Candy Industry articles from June 2004

Candy Industry archives from June 2004

Turning on the charm.(Opening Shots)(Column)
June 1, 2004... I really don't know how he does it. Jacques Torres, that is. He's the equivalent of the Energizer Chocolatier, sculpting chocolate one minute, checking construction details the next, closing deals the following 60 seconds. But as the famed...

Illinois Senator calls for reforming sugar policies ...(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Citing the nation's sugar support program as a key cause behind the loss of jobs within the confectionery industry, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) joined forces with members of the confectionery industry as well as Chicago officials to seek...

... As U.S., Mexico draw closer to sugar compromise.(Newsletter)(North American Free Trade Agreement)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... As part of an ongoing effort to resolve a dispute between the United States and Mexico about sugar imports permitted under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), representatives from both governments have reportedly come up with a...

Tootsie roll-flavored ice creams to debut.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Chicago-based Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. has entered into a co-branding alliance with Wayland, Mich.-based Denali Flavors, Inc. to introduce Tootsie Roll and Tootsie Pops ice cream to grocery stores and dipping shops nationwide. The...

New York bans schools from selling candy.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The New York State legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill banning the sale of all foods that fail to meet minimal nutritional guidelines, such as candy, soda and other sweetened and/or caffeinated beverages, in school vending machines. The...

Hershey to open retail shop on Chicago's Magnificent Mile.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Hershey Foods Corp. intends to open a retail store--similar to the one it has in New York City's Time Square--on Chicago's tony boulevard, Michigan Avenue, often referred to as the city's Magnificent Mile, reports the Chicago Tribune. The...

NCA launches buying event for candy makers, retailers.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... In a move designed to facilitate seasonal offerings by manufacturers to retailers, the National Confectioners Association (NCA) has created a meeting forum dedicated toward Halloween and Christmas 2005 holidays. Dubbed the All Candy Marketplace...

Carbolite Foods crosses over into Canada.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Evansville, Ind.-based Carbolite Foods, makers of various low-carb chocolates, candies and other foods under the Carbo Rite brand, has added a Canadian division, Carbolite Canada. The new sales and marketing organization will focus on...

First bid submitted for former Fannie May candies factory ...(Newsletter)(Structured Development LLC Marc Realty LLC)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... According to the Chicago Tribune, a $12.2-million, joint-venture bid by Structured Development LLC and Marc Realty LLC was submitted to the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court for the purchase of Archibald Candy Corp.'s headquarters and manufacturing...

... As feds guarantees pensions for Archibald employees.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Separately, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC), a federal agency, said it would assume responsibility for the pensions of more than 2,000 Archibald Candy Co. employees. According to Crain's Chicago Business, Archibald had failed to make...

New c-store restaurant concept features candy bins.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz Inc. unveiled its new 10,000-sq.-ft. Convenience Restaurant concept earlier this month, a combination convenience store, quick-casual dining hybrid. In addition to being twice the size of a typical convenience store,...

Consumer perceptions sweet 'n sour.(Candy News)
June 1, 2004... Everyone talks about connecting to the consumer--with scores of Fortune 500 companies and countless entrepreneurial businesses spending good money to determine buying habits and attitudes--but rarely do outsiders share their findings. This...

Brach's kicks off centennial celebration.(Candy News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Coinciding with its presence at the Food Marketing Institute's Supermaket show held in Chicago early last month, Brach's Confections Inc. inaugurated its 100-year anniversary celebration by hosting a dinner for its top customers and retired...

Fannie May auction tops $1.8 million.(Candy News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The green-covered, 52-page auction book contained just about every piece of equipment a candy maker could imagine, from cash registers and digital scales to one-shot moulding plants and liquid chocolate storage tanks. Despite more than one...

Cadbury Schweppes.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... London-based Cadbury Schweppes has named Deborah Louison its vice president of government affairs for its newly opened public affairs office located in Washington, D.C.

Flavors of North America.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Michael Patschorke joins Flavors of North America, headquartered in Carol Stream, Ill., as a senior account manager serving South Central customers in the United States.

H&N Packaging.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Christopher Nigon appointed chief executive officer for Colmar, Pa.-based H&N Packaging.

Hershey Foods.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Hershey Foods, Hershey, Pa., announced the following appointments: Jeffrey Jackson named corporate controller and James George promoted to vice president, packaging.

NEXT Proteins.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... San Diego-based NEXT Proteins has hired Edward Huges as its chief operating officer and general manager.

Bridging haute chocolate & entrepreneurism: in redirecting his energies and talents exclusively toward chocolate, famed former pastry chef Jacques Torres finds a completely new set of challenges.... as well as rewards.(Cover Story)
June 1, 2004... Jacques Torres doesn't fit the stereotypical snapshot of someone who's in construction, particularly when he puts on his culinary smock. The former celebrity pastry chef from New York City's famed Le Cirque restaurant--he was the youngest chef...

