| Chocolate News April 2008 |
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Any comments or suggestions, and let us know what you're thinking. |
April 30, 2008 - Mars, the makers of M&Ms and Snickers is planning to merge with chewing gum giant Wrigley. Both companies have
issued statements supporting the merger and when the smoke clears they will have created the worlds largest confectionery firm. Halal
products are growing in sales volume in the United States. With immigration to the United States growing every year, it's estimated that the
potential market just among practicing Muslims could be 16 billion dollars a year. It's also believed that many non Muslims prefer halal
products believing that they are more natural and healthy. Companies like Lang Chocolates are already making halal chocolate and it will
be interesting to see how many companies attempt to tap this growing market.
April 28, 2008 - The University of East Anglia in England needs 150 women to volunteer to consume chocolate on a daily basis. They are
hoping to establish a link between a new chocolate bar that is fortified with extra flavanoids and soy and better medical health. Most
doctors don't recommend chocolate as part of a healthy regimen because unregulated it is loaded with extra sugars and fat. As healthier,
darker, chocolates are developed the extra sugars and fat become less of an issue. The women in the study will be provided with
chocolate and monitoring.
April 27, 2008 - The Pittsburgh Tribune - Review has a nice article about chocolate making and the state of the industry in Italy. The article
has a lot of useful information and a quick and useful read.
April 26, 2008 - The New York Observer has an interesting article about Alison Nelson and her shop Chocolate Bar. With neighborhood
rents spiraling out of control she's moving across town to the more affordable East Village. The new address will be 127 East 7th Street
and of course she still has her cafe at Henri Bendel. Her Eighth Avenue location closes on April 27th so drop by the new shop and wish
her luck. In our nation's capitol in celebration of Earth Day Metro riders disembarking at the Capitol South and Union Station stops were
rewarded with riding public transit with a free chocolate bar. The Metro and the American Public Transportation Association were trying to
point out that a citizen of Washington can reduce their carbon footprint 10% just by opting to ride public transportation instead of driving to
work. On Sunday The Whole Foods on Woodruff Road in Greenville, South Carolina will host what promises to be a neat event. The
Immaculate Baking Co. will attempt to bake a 500 pound chocolate chip cookie out of all organic materials. That includes the eggs, flour
everything. When the baking is done you'll be able to purchase a one pound piece for $10. The proceeds will go to the Greenville Organic
Foods Organization (GOFO) to help fund its Grow Healthy Kids Program. Whereas we here at eChocolateNYC would be intimidated trying
to bake a 500 pound cookie the folks at Immaculate are old hands at such matters and in 2002 baked a Guinness Book record setting
item when they whipped up a 40,000 pound item. In the United Kingdom Marks & Spencer are going a little bit Green by using packaging
in their Swiss Chocolate Assortment that is biodegradable, compostable and made from renewable resources. The insert holding the
chocolates is made from a material called Plantic which is made from a plant based compostable material. It's official Maryland has
made the Smith Island Cake the official dessert of the state. The cake which is thin layers of yellow cake with chocolate frosting has been
a staple of the small Island's community for years. The Island has only 260 full time residents and was originally settled by the English in
the late 1600's. The Hershey Co. announced a drop in profits for the sixth consecutive quarter even after factoring their second price
increase in the last year. The company is still very profitable it's just that the chocolate industry is getting slammed with increased costs
across the board. As cocoa and milk prices surge forward the companies also have to deal with increasing energy costs at the same time.
The winners have been announced for the Easter chocolate bunny giveaway at McFarland Candies of Frostburg, Maryland. In the last few
days the New York Times has been running some great looking chocolate based recipes. This one looks good Dark Chocolate Flan With
New Mexican Chili, Cinnamon and Pepita Praline. Rabbi David Lipper of Temple Israel in Akron, Ohio had a creative way to get the kids
involved in the Passover Seder this year. Wherever possible chocolate was used a substitute for the classical Seder ingredients. Wine
was replaced with chocolate milk. Bitter herbs were replaced with bitter sweet chocolate. Instead of dipping a vegetable in salt water a
strawberry was dipped in chocolate and salted to symbolize the coming of Spring and the rebirth of hope. In the world of Kosher chocolate
we recently came across Holyland Market, 122 St. Marks Place, 212 477 - 4440, a small shop that is full of products imported from Israel.
