Barry Callebaut has announced the launch of a new lactose free milk chocolate – the first to be sold in the company's Region Europe. According to the cocoa and chocolate product manufacturer, the new chocolate differs from existing offerings by using a special skimmed milk powder with the lowest lactose content available on the market. Barry Callebaut claims that with this particular powder, it can allow higher amounts of milk powder in its recipe. This, the company claims, preserves all the goodness from the milk and results in a similar taste as regular milk chocolate. To create the Read more...

Daskalidès Chocolatier has released further details about a new chocolate shop/café it is opening in Covent Garden, London.   The store will open on 1 June 2012 – Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend - and will offer free tastings. A new online shop will also be launched on the same day: http://www.daskalides.co.uk   The Daskalidès family has been producing Belgian pralines since 1931 and has won awards such as the Laurier d’Or de la Qualité. The company is currently represented in more than 40 countries.   The new premises will be based at 76 Long Acre, Covent Garden and Read more...

Jelly Tots inventor, Dr Brian Boffey, has been presented with a Good Citizen award by Horsforth Town Council.   The 77 year old originally worked as a young research scientist at Rowntrees, York when he created the confectionery item in the 1960s. Boffey’s intention was to develop a powdered jelly that instantly set when added to cold water, but he considered the droplets to be a waste. However, within weeks, Jelly Tots were being sold across the UK. As a result of this, he was later asked to work with NASA in Chicago to aid attempts to freeze dry food for the Apollo space Read more...

Skills Minister John Hayes has described an apprenticeship programme running at Thorntons’ headquarters as a ‘great idea’. Mr Hayes visited the confectionery giant’s Derbyshire premises to see how the firm is reducing costs by training staff to higher levels. The apprenticeship scheme has involved 17 workers training for more than a year in food manufacturing excellence. The apprentices are the first in England to achieve such a qualification and the success of the scheme has resulted in Thornton's pledge to take on another 40 apprentices.   Mr Hayes told the Derby Read more...