September 2026 Issue

Events take a prominent role this month. We begin with our preview of PPMA Show 2026, taking place at the NEC Birmingham, where processing, packaging and automation suppliers will showcase technologies designed to improve efficiency, flexibility and production performance. Alongside our event coverage, we also hear from exhibitors including Bradman Lake and Trivi. 

We then turn our attention to Pack Expo International in Chicago, another important date in the global manufacturing calendar. Our preview considers what confectionery producers can expect from this year’s event, while exhibitor spotlights throughout the magazine highlight some of the technologies visitors will be able to explore on the show floor. 

Elsewhere, our Big Interview sees Doron Delouya of TopGum discuss the rapid development of the functional gummy category. He explains how sophisticated formulations, manufacturing innovation and consumer enjoyment are coming together as gummies continue to establish themselves as an increasingly important delivery format for functional ingredients. 

Technology remains central throughout the issue. Bühler’s OmniCool Smart takes centre stage in our Product Spotlight, demonstrating how precise temperature control, flexible configurations and hygienic design can be combined within a universal cooling system. In an Ask the Expert exclusive, Stuart Grogan, Operations Director at BCH Ltd, discusses the advantages of integrated turnkey systems and how manufacturers can build greater flexibility and control into their operations. 

Next up, our Production & Processing feature continues this theme, with Managing Editor Rebecca Spayne examining how SCADA systems, predictive maintenance and robotics are improving visibility, reliability and operational decision-making across confectionery plants. Meanwhile, ingredients are equally important. I look at the role of fibre, protein and keto ingredients in improving nutritional profiles while preserving the functionality manufacturers depend upon. 

Packaging is undergoing significant change too. Features Editor Katie Tracy examines how PPWR, GS1 Sunrise 2027, smart labels and 2D QR coding are changing compliance requirements and influencing the way confectionery packaging lines are designed for the future. 

Finally, our Application feature explores another major formulation challenge: how sugar reduction, free-from recipes and functional ingredients can expand the confectionery category without compromising the sensory qualities consumers expect. 

Taken together, these subjects demonstrate just how quickly confectionery manufacturing is evolving. Whether the priority is greater efficiency, improved nutrition, smarter packaging or production resilience, innovation is increasingly about balancing multiple demands at once.