Hazelnut temptations.
June 1, 2004... Can you remember the last time tasted the sweet flavor of a hazelnut? Maybe you indulged yourself with a Belgian chocolate-covered praline or savored the distinctive exotic hazelnut flavor in Nutella[TM] spread. Whether you've long enjoyed the...

A new moon: moonbeams shine from Moonstruck Chocolate Co.'s new Mayan and English Garden Collections, radiating a bright future for both wholesale and retail.(Chocolate Trendsetter)
June 1, 2004... European-style chocolate houses never really caught on in the Americas. When chocolate houses began to make a resurgence in Europe a little more than 10 years ago, Moonstruck Chocolate Co. in Portland, Ore., began to formulate the concept of...

Liquid lifts up an intense category: although small in size, liquid mints look to be the next 'big thing' in the mint category.(Gums)
June 1, 2004... The mint category has behaved similarly to many other confectionery categories. First, manufacturers supplied consumers with what have become the traditional, beloved mint standards. Then, mint makers kicked their products up a notch and made...

Major multi-tasking: further maximizing their functional role, gums now are used to formulate.(Candy R&D: trends & applications in ingredients technology)
June 1, 2004... Gums control moisture, improve finished texture, extend flavor life and help with flavor release. What else could one demand of gums? Adding health benefits just joined the list. "Hydrocolloids are used more frequently in low-carb products...

Pectin's versatility works for gummi and jelly candies.(Ingredient Insights)
June 1, 2004... Widely used as a gelling agent with its traditional application in jams and other fruit spreads, pectin can be successfully applied in the confectionery industry to manufacture gummi products and jelly fruits with or without fruit pulp. ...

Totally fruity.(New Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... THE COMPANY: Stretch Island Fruit Inc., Allyn, Wash. THE PRODUCT: Sweet Strawberry Stretch Island Fruit Leather THE HOOK: Unlike the plethora of other fruit rollups, bars and gushers targeting kids today, this product, available in nine...

All-natural bars.(New Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... THE COMPANY: Cloud Nine Confections, San Leandro, Calif. THE PRODUCT: Cloud Nine Peppermint Pattie, Peanut Caramel, Toffee Crunch, Coconut Almond, Coconut, Caramel Filled and Peanut Butter Filled Candy Bars THE HOOK: One of the...

Chick this out.(New Products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... THE COMPANY: Seattle Chocolate Co., Seattle THE PRODUCT: Chick Chocolates THE HOOK: Created for women, by women, Chick Chocolates delivers fun, along with a all-natural premium chocolate experience. Strong Chick, designed to help...

Clif Bar Inc.(At a glance ...)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Bekeley, Calif.-based Clif Bar Inc. has re-launched its Mojo Bar. The new product features two new flavors, a chewy but still crunchy texture, and vibrant new packaging. The two new flavors, Mountain Mix and Fruit Nut Crunch, join Mojo Bar...

Hawaiian Host Inc.(At a glance ...)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Honolulu-based Hawaiian Host Inc.'s My Hawaii Chocolates product line now includes new Mele boxes for the 2004 holiday season. Mele, which mean merry in the Hawaiian language, describes the festive green and red colored packaging, created to...

Chupa Chups.(At a glance ...)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... In June, Atlanta-based Chupa Chups will introduce new Creamy Lollipops fortified with vitamins and minerals. These added nutritional benefits help Chupa Chups realize its goal of offering delicious "right-sized" treats that also deliver healthy...

Fear factor.(New Products)(Cap Candy)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... THE COMPANY: Cap Candy, Napa, Calif. THE PRODUCT: Bug Factor Lollipop THE HOOK: So realistic it's scary, this clear green apple-flavored lollipop comes with a 100% edible bug inside. The four different styles of bugs crunch and offer...

Flavor burst.(New Products)(Butterfields Candy)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... THE COMPANY: Butterfields Candy, Nashville, N.C. THE PRODUCT: Peppermint Bursts THE HOOK: Known for making Peach Buds, Mr. Butterfield always had a soft spot for Peppermint. New Peppermint Bursts with a crisp, cool taste come in...

IFT 2004: Hone your competitive edge.(The IFT 2004 Annual Meeting + Food Expo[R])
June 1, 2004... The Institute of Food Technologists' (IFT) annual meeting expects to draw more than 20,000 attendees to view approximately 800 exhibits as well as take advantage of more than 100 technical sessions. Joel Barker, an independent scholar and...

