Candy Industry articles from April 2007

Candy Industry archives from April 2007

Don't mess with the 'Gold Standard'.(OPENING SHOTS)
April 1, 2007... In the end, the question is pretty straightforward. Can you take cocoa butter out of chocolate and still call it chocolate? The answer's yes if you endorse the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA)'s call for changes involving food...

War over says Ivory Coast's President Gbagbo.(NEWSLETTER)
April 1, 2007... The dismantling of a military buffer zone on April 16 provided the appropriate symbolism for President Laurent Gbagbo to proclaim the end of the civil war in the Ivory Coast. After inspecting the first joint parade of government and rebel...

Mars files lawsuit against nutraceuticals supplier.(NEWSLETTER)
April 1, 2007... Alleging patent infringement on polyphenol cocoa extracts, Mars has filed a lawsuit against Valencia, Spain-based Natraceutical. Mars' polyphenol research findings have led to the company's advances in processing procedures and technologies to...

Higher prices for Hershey ...(NEWSLETTER)
April 1, 2007... Rising ingredient costs have prompted the Hershey Co. to raise prices on all domestic, wholesale, standard, king-size and vending lines. Mounting costs of raw and packaging materials, fuel, utilities and transportation will affect a third of...

... As company reports flat 1Q sales, dip in profits.(NEWSLETTER)(The Hershey Co.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Although first quarter sales did top year-ago revenues, $1.153 billion in 2007 compared to $1.139 billion, the 1% increase failed to excite analysts, particularly when profits fell 24% to $93.5 million, down from $122.5 million a year ago. Rick...

Hershey's Smith Falls shutdown to weigh heavily on town.(NEWSLETTER)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... As part of its restructuring plan, Hershey plans to close its Smith Falls factory in Ontario, Canada within the next three years. The plant was the company's first built outside of Hershey, Pa. Hershey will move production to Mexico in a...

FDA considering changing chocolate regulations.(NEWSLETTER)
April 1, 2007... Following a petition from the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, along with other industry members, the Food and Drug Administration is considering changing regulations for chocolate's composition....

Outsourcing profitable for Callebaut.(NEWSLETTER)
April 1, 2007... Barry Callebaut's industrial business division has seen significant volume and sales growth due to the outsourcing of manufacturers' chocolate needs. The division, which includes the cocoa business unit and food manufacturer's business unit,...

Private investors purchase German candy company.(NEWSLETTER)
April 1, 2007... German equity investment company Arques acquired Dortmund, Germany-based van Netten from its parent company, Zuckerfabrik Julich AG. Van Netten, a confectionery firm that produces fruit gums, jellies and sugar-coated candies, has an annual...

Nestle researches polyphenols.(NEWSLETTER)
April 1, 2007... Scientists from the Nestle Research Center found that the polyphenol content of some chocolates varies. Found in cocoa, polyphenols have antioxidant characteristics that carry possible health benefits. Dark chocolate, for instance, boasts more...

Orchard Sweet inks deal with Seneca Foods.(NEWSLETTER)
April 1, 2007... Newly created Orchard Sweet Foods has signed a long-term licensing agreement with the Seneca Food Corp. to develop and market a full line of confections under the Seneca brand. The Marion, N.Y.-based consumer brands company posted nearly $1...

From farm to pharma: chocolate's string of health claims ranges from lowering blood pressure to even preventing some cancers.(CANDY: NEWS)
April 1, 2007... It seems too good to be true, but a piece of chocolate a day might just keep the doctor away. But before gobbling down blocks of the sweet stuff like it's the elixir of life, please note that the benefits are effective with just one or two...

Ann Klein passes away.(Obituary)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Ann Klein, 71, the wife of the late William Klein, Jr. of the Klein Chocolate Co., died in her sleep on March 31. Born on May 20, 1931, in Lancaster, Pa., she's the daughter of J. Henry Fisher and Marian Hoover Fisher. Raised in Lancaster, she...

Bill Ryan wraps up prestigious candy career.(CANDY: NEWS)(William Ryan)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... April was a month of milestones for William Ryan, vice president of confectionery sales and marketing for ADM Cocoa. April 30th marked his last day on the job after more than 23 years with the organization. Just a few days prior to that, Ryan...

