Candy Industry articles from October 2003

Candy Industry archives from October 2003

Staying tuned in.(Opening Shots)
October 1, 2003... By the time you receive this issue, Major League Baseball will have crowned yet another World Series champ. And for the 58th time, it will not be the Chicago Cubs. Hey, that's the price you pay for evicting a goat from the 1945 World Series and...

Ingredient supplier Cargill purchases OCG Cacoa.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Privately-held Cargill acquired French cocoa and chocolate ingredients company OCG Cacoa. Less than five years old, the French company represents Cargill's first significant investment in chocolate manufacturing in Europe. OCG accounts for...

Food industry unprepared for bioterrorism rule.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Fifty percent of food industry professionals surveyed by the Food Institute do not know that all domestic and most foreign food manufacturing and distribution facilities must register with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by Dec. 12, 2003,...

Pennsylvania will tax candy makers attending Philly show.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In the weeks before the 108th National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show, held at the Valley Forge Convention Center, almost one in four exhibitors said the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue wrote them to say they were required to file with the...

Couche-Tard acquires ConocoPhillips C-stores.(Newsletter)(The Circle K Corp. acquired)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the Canadian leader in the convenience store industry, reached an agreement with Houston-based ConocoPhillips to acquire The Circle K Corp. for a net price of $830 million, including assumed debt of $9.1 million....

Thorntons seeks buyout bids after low summer sales.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... British chocolate retailer Thorntons has turned down a low buyout bid, but is trying to flush out a higher offer by allowing its senior executives to discuss potential deals with private equity companies. The company is anxious to extract as...

Glisten confectionery acquires chocolate company.(Newsletter)(Sunya)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... UK confectionery company Glisten completed the acquisition of the trading operations and assets of Sunya, a division of Renshaw Scott. The acquisition of Sunya, which makes chocolate confectionery, coincides with the company's strategy to build...

Weak sales prompts Cadbury to close factories.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Declining demand for Black Jacks and Fruit Salads candies have caused Cadbury Schweppes to close a factory in Chesterfield, England. It also will close the former Adams factory in Radcliffe, which makes Halls Mentholyptus and Soothers sweets....

Dillon Candy Co. purchases Carolyn Candies' assets ...(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Dillon Candy Co. in Boston, Ga., purchased the assets of Carolyn Candies in Winter Haven, Fla. Carolyn Candies manufactured pecan rolls, jelly candies and other confections for more than 60 years. Dillon Candy produces a variety of specialty...

... While Shari Candies closes down.(Newsletter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Mankato, Minn.-based Shari Candies Inc., a candy packager and private-label supplier, closed its production and warehouse operations last month and is phasing out its remaining operations. Owner Aden Kitsis, whose father founded the company in...

State plants seed for Hawaii-grown chocolate.(Newsletter)(Hawaii Gold Cacao)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Entrepreneurs, farmers and even state lawmakers agree that Hawaii, as the only state with a climate temperate enough to support cacao trees, is positioned to become a major player in the global chocolate market and enhance the state's economy....

Wrigley shuffles top ranks for future growth.(Newsletter)(Win. Wrigley Jr. Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Chicago-based Win. Wrigley Jr. Co. rearranged its top ranks to help the company pursue new deals. President and chief executive Bill Wrigley Jr. will add the title of chairman of the board. Ronald Waters, the company's financial chief, will add...

Prospects improve to re-open dormant Fulton plant.(Candy News)(Fulton, New York)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... When Nestle announced it was going to shut down its 1 million-sq.-ft. chocolate-making facility in Fulton, N.Y. last year, the news proved devastating to the 450 workers. It also seemingly closed a chapter on a historic facility, one that had...

Government releases official candy stats.(Candy News)(United States Dept. of Commerce)
October 1, 2003... Last month the U.S. Dept. of Commerce released its statistics on how the domestic confectionery industry fared in 2002, and as expected, the figures confirmed the tough sledding many manufacturers endured. The government pegged total...

Dillon Candy Co. earns kudos.(Candy News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Five of Atlanta's top culinary experts and aficionados conferred Dillon Candy Co.'s Peanut Brittle the "Best Candy" designation at an annual food awards gathering held last month. The judges which included Christian Czerwonka, executive...

