.

Nestlé's entire KitKat range, including KitKat V, is made from 100% sustainable cocoa

Vegan KitKat to launch in UK

By Rod Addy

Nestlé has announced the launch of KitKat V, the much-anticipated vegan version of its original KitKat chocolate wafer snack bar, later this year.

The partnership with Herza allows Meadow Foods to extend its ingredients portfolio

Meadow Foods forges partnership with Herza Schokolade

By Rod Addy

Dairy ingredients group Meadow Foods has forged a strategic partnership with Germany's Herza Schokolade enabling it to distribute Herza’s range of products to manufacturing customers in the UK.

Only 54% of consumers are aware that grains and seeds can be incorporated in bread, Puratos says

2020 FOOD TRENDS

Promote ‘power ingredients’ to meet health agenda

By Noli Dinkovski

Food and drink manufacturers should look to promote ‘power ingredients’ to capitalise on the growing health agenda, a bakery and chocolate ingredients firm has claimed.

NIC is to move into a new depot in Lincoln

NIC to create jobs at new depot

By Gwen Ridler

Ice cream ingredients manufacturer and distributor NIC is to open a central UK depot in Lincolnshire, which will create 10 new jobs.

Fox's claimed the cookies market is in strong growth

Fox’s Biscuits launches new indulgent cookie

By Helen Gilbert

2 Sisters-owned Fox’s Biscuits has extended its Chunkie Cookie range with what it claims is its most “indulgent flavour” yet, as it seeks to capitalise on the burgeoning market.

Stephanie Steege (left) and Kavita Karnik discuss the impact of EU law on food innovation

EU laws hinder food innovation

By Gwen Ridler

Laws defining the ingredients that can legally be used in food production are lagging behind innovations made by the industry, according to a panel of experts.

Keebler and Famous Amos have been sold to the Ferrero Group by Kellogg's

Kellogg's sells US cookie and cracker brands

By Helen Gilbert

The Kellogg Company (Kellogg's) has sold US cookie and cracker brands Keebler and Famous Amos to Italy’s Ferrero Group, enabling it to focus on its core breakfast cereals and savoury snacks offer.

The Belgian company specialises in creating ingredients for bakery, patisserie and chocolate products

DEVELOPMENT HUB

How Puratos puts innovation centre stage

By Noli Dinkovski

With innovation centres around the world, Puratos is on the frontline of new product development. So, what are its latest findings?