Professional Candy Buyer back issues from January 2004:
Are you missing out on finding the category's next icon?(Editorial)(Column)
Jan 01, 2004; ... I'M CONFUSED--A LITTLE MORE THAN USUAL. I used to think, for instance, that candy suppliers made huge efforts at trade shows to present all their new items. I thought that they channeled their efforts to ensure their products were not only displayed at their best, but also ...
Low-carb bars debut from Hershey.(News & Trends)
Jan 01, 2004 ... HERSHEY, PA -- Hershey Foods Corp. joins the growing number of companies jumping into the low-carb market with the debut of 1 g Sugar Carb chocolate candy bars. The 1.1-ounce bars are said to contain one gram of sugar and about 20 percent fewer calories than a regular Hershey's ...
Alpine purchases Fanny Farmer, Fanny May chocolates.(News & Trends)(Alpine Confections Inc)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CHICAGO -- Following months of speculation, a preliminary agreement has been reached between Alpine Confections Inc. and Archibald Candy Corp. that allows Utah-based Alpine to acquire the Fanny Farmer and Fannie May chocolate brands. Financial terms were not disclosed. The ...
Candy sales hit $6.7 billion in 2003.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CHICAGO -- Candy sales hit $6.7 billion in 2003, an increase from $6.6 billion in 2002, according to Information Resources, Inc. The data for food, drug and mass channels (excluding Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) for the 52-week period ended December 28, 2003, shows chocolate category ...
Just Born fills Peeps with chocolate.(News & Trends)
Jan 01, 2004 ... BETHLEHEM, PA -- Marshmallow Peeps DelightFills are 3-D pumpkin-shaped Peeps with chocolate cream. The filled item, debuting this Halloween, marks the first time Just Born, Inc. has introduced a 3-D version of the treat since original chick-shaped Peeps were first developed. They are also ...
Smarties pressed bubble gum launches.(News & Trends)
Jan 01, 2004 ... UNION, NJ -- Bubble Gum Smarties, pressed bubble gum the same size and shape as traditional Smarties, debut from CeDe Candy, Inc. The first of many brand extensions, Eric Ostrow, CeDe vice-president of sales and marketing, says the bubble gum, along with upcoming items will imitate the ...
Wrigley acquires Joyco businesses.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CHICAGO -- The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. has signed a purchase agreement for certain confectionery businesses of Joyco Group, part of a privately held Spanish food conglomerate. The $272 million cash transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances. ...
7-Eleven focuses on controlled-carb offerings.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... DALLAS -- Expanding its offering of "healthy food choices," 7-Eleven, Inc. has doubled the number of controlled-carb products it merchandises to about 50 items. Items in the national "Better Choices, Better Year" display program are also merchandised in appropriate sections ...
Harmony rolls out mobile candy carts.(News & Trends)
Jan 01, 2004 ... SANTA CRUZ, CA -- To break into trade classes such as airports, convention centers and shopping centers, Harmony Foods Corp. introduces the Harmony Cart. The natural wood carts hold about 24 bulk candy bins and 20 peg bag cases. Carts are now in the Las Vegas and Los Angeles ...
2004 specialty chocolate trends revealed.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CLEVELAND -- Trends for specialty chocolates in 2004 include spicy-hot flavors, organics, all-natural ingredients and a continuing focus on cocoa's country of origin, according Joan Steuer, president of Chocolate Marketing. Steuer tells PROFESSIONAL CANDY BUYER Dagoba Chocolate ...
Beverages pack on most pounds.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CHAPEL HILL, NC -- Consumers increased sugar intake can be attributed mainly to soft drinks and fruit drinks, according to a new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study. Until now, food-related research has not specifically shown which foods are responsible for the ...
Nestle wrappers announce prize winners.(News & Trends)
Jan 01, 2004 ... GLENDALE, CA -- Wrappers that play music of state "congratulations" are part of Nestle Foods Corp.'s 2004 VIP Music Experience. Through November, consumers can win one of four grand prizes by purchasing Nestle Crunch, 100 Grand, Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, SweeTarts. Spree and ...
Juicee Gummee gets national consumer campaign.(News & Trends)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CLEARWATER, FL -- A national consumer advertising and promotion campaign kicks off for Dayhoff, LLC's Juicee Gummee brand. The program features print, radio and internet advertising, along with a cross-promotion with two popular youth bands. Carlos Marroquin, Dayhoff director of ...
