General News
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BREAKING NEWS: ISM and ProSweets cancelled due to COVID-19
27 November 2020As a result of the growing number of COVID-19 infections, travel restrictions and related lockdowns, it has been announced that both ISM and ProSweets Cologne 2021 will not be going ahead as planned. Just two weeks ago, Koelnmesse, the top associations of the German sweets and snacks industry as well as important industry representatives were still confident that they would be able to stage the shows. In a statement put out by the show organisers it states that Koelnmesse has taken this decision in close collaboration with the industry sponsors of both trade fairs. Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse, said: "We deeply regret this of course. We were well-aligned, and we firmly believed that we would be able to enable the sweets and snacks industry a re-start with ISM and ProSweets Cologne 2021. "However, due to the current uncertainties our exhibitors and visitors don't see any dramatic improvement that would make a trade fair participation possible in January. We will nevertheless remain on the ball and will immediately set about organising ISM and ProSweets Cologne 2022 with new energy.” The planned digital format, Matchmaking365+, will also not be going ahead, because a “purely digital offer without a physical trade fair would not bring about the desired benefit for the exhibitors and visitors”. Instead, the two trade fairs are planning a campaign for the presentation of significant industry developments, new products and trends from the sweets and snacks sectors. Oliver Freser, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, commented: "Trade fairs like ISM and ProSweets Cologne live from the variety of national and international industry experts, which is in turn what distinguishes the quality of the event. Due to the currently very dynamic infection situation and further cancellations on behalf of the exhibitors, we can no longer guarantee this quality and the recently announced steady number of registrations could no longer be held upright. We are naturally disappointed. “However, it is now important to look ahead to the future positively with our customers. We in Cologne are still prepared to carry out our trade fairs with the highest safety and hygiene measures and are already looking forward to a new edition of ISM and ProSweets Cologne.” The International Sweets and Biscuits Fair Task Force (AISM) as the industry sponsor of ISM also deeply regrets this decision. Bastian Fassin, Chairman of the AISM, explained: "The sweets and snacks industry were optimistic that it would be able to really take off again with the aid of ISM 2021. As an international business platform, ISM has an essential significance for the industry regarding pushing business forward. However, due to the ongoing high numbers of infections and further lockdowns in many European countries, this decision was unfortunately unavoidable," The planning for the events in 2022 has already started. The show organisers have stated that together with the industry sponsors, Koelnmesse will use the time to ensure that ISM and ProSweets continue to be well-aligned in terms of their concept. This includes the further development of digital formats, which offer a suitable enhancement to the physical trade fair. The next editions of ISM and ProSweets Cologne will be staged from 30.01.-02.02.2022.
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Ferrero to build first chocolate plant in North America
26 November 2020Ferrero has announced plans to build a new chocolate manufacturing centre in Bloomington, Illinois – its first chocolate production plant in North America. The new centre will be an expansion of Ferrero's Bloomington facility and will allow the company to produce chocolate for Crunch,100Grand, SnoCaps, Raisinets, Goobers, Ferrero Rocher and other Ferrero products made in North America. The $75M expansion will add 70,000 square feet to Ferrero's current 2501 Beich Road footprint. Construction is expected to start by spring 2021 and the new facility should create around 50 local jobs. Giovanni Ferrero, Executive Chairman of the Ferrero Group, said: "As a family company, we are proud to have a long track record of investments in local manufacturing infrastructure over the last 70 years. We are therefore delighted to announce that construction will begin on Ferrero's first chocolate manufacturing center in North America – a key strategic market for us. This investment represents an important milestone as we continue to expand our offering of high-quality products for consumers across North America.”
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Nestlé reveals most popular Quality Street
25 November 2020Since launching six weeks ago, the Quality Street web shop has experienced huge demand for its personalised tins – highlighting the most popular pick and mix choices so far. In first place is the Purple One, closely followed by the Green Triangle. Fruit Cremes take third and fourth spots for Strawberry Delight and Orange Creme respectively, while Caramel Swirl is just behind in fifth place, followed by the Toffee Finger. However, with orders for Christmas delivery open until 10 December, there is still plenty of time for the leader board to change. So far, it’s a close race between the north and south of the UK for most Quality Street orders received. London is the city with most orders, and Kent, Essex and Surrey lead the county list. However, Cheshire, West Yorkshire and Lancashire are not far behind, while Glasgow, Nottingham, Leeds, Liverpool and York are among the top ten cities. Ellie Dent, Senior Brand Manager for Quality Street said: “We knew that the web shop would be popular, but it has outperformed all our expectations since its launch. We’re delighted by the reaction but sorry that orders are taking longer to dispatch than we had hoped.”