Jelly Belly takes aim at c-stores.(Candy News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A full range of packages developed for convenience stores will appear soon from Fairfield, Calif.-based Jelly Bell Candy Co. The candies include the company's leading Jelly Belly jelly bean brand, as well as the Harry Potter inspired Bertie...

All Candy Expo's growth earns fast-track label.(Candy News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The National Confectioner Association's All Candy Expo was named one of the 50 fastest-growing trade shows in the country by Tradeshow Week magazine. TSW's Fastest 50 recognizes square footage growth from 2000 to 2002. In that time, the All...

Alcoa Flexible Packaging.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Richmond, Va. -- based Alcoa Flexible Packaging appointed Victor Dixon as general manager.

CP Kelco.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Akiva Gross rejoins CP Kelco, Chicago, as senior vice president of technology.

Hershey Foods.(People on the Move)(Board of Directors)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Hershey Foods, Hershey, Pa, announced that Robert Cavanaugh, managing director of DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners, was elected to Hershey Foods Board of Directors.

Nestle S.A.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestle S.A. announced the following changes to its executive board: Ed Marra will take over as executive vice president following the retirement of Frank Cella, executive vice president of strategic business units and...

Webber/Smith Associates, Inc.(People on the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Chris Davies has joined Lancaster, Pa.-based Webber/Smith Associates, Inc. as a senior project manager.

Flying the brands: after enduring the "year of years," Hershey Foods' new consumer- and customer-centric approach takes hold, spawning excitement into the category through a broad range of innovative new products.(Hershey Foods Corp.)
October 1, 2003... Talk about a time warp. The infamous summer of the Hershey Foods' "sell-off that wasn't" dominated the headlines of national, local and trade media last year. The uncertainty and ongoing speculation, while certainly intriguing to those within...

Scaling organic opportunities: Clif Bar remains committed to its roots--delivering sustained energy to consumers in a nutritious and good-tasting manner--and looks to further deliver on that promise by going organic.(Corporate Profile)(Clif Bar Inc.)
October 1, 2003... Greg Erickson, founder and president of Berkeley, Calif.-based Clif Bar, admits it wasn't easy taking one of the company's best-selling products, aptly named after his father. Clifford, organic. "It was pretty tough," he says. "It took us...

A creative Galerie: with new licensing agreements as well as a new facility to accommodate even more creative projects, Galerie Au Chocolat sees its revenues growing.(Retail Trendsetter)
October 1, 2003... Shrek may just have been a movie about a heroic ogre, but its real feat comes from he fact the film made $250 million and became one of the top five selling DVDs ever. So, it's no surprise that Shrek 2 will find its way into the theaters in May...

The organic confectionery market: 2003 new regs stimulated sales.(Special Report)
October 1, 2003... Standards tend to promote stability. And stability encourages sales. Consequently, it's not surprising that a year after the government released its regulations for organic certification last year, the somewhat nebulous natural foods industry...

Sugar-free sizzles: gums find success with sugar-free and line extensions.(Chewing Gum)
October 1, 2003... It's not surprising that sales for sugar free chewing gum are up this year, considering the influx of new sugar-free gums into the marketplace and an increase of sugar-free products in general. The sugar-free candy category altogether rose...

Gum processing: from powdered gum to functional benefits, ingredient as well as equipment suppliers continue to expand the horizons for gum manufacturers.(Touching On Technology)
October 1, 2003... In highly developed confectionery markets such as the United States or Europe, added-value chewing gum products are emerging as leading further development of the gum category. Be it delivering an extra strong breath-freshener flavor or...

Chocolate and cocoa products: making the best better.(Candy R&D: trends & applications in ingredient technology)
October 1, 2003... Who would have guessed; researchers are now saying that chocolate is actually good for us to eat. Consumers the world over have been drawn to the product as both an indulgence and as a pick-me-up. The latest developments in the chocolate and...

Caffeinated strips.(New Products)(Lickety Slips Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... COMPANY: Lickety Slips Inc., Irvine, Calif. THE PRODUCT: Barista Sips THE HOOK: Imagine being able to get that rush of energy you need without having to down a hot cup of coffee or an energy drink? With Barista Sips, caffeinated...