Of course we dropped in and were happy to see that they carry the best selection of Elite chocolate bars we've come across in NYC. We're
fond of Elite having discovered them a while back at Economy Candy. Holyland has a larger selection of Elite bars but of course Economy
has more different candy. Nestle's, head of chocolate operations,Petraea Heynike, has announced that Nestle will focus on dark chocolate
as an aging consumer base seeks what they perceive to be a more healthy chocolate eating experience. Nestle also plans on focusing on
premium chocolate. The company is the world's number two chocolate producer behind the Mars Company. English chocolate makers
Thorntons announced their sixth consecutive quarter of growth. Their progress had been slowed by the shorter Easter season but all in all
the company has rebounded nicely from their troubles of a few years ago. They currently have 379 company owned stores as well as
another 252 that are operating under franchise agreements. We've seen them in Walgreens and we guess they'll be everywhere in the
next few days. Why we're talking about the Limited Edition Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull M&Ms and Snickers Bars.
The M&Ms will have a minty taste to them.
April 25, 2008 - The New York Times has what looks like a promising recipe for Chocolate-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream With Salted
Cashews. The New York Times also has another promising recipe this one for Milk Chocolate-Banana Pudding. This year the star of the
ninth annual Long Grove Chocolate Festival wont be a chef or famous chocolatier but will most likely be a 700 pound slab of fudge being
put together by Long Grove Confectionery Co. The Festival will be held on May 2nd, 3rd and 4th. It will be held in Long Grove, Illinois which
is a lovely town 35 miles North West of Chicago. The International Herald Tribune has a fascinating article explaining the history of
chocolate pudding and compares four different recipes the author tried out.
April 24, 2008 - We've yet to sample the Haagen - Daz Reserve line but we can hardly wait to try the newest addition to the line. Fleur de
Sel caramel. Caramels covered in chocolate then blended into caramel ice cream. Mixed into this is Fleur de Sel or 'Flower of the Salt'
hand harvested salt from Brittany. Cloetta Fazer the largest confectionery company in the Nordic region reported an increase in sales of
6% but a drop in operating profit. Squeezed by increasing commodity prices the manufacturer of such brands as Karl Fazer, Kexchoklad,
Dumle, Geisha, Polly and Center will be forced to be raising prices and seeking greater efficiency. The Food and Drink Federation of Great
Britain is holding their Biscuit Cake Chocolate & Confectionery Sector Group 55th Technology Conference in Dunchurch. Some of the
leading companies in the UK confectionery scene will be discussing everything from environmental issues to cocoa certification. Tibor
Liska is facing some heavy jail time after pleading guilty to moving some 12,000 units a month of a Boom which was a mixture of sildenafil
"Viagra", chocolate and herbs. He sold them as a natural plant based supplement never mentioning they contained Viagra. Kraft Foods
Inc. has agreed to sell its Artiach biscuits business in Spain and its Balaton chocolate trademark in Hungary . Kraft was forced to sell off
some properties in Spain and Hungary. Nestle was the buyer of Balaton and the deal brought Kraft into compliance with its agreement
with the European Commission who had insisted that Kraft divest some properties in these markets after they acquired Group Danone's
global biscuits business last year.
April 23, 2008 - Cadbury has now raised the stakes in the removing of artificial colorings from their confectionery products field by
announcing they will discontinue the use of all such colorings by the end of 2008. With increasing concern over the effect of these
colorings on children's behavior we here at eChocolateNYC think it will be impossible for other confectionery concerns not to follow suit.
It's only a matter of time before individual regulatory bodies start banning those colorings that are found to alter behavior and with Cadbury,
Western Europes, largest confectionery firm taking the lead that day will be coming much more quickly. KFC has recalled Double
Chocolate Chip Cakes which contain a host of possible allergens and aren't labeled appropriately. They contain eggs, milk, wheat, soy
ingredients and possibly traces of tree nuts. They will be rereleased once the labeling issues are resolved. Steve Wallace of Whitefish Bay,
Wisconsin borrowed $9,000 from his life insurance policy and took it to start Omanhene. Omanhene makes chocolate that is made from
cocoa beans that are produced by adhering to exacting ethical standards. The company started in 1991 and experienced 55% growth the
last three years. His beans are from Ghana and his firm processes them there which allows the manufacturing dollars to stay in the local
economy. A new study in the Journal of Nutrition has come to the conclusion that the consumption of two CocoaVia dark chocolate bars a
day can lead to the lowering of cholesterol levels. The research was carried out at The University of Illinois. Some might question the
results as part of the funding was provided by Mars which makes CocoaVia bars. Still the Journal of Nutrition is a well regarded forum
which adds a bit of validity to the findings. Cadbury Adams a subsidiary of Cadbury Schweppes has announced they will cease advertising
to consumers under 12. We're not quite sure how they will market Bubblicious gum as we can't see this being a product that will appeal to
adults. Vosges Haut - Chocolat has a new product that will be debuting on April 30th. It is a Red Velvet Party Cake. The picture looks
great. The Red Velvet is encased in white chocolate and sells for $60.
