Latest confectionery news and analysis articles 
Plenty to chew over in chocolate, candy and gum
UK: "Hybrid" front-of-pack labels to be unveiled tomorrow
18 June 2013
The UK government is set to launch the planned "hybrid" front-of-pack label - including traffic light symbols - tomorrow (18 June).
US: Arway Confections to buy Grove Confectionery Co.
18 June 2013
US chocolate firm Arway Confections has entered into an agreement to acquire Long Grove Confectionery Co. of Illinois.
just-food's research round-up: Dessert innovation trends, chocolate in emerging markets
18 June 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes innovation trends in ice cream and desserts, chocolate in emerging markets and savoury snacks in Europe.
AUS/NZ: Ministers put forward front-of-pack "health star" labels
17 June 2013
Australia and New Zealand have set out plans to introduce a front-of-pack "health star" rating system for packaged foods on sale in the countries.
Best bits: Nestle China boss espouses benefits of thinking local
17 June 2013
To succeed in emerging markets, you have to think - and act - locally. That was the central message from just-food's interview with the boss of Nestle's business in Greater China, Roland Decorvet.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
17 June 2013
The latest just-food interview saw the boss of Nestle's business in Greater China discuss the food giant's strategy in the market and why he believed the world's largest food manufacturer had the edge on its rivals in the region. It was a week of a number of notable pieces of M&A, including Canadian retailer Sobeys' move to buy Safeway Inc's business in Canada and JBS's deal to acquire Seara Brasil from local meat rival Marfrig.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
17 June 2013
This week, just-food spoke with the CEO of Nestle Greater China, Roland Decorvet, who went into detail about the company's strategy in China and the challenges it faces there. We also garnered analysts' thoughts on Amazon's plans for its US grocery business and Carrefour's prospects for the African market. Elsewhere, JBS announced a deal to buy domestic poultry business Seara Brasil, Sobeys bought Safeway's Canadian operations, and B&G Foods snapped up Pirate Brands.
just-food's research round-up: Global biscuit industry, French cheese market
14 June 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes a global biscuit industry guide, a China health food industry report, and the cheese market in France.
The just-food interview part two: Nestle "best placed" to meet Chinese challenge
13 June 2013
Nestle is witnessing dynamic growth in China thanks to a combination of M&A and organic growth. As we discovered in part one of this two part interview, regional chief Roland Decorvet attributes much of this success to Nestle's use of both local and global brands. But operating in China is not without its challenges. Katy Askew caught up with Decorvet to find out more about why he believes Nestle is best-placed of all the multinationals to succeed in China.
The just-food interview part one: Nestle China CEO sees dynamic growth
13 June 2013
The potential offered by the Chinese market is nothing new. And nor is Nestle's presence in the country. The world's largest food group started trading in Hong Kong in 1874 and opened its first sales office on the mainland in 1908. In recent years Nestle has stepped up the pace with the development of a distinctive model it believes will drive expansion. In part one of the just-food interview, Roland Decorvet, chairman and CEO of Nestle Greater China, spoke to Katy Askew about the company's strategy in the market.
GERMANY: Halloren buys 50% of Belgium's Bouchard Daskalidès
13 June 2013
German chocolate maker Halloren has acquired a 50% stake in Belgian private-label chocolate manufacturer Bouchard Daskalidès.
INDIA: Mars launches "eggless" Snickers for veggies
13 June 2013
Mars has developed a Snickers bar containing no eggs for vegetarians in the Indian market.
UK: ADM cocoa plant gets sustainable palm oil certification
13 June 2013
Archer Daniels Midland is to use segregated sustainable palm oil for products made at its cocoa ingredients plant in the UK.
MOROCCO/LEBANON: Mondelez consolidates production, closes two factories
12 June 2013
Mondelez International has confirmed plans to close two factories, in Lebanon and Morocco, as it looks to streamline its gum production base in the region.
