The Hershey Co.’s Board has unanimously rejected interest from Mondelēz to acquire it.

It was not a gathering that Jonathan Hart, newly hired chief executive for Thorntons, recalls looking forward to. He had just joined the company in January 2011.

Ponchatoula, La.-based Elmer Chocolate is spending $40 million to expand and modernize production capacity.

One needs to only take a look at this year’s Global Top 100 in our January issue — our annual listing of confectionery companies freezing events in time — to get a snapshot of what happened.

The $142.5-million cash acquisition includes Harry & David's brands and websites as well as its headquarters, manufacturing and distribution facilities and orchards.

The acquisition will firmly establish Lindt as the No. 3 chocolate candy manufacturer in the U.S. market—still behind Hershey and Mars, but now firmly ahead of Swiss rival and global food leader Nestlé.

Cloetta found an Irish confectionery connection it hopse will “significantly strengthen” its position in the UK.

100 Good Food Award Winners will be announced Jan. 16, 2014, at a gala in San Francisco.