Candy Industry articles from July 2007

Candy Industry archives from July 2007

Measuring innovation.(OPENING SHOTS)
July 1, 2007... In researching this month's special report focusing on innovation, I was startled, even impressed to discover that the U.S. government is actually trying to find a way to measure innovation. Granted, some of you may smartly point out that...

Small packages lead to rising success.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... The sales of 100-calorie packs of brand name cookies, chips, crackers and candies have grown nearly 30% last year, resulting in more than $20 million in sales per year, an Information Resources, Inc. study reported. The snack packs feature...

Kraft's ideas of expansion lead to multi-billion dollar bid.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... The United States' biggest food and beverage company, Kraft Foods Inc., is looking to expand globally with the acquisition of the cookie and cereal division of the French food company, Groupe Danone SA. Kraft has offered a $7.2-billion cash bid...

Barry Callebaut finalizes Nestle's deal.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... Swiss cocoa manufacturer Barry Callebaut has closed a deal to take over Nestle's chocolate factory in Dijon, France and Nestle's liquid chocolate facility at their factory in San Sisto, Italy. The transaction, which began July 1st, will allow...

Hershey puts Oakdale, Calif. plant on the block.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... Ninety-nine employees at the Oakdale Hershey's chocolate plant were laid off as part of a company restructuring program to move production to Mexico. The nation's largest chocolate maker has already closed five plants in the United States and...

Dark chocolate study may lead to blood pressure breakthrough.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... Recent studies show that in very small dosages dark chocolate may lower blood pressure. In an 18-week study funded by the University of Cologne in Germany, participants were asked to either eat a small square of dark chocolate or white...

Midwest candy company makes move, plans candy museum.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... Sioux City, Iowa-based Palmer Candy Co., one of the oldest candy companies in the country, plans to relocate after the purchase of its former factory--now known as the Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe--by the Sioux City City Council. The council will pay...

Fannie May expands to beyond confections.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... Fannie May, the well-known Chicago-based confectioner, is expanding its line of products with hand-dipped ice cream cones and milk shakes. The company is offering eight flavors inspired by its popular candies: Milk Chocolate, Vanilla...

Desire for organic chocolate quickly grows.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... A 49% increase in 2006's organic chocolate sales positioned it as the highest growing snack on the U.S. organic market, says Euromonitor in an industry study. The rise in consumer desire for natural chocolate ingredients is leading more...

Basketball and chewing gum to campaign together.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... The National Basketball Association and the Wrigley Company are teaming together for the first time to market five Official Chewing Gums of the NBA. Chicago-based Wrigley will name its Juicy Fruit, Winterfresh, Big Red, Doublemint and Spearmint...

Better wages set to promote cocoa farming.(NEWSLETTER)
July 1, 2007... A new program supported by the Canadian International Development Agency, the United States Agency for International Development and the World Cocoa Foundation will aim to improve incomes of cocoa farmers in Cameroon, Liberia, the Ivory Coast,...

RCI's 'show me' confab does just that.(NEWS)
July 1, 2007... At the 2007 Retail Confectioners International (RCI) Convention and Industry Exposition, which was held June 24 at the University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield, Mo., confectioners not only toured some of southwest Missouri's...

Just Born promotes Borneman, hires Bachrach.(People News)
July 1, 2007... Bethlehem, Pa.-based Just Born, Inc., has promoted Kara Borneman (formally Kara Metzler) to assistant brand manager in the customer and brand development division. Borneman's new responsibility encompasses all aspects of consumer and trade...

Dawson gets nod as new Walkers Shortbread exec.(People News)
July 1, 2007... Walkers Shortbread Inc., a Hauppauge, N.Y.-based subsidiary of Walkers Shortbread Ltd. of Aberlour, Scotland, appointed Steve Dawson as its new president and ceo. He succeeds Norman Barnes, who is retiring after 12 years with the company. Under...

Frutarom opens Swiss Innovation Center.(People News)
July 1, 2007... Frutarom Switzerland's new Innovation Center, located in Wadenswil, Switzerland near Lake Zurich, "will be a center for targeted, customer-focused innovation and a source of inspiration for the development of new flavors and solutions including...

Klockner Hansel's Schlueter dies.(People News)(Juergen Schlueter)(Klockner Hansel Process Machinery)(Obituary)
July 1, 2007... Juergen Schlueter, Klockner Hansel's former director of sales and technology, passed away unexpectedly in July. Schlueter, who most recently represented the company in North America, joined the company in 1972. He eventually headed up...

On a roll: persistence and pluck have paid off for this classic confectionery company, providing consumers and customers "retro" sweets that deliver taste, quality and value.(Pearson Candy Co.)(Cover story)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... Fleur de sel. That's French for sea salt. Lately, it's become particularly trendy for artisanal confectioners to use it with caramel, a way to fuse sweet and savory notes together into a tasty sweet. Now, most people would be reluctant to...

Chocolate worth viewing: hoping to "demystify premium chocolate," Charles Chocolates president Chuck Siegel offers each customer an unabridged initiation into the chocolate-making experience.(CHOCOLATE TRENDSETTER)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... Chuck Siegel is on a mission. While many confectioners consider their candymaking methods, tricks and ideas classified information, this San Francisco Bay Area chocolatier allows, and even encourages his patrons to view his company's every...

The art of innovation.(LEADERS IN INNOVATION)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... Does one use broad strokes? Or is it better to employ a pointillistic style a la Georges-Pierre Seurat. Does one focus on innovating for a client or is it better to pursue internal goals? Does it make sense to draw inspiration from other...

