Blogs
Confectionery sector looks to a more settled summer for retail revival
That’s it! Easter’s done and dusted for another year. It’s too soon to know whether Easter 2022 will be a ‘normal’ one, free of restrictions, but we can always hope.
Bakery, Business, Candy & Gum, Chocolate, Functional & Free-from, Packaging, Savoury Snacks, Seasonal
Easter confectionery hopes may be fuelled by growth in online retailing
As communities around the world settle down to celebrate Easter this weekend around the world, it’s certain that there will be plenty of opportunity to reflect on the monumental events of the past year.
Bakery, Business, Candy & Gum, Chocolate, Functional & Free-from, Seasonal
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.
Thorntons fate of store closures poses further high street challenges
One of the biggest breaking news items of this week was undoubtedly the decision to close all of Thorntons stores in the UK amid ongoing pandemic trading challenges that is set to affect a total of 600 jobs in the long-established business.
Get involved in this summer’s key virtual confectionery industry showcase
With just several months to go until our World Confectionery Conference takes place in its re-imagined virtual format, interest surrounding the event is continuing to gather momentum as the countdown begins.
Bakery, Business, Candy & Gum, Chocolate, Functional & Free-from, Packaging, Savoury Snacks
Confectionery takes its place at the tip of a potential robotic retail revolution
Amid all the challenging headlines of the past year, it’s something of a relief to encounter some slightly more upbeat news that greeted us with the novel confectionery innovation of a US pilot of a robot serving customers in a New York store.
Major issues remain to ensure the cocoa sector’s future sustainability
While it’s fair to say that mainstream global news media rarely ventures into often remote seeming matters surrounding the cocoa sector and the wider confectionery industry it serves, this past week in particular, has witnessed a major spotlight being placed upon it.
Cadbury Dairy Milk production return to the UK offers highlight amid wider sector tests
For British-based followers of the confectionery world, the breaking news that Cadbury would be bringing back production to the UK was indeed something to be celebrated.
Rise of plant-based confectionery and snacks could herald the year of ‘healthier’ options
It’s looking very much as if 2021 could well be ‘the year of plant-based ranges’ across the food sector, and confectionery is clearly no exception to that, as strides continue to be made with new product launches.
Bakery, Candy & Gum, Chocolate, Functional & Free-from, Savoury Snacks
Sustainability remains top of the industry’s agenda
Two of the standout developments for the confectionery sector in recent days have concerned very differing areas of sustainability – Tony’s Chocolonely delivering its series of ‘look-alike’ chocolate bars, and Nestle’s global first in moving from plastic to paper packaging.
The rise of smaller confectionery ranges as a major consumer choice could be on the horizon
This week’s blog follows on from my last post, in placing the thorny issue of shrinkflation under the microscope, whereby the industry has come under scrutiny for unexpectedly reducing product size amid rising production costs without a corresponding cut in retail prices.
Shrinkflation product reduction continues with Nutella’s reduced jar sizes
The concept of ‘shrinkflation’ where products are reduced in pack size with no corresponding reduction in retail price is one that’s been with us for many years, much to the general dismay of consumers.
Bakery, Business, Candy & Gum, Chocolate, Packaging, Savoury Snacks
11th hour Brexit deal offers a degree of business certainty for UK and EU
Finally, just a day before the end of 2020, a Brexit trade deal was eventually sealed between Britain and the EU over its future trading relations.
Consumer demand for ethically produced confectionery continues to grow
Findings from a Cargill survey this month that showed 70% of consumers in Europe are willing to pay more for sustainably source chocolate ranges is something of a landmark moment.