Brach's management office moves to Dallas.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... WOODRIDGE IL -- Brach's Confections Inc.'s corporate management and administration offices have moved from Chicago to Dallas. Terry O'Brien, Brach's president and CEO, says the move will put executives in closer touch with the new production facility built in Linares, Mexico, by ...
Masterfoods strips color from M&M's.(News & Trends)
Jan 01, 2004 ... HACKETTSTOWN, NJ -- To prepare for a promotion later in 2004. Masterfoods USA is distributing colorless M&M's, phasing out the traditional colored shells. The official announcement was made during ABC Television's New Year's Eve telecast of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' ...
Jelly Belly alters sugarfree bean recipe.(News & Trends)
Jan 01, 2004 ... FAIRFIELD, CA -- New packs of Jelly Belly Candy Co's. reformulated sugarfree Jelly Belly jelly beans list just 90 calories and four net carbs per 35-bean serving. "We've responded to a five-fold increase in consumer inquiries about carbohydrates and have ...
Now featuring: candy! How buyer Gary Hay is using candy to generate a bigger cut of Movie Gallery's concession dollars using custom displays, product exclusives and tie-ins.(Exclusive Buyer Interview)
Jan 01, 2004 ... GARY HAY CAN NAME HIS TOP-FIVE favorite movies without hesitation--The Outlaw Josey Wales, Unforgiven, Pulp Fiction, Jaws and National Lampoon's Vacation. If it seems he favors drama, he's certainly in the right place as candy buyer for Movie Gallery, Inc., one of the nation's ...
Bubble gum in pop rocks format.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... POP ROCKS INC. launches Pop Rocks Bubble Gum, combining original gum-flaw)r Pop Rocks and soft gum pieces. Each 0.37-ounce pack has a SRP of 50 cents and offers 12 percent more ...
Marich bags Halloween line.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... THE HALLOWEEN BAGLINE SELECT from Marich Confectionery Co. includes a mix of Halloween candies packed in cello bags and finished with hangtags. The line includes Halloween Select Mix, Halloween Creams, Pectin Spooky Sours, jelly beans, licorice ...
Madelaine stacks pumpkin boxes.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... SIX HIGH TOWERS of keepsake boxes decorated with jack-o'-lantern graphics are filled with chocolates by Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc. Each of the three boxes holds crispy milk chocolate balls wrapped in holiday foil. Featuring eight ounces of chocolate, the towers have a SRP of ...
Top 10 Halloween chocolate suppliers.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Jan 01, 2004 ... <Pre> TOP 10 HALLOWEEN CHOCOLATE SUPPLIERS 52-Week Period Ended November 3, 2003--FDMx (Supermarkets, Drug and Mass stores except Wal-Mart) Seasonally Wrapped Products Only DOLLAR DOLLAR %DOLLAR SALES ...
Ford 2004 Halloween line highlights bubble gum.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CHUNK-A-CHEW twist-wrap bubble gum in original and grape now packs in 260-ct jars from Ford Gum & Machine Co., Inc. The jars ship six per case and have a SRP of $6.99. Chunk-A-Chew Witch's Kettles are 260-ct reusable molded plastic kettles with a handle filled with flavor. Kettles have a ...
Frankford line features SpongeBob.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... FRANKFORD CANDY & CHOCOLATE CO. offers Nickcandy brand Fairly Odd Parents Magic Wands. The plastic tubes are filled with Sparkling Fairy Dust with bubble gum bits in cherry, watermelon and blue raspberry. Bags hold 45 wands and feature illustrations of characters from The Fairly Odd ...
Jelly Belly adds fun packs to line.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... INDIVIDUAL SERVING-SIZED Jelly Belly Fun Paks filled with fruit flavor beans are available from Jelly Belly Candy Co. The 11-ounce laydown bags hold 21 to 23 packets each, have a SRP ...
Concord releases halloween bubble.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... TWINKLERS DUBBLE BUBBLE from Concord Confections Inc. comes in bags with Halloween graphics. The orange, black and white sprinkle-coated gumballs pack 12 ounces per laydown bag. Halloween Dubbles Dubble Bubble has an orange-flavored and -colored pumpkin shape in the middle of each piece of ...
Face twisters now in big stick form.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... FUN FACTORY LLC, a subsidiary of Schuster Marketing Corp., is extending its Face Twisters Sour Bubble Gum line with Big Stik. According to the company, Big Stik is the only sour bubble stick in an oversized pack. The product features 2.2 ounces of sour-coated bubble gum in strawberry and ...