Orchard Sweet strives to cultivate unique candies.(CANDY: NEWS)
April 1, 2007... Candy category veterans Brendan Kelley and Ray Canik have partnered to form Orchard Sweet Foods--a candy and snack company dedicated to developing delicious products that appeal to today's health-conscious consumers. Former senior...

Its's good to be King (Leo): Pierre Redmond's return as a "hands-on" owner to Quality Candy brings a shift in strategy, one that underscores added-value rather than volume.(Cover story)(Company overview)
April 1, 2007... It's good to be king and have your own way Get a feeling of peace at the end of the day And when your bulldog barks and your canary sings You're out there with winners, it's good to be king Fragment from "It's Good to be King," lyrics...

Rural 'routes' by: when Kim and Mark Kalan started their enterprise five years ago, they experienced extraordinary setbacks. nevertheless, even a train barreling into their facility couldn't stop them from cooking caramels and becoming a success.(CHOCOLATE TRENDSETTER)(Perham)(Company overview)
April 1, 2007... Perham, Minn., lends a unique spin to the common small-town stereotype. Sure, there are the cozy specialty stores such as Ma's Little Red Barn and the Pink Piglet with chatty shopkeepers that beam with rural hospitality, but this is not your...

Vienna--a chocolate lover's paradise: chocolate and confectionery consultant Stanislav Kramsky, an avid collector of candy labels, provides readers with his personal tour of this storied city's chocolate shops.(INTERNATIONAL RETAILER)
April 1, 2007... A visit to one of Central Europe's most beautiful cities is not complete without a tour of its chocolate and confectionery shops. It"s not surprising that the city renowned for its cafes also hosts some of the finest confectioners in Europe....

Centennial serendipity: the PMCA's 61st production conference posts new attendance and exhibitor records, despite a Nor'Eastern disrupting some travel plans.(PMCA COVERAGE)
April 1, 2007... It's no accident that the PMCA celebrates its 100 anniversary this year (A dedicated membership accounts for most of the longevity). And it was no accident that the association's production conference, held this year at Hershey, Pa. April...

Russian market continues to attract suppliers.(SHOW COVERAGE)
April 1, 2007... This year's Upakovka/Upak Italia show once again demonstrated the rapid development of Russia's confectionery marketplace and the need to sustain it with processing and packaging equipment. The show, which was held again at the ZAO Expocentr...

Back in the box: think a box of chocolates is a cliche gift? Then consider some recent launches with offerings that are anything but ordinary.(CHOCOLATE GIFT BOXES: CATEGORY CLOSE-UP)
April 1, 2007... Though chocolate has long been a crowd pleaser, it never hurts to jazz things up a bit. Heightened appreciation for artisan chocolates, along with clever and sophisticated packaging, has rejuvenated the chocolate gift box sector. Whether...

Whimsical confectionery gifts.(CHOCOLATE GIFT BOXES: CATEGORY CLOSE-UP)
April 1, 2007... Phoenix-based Fairytale Brownies' Spring Deluxe gift box can indulge in any season. The set includes the Fairytale Dozen, a gourmet selection of brownies in flavors like Raspberry Swirl, Toffee Crunch and Espresso Nib. To top off the brownies...

'Curiouser and curiouser': thanks to health-conscious consumers and a growing hispanic population, manufacturers today are tapping into exotic flavors blessed with "healthy halos" for inspiration.(Candy R&D: TRENDS & APPLICATIONS IN INGREDIENT TECHNOLOGY)
April 1, 2007... Over the past few years, consumers warmly welcomed flavors such as mango, passion fruit and guava into their diets, nudging more flavorists to push the boundaries of exotic tastes. Today, it's no strange thing to find a pomegranate-flavored...

Cocoa's new best friend.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Plush Puffs, Sherman Oaks, Calif. THE PRODUCT: Mini marshmallows THE HOOK: After having great success with their larger marshmallows, Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows recently introduced its first line of mini...

Cured by chocolate.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Dagoba Organic Chocolate, Ashland, Ore. THE PRODUCT: Apothecary line THE HOOK: Inspired by cacao's ancient importance as a healing elixir, Dagoba Chocolate fused cacao's health properties with an indulgent chocolate flavor...

