Candy Industry articles from May 2007

Candy Industry archives from May 2007

Why I'm going to Ghana.(OPENING SHOTS)
May 1, 2007... In case you hadn't read the table of contents in the April issue--and I know there are people who never do--I'm leaving with a group of delegates (about 33 of us) on May 26 to visit Ghana through the auspices of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF)...

Hershey's forges partnership with Barry Callebaut ...(NEWSLETTER)
May 1, 2007... The Hershey Co. announced a strategic supply and innovation partnership with Zurich-based Barry Callebaut. Callebaut, which invested $50 million in the partnership, will provide Hershey will at least 80,000 tons of chocolate and chocolate...

... While continuing to shut down North American plants.(NEWSLETTER)
May 1, 2007... As part of its restructuring program to cut costs, Hershey's recently announced its plans to close two more North American plants. The confectionery giant will close its Reading, Pa. facility in 2008. Hershey's purchased the plant, located 40...

Emerging markets boost Wrigley sales.(NEWSLETTER)
May 1, 2007... Singling out emerging markets in Asia and Eastern Europe as key contributors to growth, Wrigley posted a 17% sales rise to $1.6 billion during its first quarter. Wrigley's operating margins were down in the quarter by 0.1% due to supply chain...

Town approves Masterfoods expansion.(NEWSLETTER)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Elizabethtown Borough in Lancaster County, Pa., approved a land development plan to enable a $30-million expansion of Masterfoods USA, parent company of M&M/Mars. The one-story addition, which will span 67,000 sq. ft., will stand about 30 ft....

Norwegian obesity tax garners support, opposition.(NEWSLETTER)
May 1, 2007... Hoping to curb obesity and bolster healthier eating habits, the Norwegian government proposed a trade tax known as "moms" that could be doubled on high sugar goods. The tax, which has incurred praise from some of the country's nutritional...

Hershey's launches chocolate-filled Web site.(NEWSLETTER)(Website overview)
May 1, 2007... The Hershey Co. announced its sponsorship of allchocolate.com, an all-inclusive resource for manufacturers, consumers and chocoholics. The informative site covers six main areas--including Understanding Chocolate, a historical outline, to the...

Nestle discovers gas' effect on chocolate.(NEWSLETTER)
May 1, 2007... The type of gas used during chocolate production may have a significant effect on taste and texture, according to scientists at Nestle. The study focused on the sensory properties of four types of bubble-containing chocolates, which were...

New process may retain more cocoa bean flavonoids.(NEWSLETTER)
May 1, 2007... Scientists from Spain-based Natraceutical Group are part of a research team proposing the development of a process that greatly increases cocoa powder's flavonoid levels. The research group suggests that by omitting the fermentation and...

Studies show gum's dental benefits fall short.(NEWSLETTER)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Researchers at the University of Palermo, Italy found that sugar-free gum has only a slight effect on dental health. During a four-day period, scientists asked participants to chew one piece of sugar-free gum for a half hour after dinner, four...

Fast and furious: Stagnito's New Products Magazine's 7th Annual New Products Development Report finds companies are hitching their new launches to organic and/or energy-boosting horses.(CANDY NEWS)
May 1, 2007... In developing new products, food technologists shouldn't confuse 2007's latest trends with those of 2006. The "healthy" and "natural" trends of last year are now consumer expectations. "Portion control," however, which was so hot 12-months...

Frango mint production (at least symbolically) returns to Chicago.(CANDY NEWS)
May 1, 2007... Yes, they are once again enrobing Frango centers at Macy's on State Street (still referred to by many locals as Marshall Fields) in Chicago. Although it's a far cry from the hey days in the mid 1970s and 1980s, the sight of Floyd Swayzer...

Spangler hires new product development manager.(Spangler Candy Co. appoints Scott Guilford)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... In late March, Wendy Lyon joined Spangler Candy Co.'s marketing team as its new product development manager, thus taking responsibility for all new product and packaging development with internal departments and vendors. The company's current...

Tinsley designates Union Confectionery as its agent.(Supplier News)
May 1, 2007... Moscow, Pa.-based Tinsley Design & Fabricating of Moscow, which manufactures a line of confectionery machinery that includes stainless steel belt coating units for chocolate panning and chocolate tanks and melters, has appointed, New York...

