neill barston
Global festive retail marketing goes into annual overdrive
With Christmas around the corner, the marketing push from key manufacturers has understandably gone into overdrive, as key confectionery businesses attempt to make up for some of the considerable lost opportunities during the pandemic.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, New products, Packaging, Regulatory
Market focus: Sugars and sweeteners within confectionery show major development strides
International markets for sugar and sweeteners within the confectionery sector is one that is undergoing considerable development, as Neill Barston reports.
Business news, Ingredients, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
Manufacturers set the spooky tone for global Halloween celebrations
With Halloween just under a couple of weeks away, the signs are looking strong for the confectionery sector as far as sales of sweets and snacks are concerned.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Processing, Sustainability
The rise of Shrinkflation continues to make its mark as manufacturers feel the strain
Alas, it seems it’s back in town, like the equivalent of the party guest that nobody really wants to see, “shrinkflation” of product portion sizes is on the horizon once more amid major pandemic, Covid-19 and post Brexit pressure on manufacturers.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Regulatory, Sustainability
Will chocolate companies answer the urgent call to match Fairtrade prices amid cocoa crisis?
As cocoa sustainability remains a core issue for the chocolate sector, the major underlying problems of child labour, deforestation and fair payment of farmers are central to the future viability of the industry.
Keeping an eye on the competition poses its challenges
With consumer goods and products worth billions in sales around the world, the right to protect distinctive branding or designs for ranges is highly understandable, whatever sector of industry you operate in.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Regulatory, Sustainability
Ferrero’s Francesco Tramontin named as a World Confectionery Conference keynote speaker
Ferrero’s Francesco Tramontin is set to join the 2022 edition of the World Confectionery Conference as a keynote speaker for our major live event in Brussels, Belgium.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing
UK supply chain crisis continues to impact across business sectors
Mounting concerns regarding supply chain shortages across the food and drink sector, including the confectionery, snacks and bakery markets within the UK remains particularly concerning.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Sustainability
Key global confectionery deals herald improving markets
While the past 18 months have proved particularly challenging for many businesses across the confectionery sector, major investments are continuing to be made by some of the sector’s biggest players, which bodes well for the overall market.
Germany’s confectionery sector feels the pinch of Brexit just as equally as the UK
The latest warning from Germany’s BDSI confectionery sector organisation that its exports remain notably challenged due to Brexit offer further evidence that the matter is far from settled across Europe.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Regulatory, Sustainability
Technology-led solutions may hold the key to reshaping the chocolate confectionery sector
So much for August being the traditional quiet period when the vast majority of the confectionery sector appears to wind down for holiday season – these continue to feel like unprecedented times on a number of fronts.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Processing
Science and technology combining for key solutions for the global cocoa sector
This week has seen Cargill confirm a potentially gamechanging research project with US agricultural business Aerofarms, a specialist in vertical indoor farming, on cocoa research to assist creating more resilient strains of crops.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
A welcome return for the humble Opal Fruit is fuelled by consumer nostalgia
A short but hopefully relatively sweet column for you this week in just offering a warm welcome to an old favourite in the confectionery world – the return, albeit slight revival, of classic Opal Fruit sweets.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Regulatory, Sustainability
A fine confectionery legacy left by the late Sara Jayne Stanes
This week’s column is dedicated to the late Sara Jayne Stanes, founder of the UK’s Academy of Chocolate, who had been a great friend to Confectionery Production and major ambassador for the industry.