Candy Industry articles from March 2005

Candy Industry archives from March 2005

Moving beyond the obvious.(Opening Shots)
March 1, 2005... Many of you are very familiar with the International Sweets and Biscuits (ISM) Fair held each year in Cologne, Germany. To anyone who hasn't attended this confectionery event, it's one of those must-dos, must-sees to truly comprehend its size...

Latin flavors, aromas are here to stay: the growing Hispanic population of the United States influences the country's eating habits.(Advertorial)
March 1, 2005... Demand for Latin food in American restaurants is growing at a rate of approximately 10% per year--almost as fast as the Hispanic population in this country, which is nine times higher than the growth rate of non-Hispanic communities. In...

Masterfoods Europe's restructuring to slash 1,000 jobs.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... One of the most famous confectionery manufacturing sites in the UK, perhaps the world, will undergo severe belt-tightening as a result of Masterfood Europe's efforts to become a "leaner and more focused" operation. The company announced March...

Hershey's value strategy more than name change ...(The Hershey Co.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... In asking its stockholders to approve a name change--from Hershey Foods Corp. to The Hershey Co.--Richard Lenny, president, chairman and ceo of the company, made clear that the move reflected just one of several steps to support a...

... As candy maker creates two new business groups.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The company also announced that it's formed two new business groups--confectionery and snacks--as a means of strengthening its leadership in the former and expanding its presence in the latter. Lenny named Thomas Hernquist, currently senior...

Wrigley looking cautiously at 'opportunities'.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2005... Admitting that the company likes "to look at opportunities that present themselves," in reference to future acquisitions, Bill Wrigley Jr., chief executive officer of The Win. Wrigley Jr. Co., reminded shareholders attending the company's...

NCA and ECRM announce partnership, joint show.(Newsletter)(National Confectioners Association)(Efficient Consumer Response Management)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The National Confectioners Association and Efficient Consumer Response Management have agreed to a partnership, one whereby the two organizations will "increase the value of pre-existing conferences by sharing technologies, audiences and...

Sonrics candy ready for U.S. debut.(Alegro International)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Alegro International, a division of Mexico City-based Sabritas, which is owned by PepsiCo International, is gearing up to launch its $200-million Sonrics candy in the United States. The 15-item line-up includes chewing gum, lollipops, bubble...

Barry Callebaut appoints Charles Haak to head up Brach's.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Zurich-based Barry Callebaut, the parent company of Brach's Confections, has promoted Charles (Chuck) Haak, former senior v.p. of operations for Dallas-based Brach Confections, to president and chief operation officer of the company. Haak...

Famous Scottish toffee maker in receivership.(McCowan's Highland Toffee)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... McCowan's Highland Toffee, a producer of fine confections since the 1920s, was placed in receivership this month, specifically into the hands of PricwaterhouseCoopers. The Stenhousemuir, Scotland-based company, which employed 100-plus...

Glisten's acquisitions bearing fruit.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Blackburn, UK-based Glisten Confectionery, which most recently acquired Welsh cereal and energy-bar producer Halo in December 2004, revealed first half sales soared to $28 million, representing a 50% jump from the previous year. Glisten,...

U.S. organic sales jump 18%.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2005... The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) in Harleysville, Pa., reported that 2004 organic food and beverage sales in the United States approached $11 billion ($10.9 billion), an 18% increase from the previous year. Published in the 2005 Organic...

Candy category research details challenges, opportunities.(NCA State-of-the-Industry Conference Report)
March 1, 2005... Intermittent rain showers in normally sunny Scottsdale didn't dampen the enthusiasm among more than 450 members of the candy industry who assembled there for the National Confectioners Association's State of the Industry Conference last...

Dissecting consumer diet behavior.(NCA State-of-the-Industry Conference Report)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Marketing gurus John Stanton and Richard George tackled the topic of diet and weight--and how we feel about it--in their conference presentation. Stanton and George, both of whom teach in the food marketing program at St. Joseph's...

Kelley, Ohlson receive service awards.(NCA State-of-the-Industry Conference Report)
March 1, 2005... Bill Kelley, vice chairman of Jelly Belly Candy Co., and former Mars Inc. research director Reg Ohlson were honored by their peers at the State of the Industry conference. Both men were tapped to receive a Distinguished Service Award,...

We request the pleasure of your company for the 60th ... Kettle Awards.(Kettle Invite)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Candy Industry Magazine, the chairman and members of the Kettle Committee will present the 60th Kettle Award at a gala reception on June 15, during the All Candy Expo in Chicago. The event will be held in the Seville Ballroom of the...

2005 Kettle Award nominees.(Kettle Ballot)
March 1, 2005... * Dr. Basil E. Atkinson Jr. CEO/President Judson-Atkinson Candles, Inc., San Antonio, Texas & CEO Atkinson Candy Co., Lufkin, Texas. Dr. Atkinson started his career in the candy industry assisting in selling candy...

