| October 11, 2012 | News for the confectionery industry |
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- Gourmet packaging helps showcase product identity
Packaging for gourmet food products should reflect a sense that the products are lovingly hand-crafted, Kate Bertrand Connolly writes. Packaging also helps to educate consumers about a brand's particular qualities, such as chocolate that is made specifically for pairing with wines, or about a brand's sustainability commitments through biodegradable or recycled materials that help reflect organic ingredients. Food Processing
(10/10)     
- Combos debuts web series to test new flavors
Combos has teamed up with celebrity chef Graham Elliot for a new web series that aims to taste-test fan-submitted flavor combinations that range from the ordinary to the bizarre. The series will air on the Combos Facebook page. "Chinese food combinations, dessert combinations, super spicy combinations -- you name it, we’re going to try it," Elliot said. Progressive Grocer
(10/10)
- Kraft delivers healthier snacks
Kraft Foods has been successfully innovating in the healthier-for-you market, creating MiO liquid water enhancer with B vitamins and caffeine and Newtons Fruit Thins, with 8 grams of whole grains. The products are a response to increasing consumer interest in snacks and beverages that provide low-calorie nutrition benefits. SymphonyIRI Group put both items in its Rising Star category for top-selling food and beverage brands. Supermarket News
(10/9)
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- Chocolate-loving countries more likely to win Nobel prizes
Countries with higher per-capita chocolate consumption are more likely to produce Nobel laureates, according to a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine in August. Franz Messerli found a correlation between the average amount of chocolate a nation's citizens eat and the number of Nobel prizes it has won per 10 million people, and notes that chocolate has been shown to improve cognitive function. Dr. Yoni Freedhoff of Canada's University of Ottawa said we should not count on chocolate to boost brain power, and should simply enjoy it. "When it comes to indulgences, we should indulge in them because we enjoy them and without expectations of health benefits," he said. Reuters
(10/10)
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Reduce and manage energy expenses with APPI Energy
President Obama has renamed October as National Energy Action Month in the U.S., further highlighting the country's need for sustainable energy programs and serving as a catalyst for companies to evaluate and update current policies. Learn more about efficient energy programs and how your company can save money through NCA's partnership with APPI. Contact Linda Jamie.
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NCA sponsors the Chicago Chocolate Festival
NCA’s Chocolate Council will sponsor the inaugural Chicago Fine Chocolate Show and The National Chocolate Show at Chicago’s Navy Pier this November. The Chocolate Council will exhibit the natural origins of chocolate, including "The Story of Chocolate" video and demonstration areas where consumer attendees will see real cocoa pods and beans as well as taste chocolate liquor and nibs. NCA will also be featured during education sessions highlighting chocolate origins, trends, and current regulatory and food safety topics. For more information, visit event website or contact Susan Whiteside.
| Science & Technology | | |
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- Five Senomyx flavor products get EU approval
The European Foods Saftey Authority published an approval on Oct. 2 of four savory flavor ingredients and a sucralose enhancer created by Calif.-based flavor company Senomyx. The savory flavors, some of which imitate monosodium glutamate, "are very versatile and can be used in a variety of food products including sauces, frozen foods, cooking aids, soups, and snack foods," said Senomyx CEO Kent Snyder. The sweetness enhancer, called S2383 and created to reduce sucralose in reduced-sugar products, debuted in the U.S. in 2007. FoodNavigator
(10/10)
| International | | |
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- Thorntons focusing on holiday products, commercial outlets
U.K. chocolatier Thorntons is planning to shift its focus away from own-store sales and into commercial sales -- starting with a wave of new seasonal products for the approaching holiday season, said CEO Jonathan Hart. In first quarter trading Thorntons posted a 1% decrease in total sales. But it grew in commercial channels by 10%, and Hart said he expects half of its sales by the end of fiscal 2014 to come from grocery stores and supermarkets. ConfectioneryNews.com (France)
(10/10)
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