Candy Industry articles from March 2007

Candy Industry archives from March 2007

A walk in the woods.(OPENING SHOTS)
March 1, 2007... Sometimes, one just needs to break away from today's information overload and take the proverbial "walk in the woods" to gain perspective. That common maxim, "can't see the forest before the trees" really does apply then, especially if...

Cadbury Schweppes spins off beverage unit.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... After pressure from investors including U.S. billionaire Nelson Peltz, Cadbury Schweppes PLC announced that it will split its confectionery and beverage businesses. The announcement recently followed Cadbury's announcement that Peltz's...

Former Disney ceo involved in Topps buy.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... New York-based Topps Co. accepted an acquisition offer for $385.4 million by private-equity investors, including former Walt Disney Co. ceo Michael Eisner. Tornante Co., which Eisner founded in 2005, and Chicago-based Madison Dearborn...

Hershey acquires stake in Indian company ...(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... The Hershey Co. purchased 51% in Mumbai, India-based Godrej Beverages & Foods Ltd. for $54 million. Hershey's share will include 40% held by IL&FS, with Godrej Industries Ltd. holding 43% in the firm. In addition to royalty payments for...

... And purchases Mexico facility ...(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... As part of the Hershey Co.'s realignment of manufacturing operations, the company purchased a nearly 200,000-sq.-ft. building in Monterrey, Mexico. The building was a former bread-making factory, and plans call for as many as 500 initial...

... To the surprise of Central American sugar growers.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... After establishing a free-trade pact with the United States last year, Central America's sugar growers were surprised at Hershey's decision to build a plant in Mexico. The pact, known as CAFTA, loosens export restrictions to the U.S. on...

Cacao Reserve disappoints Hershey.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... Despite a steadily growing premium chocolate sector, the Hershey Co. has turned to price discounts and greater advertising measures to help revive its upscale Cacao Reserve line, Advertising Age reported. Less than six months after its...

Nestle and Barry Callebaut form agreement ...(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... Chocolate producers Nestle and Barry Callebaut have joined together in an agreement in which Nestle will transfer its French and Italian facilities to Barry Callebaut. Additionally, Nestle will offer Barry Callebaut a long-term supply...

... While Barry Callebaut contemplates Brach's selloff.(Newsletter)(Barry Callebaut Canada Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Zurich-based Barry Callebaut has commissioned a study as to what to do with Brach's after its attempt at producing store-brand chocolate failed to succeed in the U.S. retail market. Barry Callebaut acquired Brach's for $16 million in 2003....

Bogdon Candy joins Dynamic Confections.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dynamic Confections acquired a majority stake in Bogdon Candy, best known as the innovators of the Reception Stick. The Bogdon family will remain active in the Kansas City-based company and has retained...

Dorval Trading expands brands with Belgian Chocolate Group.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... Nanuet, N.Y.-based Dorval Trading Co., Lt. announced the addition of Belgian Chocolate Group to its portfolio of brands. Belgian Chocolate Group contributes its core item, Chocolate Seashells, plus an extensive confectionery assortment...

Chocolate Bar set to arrive in Middle East.(Newsletter)
March 1, 2007... Chocolate Bar, a New York City "candy store for grown-ups," recently announced a partnership with Dubai-based NewCo, a subsidiary of United Restaurant Development, to expand the brand to the Middle East. Established in 2002 by Alison Nelson,...

Blame game over: escalating reports of childhood obesity have forced the confectionery industry to explore solutions to a traditionally sensitive topic.(CANDY NEWS)
March 1, 2007... When it comes to childhood obesity, it's easy to point fingers. But the intensity of this epidemic has hit a point when all parties involved must choose between two options--contribute to the solution or become part of the problem. ...

NCA awards to Herm Rowland, Bill Ryan.(CANDY NEWS)
March 1, 2007... Two of the confectionery industry's best, Herm Rowland, chairman of Jelly Belly Candy Co., and Bill Ryan, v.p. confectionery sales and marketing, ADM Cocoa, were recognized at NCA's annual State of the Industry Conference in Scottsdale,...

Former Kraft exec joins Wrigley.(People on the Move)
March 1, 2007... Mary Kay Haben, formerly Kraft Foods' senior vice president--open innovation, has joined Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. as group vice president and managing director, North America. Haben will report to Bill Perez, Wrigley's president and ceo, and is...