April 20, 2008 - A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that the Alkalisation of cocoa beans
during the manufacturing process can lead to a decrease in flavanoid content by two-thirds. This leads to a lowering of the antioxidant
potential of chocolate. With some of the growth in the dark chocolate, flavanol rich, attributed to consumers trying to eat healthy this is
something that some manufacturers will have to address. After purchasing 100% of the Tanzanian firm Biolands high end output Barry
Callebaut has gone ahead and taken a 49% stake in the company. By buying the cocoa that Biolands has produced, organic and small
farm, Biolands has been able to expand sustainable, ethical farming. With Callebaut's recent investment they will be able to expand their
programs into other countries. Researchers published an article in the International Journal of Food Science & Technology suggesting the
use of peanuts and chocolate to both boost the protein content and enhance the taste of soy based drinks. With the market for healthy
drinks expanding and soy being a likely candidate for non dairy protein rich drinks we'd wager a lot of research in this direction is going on
world wide.
April 12, 2008 - Lewisburg, West Virginia is enjoying their Second Annual Lewisburg Chocolate Festival today. Washington Street in the
downtown will be closed and visitors will enjoy sampling different chocolate items from a variety of providers. In Lancashire, England
burglars made off with $40,000 worth of Cadbury Flakes bars from a dairy business. The haul was eight pallets of the chocolate bars. The
owners have offered a reward of $20,000 for the capture of the bandits and return of the goods. If any of our readers are going to be at
Agfest, the big farm product fair in Tasmania, Australia, early May, as you're working your way through the 600+ vendors take a look for Val
Parish who will be selling some of the first batches of local chocolate. We are curious to hear about her companies shiraz and pinot noir
drops as well as the general quality of Australian cocoa. If Australia can become a major producer of cocoa it could provide stability to
prices as the country is much more stable than cocoa powerhouses like Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Cadbury reported a drop in
chocolate Easter Egg sales this year. An early Easter combined with a price war in The United Kingdom led to a drop in the companies
Creme Egg profits for the year. D-Cape Vincent, the Ivory Coast's ambassador to the United Nations has held a series of meetings with
politicians and local people connected with New York Chocolate. Apparently he was impressed and is going to urge his nations President
to get the factory back up and running. The plant employed hundreds in upstate New York and has been shuttered for a while. Things went
awry when investors from the Ivory Coast ran into a series of financial pitfalls. Tomorrow, Sunday, The Fort Mason Conference Center in
San Francisco, California will be home to the Second Annual Chocolate Salon. Thirty or so local chocolate companies will be displaying
their wares. Some of the exhibitors are Poco Dolce, Coco-luxe' Charles Chocolates, Guittard, Scharffen Berger and XOX Truffles . Sandra
Freeman, co-owner of Divine Chocolate was recently interviewed about her shop with The New York Weekly.
April 11, 2008 - Carob which has long been used as a chocolate substitute especially in vegan cooking is now being seriously studied by
scientists. They have isolated carobs protein and well-balanced amino acid composition and are considering it as a source of protein in
the protein replacement market. Soy currently dominates that market but as more people turn to less animal protein diets this market can
only grow. The United Kingdom firm Waitrose is launching a product we've been waiting for. One Hundred Percent cacao chocolate bars.
Made from Venezuelan beans grown on the companies farm Hacienda El Tesoro. The new product is named Venezuelan Black. In
Australia Cadbury has suffered a defeat in its battle with local confection firm Darrell Lea. Cadbury had claimed that Darrell Lea was using
Cadbury's distinctive purple coloring to confuse consumers into confusing consumers into believing that their product was actually
Cadburys. Darrell Lea felt the victory was deserved because they had used purple in their wrapping and store displays for years. Cadbury
has already announced they intend on appealing. Cracker Barrel is recalling 5 oz bags of chocolate covered peanuts and almonds. A
labeling snafu led to bags possibly having the wrong nut in them. This could pose a health risk to the allergic. In the United Kingdom
Marks & Spencer have finally prevailed in a case that goes back 35 years. In 1973 when VAT was introduced M & S's chocolate teacakes
were mislabeled as chocolate biscuits. Cake is exempt from VAT whereas biscuits are not. Over the years almost $7,000,000 was
collected by the tax authorities. When the cakes were correctly classified in 1994 M & S moved to recoup this money. The Commissioners
of Customs and Excise disputed the size of the refund for a variety of reasons the most obvious being that the vast majority of the revenue
collected was from money that consumers had been charged by M & S and therefore to allow them to profit from the governments mistake
would lead to undue enrichment. The European Court of Justice ruled in M & S's favor yesterday ending the case on a announced that
Robert C. Vowler will be retiring as The Hershey Trust Company chief executive. In his 12 year tenure Hershey diversified and added such
companies as Joseph Schmidt, Dagoba and Scharffen - Berger to its portfolio. The trust still controls 78% of the firms stock.