The week ahead: Sainsbury's & Smithfield results; international meat, poultry, seafood expos
10 June 2013
A quiet week for financial updates as results season winds down, with Diamond Foods, Sainsbury's and Smithfield preparing to issue updates. Trade shows will see food companies setting out their wares in various continents from North America to Africa.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
10 June 2013
UK retailer Tesco last week published its latest trading update that the City suggested showed it had lost momentum and was facing challenges at home and abroad. Elsewhere, a fire at a poultry facility in China took the lives of nearly 120 workers. just-food also published a management briefing, which took at look at the global cereal market.
Editor's choice: The highlights on just-food last week
10 June 2013
A tragic fire in a Chinese poultry facility highlighted continued concerns over safety standards in emerging markets last week. The just-food briefing looked at the need to innovate to prevent breakfast cereal sales going soggy, insight that was swiftly followed by the news that Kellogg is launching a number of breakfast bar and drink products in response to changing consumption patterns. Meanwhile, chocolate giants Nestle and Mars were accused of price fixing in Canada. Here are the highlights on just-food this week.
CANADA: Nestle, Mars accused of price fixing
7 June 2013
Confectionery giants Nestle and Mars have been charged by Canada's Competition Bureau for alleged criminal conspiracy to fix the prices of chocolate products in the country.
UK: Horsemeat saga prompts government review into food system
5 June 2013
The UK government has launched a review into the country's "food system" in the wake of the horsemeat contamination scandal this year.
just-food's research round-up: Global breakfast cereal market, UK grocery retailers
5 June 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes grocery retailers in the UK, global confectionery data, and the global breakfast cereals market.
FRANCE: Mars to cut jobs at Wrigley France facility
3 June 2013
Mars' chewing gum unit, Wrigley, has confirmed plans to cut over 200 jobs at a production site in France in response to declining demand in Europe.
Best bits: Smithfield, McCormick keep China in the spotlight
3 June 2013
Investment is flowing into and from the world's emerging markets, as two transactions involving US firms Smithfield Foods and McCormick & Co. highlighted last week.
The week ahead - Ahold, Tesco & Smucker results; free-from & export events
3 June 2013
Retail majors Ahold and Tesco are preparing to announce first-quarter results, while bakery group Aryzta and US spreads firm JM Smucker look set to detail continued progress in growing profits over the past year. Meanwhile, we can expect free-from to take centre stage in two European trade shows and UK exporters will be discussing opportunities in CEE countries.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
3 June 2013
This week saw the high levels of M&A activity we have seen throughout May continue, with the shock announcement that the board of US pork group Smithfield has given its unanimous backing to a takeover bid from Chinese pork group Shuanghui International.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
3 June 2013
The sale of US pork producer, Smithfield Foods, to China's largest pork processor, Shuanghui International grabbed the headlines last week, with management insisting the deal will help open the Chinese market to US hogs. CEO Larry Pope believes the transaction is "good news" for Smithfield and the US pork industry as a whole. Elsewhere, the Citi Global Consumer Conference got under way in New York where attendees heard presentations from multinationals such as General Mills and Mondelez International.
US: Mars launches M&M's bar
31 May 2013
Mars has extended its M&M's brand with a new M&M's chocolate bar in the US.
BRICs and beyond: Hershey wisely goes local in China
30 May 2013
Hershey, long criticised for the slow speed with which it entered faster-growing confectionery markets, has seen sales jump in China in recent years on the back of its homegrown chocolate brands. However, chocolate is not China's largest confectionery sector and competition is fierce. Hershey has wisely launched a candy brand targeted at Chinese consumers. Candy is crowded, too, but as, Dean Best writes, the move demonstrates the company knows products tailored to local needs could help it gain ground faster.
S AFRICA: Tiger Brands H1 profit climbs
30 May 2013
South African consumer goods group Tiger Brands today (30 May) reported higher half-year profits as a recovery in volumes in some food businesses helped sales.
Citi Consumer Conference: Mondelez: China is our most important opportunity
29 May 2013
Mondelez International has said China remains the "single, most important opportunity" for the group as it looks to ramp up expansion in emerging markets.
Shopper trends: Promo levels at tipping point
29 May 2013
The latest data from the just-food international basket, compiled by IRI, supports the notion promotional intensity is easing. IRI's Tim Eales says retailers are using offers less on own label and, more broadly, consumers are now less loyal to brands, meaning branded manufacturers are looking again at how to promote their products.