Symrise launches global citrus facility.(Supplier News)
March 1, 2007... Symrise broke ground on the construction of the company's new Global Citrus Center in Sorocaba, Brazil this month. The move is designed to expand the fragrance and flavoring manufacturer's expertise in natural citrus flavorings. The...

Blommer adds Curlee to sales team.(Supplier News)
March 1, 2007... Louis Curlee has joined Chicago-based Blommer Chocolate Co. as Midwest Regional Sales Manager. Curlee has more than 25 years in food manufacturing sales experience with a strong base within the dairy, bakery and confectionary industries.

Former Baker Perkins head dies.(Supplier News)
March 1, 2007... Paul Parkinson, former managing director of Baker Perkins died earlier this year at the age of 62. He had retired from the company in 2001 after a 35-year career with the company, and was well known worldwide within the biscuit, bakery, snack...

PMCA sets precedent with two Hans Dresel Memorial awards.(CANDY NEWS)
March 1, 2007... For the first time PMCA will be presenting two Hans Dresel Memorial Awards recognizing both a speaker and an organization for outstanding contributions to the confectionery industry at its Production Conference, which is being held April...

Camaraderie in Cologne.(ISM RECEPTION)
March 1, 2007... As with most receptions, guests started to trickle in slowly after working the show on the first day of the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair in Cologne, Germany on Jan. 28, 2007. The damp air signaled the onset of a cold drizzle, but...

Chocolate rules while sweets opt for healthy: the world's largest gathering of confectionery manufacturers reaffirms ongoing trends involving chocolate, premiumization, health/wellness and upscaled/convenient packaging.(SHOW COVERAGE)(Company overview)
March 1, 2007... It's a good thing that the International Sweets & Biscuits Fair (ISM) is held in Cologne and not Chicago. Otherwise Gosselies, Belgium-based Bruyerre might have had problems displaying its Lolla praline containing a duck foie gras filling...

Pursuing the crown: Dubbed Poland's "most dynamic confectionery company" by AC Nielsen in 2006, Mieszko--under Marek Moczulski's leadership--gears up for another year of fast-track results.(Cover story)
March 1, 2007... In Poland's business circles, he's known as the "Company Doctor." Marek Moczulski, managing director of Warsaw, Poland-based Mieszko, certainly has a history of "fixing" companies that have demonstrated a variety of ailments, be it...

Gummies gone automated, totally! The latest expansion at the Mederer Group's Hagenow, Germany plant showcases how far automation can go in gummi production.(INTERNATIONAL PROFILE)(Company overview)
March 1, 2007... It's not often one hears the statement, "I've built the most automated gummi plant in the world." It's rarer still to believe it when said. However, when the words come out of Herbert Mederer's lips, the credibility factor increases...

Great dane: with his unexpected combinations of spices, fruits and earthly essences, Danish-born Fritz Knipschildt makes chocolate worthy of its own personality.(CHOCOLATE TRENDSETTER)
March 1, 2007... Sitting in Cafe Chocopologie in Norwalk, Conn., it's somewhat difficult to grasp founder Fritz Knipschildt's humble chocolate roots. The room is lush and cozy, eclectic and cared for. The dark mocha walls offset the assorted deep red...

More to 'chews' from: many manufacturers have turned to vitamin fortification, bolder fruit essences and unique flavor combinations to rev up the chewy candy sector, while others showcase more arctic alchemy.(CATEGORY CLOSE-UP: CHEWY CANDIES)
March 1, 2007... With annual sales creeping up to $675 million, non-chocolate chewy candies form a serious segment in the candy industry. Constant creativity has kept this sector atuned to all the trends, making it appealing to a broad demographic, beyond...

Taking a shine to natural hues: consumers clearly love pure and simple color, but recent regulatory acceptance has lent a new pizzazz to natural hues.(TRENDS & APPLICATIONS IN INGREDIENT TECHNOLOGY)
March 1, 2007... Appearance is everything--especially in the confectionery industry, which makes colors a key selling component. But don't call today's consumer superficial. The public is paying closer attention to what goes into their food, spurring the...

Chewy organic oats.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Bobo's Oat Bars introduces oat bars)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Bobo's Oat Bars, Boulder, Colo. THE PRODUCT: All-natural oat bars THE HOOK: Capitalizing on the natural and organic products trend, Bobo's Oat Bars introduced its new line of all-natural oat bars. The moist and chewy oat...

