It is vital that the yeast industry is not forgotten in European sugar and energy policies if Euro-firms are to remain competitive on an increasingly international stage, according to the Confederation of European Union Yeast Manufacturers (COFALEC).
Picking through ideas with Saatchi & Saatchi on shopper behavior: Part I
Manufacturers must understand the difference between consumers and shoppers, tailoring marketing accordingly to secure purchases, says Saatchi & Saatchi X’s VP of shopper psychology.
Over 20 major food firms have signed up to health and wellness pledges on advertisement to children, consistent product information, open access to formulation policies and employee wellbeing as part of their commitment to Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) targets.
PepsiCo has inaugurated its first R&D facility in Mexico – a baking innovation center that will be dedicated to strengthening its better-for-you portfolio across brands like Quaker, Lay’s and Sabritas.
KP Snacks has gone pub-themed for the 2014 FIFA World Cup; recreating a local UK pub in Rio for the games and running a consumer competition fronted by celebrity pub landlord Al Murray.
Popcorn has exploded over the last few years with start-ups popping up left, right and center, but is there room for more competition? And can growth be sustained? Industry is torn.
“My background is in sales, so I’m used to dealing with disappointment,” observes the founder of quinoa-based snacking brand eatKeenwa. But for every door that’s been shut in Blake Niemann’s face in the past 18 months, another one has opened. And his...
Healthier products remain a top consumer demand, interpreting and communicating health claims is an ongoing challenge, and food safety is top of mind amid eco-friendly advances, according to Leatherhead Food Research.
Savory snacks are a perfect fit for the World Cup and industry has injected huge efforts into flavor development, pack design and marketing campaigns to draw the punters in, says the director general of the European Snacks Association (ESA).
Pecan Deluxe Candy (Europe) has invested in a €300,000 Yamato multihead check weigher, which can operate up to 100 bags per minute, to meet increasing demand for inclusions in products such as ice cream, desserts, cookies and donuts.
The Carolina Nut Company has rolled out a peanut butter & jelly (PBJ) peanut variety that it says bucks the trend in nut flavors and should help US expansion plans.
Merchandizing gaps in convenience stores need to be plugged and snack makers must collaborate to drive progress forward, says the category development head at General Mills Convenience as it launches Nature Valley c-store tailored products.
The US ready-to-eat popcorn category has been “growing in the double-digits for the past 3-4 years” and is now worth “north of $600m in annual [retail] sales”, according to Diamond Foods CEO Brain Driscoll, who says new launches under the Kettle and Pop...
US bakery, snack and cereal manufacturers should look to Europe for lessons on clean label and better-for-you products that don’t scream health, says Mintel’s innovation head.
UK food firms must seize the huge business opportunity afforded by the underdeveloped morning snacking market, as chains such as McDonald’s, KFC, Costa and Starbucks lead the way, according to Conlumino.
Nestlé has filed a patent for high-carb and high-protein bite-size dough snacks for athletes and health-conscious consumers looking to manage nutritional intake before and during exercise.
Ecuador snack maker Samai will open two re-packing plants in the US and Europe by 2015 – expansion that should double global business, its marketing manager says.
Food manufacturers don’t understand the urgency of sustainability and need to act faster, but also communicate actions better with consumers, says the president of global NGO Food Tank.
The future of snacks will be positioning them as part of a 'meal bridge' solution that hits on convenience, value, taste and health, says the marketing head at Snyder’s-Lance.
Snacks and confectionery have truly blurred from a product perspective and retail slant, says the president of the National Confectioners Association (NCA).
General Mills and Kellogg have dismissed Oxfam’s claim that they are the ‘worst offenders’ on global greenhouse gas emissions and not doing enough to tackle climate change.
Developing western snacks with an ‘Arabic’ spin on them
The two-year proposed window for manufacturers to change nutrition labeling is not enough, snack makers need four to six years, says the CEO of the Snack Food Association (SFA).
Flamous Brands has redesigned its packaging for better shelf appeal as it tries to push falafel chips into the mainstream snacking space, its CEO says.
Popcorn has exploded and thins have sliced into action in snacking – both riding on the wave of being indulgent with a healthy slant, according to Euromonitor International.
Craft snack brands will lead innovation because of their fresh take on an old market, and balancing health and indulgence will be top of the agenda, says Innova Market Insights.
Increasing interest in cinnamon’s health properties has led to its use in more foods, but heavy rainfall in producer countries has affected supply, a leading ingredients company has warned.
Ingredients suppliers are uniquely placed in the supply chain to up their game in sustainable sourcing and must push the agenda further, says a market analyst from Invenire.
The ‘right’ type of snack can improve diet quality in children under the age of 11, according to researchers looking into how snack and meal frequencies affect total energy intake and diet quality.
PepsiCo gobbled up more global interest last year, fueled by three ‘star’ brands – Lay’s, Doritos and Cheetos, according to Kantar Worldpanel's Brand Footprint report.
In this special edition article BakeryandSnacks.com takes a look at some of the key suggested benefits of fiber, and how manufacturers can utilize it to benefit consumers.
High cereal fiber intake after a heart attack may improve long-term survival rates, research suggests, but these benefits could be achieved with a balanced, healthy diet, rather than through fortified goods, says British Heart Foundation senior dietician.
Future food processing trends will focus on convenience, which in turn will see healthier options for snacks on-the-go in terms of the variety of flavour and texture, according to tna.
Nutritious snacks have not boomed because manufacturers overwhelmed consumers in a category where indulgence remains more important, says the head of food and drink at Datamonitor Consumer.
Big interview: Craig Lieberman, founder & CEO, 34 Degrees
When Craig Lieberman flew to Sydney to study for a Master’s Degree in International Relations in the mid-1990s, his goal was to be a diplomat. But not long after he arrived, the idea for another, very different, career started to take shape.
There are significant opportunities to grow the Rudi’s Organic Bakery brand, both through increasing distribution and taking it into new categories, says its new owner, Hain Celestial.