Bigger, better.(New Products)(Ferrero U.S.A Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... COMPANY: Ferrero USA Inc., Somerset, N.J. THE PRODUCT: Tic Tac mints THE HOOK: The old favorite just got better. Still less than two calories per mint, new Tic Tac mints will be 30% larger and have more flavor on the outside and longer...

Return of the gross.(New Products)(Topps Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... COMPANY: The Topps Co., New York THE PRODUCT: Garbage Pail Kids Green Gum THE HOOK: The Garbage Pail Kids collecting phenomenon of the 80s are back with an all-new assortment of rib-tickling stickers. As part of the retro-launch...

Seattle Chocolates.(Holiday Rollout)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Seattle Chocolates kicks off the winter holiday season with four new gift box options. Adorned with silver-foiled doves and a gold ribbon, the company's 1-lb. Dove Box contains two fold-out drawers of individually-wrapped dark chocolate, mint,...

Just Born.(Valentine's Day packaging)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Bethlehem, Pa.--based Just Born's Hot Tamales, Zours and Mike and Ike brands will debut in new candy card packaging for Valentine's Day. Hot Tamales will feature an explosive cover that reads, "You're my favorite flavor." These new hot treats...

Jelly Belly.(holiday packaging)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Fairfield, Calif. -- based Jelly Belly's Elegant Signature Selection packages dressed up in a poinsettia motif for the holidays turn Jelly Belly Gift Boxes into a great gift. The company's 50-Flavor, 25-Flavor and 10-Flavor Jelly Belly Boxes...

Sunflower crunch.(from Kimmie Candy Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... COMPANY: Kimmie Candy Co., Sacramento, Calif. THE PRODUCT: Sunbursts THE HOOK: Sunbursts are candy-coated, chocolate-covered sunflower kernels, which pack a health punch. Sunflower kernels are a key source of vitamins B6 and E, and...

No sugar added.(new from Marich Confectionery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... COMPANY: Marich Confectionery. Hollister, Calif. THE PRODUCT: No Sugar Added Chocolate Cherries THE HOOK: Marich released eleven new sugar-free products for the premium confectionery category. The company crafted its new sugar-free...

Flavored glitter.(from Watson Foods)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... West Haven, Conn.-based Watson Foods Co. can formulate Edible Glitter using a custom flavor or a proprietary flavor. Glitter with flavor contributes special qualities to the flavor profile of the product. Thin flakes made with acacia gum melt...

Intense shine.(Quick Shine from Alfred L Wolff)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Quick Shine, a new product developed by Drouven & Fabry for German-headquartered Alfred L Wolff, is a glazing agent especially for chocolate dragees, The product gives an intense and long lasting shine to the goods while using a small dosage...

Organic starch.(from National Starch)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Two new certified organic food starches from Bridgewater, N.J.-based National Starch join the company's existing line of six organic starches. Novation 9270 functional native waxy maize food starch is an easily cooked starch that produces...

Versatility defines cut-and-wrap packaging.(AMP Rose )
October 1, 2003... United Kingdom-based AMP Rose and its predecessors, (Rose Brothers of Gainsborough, and The Forgrove Machinery Company), have been manufacturing cut-and-wrap machines for 95 years. Since the development of its first, relatively...

Hershey, Gorge Delights win Golden Mummy Awards.
October 1, 2003... ExxonMobil Chemical conducted its 17th annual Golden Mummy and Pyramid Awards this month in conjunction with PackExpo 2003 being held in Las Vegas. As Jim Ashmore, Americas, sales and marketing manager, Exxon Mobil Chemical, pointed out, "Our...

Sweet profile.(Dennis Teranishi of Hawaiian Host)
October 1, 2003... Dennis Teranishi knows his way around vegetables, having been born and raised on a vegetable farm in Waialua, on Oahu's North Shore in Hawaii. But he's also pretty knowledgeable about macadamia nuts, papayas, ornamental nurseries, hay, sheep...

Say it ain't so, Joe.(Bazooka Joe fiftieth anniversary)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Turning 50 presents quite a traumatic milestone for many Baby Boomers. For others, however, it's just an occasion to amplify an anniversary. Take Topps Co.'s Bazooka Joe comic strip character, which made its debut as reading material to the...