Re-charging sugar-free: as the dust of the once-popular low-carbohydrate diet settles, sugar-free sales have hit a plateau. But with a growing diabetic population and an ongoing general interest in healthy confections, a resurgence seems likely.(CATEGORY CLOSE-UP: SUGAR-FREE CHOCOLATE)
July 1, 2007... The craze that was once low-carb has turned low key. Since just last year, sales of sugarless chocolate have dropped 16%, from $136.5 million sales in 2006 to $114.3 this year, according to ACNielsen. Though the Atkins-inspired low sugar diet...

Bolstering benefits: functional confectionery continues to thrive as manufacturers reach out to the growing health-conscious consumer base.(Candy R&D: TRENDS & APPLICATIONS IN INGREDIENT TECHNOLOGY)
July 1, 2007... It's nothing new that functional ingredients--those that incorporate vitamins, minerals, prebiotic and probiotic benefits--have penetrated nearly every area of the food industry. But as consumers delve deeper into products boasting healthy...

Keys to fresh breath.(NEW PRODUCTS)(New Era Brands LLC launches clip 'n' go mints and clip 'n' go gum)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: New Era Brands LLC, Northbrook, Ill. THE PRODUCT: Clip 'n' Go Mints and Clip 'n' Go Gum THE HOOK: Targeted to on-the-go consumers looking for healthier snacking options, New Era Brands launched Clip 'n' Go Mints and Clip...

Chock-full fudge.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Hebert Candies, Shrewsbury, Mass. THE PRODUCT: Fully-Loaded Fudge THE HOOK: Hoping to repeat the success of its Fully-Loaded Inclusion Bars, Hebert Candies released Fully-Loaded Fudge. The thick, rich fudge contains real...

Tootsie Roll Industries.(At a glance)(Tootsie Roll Industries Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Chicago-based Tootsie Roll Industries introduced new Sugar-Free Tootsie Roll Midgees perfect for diabetics or those on sugar-restricted diets. Sweetened with Splenda, the new Sugar-Free Midgees offer the same great taste and texture as their...

Innovative Candy Concepts.(At a glance)
July 1, 2007... Creating an innovative and guilt-free way to satisfy dessert cravings, Atlanta-based Innovative Candy Concepts launched Sinfully Delicious Gourmet Dessert Sprays. The product captures the rich taste of some of the world's most popular desserts...

Caffe Acapella.(At a glance)(Acapella Gourmet Foods)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Inspired by the rich taste of espresso drinks, Caffe Acapella Gourmet Coffee Bars feature pure, gourmet coffee that delivers a delicious and natural energy boost. Though the bar resembles dark chocolate, it is actually made from milk, sugar and...

Asher's Chocolates.(At a glance)
July 1, 2007... Souderton, Pa.-based Asher's Chocolates recently made its most popular confections available in individually wrapped counter caddies and displays. Perfectly suited at the register or on a coffee bar, flavors include Peanut Butter Marshmallow,...

Jelly Belly Candy Co.(At a glance)
July 1, 2007... Appealing to the growing demand for licorice confections, the Jelly Belly Candy Co. combined a variety of licorice treats into one gift set. The brand new 15-oz. Classic Licorice Gift Box features five licorice candies--Licorice Licorice...

Uncommon energy.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Uncommon Loot, Inc., Plainfield, Ind. THE PRODUCT: Headshot Guarana-Infused Energy bar THE HOOK: Headshot, a new energy bar from Uncommon Loot, features a bold and delicious chocolate and toffee flavor and contains 100 mg....

'Super-cooled' gum.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Cadbury Adams USA LLC, Parsippany, N.J. THE PRODUCT: Dentyne Blast THE HOOK: Released in July, Dentyne Blast is a new center-filled sugarless gum made with the breakthrough breath-freshening ingredient erythritol. By...

Mousse-filled bars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Lindt & Sprungli, Stratham, N.H. THE PRODUCT: Creation 70% THE ROOK: Realizing the boom in premium chocolate's popularity, Lindt & Sprungli recently introduced Creation 70%--the first mousse-filled dark chocolate bar...

Holiday countdown.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington, Vt. THE PRODUCT: Gifts for Christmas and Hanukah THE HOOK: Gearing up for the 2007 holiday season, Lake Champlain Chocolates announced its Christmas and Hanukah gift line up. "Our new...

Cargill re-brands erythritol line.(CREATORS BRIEFS')(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... In an attempt to help consumers better understand erythritol's benefits of zero sugar, zero calories and zero artificial ingredients, Cargill branded the all-natural sweetener as ZeroseO erythritol. Formerly known as EridexO erythritol, ZeroseO...

Tate & Lyle launches new fiber range.(CREATORS BRIEFS')
July 1, 2007... Tate & Lyle recently introduced Promitor, a new brand of dietary fibers and the latest addition to the company's Wellness platform. Named after the Roman god that brings the harvest in from the fields, the Promitor brand's portfolio will...

Multi-functional bulk sugar replacer.(Palatinit of America Inc.'s Isomalt GS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Palatinit's Isomalt GS bulk sugar replacer offers high solubility for a wide range of confectionery and nutritional products. The ingredient is a member of Palatinit's Isomalt family of sugar replacers, which are the only such products that are...

Sweet profile.(CANDY WRAPPER)
July 1, 2007... When you're responsible for overseeing new product development for Berkeley, Calif.-based Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, it's critical to know both processing nuances as well as plant etymology. In Brad Kintzer's case, the two work...