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Red will shake up the food industry in 2021, GNT predicts
24 November 2020According to EXBERRY® Coloring Foods supplier GNT Group, red is set to “shake up” the food and beverage industry in 2021 thanks to its ability to “spark powerful emotions”. As an iconic shade in the worlds of cosmetics, beauty, fashion, film and design, GNT says that as we approach 2021, red is now ready to invigorate the world of food and drink. The global pandemic has taken consumers outside their comfort zones, leading them to break free from old habits and search for something new. GNT believes red can connect with this desire for discovery and help signal the start of a new era. GNT is also highlighting red’s ability to add a sense of excitement and exploration to food and drink, with its appeal among the Instagram generation providing another key reason for the shade’s growing popularity. Maartje Hendrickx, GNT’s Market Development Manager, said: “Red was the natural choice for our new Love Color with EXBERRY® campaign. It epitomizes human vitality, creating energy, passion and positive action, and brings real excitement to food and drink products. Red is well known for its ability to command instant attention and it’s a colour you won’t be able to ignore in 2021.”
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Gum maker Alland & Robert announces new €11m facility
24 November 2020Manufacturer of acacia gum, Alland & Robert, has announced that it is investing €11 million to install a fourth production line at its plant in Normandy, France. The investment is set to increase its production by around 9,000 tonnes per year – 20,000 tonnes are currently produced each year. This is a 45% increase in production capacity and responds to increasing global demand for acacia gum. The expansion of the plant is set to start in 2021, covering an area of 8,000 m2 which will double the plant surface. There will be a new global production unit in order to increase the company’s acacia gum production capacity. The new facility opening is scheduled for the end of 2022. Frédéric Alland, President of Alland & Robert, said: “This new investment comes on top of the € 3 million already invested in 2020 and 2021 to improve our existing production facilities. “We are happy the COVID-19 crisis hasn’t slowed down our project: for 2020, we estimate our turnover should increase by approximately 8 %. It was 45 million euros in 2019.”
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Ben & Jerry’s boosts payments to cocoa famers
19 November 2020Ben & Jerry’s has partnered with Fairtrade to ensure that cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire earn higher prices for their beans. This is part of the ice cream icon’s pledge to ramp up its living income approach for farmers. Around 5,000 Fairtrade cocoa farmers in Ben & Jerry’s supply chain will receive approximately an additional $600,000 over the next year. This is on top of the annual Fairtrade Premium of around $970,000. The extra money farmers will receive is part of Ben & Jerry’s wider efforts to support farmers towards closing the living income gap. Ben & Jerry’s Global Values-Led Sourcing Manager Cheryl Pinto said: “We’re committed to working for economic justice through our ice cream, and now we’re making history by ramping up our commitment with the cocoa we buy. Starting with the cocoa in our chocolate ice cream mix, we’re working towards the Fairtrade Living Income Reference Price for cocoa farmers, and this is the beginning. We are exploring living incomes in our other global supply chains, too.”
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UK government launches consultation on total ban of online advertising for unhealthy foods
17 November 2020A new consultation has been launched by the UK government on proposals to ban online adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt to tackle the obesity crisis and get the nation fit and healthy. According to the UK government, research shows children are exposed to over 15 billion adverts for products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) online every year. Evidence also shows that exposure to HFSS advertising can affect what children eat and when they eat, both in the short term by increasing the amount of food children eat immediately after being exposed to an advert, and by shaping longer-term food preferences from a young age. The new consultation, which will run for 6 weeks, will gather views from the public and industry stakeholders to understand the impact and challenges of introducing a total ban on the advertising of these products online, to help people live healthier lives and tackle childhood obesity. Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I am determined to help parents, children and families in the UK make healthier choices about what they eat. We know as children spend more time online, parents want to be reassured they are not being exposed to adverts promoting unhealthy foods, which can affect eating habits for life. This will be a world-leading measure to tackle the obesity challenges we face now but it will also address a problem that will only become more prominent in the future.” Public Health Minister, Jo Churchill, added: “It’s vital we build on the world-leading obesity measures announced in July to ensure our efforts to tackle childhood obesity have the greatest impact. We have already committed to restricting HFSS adverts on television before 9pm. But we also need to go further and address how children can be influenced online, where they are spending more and more of their time.” Further advertising restrictions are widely supported by the public, with polling from 2019 showing that 72% of public support a 9pm watershed on junk food adverts during popular family TV shows and that 70% support a 9pm watershed online. Today’s announcement is part of a raft of measures in the government’s strategy to tackle obesity and get the nation fit and healthy.