B.T. McElrath wins Gallo Family Vineyards Gold.(CANDY NEWS)
May 1, 2007... A distinctive passion fruit truffle earned Minneapolis, Minn.-based B.T. McElrath Chocolatier the Gold Medal as the Outstanding Confectionery Good in the Gallo Family Vineyards prestigious Gold Medal Awards competition this year. As a...

Nestle, Blommer sales exec dies.(CANDY NEWS)
May 1, 2007... James Robert Meagher, a vice president of sales for Nestle and Blommer Chocolate, died on Saturday, March 24, 2007, at Stamford Hospital. Born and raised in Fulton, N.Y., Meagher went to The Manlius School in Manlius, N.Y., and later graduated...

Beating the odds: having expanded their grandmother's business to include a broad range of confections, Rick and Dave Drehobl of Skokie, Ill.-based Georgia Nut Co. look to transfer their experience and expertise into additional branded sales.(Company overview)
May 1, 2007... They say that only 5% of all family-run businesses survive to the third generation. Fortunately for Rick and Dave Drehobl, co-chief executive officers of Skokie, Ill-based Georgia Nut Co., the two brothers have never been afraid of going...

Taking on the tradition: Munson's Chocolates' dedicated family foundation has fueled the success of this 61-year-old company, which currently boasts the title of Connecticut's largest retail confectioner.(CHOCOLATE TRENDSETTER)(Company overview)
May 1, 2007... As a child, Karen Munson observed a strange pattern whenever Easter came around--all the chocolate rabbits in her basket had broken ears. Being born and bred into a candymaking family, damaged confections rarely went unnoticed. At first,...

Supply-side economics.(SPECIAL REPORT: NINTH ANNUAL EUROPEAN SUPPLIERS ROUNTABLE)(Interview)(Company overview)
May 1, 2007... In grappling with rising material, labor, research and logistical costs, confectionery suppliers have had their hands full containing price increases while meeting the challenges of their customers, and indirectly, consumers. This year's annual...

Gum grows up: trendy combinations that fuse classic flavors have kept the sugar-free gum segment revitalized and fresh.(CATEGORY CLOSE-UP: CHEWING GUM)
May 1, 2007... With retail sales reaching over $2 billion over the past year, according to estimates by industry analysts, gum remains a serious and growing business. The sugarless sector takes most of the credit for the impressive market gains. In 2006,...

Low key, high priority: utilizing new technology and methods, starch manufacturers are finding new uses for this all-purpose ingredient.(Candy R & D: TRENDS & APPLICATIONS IN INGREDIENT TECHNOLOGY)
May 1, 2007... Faced with challenges posed by ever-changing consumer demands, the food industry is constantly confronted with the need to evolve and offer inventive solutions. And starches, though they often take a back seat to other ingredients, are no...

Salty caramels.(Das Foods introduces caramels)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Das Foods, Highwood, Ill. THE PRODUCT: Sea salt caramels THE HOOK: Dubbed Das Caramelini, Das Foods' new line of bite-sized premium caramels feature a touch of fleur de sel. French for "flower of salt," fleur de sel is...

Heating up the mint market.(F&F Foods introduces Sugar-Free Mints)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: F&F Foods, Inc., Chicago. THE PRODUCT: Ragold All-Natural, Sugar-Free Mints THE HOOK: Keeping up with the natural food movement, F&F Foods introduced Ragold All-Natural, Sugar-Free Mints. The mints are available in...

Hersheys.(releases 2007 Spring Collection)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Hershey's Joseph Schmidt Confections released its 2007 Spring Collection, which includes truffles, chocolate disks and decorative boxes. The new designs and varieties reflect the freshness of spring, and featured flavors include Strawberry,...

Azar Nut Company.(At a glance)
May 1, 2007... Under its Chef Xpress brand, El Paso, Tex.-based Azar Nut Company introduced a new line of naturally trans fat-free portion pack nuts. The line's introductory varieties include Candied Walnuts, Cinnamon Almonds, Coconut Cashews, and Candied...