April 09, 2008 - Vosges Haut - Chocolat has once again released their chocolate covered matzo. Pieces of matzo covered in 64%
chocolate and then sprinkled with Kosher sea salt. They are certified Kosher but are not Kosher for Passover.
April 08, 2008 - Scientists for the Australian Army have developed a new "super chocolate". The chocolate will be mixed with fats that have
a high melting point so that the chocolate wont melt in hot environments such as Iraq. It will also be fortified with vitamins and have added
flavor so that it will maintain its taste for two years. Also from Australia comes news that a Member of Parliament , Christopher Pyne, has
a plan to end the sale of non fairtrade chocolate from vending machines in the Parliament Building. He is concerned about what type of
message Parliamne is sending while consuming chocolate that may have been made from chocolate that came from cocoa beans that
may have been produced by child labor.
April 07, 2008 - The Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine hosted the 22nd Annual Chocolate Lover's Fling, last weekend. You can see
a nice local news clip here. Hershey is introducing a new line of chocolate "Bliss". Over the weekend of April 25th Hershey hopes to help
10,000 people hold house parties where they will introduce their friends to this new product. If you would like to be considered for holding
one of these parties click here. Containers of Private Selection Light Churned Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream were being recalled from
some Dillons stores in Kansas and 11 other states. The ice cream is being recalled because it may contain wheat, soy or egg byproduct
which can cause a reaction among those who are allergic. The Supreme Court of China has handed Ferrero Rocher a victory in its court
battle with local firm Montresor. Montresor has been producing since the early 1980s a gold wrapped chocolate that looks just like
Ferrero's product but for a fraction of the price. The victory supports Ferrero's claim that not only their name but also their packaging is
distinctive and worthy of trademark protection. In Blacksburg, Virginia The Chocolate Spike will be moving to new quarters. The shop will
have a cafe. A study from Finland has found that flavanoid consumption may cut the risk of pancreatic cancer among male smokers.
This isn't the first study to find flavanoids help fight cancer. Flavanoids found in cocoa beans has also been found to have the ability to help
the body fight heart disease. IPSOS conducted a recent survey in Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany, UK and The United States. The
survey was financed by Barry Callebaut and tried to find out what chocolate consumers wanted. Twenty - Five percent of chocolate lovers
said they regularly try new and different chocolates. The survey also found a growing sophistication among chocolate consumers. Forty -
Two percent knew about cocoa sourcing up from sixteen percent in 2006. Ghana, one of the worlds top producers of cocoa has been
suffering a yield decline the last few years. To combat this they have developed four hybrid cocoa species. These new species are more
pest resistant than previous strains. A team of researchers has been studying the nutrients in these hybrids to see if they are as nutrient
rich as the non hybrid version of cocoa plants. They have to the conclusion that they have similar properties and may even be better in
some respects.
April 06, 2008 - Barry Callebaut has announced a deal where they will be purchasing a 60% stake in Malaysia's KL Kepong Cocoa
Products. The deal will allow Callebaut to have access to Kepong's customer list as well as a better ability to source cocoa out of
Indonesia to feed the companies plants in China and Japan. With the Asian market expanding at a quicker pace than more developed
markets Callebaut is trying to make sure they have a piece of this developing market. Barry Callebaut has announced the half year ending
February 29th had a stable profit situation. While sales volume was up the increase in costs for raw cocoa, milk and financing expansion
costs have led to a flattening of profits. The company had particularly disappointing results in the African consumer market. They have
initiated some price restructuring in January 2008 and the new higher prices should lead to increased profitability. Vosges Haut - Chocolat
has introduced their first entry into the organic market. How good does this sound. A chocolate and peanut butter bon bon composed of
organic peanut butter and organic pink Himalayan salt and organic Fleur de Sel salt. We cant wait to try this as it sounds great. Deborah
Markus of Bellaonline has posted an interesting piece on Brownie Baking using Kodiak Cakes Brownie Mix. She evaluates the use of
whole wheat flour and white flour. We here at eChocolateNYC always use white flour but this piece has made us reexamine how we
approach chocolate baking. Meiji Seika Japan's largest chocolate manufacturer has recalled sixteen products after it was pointed out that
the company was using an unapproved genetically altered sweetener in the products. Greenpeace is calling upon the company to release
a list of other firms that have bought the sweetener from the company and may be using it in their products. Fuji Food has also recalled
some products made with the sweetener. The sweetener GF2 had been used to replace sugar. The company claims it is safe for
consumers but in Japan many consumers actively avoid GMO food.