Sour Power belts top Dorval line.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED Sour Power sugar-sanded belts are available from Dorval Trading Co., Ltd. The belts earned the American Culinary Institute's Gold Medal for best sour licorice. Available in watermelon, blue raspberry, strawberry and green apple, they pack in 150-ct counter displays, 12 ...
Top 10 Halloween non-chocolate suppliers.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Jan 01, 2004 ... <Pre> TOP 10 HALLOWEEN NON-CHOCOLATE SUPPLIERS 52-Week Period Ended November 3, 2003--FDMx (Supermarkets, Drug and Mass stores except Wal-Mart) Seasonally Wrapped ProductsDOLLAR DOLLAR %DOLLAR...
Lindt expands Halloween range.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... LINDT & SPRUNGLI (USA) INC. introduces Token Pumpkin Boxes, pumpkin-shaped boxes with a jack-o'-lantern face. The boxes are filled with five Halloween Lindor Milk Truffles in jack-o'-lantern wrappers and have a SRP of $2.99. Counter displays hold 12 boxes. The company is also ...
Snack packs, novelties offered by Judson-Atkinson for fall holiday.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... JUDSON-ATKINSON CANDIES, INC. offers a full line of bagged and bulk holiday candy. Its bag line includes 26 ounces of Fiesta Mix, 48 ounces of All Your Favorites, 16 ounces of Jelly Bean Passouts, butterscotch, Sparkling Mix, starlight mints and Kiddie Mix, 10 ounces of peanut butter ...
Atkinson highlights striped twists.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... ATKINSON CANDY Co.'s Halloween line features Orange & Black Twists. The bulk candies are orange flavor and ship in 30-pound cases. The company's holiday bulk line also includes bite-size Chick-O-Stick Nuggets and flat pieces, Peanut Butter Bars, Assorted Sours and ...
Freaky Fingers now in national distribution.(Halloween profit preview: Part 1)
Jan 01, 2004 ... PLASTIC FINGER CAPS in ghoulish designs, Freaky Fingers from CandyRific, LLC, each feature a 0.58-ounce Chupa Chups lollipop at the end. The line includes five designs, packing in 48-ct power panels, and ...
Quality candy: a lion in the mountains: Professional Candy Buyer heads to Southern California to take the wraps off one of the largest, least-known candy companies in America.(On The Road)(Company Profile)
Jan 01, 2004 ... VISITORS ARRIVING AT QUALITY CANDY CO. INC.'s headquarters are likely in for more than a few surprises. Little more than an hour's drive Northeast of San Diego in the heart of the Cuyamaca mountains, the V company's headquarters sits perched on a 40-plus acre hilltop site just outside the ...
Farley's & Sathers in gum business.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... FARLEY'S & SATHERS CANDY Co., INC. enters the branded gum sector with the relaunch of Super Bubble, Fruit Stripe, Rain-Blo and Hot Dog!. The brands were acquired from Hershey Foods Corp. in August and are being produced using original formulas in the same facilities Hershey used. ...
Monkey business take-off of child's game.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... KoKo's CONFECTIONERY & NOVELTY introduces Monkey Business Candy. The multi-flavored pressed dextrose pieces imprinted with a monkey graphic and resembling the linking arras of the traditional child's game can be connected to form chains. The candy packs in barrels filled with ...
Count good Unicorn Pops in A&B line.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... UNICORN POPS are now in a one-ounce count good size from Adams & Brooks, Inc. The multicolored twisted rope pops have a SRP of 55 cents and pack in 48-ct display boxes. The company also introduces Looney Tunes Tweety Fruit Flavored Pops and Taz Sour Pops in peg bags. Both items ...
Hershey fills kisses with caramel.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... HERSHEY'S KISSES Milk Chocolates Filled With Caramel are joining the permanent Kisses line from Hershey Foods Corp. The product will hit retail in April and pack in 9.2-, 12-and 21-ounce bags with approximate SRPs of $2.49, $2.99 and $4.99, respectively. The ...
Lake Champlain offers premium line.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... SMALL WORLD CHOCOLATES from Lake Champlain Chocolates LLC, focus on select-origin, high-cocoa content chocolates and exotic flavors from around the world. The line includes truffles, chocolates and Sensations, which are all natural and kosher. Small World Truffles are offered in ...
Au'some celebrates Popeye's birthday.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... COMMEMORATING THE CARTOON character's 75th anniversary Au'some Candies, Inc. introduces Popeye Klik Dispensers. Available in Popeye, Olive Oyle and Brutus characters, each refillable container packs with one roll each of Smarties ...