Punching up Licorice: with the addition of ALC Resources and a new production facility, American Licorice Co. remains a top contender.
March 1, 2005... Original Red--it's not cherry or strawberry or a mix of the two. This actual flavor, not color, of licorice has developed into one of American Licorice Co.'s, best--kept recipe secrets and one of Americans' favorite candies. The actual...

Jimmy's Oasis: this Glendale, Ariz.-based family candy company manages to meld old-fashioned formulations with modern day manufacturing processes. The concept has helped the business bloom.(Chocolate Trendsetter)
March 1, 2005... "He who makes no change, makes no dollar." --Jim Cerreta Sr. As Jim Cerreta Sr., owner and founder of Glendale, Ariz.-based Cerreta Candy Co., points out, he never did get paid for sending his quote to Reader's Digest. Rather, his...

Looking for direction: this year's more spacious site for the world's largest confectionery fair finds manufacturers also taking a broader view on how to market their products.(Show Coverage/ISM)(International Sweets and Biscuits Fair)
March 1, 2005... In the end, it wasn't that distant or unsettling a move. The 35th annual gathering of the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair in Cologne, Germany, had prepared exhibitors and attendees well in advance about the shift in location. The...

Carnival and Cologne's cocktail circuit.(Show Coverage/ISM)(International Sweets and Biscuits Fair )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... One method of shaking off jet lag involves embracing that day's agenda upon arrival, staying up as long as possible to acclimate to the change in time and activities. American exhibitors at the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair in...

Outside the numbers: the data may not be crystal clear, but the U.S. confectionery industry had a pretty good year.(U.S. State of the Industry)(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2005... Ask any exit pollster in Ohio: There's danger in putting too faith in incomplete numbers. What appears to be an accurate representation of results may be exactly the opposite of reality. It's a good principle to keep in mind when...

True to form and function: label-friendly hydrocolloids push further into functional fields.(Candy R&D)
March 1, 2005... Nobody looks twice at gums--at least not regulators or consumers--and that's the whole point. Gums, or hydrocolloids, are extremely stable, benign and value-neutral ingredients from both a regulatory and consumer point of view. Traditionally,...

Saying 'si' to sweets: latin treats move into the mainstream as large and mid-sized players tap into growth segment.(Ethnic Confections)(Montes USA)
March 1, 2005... Candy makers are sweetening the pot for both Hispanics and non-Hispanics with a new wave of confections catering to both tastes. While major non-Hispanic players like Hershey and Masterfoods are increasingly reaching out to Hispanic...

Intense minis.(New Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Callard & Bowser-Suchard Inc., East Hanover, N.J. THE PRODUCT: Altoids Smalls THE HOOK: The new sleek. portable tin contains 60 sugar-free Altoids Smalls curiously strong mints that consumers have come to expect from...

Cinnabon twist.(New Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Standard Candy Co., Nashville, Tenn. THE PRODUCT: Cinnabon Cinnamon Caramel Pecan Clusters and Cinnabon Cinnamon Pecan Rolls THE HOOK: The new Cinnabon Clusters feature milk chocolate-covered cinnamon caramel and sugared...

Hot, hot, hot.(New Products)(Just Born Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Just Born Inc., Bethlehem, Pa. THE PRODUCT: Hot Tamales Fire THE HOOK: Hot Tamales Fire, the new Hot Tamales brand line extension, offers consumers a more extreme cinnamon-flavored candy with a spark of fire. The candies...

Hauser Chocolatier.(truffle flavor)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Westerly, R.I.-based Hauser Chocolatier added another truffle to its Beyond Gourmet truffle flavors, the Pomegranate Truffle. In keeping with its tradition of blending Old World traditions with exotic tastes, Hauser has created a fruity dark...

Cocoa Pete's Chocolate Adventure.(At a glance ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Campbell, Calif.-based Cocoa Pete's Chocolate Adventure is introducing Cocoa Petites, .7-oz., Bite-size chocolates. Instead of the four snap-apart pieces in the original bars, the Petite offers two, smaller size pieces bridged together to...

Cocoa Bon Fine Chocolates.(At a glance ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... New from Cocoa Bon Fine Chocolates in Los Gatos, Calif., Tahitian Vanilla Caramel features a 58% rich dark chocolate and pure ground vanilla from Tahiti available in a 2.3-oz. tin or 3.8-oz. cylinder tin. Also new, Dark Chocolate Ginger Snap...

The Chocolate Traveler.(At a glance ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... North Hollywood, Calif.-based The Chocolate Traveler, released three new flavors--Dark Chocolate Orange, Dark Chocolate Raspberry and White Chocolate--in 16-piece tins. The chocolate wedges have also been available in Bittersweet Chocolate,...

Torn Ranch.(Tea Chocolates)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Splendid Specialties, a product group of Novato, Calif.-based Torn Ranch, ushers in an upgraded display for its Tea Chocolates. The 1-oz. Tea Bars feature yellow and green packaging and are available in six flavors: Jasmine Green Tea, Orange...

