economy

Inflation drop welcomed by industry, though cocoa and confectionery product prices remain impacted

Today’s news that UK inflation within the food and drink sector has fallen to 1.5% is something that the industry is clearly welcoming amid a time of ongoing operating challenges within supply chains in terms of broader operating costs, including sustained spikes in the price of ingredient sourcing.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing, Sustainability

Global confectionery sector seeks a kick-start after ongoing supply challenges dent some international markets

There’s no getting away from the fact that the past couple of years in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic have served up a significant raft of challenges for the confectionery, snacks and bakery sectors on an international level.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing

UK confectionery businesses continue to face major tests amid economic uncertainty

We’re only a couple of weeks into January 2024, and it seems that both global and domestic events here in the UK have been particularly newsworthy across many spheres of industry, and the confectionery sector is in no small way exempt from that.

Business news, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability

Galaxy bars become latest chocolate series to be hit by consumer ‘shrinkflation’ costs

Consumers have reacted with concern at the latest round of ‘shrinkflation’ to hit the confectionery market, with Galaxy bars being reduced in size, despite an upturn in prices, amid ongoing inflation pressures that have prompted manufacturers into action, writes Neill Barston.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Sustainability

Market challenges arising from the pandemic, Brexit and Ukraine war impacted growth, says FDF report

Anticipated further market uncertainty from Brexit, the pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, have been highlighted as holding back many industry manufacturers in the UK, including within confectionery and snacks categories, according to the latest State of Industry report from the Food and Drink Federation, reports Neill Barston.

Business news, Ingredients, New products, Regulatory, Sustainability

Further government delays on banning two-for-one product deals set to impact nation’s health

There is little doubting the fact that a renewed surge in demand for better-for-you product options, including within confectionery and snacks ranges, appears to be showing no sign of slowing any time soon, as shoppers become ever more savvy about their dietary intake.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, New products, Processing, Regulatory

UK government ban delays on multi-buy packs greeted with major concern from health campaigners

A UK government decision to further push back its childhood obesity strategy by an additional two years in banning ‘two for one’ promotional deals on product ranges including confectionery and snacks has drawn key concerns raised from national health campaigners and charities, reports Neill Barston.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability

UK food and drink manufacturing endures challenging period

The latest industry results for UK manufacturing within the food and drink industries, which includes snacks, bakery and confectionery markets, showing that jobs figures for the quarter are down is a concerning factor indeed.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Sustainability

Troubling times in Germany, as BDSI reveals extent of country’s confectionery crisis

Emerging news from Germany that businesses in the confectionery sector face the prospect of crippling 750 per cent energy bill rises next year is indeed a particularly disturbing development.

Business news, Ingredients, Sustainability

Confectionery sector faces turbulence from key inflationary pressures

With market turbulence continuing to dominate many headlines around the world, latest analysis from GlobalData revealing that the chocolate and wider confectionery market remains notably vulnerable to inflationary pressures is a concerning prospect for the sector.

Business news, Regulatory, Sustainability

Upturn in Germany’s confectionery sector hindered by ongoing major sector challenges

The latest assessment by German trade body BDSI on the nation’s confectionery sector showing a slight increase in sales against an array of business challenges is undoubtedly to be cautiously welcomed as a barometer for wider market conditions.

Business news, Ingredients, New products, Regulatory, Sustainability

International Cocoa Organisation welcomes Colombia into its membership

The International Cocoa Organisation has confirmed that it has completed a two-year process to appoint Colombia as a full member country, as it continues its mission to support sustainability within the sector, writes Neill Barston.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Regulatory, Sustainability

Food and Drink Federation offers cautious welcome to Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s latest UK budget

The UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has offered a cautious welcome to chancellor Rishi Sunak’s autumn budget today, which promised support for many areas of the economy with a spending round totalling £150 billion, reports Neill Barston.

Business news, Food safety, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability

Focus: While the confectionery sector remains resilient, barriers to industry recovery still exist

Despite confectionery markets having proved relatively resilient amid the pandemic, notable barriers to recovery remain, as reporter Nicholas Wallace writes

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability

Pressure on manufacturing a key headache for UK chancellor Rishi Sunak’s latest budget

With the ongoing coronavirus continuing to affect markets around the world, the fact job losses, uncertainty and business disruption remain a factor in the industry and all areas of the economy, is unfortunately not unsurprising.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Packaging, Processing, Sustainability

Focus: Exploring a year in the life of a new cocoa farm in Ghana

Editor Neill Barston speaks to Marc Jean-Baptiste (left of pic, below), a high school teacher from Boston, US, on establishing a project in Eastern Ghana, working with a small team of five, who have operated a new cocoa farm for the past year. He discusses the state of the cocoa sector in the West African nation, as well as plans for the upcoming living differential payments being unveiled for farmers from this autumn in a drive for greater sustainability within the key cocoa sector.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Regulatory, Sustainability