April 01, 2008 - Cargill will be holding a conference to discuss the importance of texture in the manufacturing of confectionery goods. The
conference will be held during the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Confectioners Association which will be held April 7 - 9. Texture is usually
not given the attention that is given to taste and appearance but it is very important in its own way.
issued statements supporting the merger and when the smoke clears they will have created the worlds largest confectionery firm. Halal
products are growing in sales volume in the United States. With immigration to the United States growing every year, it's estimated that the
potential market just among practicing Muslims could be 16 billion dollars a year. It's also believed that many non Muslims prefer halal
products believing that they are more natural and healthy. Companies like Lang Chocolates are already making halal chocolate and it will
be interesting to see how many companies attempt to tap this growing market.
April 28, 2008 - The University of East Anglia in England needs 150 women to volunteer to consume chocolate on a daily basis. They are
hoping to establish a link between a new chocolate bar that is fortified with extra flavanoids and soy and better medical health. Most
doctors don't recommend chocolate as part of a healthy regimen because unregulated it is loaded with extra sugars and fat. As healthier,
darker, chocolates are developed the extra sugars and fat become less of an issue. The women in the study will be provided with
chocolate and monitoring.
April 27, 2008 - The Pittsburgh Tribune - Review has a nice article about chocolate making and the state of the industry in Italy. The article
has a lot of useful information and a quick and useful read.
April 26, 2008 - The New York Observer has an interesting article about Alison Nelson and her shop Chocolate Bar. With neighborhood
rents spiraling out of control she's moving across town to the more affordable East Village. The new address will be 127 East 7th Street
and of course she still has her cafe at Henri Bendel. Her Eighth Avenue location closes on April 27th so drop by the new shop and wish
her luck. In our nation's capitol in celebration of Earth Day Metro riders disembarking at the Capitol South and Union Station stops were
rewarded with riding public transit with a free chocolate bar. The Metro and the American Public Transportation Association were trying to
point out that a citizen of Washington can reduce their carbon footprint 10% just by opting to ride public transportation instead of driving to
work. On Sunday The Whole Foods on Woodruff Road in Greenville, South Carolina will host what promises to be a neat event. The
Immaculate Baking Co. will attempt to bake a 500 pound chocolate chip cookie out of all organic materials. That includes the eggs, flour
everything. When the baking is done you'll be able to purchase a one pound piece for $10. The proceeds will go to the Greenville Organic
Foods Organization (GOFO) to help fund its Grow Healthy Kids Program. Whereas we here at eChocolateNYC would be intimidated trying
to bake a 500 pound cookie the folks at Immaculate are old hands at such matters and in 2002 baked a Guinness Book record setting
item when they whipped up a 40,000 pound item. In the United Kingdom Marks & Spencer are going a little bit Green by using packaging
in their Swiss Chocolate Assortment that is biodegradable, compostable and made from renewable resources. The insert holding the
chocolates is made from a material called Plantic which is made from a plant based compostable material. It's official Maryland has
made the Smith Island Cake the official dessert of the state. The cake which is thin layers of yellow cake with chocolate frosting has been
a staple of the small Island's community for years. The Island has only 260 full time residents and was originally settled by the English in
the late 1600's. The Hershey Co. announced a drop in profits for the sixth consecutive quarter even after factoring their second price
increase in the last year. The company is still very profitable it's just that the chocolate industry is getting slammed with increased costs
across the board. As cocoa and milk prices surge forward the companies also have to deal with increasing energy costs at the same time.
The winners have been announced for the Easter chocolate bunny giveaway at McFarland Candies of Frostburg, Maryland. In the last few
days the New York Times has been running some great looking chocolate based recipes. This one looks good Dark Chocolate Flan With
New Mexican Chili, Cinnamon and Pepita Praline. Rabbi David Lipper of Temple Israel in Akron, Ohio had a creative way to get the kids
involved in the Passover Seder this year. Wherever possible chocolate was used a substitute for the classical Seder ingredients. Wine
was replaced with chocolate milk. Bitter herbs were replaced with bitter sweet chocolate. Instead of dipping a vegetable in salt water a
strawberry was dipped in chocolate and salted to symbolize the coming of Spring and the rebirth of hope. In the world of Kosher chocolate
we recently came across Holyland Market, 122 St. Marks Place, 212 477 - 4440, a small shop that is full of products imported from Israel.
Of course we dropped in and were happy to see that they carry the best selection of Elite chocolate bars we've come across in NYC. We're
fond of Elite having discovered them a while back at Economy Candy. Holyland has a larger selection of Elite bars but of course Economy
has more different candy. Nestle's, head of chocolate operations,Petraea Heynike, has announced that Nestle will focus on dark chocolate
as an aging consumer base seeks what they perceive to be a more healthy chocolate eating experience. Nestle also plans on focusing on
premium chocolate. The company is the world's number two chocolate producer behind the Mars Company. English chocolate makers
Thorntons announced their sixth consecutive quarter of growth. Their progress had been slowed by the shorter Easter season but all in all
the company has rebounded nicely from their troubles of a few years ago. They currently have 379 company owned stores as well as
another 252 that are operating under franchise agreements. We've seen them in Walgreens and we guess they'll be everywhere in the
next few days. Why we're talking about the Limited Edition Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull M&Ms and Snickers Bars.
