FROM THE EDITOR


EDITORIAL Editor


Kiran Grewal


kgrewal@kennedys.co.uk Features Editor


Suzanne Callander scallander@kennedys.co.uk


Production & Design Marc Miller


ADVERTISING


Business Development Manager


Gary Smythson


gsmythson@kennedys.co.uk 01622 699183


Subscriptions Manager Nic Wood


nic.wood@c-cms.com EVENTS


Gary Smythson


gsmythson@kennedys.co.uk 01622 699183


ACCOUNTS accounts@datateam.co.uk


One of the highlights of this issue is Functional Ingredients (page 14). Consumers increasingly seek indulgence that delivers tangible benefits, and manufacturers are responding with products that balance pleasure and wellness. From nutrient-rich inclusions to plant-based alternatives, the challenge is delivering formats that are both delicious and functional — a theme that resonates across Easter NPD, where manufacturers aim to combine festive appeal with growing interest in responsible indulgence.


In Modular Equipment for Flexible Production (page 20), we explore how scalable lines allow confectionery makers to respond rapidly to seasonal peaks, shifting consumer preferences, and complex product portfolios. Similarly, Digital Twins (page 26) are enabling manufacturers to simulate, test, and optimise production virtually, improving efficiency while reducing risk — a capability that is becoming increasingly indispensable as complexity and expectations rise.


SUBSCRIBE


Kennedy’s Confection magazine is available by subscription at the following rate for 10 issues: UK £99 • Europe £149


Rest of World £149 • Online £75 All enquiries to nic.wood@c-cms.com


Published by:


Kennedy’s Publications, 15A London Road Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY Tel +44 (0) 1622 687031


www.kennedysconfection.co.uk


Kennedy’s Confection ISSN 1474-3841


Set up in 1890, Kennedy’s Confection is the longest– established magazine in the trade and is distributed


exclusively worldwide to manufacturers of chocolate, sugar confectionery and bakery products.


Kennedy’s Publications


Part of the Datateam Media Group Media Director Paul Ryder


Registered in England No. 1771113. Entire contents © 2025 Kennedy’s Publications, part of the Datateam Media Group. Material may not be


reproduced in any form without the publisher’s written approval.


For details on reprints and permissions, contact the director of Kennedy’s





Kiran Grewal, Editor kgrewal@kennedys.co.uk


MARCH 2026 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • 3


Packaging innovation remains critical to the industry. In Personalised and Premium Packaging (page 32), we examine how design choices, materials, and sustainability considerations can elevate a product, drive consumer engagement, and reinforce brand values. This is especially relevant as recycled and eco-conscious solutions gain traction, with companies like Mondelz International implementing high-recycled-content materials across its Cadbury Easter range (page 6) while also supporting aroma and flavour innovations through research partnerships, such as their collaboration with Aston University. Looking ahead, interpack in Düsseldorf is just around the corner, opening 7–13 May 2026. For the confectionery sector, this show is invaluable, showcasing solutions from intelligent production lines to sustainable packaging technologies and giving a live view of what the future of the industry might look like. Being on the ground at events like this allows our team to capture trends as they emerge, speak with innovators, and deliver first-hand insights to our readers.


Kennedy’s also continues to expand its global perspective. We’ve been invited to tour several confectionery innovation hubs internationally, giving us exclusive access to R&D facilities, pilot kitchens, and manufacturing operations. In upcoming editions, these visits will translate into in-depth interviews, behind-the-scenes features. I’m really excited to see these developments first-hand, and bring you analysis you won’t find elsewhere else.


Social responsibility remains a key story. Ofi’s recognition for advancing living income standards, and Fairtrade’s call for a UK responsible business law (page 7), highlight the ongoing pressures and opportunities for brands to embed ethical sourcing in the supply chain. These discussions are particularly timely as Easter brings cocoa back into the spotlight, reinforcing the link between consumer choice, sustainability, and industry accountability.


EDITOR’S LETTER M


arch always brings a sense of forward momentum to the confectionery industry. As spring approaches, so too does a season of innovation, launches, and major trade events that has a huge impact to the conversations we’ll be having in the year


ahead. In this edition of Kennedy’s Confection, we focus on the practical, the pioneering, and the purposeful — from ingredient innovation to equipment and packaging, and from market trends to pressing social and environmental responsibilities.


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