Confectionery category shows resiliency during pandemic with $36.7bn in sales, but sustainability issues are low on the trends impacting purchasing patterns with American shoppers.
Easter 2021 confectionery roundup In the weeks leading up to Easter, shoppers move into what Mars calls ‘the late season’, where purchases are often planned and intended to fulfil an Easter ritual such as egg hunts, baking and gifting.
With fewer social gatherings to exchange gifting, the confectionery industry is expecting these rituals to evolve for Easter 2021 with more egg hunt events hosted at home and Easter activities such as baking and crafting becoming more popular. Here’s our round-up of what is on offer in stores this year, from the giants like Mars and Ferrero to small free-from companies including HiP and Happi.
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Ferrero’s Chibe named next chair of NCA By Anthony Myers The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced that Paul Chibe, President and CEO of Ferrero North America, will assume the role of Chairman of the NCA Board of Trustees for a two-year term that begins immediately.
Chibe most recently served as Vice Chairman and will take over for departing NCA Board Chairman Kirk Vashaw, Chairman and CEO of Spangler Candy Company.
The announcement was made during the NCA’s State of the Industry Conference, held virtually this year, and attended by member companies in the confectionery industry throughout the country, from multi-national, global manufacturers to small, family-owned businesses.
Lower calorie Budweiser Select
Anheuser-Busch will launch low-calorie Budweiser Select across the US, eyeing up growing consumer demand for a lower calorie beer option.
Budweiser Select was launched in 2005 but limited to St. Louis, where it has a higher per item rate of sale than Budweiser. The 4.3% ABV brew has 99 calories per each 12-ounce serving.
“Budweiser Select is a staple in St. Louis, so we’re excited to bring it back to consumers across the country with a full national distribution,” said Monica Rustgi, VP of Marketing at Budweiser
. “We found that Bud lovers are looking for more beer options that are lower in calories, but they don’t want to sacrifice taste when it comes to their beer. Reintroducing this fan favorite is just another way we’re continuing to innovate to meet the needs of our consumer.”
Let s celebrate British Pie Week
It s that time of year again to celebrate the UK s ubiquitous love of pies. Pic: GettyImages/Say-Cheese Lockdown has given consumers plenty of time to get creative in the kitchen, with many Brits turning their hands to the much-loved supper: the pie. Research by OnBuy’s Food Department revealed the nation’s most loved pie was a fish pie, followed by a cottage pie, an apple pie and a pork pie. Traditional takes on chicken pot pies, banoffee pies and pecan pies were not far behind. With restrictions easing, consumers are again becoming time-restricted in the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean they will have to miss out in celebrating British Pie Week (1-7 March 2021).