Candy Industry articles from February 2006

Candy Industry archives from February 2006

Ratchetin' it up.(candies)
February 1, 2006... I'd like to say it was planned. Yea, that this month's feature stories, and even the newsletter blurb, were part of our editorial foresight. Well, not really. Forecasting isn't what it used to be, as they say. It's much harder. But yes,...

Commerce Dept. blames sugar prices for job losses ...(Newsletter)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The U.S. Department of Commerce released a report on Valentine's Day that officially blamed the country's sugar policies for the loss of thousands of American jobs. The report found that artificially high sugar prices were "a major factor" in...

... While USDA sees no end in sight for high sugar prices.(Newsletter)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... According to the USDA, high sugar prices will continue into 2006. Short sugar supplies in the U.S. and Asia, along with reduced supplies of sugar entering the world export market, are also expected to continue through this year. This confirms...

Cadbury Schweppes opens new research center...(Newsletter)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Earlier this month Cadbury Schweppes Americas Confectionery, part of Cadbury Schweppes, opened its new Science & Technology Center in Hanover, N.J. The Center, a $40-million investment, will create new products for the Cadbury Schweppes global...

... And acquires a leading South African gum company.(Newsletter)
February 1, 2006... To further its focus on gum products, Cadbury Schweppes announced it will acquire South Africa's leading gum business from Dan Products in Botswana. At the same time, Schweppes will also sell its South African beverage business, Bromor Foods,...

Hershey names two new vice presidents.(Newsletter)(Appointed Dan Vucovich and Andrea Thomas as vice-presidents)
February 1, 2006... Following the company's recent change in its organization, The Hershey Co. announced the addition of two new vice presidents this month. Dan Vucovich will serve as vice president, chief customer officer--U.S. Commercial Group and Andrea Thomas...

Inquiry launched to investigate Chupa Chups loan.(Newsletter)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The European Commission launched an open inquiry earlier this month to establish if a loan granted to lollipop maker Chupa Chups breaks EU competition rules. Spain's Catalonian government granted the company a 35-million euro loan in 2003 to...

Queen Anne acquisition expands World's Finest push into retailing.(NEWS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Queen is returning to Chicago-Queen Anne Cherry Cordials, that is. The chocolate-covered cherries' brand was originally established in Chicago in 1921, but since 1992 had been owned by Portland, Ore.-based Gray & Co, the world's largest...

Joy ride: with a revved-up management team, Just Born has positioned itself as an aggressive racer within the sugar and chocolate categories. And while the Peepster automobile may bring smiles to customers and consumers, it means to leave competitors in the dust.(Candy business)(Cover story)
February 1, 2006... It went beyond irony. Slightly more than two weeks after Candy Industry's visit to Bethlehem, Pa.-based Just Born in early January, there was Ford Motor Co.'s chairman and ceo, Bill Ford, telling his employees and the world that "we're going to...

Bringing it back home: Arvada, Colo.-based Stephany's Chocolates has been making quality confections for more than 40 years. After hiring outside companies to take care of other aspects of the business for several years, the company has recently focused on those responsibilities in-house.(Chocolate Trendsetter)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... In the candy industry, making products by hand is usually a selling point. Consumers tend to equate hand-made candies with higher quality. While Stephany's Chocolates in Arvada, Colo. has been making several of their confections by hand for...

'Tis the season for tradition: while manufacturers release new seasonal products each year, the traditional favorites remain the most popular with consumers.(SEASONAL CONFECTIONS)
February 1, 2006... From decorating the tree a certain way to always having ham for Easter dinner, everyone has their own traditions during the holidays throughout the year. For many, this includes buying their favorite seasonal candy, with many consumers opting...

Decisions, decisions, decisions: while choosing a sweetener was once relatively simple for manufacturers, the explosion of available artificial sweeteners has complicated the decision-making process.(Candy R&D: TRENDS & APPLICATIONS IN INGREDIENT TECHNOLOGY)
February 1, 2006... Before diet soda, diet candy and diet ice cream, sugar was just sugar. If you wanted to make something sweet, sugar and corn syrup were pretty much your primary options. Today, the choice is not so simple. With more and more artificial...

No water needed.(NEW PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2006... The Company: Dyna-Tabs, LLC, Brooklyn, N.Y. The Product: Dyna-Tabs The Hook: For those on the go, Dyna Tabs offers consumers vitamin and herbal supplements in a fast-dissolving tab. Available in eight different varieties including...

Chewy chocolate.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Company: Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc., Chicago The Product: Tootsie Roll Mini Chews The Hook: The first line extension of the Tootsie Roll brand in over 100 years, the new Mini Chews feature bite-size Tootsie Rolls covered in milk...

Heart healthy snack.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Company: PowerBar, Inc., Berkeley, Calif. The Product: PowerBar Nut Naturals The Hook: Each Nut Naturals variety contains a mix of real nuts and was formulated to meet FDA "Heart Healthy" claim standards based on nut content, low...

Cadbury Adams USA LLC.(At a glance)
February 1, 2006... Parsippany, N.J.-based Cadbury Adams USA LLC released new Bubblicious Bursts Bubble Gum earlier this month. Available in Thunderin' Bubble Gum and Sour Cherry Storm flavors, each variety features a unique liquid center. Both flavors are...

Masterfoods USA.(Masterfoods USA introduced the limited edition White Chocolate Twix)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Taking advantage of the increased popularity of white chocolate, Hackettstown, N.J.-based Masterfoods USA introduced the limited edition White Chocolate Twix. The traditional com bination ef smooth caramel and crunchy cookie is covered with...

The Hershey Co.(At a glance)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... While the original Reese's Peanut Butter Cup combined the now-classic candy ingredients of chocolate and peanut butter, a new Reese's product adds a third element to the mix. The Hershey Co. has released the new Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with...

