CONTENTS NEWS


06 INDUSTRY NEWS The latest news in the confectionery industry


62 MOVERS AND SHAKERS Key appointments and promotions that are shaking up the industry


INTERVIEWS


10 BIG INTERVIEW - AMY GUITTARD We sit down with fifth-generation Guittard leader Amy Guittard on heritage, flavour and honourable sourcing


14 BIG INTERVIEW - DAVID ARCHER David Archer, Managing Director of Sephra Europe reflects on the pivotal


moments, bold decisions and creative thinking behind the company’s global success


EVENTS


32 PROSWEETS/ISM PREVIEW A closer look at what attendees can expect behind the prestigious sweets and snacks trade show in Cologne, Germany


38 MIDWEST CRAFT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL


Clay Gordon reports from the Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival in Indiana, where a nonprofit, hyper-local model is highlighting the growing importance of regional chocolate events


REGIONAL FOCUS


18 SIAMAYA CHOCOLATE, THAILAND In Chiang Mai, Kiran Grewal meets Siamaya Chocolate CEO Neil Ransom to explore how the Thai bean-to-bar maker is shaping the country’s emerging cacao industry


FEATURES


24 PLANT-BASED AND UPCYCLED INGREDIENTS


We examine whether confectioners can go vegan without adding cost or complexity, and what tools can help


40 NEXT-GEN CONFECTIONERY MACHINERY


Confectionery machinery is evolving into intelligent, connected systems as labour shortages, sustainability demands and product complexity grow


46 AI & ROBOTICS IN PRODUCTION What impact has the adoption of technologies such as AI and machine vision had on the use of robots in the confectionery sector?


52 SMART AND CONNECTED PACKAGING The confectionery sector is becoming a testbed for digital engagement, smarter supply chains and innovation driven by hard-won lessons


REGISTER YOUR


INTEREST


JOIN US FOR THE LONDON CHOCOLATE FORUM 2026


THE HIPPODROME, LONDON DATE TBC


DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025/26 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • 5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64