Confectionery

Nom Bites has been acquired by The Serious Sweets Company

News

The Serious Sweets Company acquires Nom Bites

By Gwen Ridler

The Serious Sweets Company (SSC) has acquired the share capital and branded interests of gluten-free sweet treats maker Nom Bites and the marshmallow brand Lexi’s for an undisclosed sum.

Tracey Hughes is no stranger to challenging times, taking on the role as MD of Henley Bridge shortly before the Covid pandemic hit

Me & My Team

Surviving hard times in business

By Tracey Hughes

Tracey Hughes, managing director of the sweet treat sourcing and suppling specialist, Henley Bridge, discusses how she has been leading a team through these tough times we’ve all felt.

Funds raised by Fudge Kitchen have helped to donate 3,000 meals to FareShare

News

Fudge Kitchen raises funds to donate 3,000 meals

By Gwen Ridler

Sales of Fudge Kitchen’s limited-edition Birthday Cake fudge and drinking fudge have helped raise funds to donate more than 3,000 meals to food redistribution charity FareShare.

Tony's Chocolonely's additional €20m of funding will support its work to end slavery in the cocoa supply chain

News

Tony’s Chocolonely secures €20m funding from shareholders

By Gwen Ridler

Confectionery brand Tony’s Chocolonely has secured an additional €20m (£17.1m) of funding from its existing shareholders to accelerate its growth in multiple markets and expand the reach of its ethical bean sourcing company.

The blonde chocolate trends makes its way into non-HFSS with the launch of Nestle's new dessert

News

Milkybar gold chocolate desserts join non-HFSS train

By Gwen Ridler

A new contender has joined the growing ranks of non-high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) sweet treats, with the reveal of Lactalis Nestlé Chilled Desserts UK’s Milkybar Gold White Chocolate Crème Dessert.

Searches for vegan chocolate dropped in the past year, according to Ashbury

News

Demand for vegan chocolate drops this easter

By Gwen Ridler

The demand for vegan chocolate has dropped by almost a quarter (23%) year-on-year this Easter, according to research by food label consultant Ashbury.

UK food and drink exports hit record highs in 2021

News

UK food exports reach record highs in 2022

By Gwen Ridler

UK food and drink exports reached record highs in 2022, with most categories exceeding pre-pandemic levels, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Oterra red striped gelatin desserts

Feature

Food and beverage colour trends for 2023

By Bethan Grylls

From TikTok to wheat prices, Bethan Grylls explores the influences for this year’s colour trends, the most sought-after tones, and the events which are triggering changes in food and drink.

Ronald Kers appointed Valeo CEO as Aryzta appoints a new head of NPD

News

Senior appointments at Valeo Foods and Aryzta

By Gwen Ridler

Valeo Foods and Aryzta have announced senior appointments this week, featured here in this round-up of people on the move in the food and drink industry.

What lessons can be learned from two seperate outbreaks of salmonella in two chocolate factories in 2022?

Long read

Salmonella spp. in chocolate: Lessons 2022 taught us

By Bethan Grylls

The usual foe of Salmonella spp. in chocolate reared its head again in 2022, causing two notable outbreaks. So what lessons can we take from this to ensure safer food in the future?

Pictured: Love Cocoa & HiP Founder James Cadbury

News

Love Cocoa secures £4.25m investment

By Gwen Ridler

London-based chocolate firm Love Cocoa has secured a £4.25m investment to support the continued growth of the business.

A taskforce met to plan for the future of Nestle Fadon, set to close next year

Taskforce to discuss future of Nestlé Fawdon

By Gwen Ridler

Newcastle City Council and Nestlé have formed a taskforce to plan the future of the manufacturer’s Fawdon confectionery factory, set to close at the end of 2023.

Automated future for Nestlé’s supply chain

Automated future for Nestlé’s supply chain

By Gwen Ridler

In this exclusive video interview, GXO digital model realisation & continuous improvement leader Alex Stinton talks about the role his company’s East Midlands site plays in Nestlé’s supply chain and how it has been designed from the ground up to incorporate...

The ECDC will investigate any links between raw materials and the ongoing salmonella outbreak

Salmonella outbreak: potential link to raw materials

By Gwen Ridler

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is to investigate a potential link between contaminated raw material and the multi-country outbreak of salmonella connected to Ferrero’s Belgian chocolate factory.

Moo Free has installed new equipment to help produce its latest sweet treats range

Moo Free invests in new panning equipment

By Gwen Ridler

Free-from chocolate manufacturer Moo Free has invested in new machinery at its Devon factory to support the launch of three new snacking products.

Counterfeit Wonka chocolate bars have been spotted on store shelves in the UK

FSA issues fake Wonka chocolate warning

By Gwen Ridler

UK and Ireland food safety authorities have warned members of the public to be on the lookout for counterfeit Wonka chocolate bars being sold in shops and online across the country.

Dairy Milk share bars have shrunk my 10% to help combat rises input costs

Mondelez reduces the size of Dairy Milk bars

By Gwen Ridler

Mondelez has shrunk the size of its Cadbury Dairy Milk sharing bars by 10% while keeping the cost the same for consumers, blaming a spike in costs associated with the production of chocolate.

GMB Union members have voted in favour of strike action at the Valeo Foods plant in York

Valeo pay dispute sparks vote for strike action

By Gwen Ridler

GMB Union members at the Valeo Foods plant in York – home to confectionery brands Fox’s Glacier Mints, Mint Humbugs and Poppets – have voted in favour of strike action after a dispute over pay.

The former Philips Avent facility (pictured) will be converted into a chocolate factory

GCB cocoa to build new UK chocolate factory

By Gwen Ridler

Malaysian-owned cocoa manufacturer Guan Chong Berhad (GCB) has contracted Clegg Food Projects to convert the former Philips Avent facility in Glemsford, Suffolk into a ‘world-class’ cocoa and chocolate production factory.

Mellinals and Zoomers are deamnding plant-based options from food firms

Millennials and Zoomers demand plant-based options

By Gwen Ridler

Millennials and Zoomers (Generation Z) expect food brands to have a plant-based option and are more prepared to pay more to get it, according to chocolate brand Barry Callebaut.

Moo Free has secured £900k in funding to help expand and rebrand

Moo Free secures £900k funding package

By Gwen Ridler

Devon-based plant-based chocolate manufacturer Moo Free has secured a £900,000 funding package from Santander UK, to support its expansion plans.

Meatless Farm, Nim's Fruit Crisps and Verdino Foods were just some of the recent plant-based launches

Plant-based new product development round-up

By Gwen Ridler

From meat-free chicken burgers to air-dried ingredients, ‘World first’ confectionery launches to vegan friendly brioche buns, we cover the latest in plant-based new product development from food manufacturers.

Spotlight

Chief executive Chris Ormrod will continue to head up the business. Credit: Cakesmiths Cakesmiths to become part of rebranded Onore Food Group The impacted batch of stuffing mix has now been taken out of circulation. Credit: Getty / DronG Tesco recalls stuffing mix because of possible presence of moths The Food and drink industry is the four fastest adopter of AI tech in the UK. Image: Getty, Da-Kuk Food industry fourth fastest adopter of AI tech in UK Cold store workers have previously suffered from serious injuries such as frostbite. Credit: Getty / bluecinema New guidance issued to protect food workers in extreme cold conditions The manufacturer installed solar panels at its facility as part of the project. Credit: Beacon Foods Beacon Foods completes £6m expansion project, installs 1,428 solar panels

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