Kandy Kastle.(At a glance)
May 1, 2007... San Diego-based Kandy Kastle expanded its novelty candy portfolio with Tape Worms gummi string candy. The candy fits inside a bright green or red round plastic candy holder that features a self-cutting cap, so the candy can be cut to any...

Impact Confections.(At a glance)
May 1, 2007... Impact Confections of Colorado Springs, Colo., recently launched Warheads QBZ Sour Fruit Chews. The bite-sized, sour-coated cubes don't stick to teeth like many chewy candies, and varieties include Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Strawberry and...

Godiva.(At a glance)
May 1, 2007... Targeted to on-the-go consumers who still want to indulge, Godiva introduced Chocoiste. The new line of portable, single-serving chocolates includes dark and milk chocolate pearls, caramel bars, chocolate-covered fruits and nuts, and...

Worldly bars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Amano Artisan Chocolate, Orem, Utah. THE PRODUCT: Ocumare Grand Cru and Madagascar Premium Dark Chocolate bars. THE HOOK: Amano Artisan Chocolate recently launched two premium chocolate products--Madagascar Premium and...

Flavor-infused caramels.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Masterfoods USA, Hackettstown, N.J. THE PRODUCT: Dove brand Flavored Caramels THE HOOK: Offering the "ultimate indulgence," Dove released new Flavored Caramels. The smooth buttery confections are enhanced with mint,...

Taking sweetness in stride.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Cadbury Adams USA, Parsippany, N.J. THE PRODUCT: Stride Sweet Peppermint Gum THE HOOK: Expanding its "ridiculously long lasting gum" line, Cadbury Adams released Stride Sweet Peppermint. The newest variety follows the...

Chocolate-coated nature's candy.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: CandyCot, Denver, Penn. THE PRODUCT: Milk and Dark Chocolate-Covered Apricots THE HOOK: Making a sweet treat even sweeter, CandyCot recently released milk and dark chocolate-covered apricots. The company, which features...

Summer splash.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2007... THE COMPANY: Cadbury Adams USA, Parsippany, N.J. THE PRODUCT: Trident Splash Summer Spearmint gum THE HOOK: Infused with the flavors of summer, Trident Splash's newest variety, Sununer Spearmint, combines cool spearmint with the juicy...

Organic cocoa butter replacer.(CREATORS BRIEFS')
May 1, 2007... Ciranda of Hudson, Wisc., introduced organic palm kernel stearin. The product acts as a lauric acid-based cocoa butter substitute and can completely replace cocoa butter in most applications. The product, made of fractionated palm kernel oil,...

Frutarom's new health ingredients.(CREATORS BRIEFS')
May 1, 2007... Swiss flavor and ingredients company, Frutarum, offered a broad line of health ingredients products at the Vitafoods show in Geneva in May. The company introduced the EFLA-line/Flachsmama extracts, which contain ingredients that improve...

NutraFlora approved for organic use.(CREATORS BRIEFS')(National Organic Standards Board, GTC Nutrition)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... GTC Nutrition, a unit of Corn Products International, announced that the National Organic Standards Board will include NutraFlora prebiotic fiber on the National List of non-organically produced ingredients that are allowed for use in organic...

Depositing workshop offered by WDS.(PPPT)
May 1, 2007... Confectioners anxious to learn and practice depositing of chocolate masses have an opportunity to do so with the help of Rengsdorf, Germany-based Winkler und Dunnebier Siibwarenmaschinen GmbH (WDS). The new series of seminars--dubbed...

Praline maker opts for sweet-flowing wrapper.(Aunt Sally's Praline Shop)
May 1, 2007... Aunt Sally's Praline Shop makes Creole pralines--thin flat discs of pecans and sugar--along with an assortment of half-size pralinettes, praline pecans, Cajun pecans, cinnamon pecans and pecan log rolls. Located in the New Orleans' French...

Sweet profile.(CANDY WRAPPER)(Dorian Isenberg )
May 1, 2007... Julia Child once said, "Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." Little did she know her words were falling upon the ears of a young Dorian Isenberg who was trading in his after-school playtime in Houston...