Confectionery

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.

MP worried by lack of clarity on Cadbury jobs

MP worried by lack of clarity on Cadbury jobs

By Ben Bouckley

A member of the House of Commons select committee that questioned Kraft executives on the Cadbury takeover this morning has told FoodManufacture.co.uk that he is concerned by the company's failure to commit to safeguarding UK jobs beyond 2012.

Orders flow in for dairy-free chocolate eggs

Orders flow in for dairy-free chocolate eggs

By Lorraine Mullaney

By Lorraine Mullaney
Demand for Moo Free’s dairy-free chocolate Easter eggs is so great that the manufacturer has doubled the size of the chocolate room at its Reading factory, taken on new staff and plans to move to new premises later this year.

Benoit Testard to take helm at United Biscuits

Benoit Testard to take helm at United Biscuits

By Elaine Watson

United Biscuits has appointed UK md Benoit Testard as its new group chief executive as current boss executive chairman David Fish moves into a non-executive role.

Now the rapid way to detect melamine


Now the rapid way to detect melamine


Food testing laboratory Eurofins UK has developed a new rapid approach for the testing of melamine contamination in chocolate, with same day results available by special request.

Peppersmith founders Mike Stevens (left) and Dan Shrimpton

Peppersmith plans March move into mints

By Elaine Watson

Peppersmith - the premium gum firm created by former Innocent Drinks executives Mike Stevens and Dan Shrimpton – is venturing into premium mints in the spring.

Polyol suppliers are smiling about positive EFSA sugar-free gum opinions

Roquette chews on positive EFSA gum opinions

By Shane Starling

French supplier Roquette is hailing the potential of polyols to boost dental health, following recent article 14 positive opinions for sugar-free gum from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Kraft's Bob Hagan takes the helm at RSSL

Kraft's Bob Hagan takes the helm at RSSL

By Elaine Watson

Dr Bob Hagan – who heads the global analytical network at Kraft Foods – has been appointed as the new md of Reading Scientific Services (RSSL). He replaces Kay O'Donnell.

Mars: An R&D problem shared is a problem halved...

Mars: An R&D problem shared is a problem halved...

By Elaine Watson

Mars, a private company once famed for its secrecy, is cranking up efforts to engage with external collaborators via the launch of a new open innovation website, in which it will invite potential partners to help it solve its research and development...

Casual use of 'hand-made'undermines artisan producers

Casual use of 'hand-made'undermines artisan producers

By Frederick Dawson and Elaine Watson

Artisan confectionery manufacturers are being undermined by a lack of clarity regarding the use of the word ‘hand-made’ on labels, according to chocolate maker Chocolaterie Casemir.

Tax snatchers stall innovation as government tackles debt

Tax snatchers stall innovation as government tackles debt

By Rod Addy


New product development is being disrupted by HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC’s) increased efforts to claw back value added tax (VAT) on food as the government tackles UK debt, according to lawyers and manufacturers.

Tunnock's staff walk out as pay dispute escalates

Tunnock's staff walk out as pay dispute escalates

By Elaine Watson

More than 360 staff out of 500 employed at the Tunnock's caramel wafer and teacake factory in Uddingston, Glasgow, downed tools yesterday and will strike again next Tuesday.

sugar cane

British Sugar in cane processing trial at Newark

By Elaine Watson

Beet sugar giant British Sugar could produce another 120,000t of sugar a year from refineries in Wissington, Newark and Bury St Edmunds by introducing raw cane sugar inputs to its refining process, the firm has revealed.

Peppersmith co-founders Mike Stevens and Dan Shrimpton

By gum, I think they've got it!

Ben & Jerry, Green & Black, and, er, Mike & Dan? If Peppersmith gum co-founders Mike Stevens and Dan Shrimpton are not quite household names just yet, give it a few years and they might just turn out to be one of grocery’s more interesting...

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