Chocolate, honey coat macadamias.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... USING HAWAIIAN HONEY, Hawaiian Host, Inc. unveils Honey Coated Chocolate Covered Whole Macadamias. The nuts are covered in a layer of pure honey that forms a crunchy coating and then enrobed ...
Madelaine extends chocolate line.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... COFFEE TRUFFLE CUPS from Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc. are moulded milk chocolates filled with a dark espresso coffee truffle center. Each 0.5 ounce piece is individually foiled to resemble a coffee cup and ships three 40-ct acetate tubs per case. The company's Chocolate ...
Energy Strips offer instant pep.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... HEALTH-TECH, INC. introduces Energy Strips. The dissolving film strips feature taurine and caffeine and are said to increase strength, reaction speed, performance, concentration and alertness. The strips are blister packed in ...
Real fruit fillings featured in cape cod truffles.(New Products)
Jan 01, 2004 ... HARVEST SWEET FRUIT TRUFFLES from Cape Cod Provisions LLC feature ganache centers of pureed fruit, fresh cream and cocoa butter surrounded by chocolate, They are available in raspberry with dark chocolate, strawberry and peach with milk chocolate. Each piece ...
Gummies still paint strong picture: look for exciting new shapes, flavors and textures in 2004.(Special Sector Report)(novelty candies)(Cover Story)
Jan 01, 2004 ... GUMMI TRENDS IN 2004 will include new novelty items, renewed attention to flavors, brand-building and more emphasis on seasonal lines. Some suppliers will experiment more with pull-through consumer marketing, while a weaker U.S. dollar has leveled the playing field for some domestic ...
Designing perfect laydown bags: laydown bags are looking better thanks to strong branding and renewed consumer interest. Forward-thinking buyers are even getting involved in their design.(Laydown Bags)
Jan 01, 2004; ... LAYDOWN BAGS ARE EVOLVING--no longer mainly clear, poorly decorated staples in the low-cost sector, they are becoming both valuable billboards for brands and image boosting vehicles for commodity items. They are often the workhorses of many candy sets, complementing other eye-catching pack ...
Bobs' survival never in doubt.(Straight Talk)(Bobs Candies Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004; ... It's been a while, but here it is--some honest-to-goodness positive news in a category that's taken a recent bashing Inundated with reports about obesity, school bans, trans fats and bioterrorism, supplier acquisitions, consolidations and sad stories about the millions of dollars lost in ...
Brokers: a vanishing breed? Millions of dollars are disappearing from the broker community as suppliers go direct. Professional Candy Buyer investigates what the future holds.(Special Report)
Jan 01, 2004 ... HERSHEY FOODS CORP., Kraft Confections, Keebler Co., Kellogg USA, Inc., Amurol Confections Co., Willy Wonka Candy Factory and Jaret International have all taken their sales direct in recent years, impacting brokers to the tune of millions of dollars. But is this all part of the cyclical ...
Chocolate fashions shine in NYC.(Quick Bites)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... NEW YORK -- Pair a dozen or so fashion designers with chocolatiers and pastry chefs then turn them loose with a charge to combine chocolate and couture, and you get the highlight of the edible fashion season. Held in New York in conjunction with the Sixth Annual Chocolate Show, the 2003 ...
Godiva, pastry chef team for even pricier chocolates.(Quick Bites)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... SAN FRANCISCO -- A limited edition, limited distribution collection of assorted chocolates designed by pastry chef Norman Love is the newest addition to Godiva Chocolatier's upscale chocolate line. With an average price per pound of $100, nine-, 15- and 30-piece assortments ...
Specialty bars offer something for every taste.(Quick Bites)(Vosges Chocolate)(Byrne & Carlson)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CLEVELAND -- With their inspiration drawn from flowers, teas, ginger, hot peppers and other influences, an influx of unusual bars was evident on specialty retailers' shelves this holiday season. For example, Red Fire bars, from Vosges Chocolate, combine 60 percent dark chocolate ...
Bears' increasingly poor health blamed on candy.(Quick Bites)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... CLEVELAND -- Bear hunters across the country are increasingly baiting the bruins with large blocks of candy. In addition to drawing fire from wildlife officials, the controversial practice is said to be contributing to increased levels of tooth decay, lethargy and hair and weight loss ...
Hershey sparks NASCAR romance.(Quick Bites)(Tie the Knot at the Hershey's Kisses 300)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2004 ... HERSHEY, PA -- An Indiana couple will exchange trackside wedding vows on Valentine's Day at the Hershey's Kisses 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Teri Lewis, RN, and Gene Konzen, firefighter, beat out four other couples for their chance to win the ...