“Mondelez International Inc on Tuesday raised its quarterly dividend by 11%, after strong demand for its snacks and chocolates in North America offset sales declines in all of the Oreo maker’s other businesses…Deerfield, Illinois-based Mondelez’s net revenues rose 17.3% in North America to $2.03 billion.”
Reuters
7-28-20
“Hershey, the iconic chocolate-treat maker, beat Wall Street’s second-quarter earnings estimates, missed the sales forecast, raised its dividend and offered sweet guidance for a pickup in sales in the second half… For North America, Hershey said it expected stronger second-half sales growth as consumers – largely stuck at home due to the virus – continue to eat more at home and retailers and distributers replenish inventory levels.”
TheStreet
7-23-20
“During the pandemic, consumers have gravitated toward comfort foods and familiar brands. The behavior pattern holds true for their treat consumption: Sales of chocolate have been on the rise since mid-March. During the 17-week period that ended on June 27, consumers bought $3.7 billion worth of chocolate, a 6.3% increase from the comparable period last year, according to Nielsen.”
CNN
7-9-20
“Early in the pandemic, Americans stocked up on junk food, frozen meals and various breakfast cereals. Now, data indicates that chocolate was also top of mind throughout stay-at-home orders and the ease into reopening the economy. During the 17-week period that ended on June 27, U.S. consumers spent $3.7 billion on chocolate, up 6.3% from that time period last year, according to Nielsen data.”
USA Today
07-10-20
“General Mills Inc. is the latest food maker to benefit from unprecedented demand for long-lasting items such as soup and cereal amid the coronavirus pandemic. The maker of Cheerios cereal and Betty Crocker cake mix on Wednesday reported a 16% jump in comparable sales for the latest quarter. General Mills said its U.S. cereal sales, which were picking up before the pandemic, rose 26% in the quarter, which ended May 31.”
Wall Street Journal
07-01-20
“The world’s very first “Candy Department Store” is set to open up this year in New Jersey, and if you have a sweet tooth, it’s going to be right up your alley. The new IT’SUGAR store will open in the soon-to-be-opened American Dream mall (that already has an amusement park and a water park in it!). It’s set to be truly massive, according to Chain Store Age. We’re talking three levels and 22,000 square feet of pure candy goodness.”
Delish
8-16-19
“Hershey Co. is raising prices on chocolate bars and other wrapped candies… The company is boosting prices by about 9%, Chief Executive Michele Buck said in an interview.”
Wall Street Journal
7-25-19
“Oreo-owner Mondelez is taking a majority stake in Perfect Snacks, the owner of refrigerated protein bar Perfect Bar, the companies announced on Wednesday. The deal gives Mondelez a further foothold into snacking as more people eat on-the-go. It comes on the heels of its roughly $500 million acquisition of premium cookie brand, Tate’s Bake Shop, in 2018 and the innovation hub it launched for new snacking brands, SnackFutures, the same year. Perfect Snacks has roughly $70 million in sales and is posting double-digit growth year-over-year.”
CNBC
6-19-19
“The global snack bars market size is projected to reach USD 31.60 billion by 2025 expanding at a CAGR of 6.64% from 2019 to 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.”
Grand View Research
6-11-19
“For decades, Ferrero International carved out a prominent and envious niche in U.S. confections selling its iconic line of Nutella chocolate and hazelnut spread, golden wrapped Ferrero Rochers and minty Tic Tacs. But in recent years the premium candy giant has double downed on its U.S. presence through a series of high-profile deals topping $5 billion in value…”
FoodDive
6-10-19
“Mondelez International has been able to boost sales despite an “unease” among worldwide consumers, CEO Dirk Van de Put told CNBC’s Jim Cramer Tuesday… The Illinois-based parent of Nabisco, Oreo, Philadelphia Cream Cheese and other recognizable brands recorded nearly 4% organic sales growth and more than 8% growth in emerging markets in its April quarterly earnings report. The stock has rallied nearly 30% this year.”
CNBC
5-28-19
“Hershey Co’s quarterly sales and profit topped Wall Street estimates on Thursday… The company, which is rolling out an average 2.5 percent price hike on one-fifth of its products this year, said it anticipates the benefit from higher prices to build over the course of the year.”
Reuters
4-25-19
“The Hatchery Chicago is getting a boost from Mondelez International. Mondelez’s investment in the incubator for food businesses is one of several the Deerfield-based company is making in an effort to promote growth opportunities in snacking as part of its innovation and venture hub, SnackFutures.”
Crain’s Chicago Business
3-21-19
“For all the talk of consumers wanting more healthful food, it turns out that many General Mills cereal eaters still want the sweet stuff. U.S. sales of its cereal grew 4 percent in the most recent quarter, the company reported Wednesday, helping the Golden Valley-based food manufacturer expand its profit margin and return considerably more money to shareholders than analysts expected… Executives credited new products such as Cinnamon Toast Crunch Churros and Fruity Lucky Charms for the bump.”