Farley's & Sathers Candy Co.(At a glance)(Farley's & Sathers Candy Co. introduce a new sugar-free version of bubble gum)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... For those who love the taste of bubble gum but are restricting their sugar intake, Round Lake, Minn.-based Farley's & Sathers Candy Co., Inc. introduces a new sugar-free version of their original flavor Super Bubble bubble gum. The gum has the...

Russell Stover Candies.(At a glance)
February 1, 2006... Expanding upon their current assorted variety boxes, St. Louis, Mo.-based Russell Stover Candies now offers consumers a White Chocolate Assortment. Each candy inside the 16-oz. box is covered with creamy white chocolate. The white and gold box...

A bar for your bones.(Ecco Bella's new product Beautiful Bones Bar)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Company: Ecco Bella, Montclair, N.J. The Product: Beautiful Bones Bar The Hook: This bar offers consumers a tasty way to get their daily dose of calcium. Dark chocolate is combined with potent sea-algae calcium, which also contains...

Lovely chocolate bars.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Company: Chocolove, Boulder, Colo. The Product: Chocolove Organic Dark Chocolate Bars The Hook: Adding to its line of Belgian chocolate bars, Chocolove introduces two new organic chocolate bars: 61% Dark Chocolate and 73% Dark...

Funny fruit snacks.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Company: Taste of Nature, Inc., Beverly Hills, Calif. The Product: Simpson's Fruit Snacks The Hook: Featuring Simpson's characters on the packaging, these new fruit snacks combine the popular cartoon with a tasty and healthy snack...

Roquette highlights healthy candies at PMCA.(CREATORS BRIEFS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... At the 2006 PMCA Meeting, Lestrem, France-based Roquette Freres will feature healthy candies using MALTISORB maltitol and NUTRIOSE soluble fiber. MALTISORB maltitol allows partial to total substitution without significant reformulation. The...

Wolff offers sugar-free coating for panned candies.(CREATORS BRIEFS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... For manufacturers looking to make sugar-free confections, Hamburg, Germany-based Alfred L. Wolff offers their new Quick Coat Sugar-Free for the pre-treatment of centers of low-calorie dragees. The product is a combination of selected...

Callebaut introduces new flavor combination.(CREATORS BRIEFS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Belgium-based Barry Callebaut introduces a new flavor combination with its milk chocolate with honey ingredient. Available in liquid and 5-kg. blocks, the product combines creamy milk chocolate with real honey powder resulting in a subtle sweet...

PMCA's sweet 60th: PMCA's 60th Annual Production Conference, which will be held May 1-3 in Hershey, Pa., focuses its Back to Basics seminars on aerated confections this year, touching on nougat, marshmallow, hard candy and taffy production. As usual, the program also includes presentations on a host of timely and technical issues.(conferences of Pennsylvania Manufacturing Confectioners Association)
February 1, 2006... Monday, May 1 Introduction & Opening Remarks John Cooke, vice president of manufacturing, Cherrydale Farms, Inc., provides a brief introduction to the many facets of the aeration process and the products involved. Nougat & Marshmallow...

Lollipops are the future.(Plant Processing and Packaging Technology)
February 1, 2006... All the full resources of Ter Braak, Bepex and Kreuter, which have offices in Rotterdam, Netherlands and Leingarten and Hamburg, Germany, respectively, operate under the Hosokawa Confectionery & Bakery banner. This group has been making a...

Flat lollipops join the quality revolution.(Plant Processing and Packaging Technology)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Peterborough, UK-based APV Baker has extended the capability of its proven ServoForm range of lollipop depositing systems to include flat lollipops. This development unlocks a huge potential in end product variety that cannot be achieved by...

Conveyor sanitation, cleaning improved.(Plant Processing and Packaging Technology)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... More and more products are requiring a higher standard of sanitation during the manufacturing and packaging levels of processing. When these standards must be met, Dorner's AquaPruf 7400 Ultimate Conveyor Series is the perfect fit. The...

New managing director at Klockner Hansel.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Hartmut Hagen, age 66, retired as managing director of Klockner Hansel Processing GmbH, Hanover, Germany, on December 31, 2005. He will remain with Klockner Hansel as a consultant and regional sales manager for North America. The board of...

Lloveras launches new website.(Martin Lloveras)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... In a move to further strengthen communication and service to its customers, Terrarosa, Spain-based S.A. Martin Lloveras has launched its new Web site. The new Web site incorporates the latest technology, maximizing information flow via the...

George Woody passes away.(Supplier News)(Woody Associates, Inc.)(Brief article)(Biography)
February 1, 2006... George D. Woody, 83, retired president, owner, of Woody Associates, Inc., York, Pa., passed away January 5 after suffering a stroke and heart attack before Christmas. George was very well known and admired throughout the world as the inventor...

Peter Bartleet dies.(Supplier News)(Brief article)(Biography)
February 1, 2006... Peter Bartleet died on January 13 at the age of 80, having suffered a heart attack at his home in Bristol, UK. Born in Essex, UK, in 1925 and educated at Felsted School, Bartleet initially trained to become an architect. He, however, changed...

Sweet profile.(David Pigott 's profile)(Interview)
February 1, 2006... The serf-effacing David Pigott was hard-pressed to find some interesting anecdotes about his debut into the confectionery industry. "I don't think there is anything to say about my joining Ganong unless you feel the readers would be interested...

Gum nixes snack attacks.(CANDY WRAPPER)(University of Liverpool researches on chewing gum )(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Not only can gum help suppress your appetite, but it also appears to cut the craving for sweets, according to a new study from the University of Liverpool. The study found that chewing gum cut snacking by about 36 calories a day/252 calories a...