Breaking News on Food Marketing and Retailing

Online food sales: ‘perfect’ for M&S – but not yet

11-May-2012 - Online food sales are a “very big opportunity” for Marks & Spencer (M&S) but realising that potential may be several years off, warns financial specialists Shore Capital.

British bakers rise to baby gender cake opportunity

30-Apr-2012 - Trendy parents-to-be could open a new niche market for British bakers by commissioning cakes for so-called gender reveal parties, held to reveal the sex of their unborn baby to family and friends. 

Finnish confectioner Fazer sets 2017 target for sustainable cocoa

25-Apr-2012 - Finnish company Fazer has set a target to certify its entire cocoa supply by 2017 to ensure its cocoa comes from traceable sources and is free from the worst forms of child labour.

Natural emulsifiers ‘not good enough’ to work on their own, says formulation expert

17-Apr-2012 - Natural ingredients that claim to have emulsifying properties do not, as yet, have good enough functionality to be able to use them in most products, according to one formulation expert.

Big packs, big flavours and nuts: confectionery product development trends

10-Apr-2012 - Larger pack sizes, products with nuts and spicy and exotic fruit flavours are featuring heavily in new product development in the confectionery sector, according to Leatherhead Food Research.

Functional health ingredients fail to take off in confectionery - Leatherhead

06-Apr-2012 - Functional health ingredients have failed to move into mainstream confectionery and have not penetrated the market as expected, according to a report from Leatherhead Food Research.

Easter With Analysts

Easter consumers opt for comfort brands amid economic uncertainty, says analyst

05-Apr-2012 - New product launches for Easter have soared on last year, but consumers are favouring familiar brands in their Easter confectionery choices, according to an analyst at Mintel.

Nestle sees consumer trend for online with e-commerce chocolate launch for Spain

23-Mar-2012 - Nestle has launched an e-commerce platform for Spanish customers to order personalised chocolates online.

Weak economies and cash-strapped consumers see 2012 dairy sales stutter: Rabobank

22-Mar-2012 - Dairy volume sales growth 'remained elusive' in key western markets during the early months of 2012, according to Rabobank, due to weak western economies and expensive end prices deterring cash-strapped consumers.

Krones suggests EU trend towards juices and milk-based mixed drinks with natural fruit content

19-Mar-2012 - German beverage machinery supplier Krones says that interest in premium juices and milk-based mixed drinks with natural fruit pieces is growing in key European markets, in the wake of its recent Twin-Flow concept launch.

Campbell Soup bows to consumer pressure as it reveals bisphenol A phase out underway

07-Mar-2012 - Campbell Soup Company has confirmed it is in the process phasing out the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in all its can linings over consumer fears about the controversial substance.

UK organics sees “disappointing” slump amid global upturn

05-Mar-2012 - Sales of UK organics dropped by 3.7% in 2011 amid a global market upturn, exasperated by difficult trading conditions but caused by a lack of investment and innovation in this sector, according to a report by the Soil Association.

High cocoa and single origin fail to boost consumer expectations, says study

29-Feb-2012 - Higher cocoa percentages and single origin cocoa claims on dark chocolate labels fail to improve consumer expectations, according to a study.

Dietary salt intake linked to gastric cancer risk

06-Feb-2012 - A new study investigating a link between high salt intake and risk of gastric cancers could add to increasing pressure for industry-wide sodium reduction, researchers have said.

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Stevia and mint flavours a winning combination, says Cargill consultant

06-Feb-2012 - Mint confectionery products containing the sweetener stevia could appeal to EU consumers, but each country has its own preference, according to a consultant to Cargill

Bread brands can seize upon changing UK breakfast habits - Mintel

26-Jan-2012 - Bread manufacturers can take advantage of changing breakfast habits among young consumers in the UK by expanding portfolios to include sweet baked goods, according to an analyst.

Market opportunities in medicated confectionery – Leatherhead

26-Jan-2012 - Medicated confectionery such as cough and throat sweets has enjoyed an upsurge in recent months and there is scope for new products to enter the category, according to Leatherhead Food Research.

World organic food sales shine, but dairy in doldrums

25-Jan-2012 - The overall global market for organic food and drink is in good shape but dairy sales in the sector fell during the recession, due to high 2008 milk prices in particular, according to Euromonitor International.

10 key trends for chocolate products

23-Jan-2012 - Ethically responsible companies catering to health-conscious consumers with clean-label premium products are likeliest to win, according to a market analyst.

PRODULCE head looking for healthy innovation

23-Jan-2012 - The Spanish confectionery sector must innovate on a health awareness platform, according to the head of the recently formed national confectionery association.

UK frozen yogurt market to soar in 2012

18-Jan-2012 - The use of innovative flavourings and a consumer drive for healthier food is expected to contribute to major growth in the UK frozen yogurt market, according to industry experts.

Bakery firms can seize on Scandinavian low-carb trend, says analyst

12-Jan-2012 - Bakery manufacturers can capitalise on an emerging Scandinavian dietary trend with new low-carb offerings, according to an analyst from Euromonitor International.

Six New Year’s resolutions for food manufacturers

03-Jan-2012 - Have you made any New Year’s resolutions yet? Perhaps you have broken a few already? We asked key industry figures and opinion-formers to make three resolutions on behalf of UK food and drink manufacturing.

‘Some growth potential’ for gum and fair trade chocolate in Belgium – Leatherhead

19-Dec-2011 - Any growth in the mature Belgian confectionery market lies in fair trade chocolate and chewing gum, according to an analyst at Leatherhead Food Research.