Wrigley Co.(At a glance)
April 1, 2007... Inspired by the growing popularity of lime and berry Chicago-based Wrigley Co. expanded its Orbit line with two new flavors--Mint Mojito and Raspberry Mint. The flavors represent the tenth and eleventh flavors of the Orbit brand, the...

Candy Dynamics.(At a glance)
April 1, 2007... Novelty candy marketer Candy Dynamics will launch two new Toxic Waste Nuclear Sludge Chew Bar flavors--Sour Blue Raspberry and Sour Cherry--in the second quarter 2007. The new flavors, spawned by the success of the Sour Apple variety, offer a...

Madeline Chocolates.(At a glance)
April 1, 2007... Madelaine Chocolates, based in Rockaway Beach, N.Y., has updated its Thanksgiving Minis with colorful backgrounds that compliment festive fall graphics ranging from a pilgrim to a cornucopia. The new colorful foils wrap around bite-sized pieces...

Dorval Trading Co.(At a glance)
April 1, 2007... Dorval Trading Go. has extended its line of long-lasting chewy taffy pops with the release of the Top Pops 18-count assorted bag. The bag contains four flavors--Strawberry, Watermelon, Strawberry-Lemon and Blazpberry (Red and Blue Raspberry)....

Sconza Candy.(At a glance)
April 1, 2007... Oakland, Calif.-based Sconza Candy announced two new additions to the Psychedelic Sours Jawbreakers line--Psychedelic Red and Psychedelic Blue. The new flavors, each weighing 1/3 lb. each, join the original Psychedelic Green jawbreaker. Each...

Tea time.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Keiko, Mt. Vernon, Ill. THE PRODUCT: Green Chocolate THE HOOK: Keiko, supplier of exclusive Japanese shaded green tea products, introduced Green Chocolate. The new confection, the latest addition to the company's Green...

Chock full.(Candy R&D)
April 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Hebert Confections, Shrewsbury, Mass. THE PRODUCT: Fully Loaded Chocolates THE HOOK: Hebert Confections' new Fully Loaded Chocolates pack a wide array of inclusions to give the chocolates a bold flavor. The line's first...

CNI launches nutritional texturizer.(CREATORS BRIEFS')
April 1, 2007... Colloides Naturels International (CNI) introduced Equacia, an association of acacia gum fibers and wheat fibers, that offers the following capabilities: thickening, stabilizing, water binding, mouthfeel enhancing and fat replacing. The product...

Finely ground semi-sweet Peter's chocolate debuts.(CREDITORS BRIEFS')
April 1, 2007... Now available in a finely ground form, Peter's Burgundy Semi-sweet Chocolate is perfect for use as a drinking chocolate. By adding warm milk or water to the ground chocolate, chocolatiers can make drinking chocolate with unique fruit and wine...

Virginia Dare offering Fair Trade vanilla.(CREDITORS BRIEFS')
April 1, 2007... Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Virginia Dare will now provide customers with Fair Trade Vanilla. The new offering, which comes from India, has a high vanillin content and a clean flavor profile. Virginia Dare's new Fair Trade Vanilla has been sanctioned...

Versatile moulding system enhances flexibility.(CREDITORS BRIEFS')
April 1, 2007... OPM Chocolate, a subsidiary of Italy's OPM (Sympak Group), has developed a Universal Chocolate Depositor that can produce a broad range of chocolate products--with or without fillings--encompassing one-shot technology. Although many...

Confectionery cooking, dosing solutions.(CREDITORS BRIEFS')
April 1, 2007... For more than 100 years, Klockner Hansel Processing (KHP)--together with its parent companies--has embraced ultimate quality as its mandate. Known for the manufacture of powerful machines, equipment and systems involved in processing aerated...

Points made in Paradise.
April 1, 2007... The Western Candy Conference, which was held March 21-25 at Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego, featured a varied program, combining business sessions with fun in the sun. A panel discussion focusing on leadership in a rapid business...

Sweet profile.(CANDY WRAPPER)(Momma Reiner's Fudge, Kimberly Reiner)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... Anyone who affixes labels that read homemade in a little kitchen on a little street in a little village by the sea" on fudge must have a very personal relationship with the product. "Ever since I was a little girl my mother and I would make...