Revamped champ.(New Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Cadbury Adams, Parsippany, N.J. THE PRODUCT: Trident Crystal Frost, Trident Strawberry Fusion, Trident Wintergreen Fusion. THE HOOK: Cadbury marks the 40th anniversary of Trident Sugarless Gum with a reformulation...

Premium impulse.(New Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., San Leandro, Calif. THE PRODUCT: Ghirardelli Impulse Squares THE HOOK: Ideal for impulse purchases and on-the-go consumption, Impulse Squares Chocolates have the perfect balance of Ghirardelli...

Flavoring sweetener.(Creators Briefs)(Symrise Flavor Division)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Symrise Flavor Division in Teterboro, N.J., and SweetGredients (a joint venture of Aria Foods Ingredients and Nordzucker) entered into a cooperative agreement to develop a new generation of flavors containing Gaio tagatose, a natural...

Flavoring fun.(Creators Briefs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... UK-based Taste Tech Ltd's now offers combinations such as peppermint and cinnamon, lemon and lime and chocolate and orange in its sequential flavoring line. These confectionery flavorings are made possible through Taste Tech's controlled...

Trans-free coating.(Creators Briefs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Westport, Conn.-based Mantrose-Haeuser Co. Inc. in response to growing consumer demands for heart-healthy organic products, has developed a new generation of confectionery coatings that will enable manufacturers to address the concerns of...

AWEMA AG.(Interpack Preview)(UDM-222OS)(MINI-101)
March 1, 2005... Pfaffikon, Switzerland-based AWEMA AG designs and manufactures customized machines and lines for the production of filled confections with "One-Shot" technology. AWEMA also offers solutions in the field of complete production lines for hollow...

Carle & Montanari.(Interpack Preview)
March 1, 2005... Carle & Montanari in Rossano (Milan), Italy. will exhibit the latest innovations in confectionery moulding and wrapping equipment at Interpack 2005. Two moulding lines will be exhibited at the show, which offers new engineering solutions to...

Heat exchange technology boosts cooking efficiency.(Plant, Processing and Packaging Technology)(Helixcooker)(Bosch's Confectionery)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Packaging Technology Division of Bosch's Confectionery Business Unit in Viersen, Germany, offers the latest generation of its confectionery cooking line, the Helixcooker. By combining the advantages of the proven cooking coil with...

Aquarius extends fair visit to its technology center.(Plant, Processing and Packaging Technology)
March 1, 2005... During the Interpack 2005, which will be held April 21-27 in Dusseldorf, Germany Aquarius CFS will open the doors to its vast Technology Center in Weert, The Netherlands, which is just one hour's drive away from Dusseldorf. Luxury VIP...

Topps' Nancy Bradley retires.(retirement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... After 35 years of service at Topps Co., Nancy Bradley has retired. She began her career at Topps as a secretary in the purchasing department in 1970, moved to new product development, and in 1975 was promoted to the marketing operations...

Just Born appoints new president and ceo.(appointment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Ross Born and David Shaffer, co-chief executive officers of Bethlehem, Pa.-based Just Born Inc., have promoted Samuel Torrence to become president and chief operating officer of the company. Born and Shaffer, who have run the company for...

Jelly Belly makes staff appointments.(appointments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Jelly Belly Candy Co. has made the following new staff appointments: Sharon Duncan has joined the company in the new position of director of international sales, heading Jelly Belly's International Sales Division. The position was...

Lloveras hires new technical manager.(appointment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Terrassa, Spain-based Lloveras announced in early January that Carles Gamisans joined the company as its new technical manager. Having previously worked as an engineering manager for Velcro Europe SA for 7 years, Gaminsans will take full...

Symrise appoints new ceo.(appointment)
March 1, 2005... Gerold Linzbach has taken over chief executive duties for Holzminden, Germany-based Symrise, a global supplier of fragrances, flavorings and cosmetic ingredients. He replaces James Forman, who helped lead the company during the final...

Gum expert passes away.(obituary)(Obituary)
March 1, 2005... Unexpectedly, Bernard Guntzer passed away on Jan. 8, 2005. Survived by his wife and brother, he was 51. Guntzer started his activity in the chewing gum sector more than 30 years ago when he joined the family business, Comeck. Most...

Sweet profile.(Candy Wrapper)(Interview)
March 1, 2005... When Rob Leighton joined Thompson Candy in 1995, he left a career in management consulting and electronics to discover the brave new world of chocolate. Then, Thompson Candy was a small, struggling producer of seasonal foiled novelties...

Richardson mints 'unwrapped'.(Candy Wrapper)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Richardson Brands' chocolate gourmet mint manufacturing process will be featured in a spring episode of Unwrapped on the Food Channel. The segment features Kalman Vadasz, v.p.--R&D., detailing how these historical confections are made. High...