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pladis makes McVitie’s Victoria packaging more sustainable
12 November 2020Global snacking company pladis is improving its sustainability credentials by rewrapping its classic McVitie’s Victoria selection – just in time for Christmas. The repackaged version of the Christmas biscuit assortment will include a downsized card outer – helping to save 129 tonnes worth of card every year – and an updated cloudy plastic, fully recyclable tray. By swapping the traditional black tray for a recyclable alternative, pladis will help save 60.5 tonnes of plastic from landfill annually. “Shoppers are increasingly concerned about how their food choices impact the planet and as Britain’s Biggest Biscuit Brand, we recognise that we have a crucial role to play in making sustainable options widely available,” says Jonathan Bull, Head of McVitie’s Commercial & Seasonal Brands at pladis UK&I. “While many of our products are already recyclable through our partnership with TerraCycle, we’re continually taking steps to improve our credentials, this time with our most popular festive collection, McVitie’s Victoria. Jonathan added: “The good news is that in addition to reducing packaging for McVitie’s Victoria, we’ve actually increased the number of biscuits in our 550g box – and we’ve added a ‘Less Packaging More Biscuits’ flash onto our now-600g pack. “This will help to reassure shoppers that a reduction in packaging doesn’t need to mean fewer treats and ensure retailers can take advantage of the £161 million incremental sales opportunity Christmas presents.”
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UK almond consumers have better diets, research suggests
10 November 2020New research published in the European Journal of Nutrition finds that almond consumers in the UK have lower waist circumference, a lower BMI, and better diet quality, compared with people who do not consume almonds. The study, which was funded by the Almond Board of California, used the most recent population data from the UK’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS rolling program, 2008-2017) to determine the higher diet quality scores of almond eaters. The study investigated the association of almond snack consumption with risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) including BMI, total cholesterol, “bad” LDL-cholesterol, among other measures. Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using NDNS data from 6,802 adults who completed a four-day estimated food diary. Although average almond intake was low among UK adults who said they eat almonds (7.6% of the population reported eating whole almonds and average intake was 5g/day), UK almond consumers reported higher diet quality scores compared to those who reported not consuming almonds. The almond eaters had higher reported intakes of protein, total fat, monounsaturated, omega-3 and omega-6 fats, fiber, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Further, they had lower intakes of trans-fatty acids, total carbohydrate, sugar and sodium. This finding suggests that UK adults with healthier dietary patterns are more likely to include whole almonds. The researchers also found that UK almond consumers had lower BMI and waist circumference measurements. BMI was significantly lower for the whole almonds only group by .8 kg/m² and waist circumference was lower by 2.1cm. There were no differences between almond consumers and non-consumers with regard to other CVD risk factors. “This study gives even more reason to include a handful of almonds, which is 28 grams, to help make your diet more nutritious with increased fiber and unsaturated fats. Further, the almond eaters had smaller waistlines. Less weight around your middle is associated with lowering your heart disease risk,” says Consultant Dietitian Juliette Kellow.
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Mondelēz launches second State of Snacking report
10 November 2020Mondelēz International has launched the second annual State of Snacking™ report, which looks at the role of snacking in the lives of consumers globally. This year’s report reveals insights and data around changing consumer behaviours including eating habits, shopping trends and the rising importance of mindful consumption of snacks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The State of Snacking report, developed in partnership with consumer polling specialist The Harris Poll, underlines the growth in snacking worldwide and how behaviour, sentiment and routines surrounding food are being reshaped by COVID-19. For example, almost nine in 10 global adults (88%) say they are snacking more during the pandemic than before, with millennials and those who are working from home right now being especially likely to say they prefer snacks over meals (70% and 67%, respectively). In addition, 52% of respondents say snacking has been a “lifeline” during the pandemic, especially parents who are working from home (69%). Consumers also continue to highlight the importance of snacks that enable them to lead healthier lifestyles and boost emotional well-being. Snacking at home is providing consumers with more opportunities for mindful snacking, with two thirds (66%) of respondents noting they now have more control over their portion sizes. Sixty-four percent also state that snacks are also nourishing their “body, mind and soul during these strange times”. Nearly two thirds of respondents noted that snacking has given them “much needed moments” to themselves (65%). Dirk Van de Put, Chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International, commented: “Findings from our State of Snacking report reinforce the key role that snacking plays in the lives of global consumers, the growing importance of snacking during 2020 and the moments of peace it provides as individuals and families stay home and continue to face challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.” The report also highlights that global snacking is increasing as it becomes a larger part of consumers’ “new normal”. Ultimately, two-thirds believe the current pandemic will have a long-term impact on how we consume snacks as a society (65%). Nearly two-thirds of global adults say they plan to continue eating small snacks throughout the day, as opposed to fewer large meals (64%). In addition, comfort is seen as the number one driver of snacking this year. More than half of global adults have been buying nostalgic snack brands from childhood (53%) and snacks that bring back good memories (59%) during the pandemic. Two-thirds say snack time is one of the few moments of peace (64%) and bright spots in their day (63%), including three-quarters of parents who are working from home (76% and 75%, respectively). Virtual snack shopping has reached a tipping point, with almost of half of respondents buying online Half of global adults say they have started to buy snacks online more often than they do in-store or offline (47%), with 7 in 10 planning to continue shopping for snacks online once the pandemic is over (69%). “The results of our State of Snacking survey not only underscore the value snacking brings to families and individuals, but help us to even better understand the evolving needs of our consumers worldwide so that we can continue to adapt and offer them the snacks they want, where, when and how they want them,” said Van de Put.
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