EU
UK’s Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls hails revival in EU trading with latest Danish order
UK traditional sweet brand Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls has reported a is enjoying a return to European trading with its first reported order from Denmark in two years amid wider interest from other EU countries, writes Neill Barston.
Business news, Ingredients, New products, Processing, Regulatory
Tony’s Chocolonely sends petition to EU Justice Commissioner on cocoa supply chain due diligence
Dozens of thousands of consumers have added their name to a key petition from premium ethical chocolate company Tony’s Chocolonely, calling on the EU Commissioner for Justice to deliver due diligence in cocoa supply chains, writes Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
UK chocolate exports to EU drop 36% over two years amid Brexit and Covid-19 pressures
Export values of chocolate from the UK to the EU have fallen significantly from 2019 to 2021, with figures down 36.9% (to £99 million), as the wider food and drink sector markets trade to the European bloc drops by a total of £2 billion in the past two years amid Brexit and Covid-19 impacts, reports Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Regulatory, Sustainability
BDSI confectionery group backs passing of German due diligence supply chain laws
Germany’s BDSI confectionery sector trade organisation has welcomed the country’s Bundestag parliament finally passing a national supply chain due diligence law, with major potential positives for the cocoa sector, writes Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
Nestlé and Barry Callebaut join signatories calling for EU action on deforestation
Major confectionery industry groups Nestlé and Barry Callebaut have joined a total of 11 leading food sector players backing calls for EU action to stem “an alarming rate” of deforestation, which has been linked to commercial commodity supply chains, reports Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
EU delegation meets online with Ghana officials over cocoa sustainability
The EU has continued web-based discussions with Ghana’s Cocobod cocoa organisation and the country’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, on delivering sustainability within the sector, writes Neill Barston.
ECA and CAOBISCO host key session on cocoa standards
The European Cocoa Association (ECA) and the EU’s confectionery trade body, CAOBISCO, have delivered a key webinar on food safety within Latin America markets, reports Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
UK’s global chocolate exports buck trend, increasing slightly for 2020 despite pandemic conditions
The latest annual report from the UK’s Food and Drink Federation has found that global exports of chocolate in 2020 bucked a broader downturn, recording 1.1% growth to £786 million, writes Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
Fairtrade urges EU to back living incomes in West African cocoa supply chains
Fairtrade has urged the European Commission and governments across the continent to recognise living incomes in upcoming human rights due diligence regulation for the region’s chocolate and cocoa sector, reports Neill Barston.
CIUS European sugar users’ group backs calls to maintain existing EU market trading systems
CIUS, the committee of European Sugar Users has placed its support behind the EU Commission and Council in arguing against any changes to the present operation of the region’s sugar markets, reports Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
Impact of Brexit and Covid felt as confectionery exports nosedive
The UK government’s latest figures on British chocolate exports to the EU reducing by 68% in January due largely to Brexit policies makes for extremely sobering reading for all involved.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
FDF offers key warning as UK’s EU confectionery exports slump
The UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has expressed concern over figures revealing British export sales fell overall by 75% in January 2021, with confectionery among the worst segments affected, reports Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
EU and US deliver cocoa sustainability funding for Ghana and Ivory Coast
Key multi-million funding towards delivering sustainable cocoa production in core markets of Ivory Coast and Ghana has been put forward by the EU and US-based Department of Labour, reports Neill Barston.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Regulatory, Sustainability
Spotlight: How confectionery businesses can navigate Brexit rules of origin challenges
The thorny issue of Brexit has created notable trading complexities and issues for businesses both in the UK and across the continent. Kimberly Carey Coffin, Global Technical Director at Lloyd’s Register food certification organisation explores some of the key matters to consider
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability