Latest news with #confectionery
Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Can Heritage Drive Modern Luxury?
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Born from the deep well of Moroccan culture yet speaking fluently to an international audience, London based Raphia is more than a confectionery brand - it is a carefully wrought cultural translation. It honours tradition without freezing it in time, and invites the global consumer into a sensory-rich narrative of craftsmanship, generosity, and ritual. "My Moroccan heritage has been the cornerstone of Raphia from the outset," Faress explains. "Not just as a source of inspiration, but as a strategic differentiator." Growing up immersed in Morocco's intricate craftsmanship, its cuisine brimming with complex flavours, and a society where hospitality is a profound value, she learned early that "generosity is a lifestyle, aesthetics are intuitive, and detail is sacred." These elements shaped her understanding of brand-building as an act not merely of commerce, but of cultural storytelling. Yet Faress was careful to avoid replicating tradition as a static template. Instead, she sought to "translate it, to distill the beauty, symbolism, and soul of Moroccan artistry into something that could live on the global stage." For her, heritage is "not as something to preserve in a museum, but as something alive, constantly evolving, yet anchored in meaning." This conviction underpins every aspect of Raphia, from the recipes it revives to the packaging it designs. The path from centuries-old gastronomy, often nurtured in intimate family circles, to a scalable luxury business was far from straightforward. Faress acknowledges the tension inherent in this journey: "Traditional gastronomy often thrives in small, intimate contexts, passed down through generations, refined through ritual, and safeguarded by communities. That intimacy… presents challenges when trying to build a business at scale." The artisanal techniques at the heart of Raphia's products are "highly manual, ingredient-sensitive, and dependent on time," luxuries not always afforded by modern production systems. Navigating this required more than operational savvy; it demanded a commitment to preserving authenticity while building resilience. Faress details the efforts invested in "skilled talent, creating rigorous training protocols, and building trusted supplier relationships that could meet demand without cutting corners." Alongside this, educating customers became critical. "We needed to reframe consumer perception, helping our audience understand why traditional methods matter, and how they enhance value rather than limit scalability," she says. "We weren't just scaling a product, we were scaling a philosophy." In a marketplace crowded with options, Raphia's differentiation lies in its emotional and cultural depth. Faress knew early on that "the differentiation had to come from emotional resonance and cultural sophistication." To that end, Raphia positions itself "not just as a brand that sells confectionery goods, but as one that curates atmosphere, feeling, and memory." Every detail — "every box, every flavour, every texture" — is deliberately crafted to evoke "both nostalgia and modernity," weaving Morocco's influence into "a refined, international aesthetic." This sensibility extends beyond retail into bespoke events, corporate gifting, and creative collaborations, allowing Raphia to "exist across lifestyle, culture, and design." Such agility, Faress notes, has been crucial in reaching "diverse audiences while staying true to our core." The emotional connection is palpable: customers become "brand advocates not because of what they buy, but because of how they feel." Central to this is a finely tuned balance between authenticity and luxury. For Faress, authenticity means "the truth of where something comes from, how it's made, and the intention behind it," while luxury "is about transformation, taking something familiar and refining it to the highest level of quality, design, and experience." She is clear that "the two aren't at odds, but they do require harmony." This manifests in decisions like taking "a centuries-old recipe and rethink[ing] its presentation, refine[ing] the ingredients, or reimagin[ing] the packaging — not to dilute it, but to ensure it speaks to a global audience with a refined sensibility." The result is a brand whose customers span continents and cultures, united by "their desire for authenticity with elegance." They are not simply purchasing products; they are "buying into a story, a memory, a feeling." Every interaction with Raphia becomes a portal into a broader cultural moment, thanks to the brand's steadfast commitment to storytelling. For entrepreneurs looking to root their brands in culture, Faress offers a measured yet passionate counsel. "Honour your source. Cultural heritage is not a trend — it's a lineage, a living legacy," she advises. Building a brand tied to culture means carrying "the weight of generations before you, and the responsibility to interpret that respectfully and creatively." Yet, she cautions, this responsibility should not stifle innovation. "Culture is not static, it evolves, and as entrepreneurs, we have the opportunity to shape that evolution with care and boldness." Creativity, she insists, should be used "not to mimic the past, but to imagine its future." Success depends on surrounding yourself with the right team — collaborators who "share your values, challenge your thinking, and bring operational excellence to your creative vision." Above all, Faress underscores that "brand-building is a marathon, not a sprint," and a purpose-rooted business will be more resilient through every stage of growth. In Raphia, Zineb Faress has crafted a luxury brand that is both a tribute and a transformation — a bridge between Moroccan cultural heritage and a global marketplace hungry for authenticity infused with elegance. It is a story of balance, resilience, and imagination; a reminder that heritage need not be confined to the past but can be a living, evolving source of beauty and meaning.
Gulf Business
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
Dubai Duty Free's May sales top Dhs724.7m; here's what travellers are buying
Image: Dubai Media office/ DDF The result also makes it the second-highest sales month ever for a non-December period, trailing only behind November 2024, and landing ninth in all-time top monthly sales. Commenting on the May figures, Ramesh Cidambi, MD of Dubai Duty Free said, 'May continued the strong growth story of 2025 and I am especially happy that the increase in sales was seen in many of the major categories. As of May 31, our revenue has exceeded Dhs3.5bn ($1bn), reflecting a year-to-date growth of nearly 6.5 per cent.' Here are 10 standout figures that highlight Dubai Duty Free's success in May: 1. Dhs724.7m in sales – and counting: The retail powerhouse raked in nearly$200m in May alone, making it 2025's strongest month to date. 2. Year-to-date revenue crosses $1bn: By May 31, DDF reported revenue of over Dhs3.5 bn ($1bn), with 6.5 per cent year-to-date growth 3. Sales growth outpaces footfall: Despite average daily traffic of 242,000 passengers, DDF's May sales growth outpaced traffic estimates by 7–8 per cent, based on internal projections. 4. Shoppers are spending more: Average spend per departing passenger hit US$46.7, up $3 from last year. Penetration rate (shoppers versus total passengers) also rose to 28 per cent, compared to 26.3 per cent in May 2024. 5. Sweet success: Confectionery up 81 per cent: Fuelled by the runaway popularity of 'Dubai chocolate', confectionery sales hit Dhs73.9m ($20.2m) – the biggest percentage gain of all categories. 6. Perfumes, tobacco, and gold shine bright: Perfumes: Dhs132.8m ($36.4m), +15 per cent Tobacco: Dhs77.m ($21.3m), +14.4 per cent Gold: Dhs70.7m ($19.4m), +11.65 per cent 7. Precious jewellery sparkles with 31.75 per cent gain: Sales in this luxury category climbed to Dhs20.2m ($5.5m), proving that high-spending travellers are still splurging. 8. Fashion and electronics remain steady: Fashion boutique sales grew 4.7 per cent to Dhs71.3m ($19.5m), while electronics saw a 5.4 per cent lift, reaching Dhs41.7m ($11.4m). 9. Terminal 2 Departures takes the crown: While Concourse B (T3) led major concourses with 17.5 per cent growth, Terminal 2 Departures posted the strongest overall gain at 20.8 per cent year-on-year. 10. Europe leads regional spenders: Passenger sales by region all showed growth: Europe: +25.9 per cent Russian region & Middle East: both +14 per cent Far East: +5.2 per cent Indian subcontinent: +4 per cent, despite recent travel disruptions Cidambi credited the growth to strong staff performance and broad-based category gains: 'These positive results are a direct reflection of the commitment and excellence shown by our entire team,' he said. With momentum building and half the year still ahead, the
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cadbury shrinks size of Freddo chocolates while prices remain the same
Cadbury has shrunk the size of its Dairy Milk Freddo multipacks, while keeping the price the same. The confectionery company is responsible for a range of popular chocolates including Boost, Crunchie, Creme Eggs and the classic Dairy Milk. However, arguably one of the most popular Cadbury chocolates is its Dairy Milk Freddos. The price of Freddos has been a major talking point over the years. The popular chocolate used to be 10p, but recently it has risen in price and is now on sale in supermarkets for up to 40p (Sainsbury's). Now, Freddo multipacks have been hit by shrinkflation. Cadbury has shrunk the size of its Freddo (5x18g) and Caramel Freddo (5x19.5g) multipacks by 20%, according to The Grocer. These multipacks disappeared from Tesco stores in May and have recently been replaced by Freddo 4x18g and Freddo Caramel 4x19.5g multipacks. Despite the change in size, the price has remained the same at £1.40. The original 5-packs of Freddo chocolates are still available in some supermarkets, including Morrisons. (Image: Morrisons) Both the old and new versions of the Freddo multipacks are available at Morrisons (at the time of writing), on sale for £1.40. While Sainsbury's still has the original multipacks of five available, both for £1.40. A spokesman for Cadbury owner Mondelez International, speaking to The Grocer, confirmed the change to Freddo multipacks was made due to "significantly higher input costs". RECOMMENDED READING: Cadbury to release new chocolate bar shoppers say is like discontinued favourite 'Amazingly good' new Kinder chocolate bar spotted in meal deal section at Tesco Tesco joins Sainsbury's in making major change to self-service checkouts Sainsbury's shoppers 'won't buy anything' as major change rolled out in-store The spokesperson explained ingredients like cocoa and dairy cost "far more" than they have done in the past and energy and transport prices "remain high". They continued: "This means that our products continue to be much more expensive to make and while we have absorbed these costs where possible, we still face considerable challenges. 'As a result of this difficult environment, we have had to make the decision to slightly reduce the weight of our Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo multipacks so that we can continue to provide consumers with the brands they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect."
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong pulls Haribo gummies from stores after cannabis taint in Netherlands
Hong Kong's food safety watchdog has instructed businesses to temporarily remove Haribo's gummy products from shelves as a precautionary measure, following reports from the Netherlands of cannabis contamination in certain batches of the popular sweets and an import suspension by Taiwan. Advertisement In response to the Post's queries, a government spokesman said on Sunday that while there had been no local reports of illness linked to German confectionery Haribo's cola-flavoured gummies, the Centre for Food Safety was taking action due to findings overseas. 'There have been no reports of discomfort among [residents] in Hong Kong from consuming the cola-flavoured gummies,' the statement said. 'However, in response to foreign reports and as a precautionary measure, the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has assisted in notifying the industry to temporarily remove the brand's gummies from shelves.' The government confirmed it would conduct tests on the recalled gummies and continue to monitor the situation. Advertisement 'If any problems are found, corresponding actions will be taken and announcements will be made,' the spokesman added. The Post has contacted Haribo for comment.
Wall Street Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Soaring Costs Expose a Trans-Atlantic Chocolate Divide
Almost everyone loves chocolate, whether it's a Hershey's Kiss, a Toblerone or a dark Lindt bar. But a historic surge in cocoa prices is testing just how deep that love really runs. And it turns out Europeans may be a bit more committed to chocolate than their American counterparts. That gap in loyalty has real implications for global confectionary companies.