Sweet spring outlook.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: B.T. McElrath Chocolatier, Minneapolis, Minn. THE PRODUCT: Spring Artisan Chocolate line THE HOOK: B.T. McElrath Chocolatier launched its new Spring Artisan Chocolate Line featuring the new Peanut Butter Pave, a...

Jelly Belly Candy Co.(At a glance)
March 1, 2007... Right at the height of super fruit popularity, Fairfield, Calif.-based Jelly Belly Candy Co. announced its newest jelly bean flavor--Pomegranate. The red bean, made with real pomegranate juice concentrate, has a slightly tart and sweet...

Taste of Nature, Inc.(At a glance)(introduces cotton candy)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Taste of Nature, Inc., the manufacturer of Care Bears Gummi Bears, Cookie Dough Bites and The Simpsons Fruit Snacks, recently debuted Ringling Brothers Cotton Candy. The cotton candy comes in two flavors--Pink...

Sunrise Confections.(At a glance)
March 1, 2007... Coming off the success of its new products and packaging designs for Christmas 2006, Sunrise Confections of El Paso, Tex., launched three new "Big Bags" for the 2007 holiday season. The holiday-inspired items include 15-oz. Starlight Mints,...

Kandy Kastle.(At a glance)
March 1, 2007... San Diego-based Kandy Kastle launched two new super hero novelty candies inspired by the "Justice League Unlimited" Cartoon Network series. The ID Cell Hero works by inserting an ID card in the slot and pressing the ID finger print button....

Pop Rocks.(At a glance)
March 1, 2007... Hoping to rekindle childhood nostalgia, Atlanta-based Pop Rocks launched the Limited Edition release of Pop Rocks Cotton Candy Explosion. The product offers the sweet and sugary taste and scent of the classic carnival treat combined with Pop...

Move over Peter cottontail.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Vosges Haut-Chocolate introduces easter bunny)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Vosges Haut-Chocolate, Chicago THE PRODUCT: Exotic Easter Bunnies THE HOOK: Vosges Haut-Chocolat has put its own spin on the traditional Easter bunny with its Exotic Easter Bunny collection. Though the bunnies come in a...

Bedemco pistachio products.(CREATORS BRIEFS')
March 1, 2007... Dried fruit, nut and seed supplier Bedemco Inc. of White Plains, N.Y. will introduce Pistachio Paste, Praline Paste and Praline Powder at the PMCA Production Conference on April 16, 2007, as the latest in Bedemco's line of confectionery...

Quest's flavor release technology.(CREATORS BRIEFS')
March 1, 2007... Headquartered in Naarden, Netherlands, Quest Flavours developed the world's first chewing gum flavors that extend and control flavor release in new variations. Dubbed Qpearl Release flavor range, the new flavors allow for quick flavor bursts,...

Sugar-free deposited gum.(CREATORS BRIEFS')
March 1, 2007... Roquette has developed a new approach to applying sugar-free ingredients to current deposited gum technology that will allow confectioners more opportunities in the growing sugar-free market. Sugar-based deposited gum technology was created...

The robots are coming!(INNOVATIONS IN PACKAGING)
March 1, 2007... Within the candy industry, there is no shortage of repetitive tasks that are currently performed manually. With the continuing rise in labor costs, pressures on profit margins, and the difficulty of finding and retaining staff to perform...

Making robotics affordable.(INNOVATIONS IN PACKAGING)
March 1, 2007... Bradman Lake Co.'s LJ-Series Robotic Top Load System, which incorporates the ABB Flexpicker Robot, provides automation, reliability, efficiency and profitability in applications that previously were too costly to automate. The LJ-Series...

Sweet profile.(CANDY WRAPPER)
March 1, 2007... As a young boy in eastern Montana, Gary Brokel was a sports fanatic, especially baseball. Brokel impressed his friends, family and teachers by reciting just about every statistic on every player in the major leagues, from batting averages to...

Consumers gracious for Hershey's goodness.(CANDY WRAPPER)
March 1, 2007... Joining Hershey's Extra Dark and Hershey's Sticks, the Hershey Co. has expanded its Goodness Chocolate portfolio with the debut of Antioxidant Milk Chocolate and Whole Bean Chocolate bars. The new good-for-you offerings pack more of...