The M&Ms will have a minty taste to them.
April 25, 2008 - The New York Times has what looks like a promising recipe for Chocolate-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream With Salted
Cashews. The New York Times also has another promising recipe this one for Milk Chocolate-Banana Pudding. This year the star of the
ninth annual Long Grove Chocolate Festival wont be a chef or famous chocolatier but will most likely be a 700 pound slab of fudge being
put together by Long Grove Confectionery Co. The Festival will be held on May 2nd, 3rd and 4th. It will be held in Long Grove, Illinois which
is a lovely town 35 miles North West of Chicago. The International Herald Tribune has a fascinating article explaining the history of
chocolate pudding and compares four different recipes the author tried out.
April 24, 2008 - We've yet to sample the Haagen - Daz Reserve line but we can hardly wait to try the newest addition to the line. Fleur de
Sel caramel. Caramels covered in chocolate then blended into caramel ice cream. Mixed into this is Fleur de Sel or 'Flower of the Salt'
hand harvested salt from Brittany. Cloetta Fazer the largest confectionery company in the Nordic region reported an increase in sales of
6% but a drop in operating profit. Squeezed by increasing commodity prices the manufacturer of such brands as Karl Fazer, Kexchoklad,
Dumle, Geisha, Polly and Center will be forced to be raising prices and seeking greater efficiency. The Food and Drink Federation of Great
Britain is holding their Biscuit Cake Chocolate & Confectionery Sector Group 55th Technology Conference in Dunchurch. Some of the
leading companies in the UK confectionery scene will be discussing everything from environmental issues to cocoa certification. Tibor
Liska is facing some heavy jail time after pleading guilty to moving some 12,000 units a month of a Boom which was a mixture of sildenafil
"Viagra", chocolate and herbs. He sold them as a natural plant based supplement never mentioning they contained Viagra. Kraft Foods
Inc. has agreed to sell its Artiach biscuits business in Spain and its Balaton chocolate trademark in Hungary . Kraft was forced to sell off
some properties in Spain and Hungary. Nestle was the buyer of Balaton and the deal brought Kraft into compliance with its agreement
with the European Commission who had insisted that Kraft divest some properties in these markets after they acquired Group Danone's
global biscuits business last year.
April 23, 2008 - Cadbury has now raised the stakes in the removing of artificial colorings from their confectionery products field by
announcing they will discontinue the use of all such colorings by the end of 2008. With increasing concern over the effect of these
colorings on children's behavior we here at eChocolateNYC think it will be impossible for other confectionery concerns not to follow suit.
It's only a matter of time before individual regulatory bodies start banning those colorings that are found to alter behavior and with Cadbury,
Western Europes, largest confectionery firm taking the lead that day will be coming much more quickly. KFC has recalled Double
Chocolate Chip Cakes which contain a host of possible allergens and aren't labeled appropriately. They contain eggs, milk, wheat, soy
ingredients and possibly traces of tree nuts. They will be rereleased once the labeling issues are resolved. Steve Wallace of Whitefish Bay,
Wisconsin borrowed $9,000 from his life insurance policy and took it to start Omanhene. Omanhene makes chocolate that is made from
cocoa beans that are produced by adhering to exacting ethical standards. The company started in 1991 and experienced 55% growth the
last three years. His beans are from Ghana and his firm processes them there which allows the manufacturing dollars to stay in the local
economy. A new study in the Journal of Nutrition has come to the conclusion that the consumption of two CocoaVia dark chocolate bars a
day can lead to the lowering of cholesterol levels. The research was carried out at The University of Illinois. Some might question the
results as part of the funding was provided by Mars which makes CocoaVia bars. Still the Journal of Nutrition is a well regarded forum
which adds a bit of validity to the findings. Cadbury Adams a subsidiary of Cadbury Schweppes has announced they will cease advertising
to consumers under 12. We're not quite sure how they will market Bubblicious gum as we can't see this being a product that will appeal to
adults. Vosges Haut - Chocolat has a new product that will be debuting on April 30th. It is a Red Velvet Party Cake. The picture looks
great. The Red Velvet is encased in white chocolate and sells for $60.
