The UK government has been urged to introduce a levy on all processed, unhealthy foods containing ‘excessive calories’ – a move campaigners say would reduce consumption of saturated fat and sugar.
The UK government is exploring the environmental impact of ‘single-use plastics’ and potentially considering taxes, but is yet to determine if chewing gum will be included.
Inaction is not an option for confectionery brands if they want to survive in an age of increased regulation on sugared products, writes Neil Davidson, managing director of brand agency HeyHuman.
Industry players and a market researcher speculate how Norway’s 83% increased duty on chocolate and sugar products, which took effect on January 1 this year, will affect sales.
The Mentos maker Perfetti van Melle (PVM) USA will expand its manufacturing plant near Erlanger, Kentucky, with an $11m investment, adding 70 new full-time jobs to the state.
Dutch sustainable supply chain adviser and NGO, Solidaridad, has denied allegations of tax avoidance and wrongdoing over its links with Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the heart of the Panama Papers scandal.
Mondelēz International has hit back at critics who argued the global food giant avoided meeting its UK tax liabilities last year, after it was revealed the business paid no corporation tax in 2014.
Hungary’s confectionery association Hunbisco says that the national tax on sugar puts a financial strain on confectioners to explore sugar alternatives.
Raw sugar prices are forecast to rise as much as 7% by Q2 2015, but recent trading suggests prices will come down in the longer term, according to an analyst at Rabobank.
Scottish confectioners Lees of Scotland and Tunnock’s will receive windfall tax rebates after the firms’ snowball products were ruled to be tax exempt cakes by a UK court.
The city of Lakewood in Colorado has implemented state laws to tax candy and soft drinks at 3% while repealing earlier rules to tax a wider variety of foods.
Kraft is likely to have a robust defence in relation to the reported investigation into any tax bill it might be liable for following its takeover of Cadbury in February 2010, claims a UK tax law analyst.
Premier Foods is resisting confectionery tax on fruit bars, Cadbury
staff vote to reject closure plans, and a New York restaurant
charges $25,000 (€17,000m) for the most expensive chocolate dessert
in the world.
Marketers of fast moving consumer goods in Russia may now think
twice about using free samples to promote their products, following
a decision to tax them. Angela Drujinina reports.