StarTribune
3-20-19
“…the outlook for the cookie market remains sweet. Packaged Facts projects retail dollar sales of the packaged cookies market will exceed $12 billion in 2023, increasing by a CAGR of more than 2% from 2018.”
PR Newswire
2-26-19
“The CEO of Mondelez International Inc. said the Chicagoland snack-food company has plans “to lead the future of snacking” around the world… “We have a unique combination of structural advantages and a strategic plan that positions us to lead the future of snacking. I’m encouraged by early results as we implement our new strategy, which enabled us to meet or exceed our financial commitments in 2018,” said CEO Dirk Van de Put, speaking at the 2019 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) Conference. The company’s shares are up 20 percent this year.”
Chicago Business Journal
2-20-19
“American consumers will show a lot of love for Valentine’s Day this year, new data from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics reveals. Shoppers are expected to spend a record $20.7 billion… Valentine’s Day observers plan to spend… $1.8 billion on candy (52 percent).”
Candy Industry
2-12-19
“Driven by consumer demand for more unique, interactive experiences, confectionery and snack product launches have grown globally by 17 percent over the last five years, Innova Market Insights reports. The research firm also notes one in four global consumers increased their consumption of confectionery items over the past year because there is more variety and novelty available.”
Candy Industry
1-15-19
“A survey from the National Confectioners Association found 80% of Americans plan to share chocolate and candy with friends, family and loved ones for Valentine’s Day…According to Eat Out Eat Well, $448 million is spent on candy during the holiday season — which amounts to 58 million pounds of chocolate and 36 million heart-shaped boxes.”
FoodDive
1-4-19
“The global confectionery market is expected to reach $284.4 billion by 2025, according to a new report from Hexa Research. Increasing innovation among existing products and surging global demand for chocolate products are among the key drivers pushing market growth.”
Candy Industry
1-10-19
“The maker of Oreos, Chips Ahoy and Ritz crackers is relocating its headquarters to Chicago next year in another boost to the up-and-coming Fulton Market neighborhood. Mondelez International will move about 400 jobs from north suburban Deerfield to its new Near West Side offices in 2020…”
Chicago Sun-Times
1-7-19
“Technavio analysts forecast the global chocolate market to grow at a [compound annual growth rate] close to 5% during the forecast period, according to their latest market research report.”
Business Wire
1-7-19
“…Hershey’s senior brand manager… said Cookie Layer Crunch has “become our company’s biggest launch in over 10 years” and from a retail sales perspective, is in the top 2.5% of all significant [candy, mint and gum] launches in the past five years… As of November 5, 2017, retail sales hit $100 million.”
Food Dive
12-11-18
“Mondelez International Inc. said Tuesday that it’s launching an innovation hub called SnackFutures in November that will create new brands and businesses, rework small Mondelez brands for greater success, and seed new businesses with start-ups.”
MarketWatch
10-30-18
“Overall, total U.S. retail sales of chocolate confectionery are estimated to have grown 15% since 2012 to reach $18.5 billion in 2018.”
Convenience Store Decisions
10-29-18
“The Hershey Co.’s consolidated net sales increased by more than two percentage points in this year’s third-quarter. The candy and snack company’s Halloween product launch and its recent acquisition of Pirate Brands drove the surge, Michele Buck, president and CEO, said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call on Oct. 25.…”[we are] on track to deliver our first-ever $600 million [Halloween] season,” Buck said.”
CSP Daily News
10-25-18
“Chocolate-novelty Kinder Joy hit the U.S. market in November of last year and has since surpassed parent-company Ferrero USA’s targets with more than 90 million eggs sold.”
NJBiz
10-19-18
“Albanese Confectionery in Hobart, Indiana, will get a 10-year tax break on its $33 million expansion, which will include “a fourth production line, packaging line, bulk sugar system and other production plans,” according to the Chicago Tribune. The company, which makes Gummi Bears and other candies, will hire about 150 people as a result of the expansion and expects to have more than 550 employees by 2019.”
Chicago Tribune
1-19-18
“Nestle is selling its U.S. confectionery business to Italian chocolate and candy maker Ferrero for an estimated $2.8 billion, the company said Tuesday. Nestle’s American sweet treats include Nestle Crunch, Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, Raisinets, Nips, Skinny Cow and Laffy Taffy.”
USA Today
1-16-18
“Candy king Hershey is buying Amplify Snack Brands, the maker of SkinnyPop popcorn, for $1.6 billion. The Hershey acquisition values Amplify Snack Brands at $12 a share – a more than 70% bump from the $7 price that the stock closed at on Friday. Shares of Amplify Snack Brands surged nearly 71% Monday morning.”
CNN Money
12-18-17
“John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc. said it is expanding its product line with the purchase of Squirrel Brand, a company that started in 1888. The Elgin company said it purchased certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Squirrel Brand for $31.5 million, of which $20 million was paid in cash and $11.5 million was financed by the seller through a three year unsecured promissory note.”
Daily Herald (Chicago)
12-1-17