April 20, 2008 - A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that the Alkalisation of cocoa beans
during the manufacturing process can lead to a decrease in flavanoid content by two-thirds. This leads to a lowering of the antioxidant
potential of chocolate. With some of the growth in the dark chocolate, flavanol rich, attributed to consumers trying to eat healthy this is
something that some manufacturers will have to address. After purchasing 100% of the Tanzanian firm Biolands high end output Barry
Callebaut has gone ahead and taken a 49% stake in the company. By buying the cocoa that Biolands has produced, organic and small
farm, Biolands has been able to expand sustainable, ethical farming. With Callebaut's recent investment they will be able to expand their
programs into other countries. Researchers published an article in the International Journal of Food Science & Technology suggesting the
use of peanuts and chocolate to both boost the protein content and enhance the taste of soy based drinks. With the market for healthy
drinks expanding and soy being a likely candidate for non dairy protein rich drinks we'd wager a lot of research in this direction is going on
world wide.
April 12, 2008 - Lewisburg, West Virginia is enjoying their Second Annual Lewisburg Chocolate Festival today. Washington Street in the
downtown will be closed and visitors will enjoy sampling different chocolate items from a variety of providers. In Lancashire, England
burglars made off with $40,000 worth of Cadbury Flakes bars from a dairy business. The haul was eight pallets of the chocolate bars. The
owners have offered a reward of $20,000 for the capture of the bandits and return of the goods. If any of our readers are going to be at
Agfest, the big farm product fair in Tasmania, Australia, early May, as you're working your way through the 600+ vendors take a look for Val
Parish who will be selling some of the first batches of local chocolate. We are curious to hear about her companies shiraz and pinot noir
drops as well as the general quality of Australian cocoa. If Australia can become a major producer of cocoa it could provide stability to
prices as the country is much more stable than cocoa powerhouses like Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Cadbury reported a drop in
chocolate Easter Egg sales this year. An early Easter combined with a price war in The United Kingdom led to a drop in the companies
Creme Egg profits for the year. D-Cape Vincent, the Ivory Coast's ambassador to the United Nations has held a series of meetings with
politicians and local people connected with New York Chocolate. Apparently he was impressed and is going to urge his nations President
to get the factory back up and running. The plant employed hundreds in upstate New York and has been shuttered for a while. Things went
awry when investors from the Ivory Coast ran into a series of financial pitfalls. Tomorrow, Sunday, The Fort Mason Conference Center in
San Francisco, California will be home to the Second Annual Chocolate Salon. Thirty or so local chocolate companies will be displaying
their wares. Some of the exhibitors are Poco Dolce, Coco-luxe' Charles Chocolates, Guittard, Scharffen Berger and XOX Truffles . Sandra
Freeman, co-owner of Divine Chocolate was recently interviewed about her shop with The New York Weekly.
April 11, 2008 - Carob which has long been used as a chocolate substitute especially in vegan cooking is now being seriously studied by
scientists. They have isolated carobs protein and well-balanced amino acid composition and are considering it as a source of protein in
the protein replacement market. Soy currently dominates that market but as more people turn to less animal protein diets this market can
only grow. The United Kingdom firm Waitrose is launching a product we've been waiting for. One Hundred Percent cacao chocolate bars.
Made from Venezuelan beans grown on the companies farm Hacienda El Tesoro. The new product is named Venezuelan Black. In
Australia Cadbury has suffered a defeat in its battle with local confection firm Darrell Lea. Cadbury had claimed that Darrell Lea was using
Cadbury's distinctive purple coloring to confuse consumers into confusing consumers into believing that their product was actually
Cadburys. Darrell Lea felt the victory was deserved because they had used purple in their wrapping and store displays for years. Cadbury
has already announced they intend on appealing. Cracker Barrel is recalling 5 oz bags of chocolate covered peanuts and almonds. A
labeling snafu led to bags possibly having the wrong nut in them. This could pose a health risk to the allergic. In the United Kingdom
Marks & Spencer have finally prevailed in a case that goes back 35 years. In 1973 when VAT was introduced M & S's chocolate teacakes
were mislabeled as chocolate biscuits. Cake is exempt from VAT whereas biscuits are not. Over the years almost $7,000,000 was
collected by the tax authorities. When the cakes were correctly classified in 1994 M & S moved to recoup this money. The Commissioners
of Customs and Excise disputed the size of the refund for a variety of reasons the most obvious being that the vast majority of the revenue
collected was from money that consumers had been charged by M & S and therefore to allow them to profit from the governments mistake
would lead to undue enrichment. The European Court of Justice ruled in M & S's favor yesterday ending the case on a announced that
Robert C. Vowler will be retiring as The Hershey Trust Company chief executive. In his 12 year tenure Hershey diversified and added such
companies as Joseph Schmidt, Dagoba and Scharffen - Berger to its portfolio. The trust still controls 78% of the firms stock.