Caramel karma: Concord Foods' Oringer Division remains committed to seeing that caramel customers feel good about their supplier.(Supplier Spotlight)
June 1, 2004... Although caramel doesn't quite have as long a history in candy making as honey, its confectionery connections do go back to the Middle Ages. Reportedly, the Arabs were the first to determine that burning sugar could be a good thing, although...

ADM's culinary creativity.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Archer Daniel Midland (ADM) christened its new culinary center at a grand opening held in April. Located within the company's headquarters complex in Decatur, Ill., the center was conceived to enable customers to more directly experience the...

Safer honey.(Creators Briefs)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Food manufacturers require honey as an ingredient with even more of a safety guarantee than it naturally offers. Germany-based Alfred L. Wolff now offers honey for use in confectionery, bakery and food products. The company has developed a...

Low-carb vanilla.(Creators Briefs)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Waukegan, Ill.-based Nielsen-Massey suggests using the classic flavor of sugar-free Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder to bring flavor to low carbohydrate bar formulations. Without the flavor boost of sweeteners and other carbohydrate-rich...

New cocoa facility.(Creators Briefs)(ECOM Cocoa)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... ECOM Cocoa -- Atlantic (USA) Inc. just expanded its cocoa processing operation with a new plant, JB Cocoa. The new state-of-the-art facility exclusively produces ECOM's cocoa products, Zamacom. All Zamacom cocoa products are kosher as well as...

Modularity broadens cooling options.(Plant, Processing and Packaging Technology)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Hamburg, Germany-based Hosokawa Kreuter manufactures cooling tunnels that are ideally suited for cooling the widest variety of confectionery and baked goods, such as coated products, biscuits, granolas, nougats, caramel and health bars. ...

Tablet press offers speed, small footprint.(Plant, Processing and Packaging Technology)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The leading manufacturer and supplier of tablet presses, Fette America, offers candy and gum manufacturers a unit that delivers high-output capability as well as versatility within a small footprint. The Fette P 1200 tablet press, which...

Belt splicing strand simplifies installation, repair.(Plant, Processing and Packaging Technology)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... To speed up installation as well as repair of its Flat-Flex open-mesh, stainless steel wire belting, Londonberry, N.H.-based Wire Belt Co. of America has introduced the EZSplice strand. Designed to simplify joining and splicing of continuous...

Economical pouch handling system.(Plant, Processing and Packaging Technology)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The new OK Pouchpack, manufactured by O/K International Corp. in Marlborough, Mass., automatically takes pouches from a magazine, rotates for easy filling of the pouch and then rotates to a pouch sealer. Compact, user friendly, and fully...

Disposable containers with consumer appeal.(Innovations in Packaging)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Presto Products Co., a business of Alcoa Consumer Products based in Appleton, Wis., offers a complete line of disposable containers in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from a 64-oz. Deep Dish size for club stores to a smaller 24-oz....

Jelly Belly creates grab-and-go packs.(Innovations in Packaging)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... To accommodate the growing trend toward snacking on the go, Fairfield, Calif.-based Jelly Belly Candy Co. has packaged its top selling Confections line, which includes Licorice Bridge Mix, Raspberries & Blackberries, Chocolate Dutch Mints and...

Catching the consumers' eye.(Innovations in Packaging)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Providence-based WHY Design has been creating eye-catching designs for food and candy manufacturers for the past 17 years. It specializes in cutting edge, friendly, "fun" retail packages, food labels, display boxes and container designs for...

Confectionery winners in paperboard competition.(Innovations in Packaging)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Earlier this year, the Alexandria, Va.-based Paperboard Packaging Council held its 61st National Paperboard Packaging Competition. Some of the winners selected included: Hershey Foods' Corp.'s Swoops 3-Pack Cup Wraps,--Caraustar Custom...

Single-source packaging for confections.(Innovations in Packaging)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Large and small candy makers can find one-stop shopping for packaging materials at Cleveland-based Caraustar. The company not only offers high quality printed folding cartons and recycled paperboard for folding carton manufacturing, but also...

Sweet profile.(Candy Wrapper)
June 1, 2004... As a serious student of European history, Mark Tarner was no stranger to fine chocolate, particularly when he spent time studying and teaching at the University of Frankfort and Cologne during the late 1980s. But today, as a...

Prescripttion with your peppermint gum?(Candy Wrapper)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... It took 12 years--as well as some diplomatic horse trading and arm-twisting--but now the citizens of Singapore can once again purchase gum. Upset because gum trash was soiling this Southeast Asian city-state's immaculate streets. buildings,...

Retail snapshot of candy sales.(Candy Wrapper)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... Retail snapshot of candy sales (Average annual growth rates for confectionery sales in major retail outlets) Retail Outlet 2000-2004 (estimate) Discount stores 6.2% Convenience stores...