April 09, 2008 - Vosges Haut - Chocolat has once again released their chocolate covered matzo. Pieces of matzo covered in 64%
chocolate and then sprinkled with Kosher sea salt. They are certified Kosher but are not Kosher for Passover.
April 08, 2008 - Scientists for the Australian Army have developed a new "super chocolate". The chocolate will be mixed with fats that have
a high melting point so that the chocolate wont melt in hot environments such as Iraq. It will also be fortified with vitamins and have added
flavor so that it will maintain its taste for two years. Also from Australia comes news that a Member of Parliament , Christopher Pyne, has
a plan to end the sale of non fairtrade chocolate from vending machines in the Parliament Building. He is concerned about what type of
message Parliamne is sending while consuming chocolate that may have been made from chocolate that came from cocoa beans that
may have been produced by child labor.
April 07, 2008 - The Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine hosted the 22nd Annual Chocolate Lover's Fling, last weekend. You can see
a nice local news clip here. Hershey is introducing a new line of chocolate "Bliss". Over the weekend of April 25th Hershey hopes to help
10,000 people hold house parties where they will introduce their friends to this new product. If you would like to be considered for holding
one of these parties click here. Containers of Private Selection Light Churned Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream were being recalled from
some Dillons stores in Kansas and 11 other states. The ice cream is being recalled because it may contain wheat, soy or egg byproduct
which can cause a reaction among those who are allergic. The Supreme Court of China has handed Ferrero Rocher a victory in its court
battle with local firm Montresor. Montresor has been producing since the early 1980s a gold wrapped chocolate that looks just like
Ferrero's product but for a fraction of the price. The victory supports Ferrero's claim that not only their name but also their packaging is
distinctive and worthy of trademark protection. In Blacksburg, Virginia The Chocolate Spike will be moving to new quarters. The shop will
have a cafe. A study from Finland has found that flavanoid consumption may cut the risk of pancreatic cancer among male smokers.
This isn't the first study to find flavanoids help fight cancer. Flavanoids found in cocoa beans has also been found to have the ability to help
the body fight heart disease. IPSOS conducted a recent survey in Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany, UK and The United States. The
survey was financed by Barry Callebaut and tried to find out what chocolate consumers wanted. Twenty - Five percent of chocolate lovers
said they regularly try new and different chocolates. The survey also found a growing sophistication among chocolate consumers. Forty -
Two percent knew about cocoa sourcing up from sixteen percent in 2006. Ghana, one of the worlds top producers of cocoa has been
suffering a yield decline the last few years. To combat this they have developed four hybrid cocoa species. These new species are more
pest resistant than previous strains. A team of researchers has been studying the nutrients in these hybrids to see if they are as nutrient
rich as the non hybrid version of cocoa plants. They have to the conclusion that they have similar properties and may even be better in
some respects.
April 06, 2008 - Barry Callebaut has announced a deal where they will be purchasing a 60% stake in Malaysia's KL Kepong Cocoa
Products. The deal will allow Callebaut to have access to Kepong's customer list as well as a better ability to source cocoa out of
Indonesia to feed the companies plants in China and Japan. With the Asian market expanding at a quicker pace than more developed
markets Callebaut is trying to make sure they have a piece of this developing market. Barry Callebaut has announced the half year ending
February 29th had a stable profit situation. While sales volume was up the increase in costs for raw cocoa, milk and financing expansion
costs have led to a flattening of profits. The company had particularly disappointing results in the African consumer market. They have
initiated some price restructuring in January 2008 and the new higher prices should lead to increased profitability. Vosges Haut - Chocolat
has introduced their first entry into the organic market. How good does this sound. A chocolate and peanut butter bon bon composed of
organic peanut butter and organic pink Himalayan salt and organic Fleur de Sel salt. We cant wait to try this as it sounds great. Deborah
Markus of Bellaonline has posted an interesting piece on Brownie Baking using Kodiak Cakes Brownie Mix. She evaluates the use of
whole wheat flour and white flour. We here at eChocolateNYC always use white flour but this piece has made us reexamine how we
approach chocolate baking. Meiji Seika Japan's largest chocolate manufacturer has recalled sixteen products after it was pointed out that
the company was using an unapproved genetically altered sweetener in the products. Greenpeace is calling upon the company to release
a list of other firms that have bought the sweetener from the company and may be using it in their products. Fuji Food has also recalled
some products made with the sweetener. The sweetener GF2 had been used to replace sugar. The company claims it is safe for
consumers but in Japan many consumers actively avoid GMO food.
April 01, 2008 - Cargill will be holding a conference to discuss the importance of texture in the manufacturing of confectionery goods. The
conference will be held during the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Confectioners Association which will be held April 7 - 9. Texture is usually
not given the attention that is given to taste and appearance but it is very important in its own way.
