Candy Industry articles from September 2005

Candy Industry archives from September 2005

'Are you ready for some sugar?'.(rebuild their businesses)
September 1, 2005... The aftermath of Katrina's devastation continues to impact hundreds of thousands of people, from parents seeking children separated during the evacuation and rescue missions to retail candymakers wondering how they will rebuild their...

Wrigley opens new product lab.(product development lab )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Following their acquisition of the Altoids and Life Savers brands from Kraft, The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. presented its new Goose Island product development lab and pilot manufacturing plant this month. The $45-million Global Innovation Center was...

New chocolate bar created to lower cholesterol.(CocoaVia)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Adding to their CocoaVia brand, Mars Incorp. announced the development of a chocolate bar designed to lower cholesterol. The bar contains a patented blend of soy-derived sterols and cocoa flavonols along with calcium and B vitamins for heart...

Ghana makes a Hurricane Katrina donation.(donate chocolate and cocoa drinks)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The government of Ghana, the second-largest cocoa producer after Cote d'Ivoire, announced its intention to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The country will donate chocolate and cocoa drinks worth $100,000 to the United States. "By this...

Hershey exec goes to McDonald's.(appointments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The chairman and chief executive of The Hershey Co., Richard Lenny, was appointed to the fast food chain's board this month. The move comes in the midst of a turnaround for the company in the United States and the beginning of a recovery in...

Cadbury Schweppes sells beverage business in Europe.(plans to sell )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Cadbury Schweppes announced its plans to sell its European beverage business, which includes brands Orangina, Schweppes, TriNa, Oasis and La Casera, to focus more on the confectionary side of the business. According to the company's...

Topps Co. stays with its confectionary business.(Topps Co. )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... After months of speculation about what New York-based Topps Co. would do with its confectionary business, the company has decided to keep it. Although they did attempt to sell the confectionary business, the company said it could not find a...

Possible buyout for Thorntons.(potential buyout )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... British chocolate maker Thorntons announced that its chairman, Christopher Burnett, is considering buying out the company. With the announcement, though, the company emphasized that the talks are still in the early stages and the proposal will...

Oregon company opens new cafe.(Walnut Creek)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Portland, Ore.-based Moonstruck Chocolate Co. plans to open a Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe in Walnut Creek, Calif. this fall, the first location in California. The company currently operates six Chocolate Cafes with locations in Oregon and...

Lindt continues to grow.(growth)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli reported an 8.9% growth in first-half sales, with organic growth of 8% per year since 2000. As the only premium chocolate brand with a global presence, the growth is a result of the rising consumer trend...

Seasonal chocolate sales down over 5-year period.(seasonal chocolate sales )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A recent report by Mintel shows seasonal chocolate sales continuing to decline. Sales for the 2005 holiday season are estimated to reach $3.3-billion, down from $3.4-billion last year. Between 1999 and 2004, overall seasonal chocolate sales...

Tate & Lyle adds new group.(Global Food Ingredients Group)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... In an effort to focus on marketing and maximize the profitability of their current ingredients, London-based Tare & Lyle announced the formation of a new Global Food Ingredients Group. The company's current chief executive of sugars, Mark...

Award presented to Russell Stover Candies.(Rite Aid Corp)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Rite Aid Corp. named Russell Stover Candies, Inc. a "supplier of the year" for 2005. "Rite Aid has been a great partner for the past several years," said Dan Mears, vice president of national accounts for Russell Stover Candies. "Their...

Hurricane Katrina squeezes sugar supplies.(disrupted sugar supplies )
September 1, 2005... Amidst the death and destruction that Hurricane Katrina leveled on the Gulf Coast, now pegged at nearly 900 deaths with a million-plus residents displaced and a rebuilding tab of $150 billion, the natural disaster also severely disrupted sugar...

Experience steers Schaffer's decisions at Sollich KG.(Ralf Schaffer)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... As a market leader in the chocolate and confectionery industry for the past 55 years, Bad Salzuflen, Germany--based Sollich KG, prides itself on perpetuating and enhancing its legacy through each generation. Continuity--always a critical...

Jelly Belly appoints two as vice presidents.(appointments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Fairfield, Calif.-based Jelly Belly Candy Co. has promoted Jeff Brown and Sharon Duncan as vice presidents of human resources and international business, respectively. Brown, who joined the company as a college intern in 1993, previously held...

Warrell Corp. promotes three key managers.(promoted managers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... As part of the company's ongoing efforts to improve its internal organization, Camp Hill, Pa.-based The Warrell Corp. promoted three key managers last month: Richard Warrell, formerly marketing manager for the Pennsylvania Dutch Candies brand,...

Atkinson--an all American candymaker: being a non-chocolate candymaker in the United States takes a bit of grit. To combat fierce offshore competition that capitalizes on cheap labor and sugar, Atkinson Candy Co. relies on its nostalgic brands, quality processing and unequaled service to keep its winning record intact.(Atkinson Candy Co)(Eric Atkinson)(Company Profile)
September 1, 2005... At a glance Headquarters: Lufkin, Texas Sales: $30-$50 million (Candy Industry estimate, combined sales of Atkinson Candy Co. and Judson-Atkinson) Employees: 190 (including temporary workers) Products: Peanut better,...

A 'brand' design: as part of its efforts to focus on brand image, The Georgia Nut Co. acquired Milwaukee-based Chocolate House. Although still early in the integration process, the move has already begun to deliver benefit.(Chocolate Trendsetters)
September 1, 2005... One of advertisings' main objectives is to establish brand loyalty among consumers--to convince them to stick with a particular brand for all their purchases of a particular type of product. When the Georgia Nut Co. decided that they needed to...

And it's good for you, too! Companies introduce better-tasting energy and snack bars to appeal to a wider consumer base.(Category Closeup)
September 1, 2005... A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, as Mary Poppins would say, and snack and energy bar manufacturers seem to be following her advice. For years consumers have bought snack and energy bars for their nutritional benefits but not...

Fluctuating flavors: gum base companies introduce technologies that support intense flavors and unique shapes.(Gum base companies)(compressed powder gum product)
September 1, 2005... With the chewing gum industry, new is always improved. New flavors and types of gum come out all the time, with flavors running the gamut from spicy to sweet to sour. Gum base companies recognize this trend toward new and interesting flavors...

Sugar-free fruit.(SparX)(Xlear Inc)(Fine & Dandy Candy )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Xlear, Inc., Orem, Utah THE PRODUCT: SparX THE HOOK: These sugar-free, bite-sized candies are sweetened exclusively with xylitol and are part of the company's new Fine & Dandy Candy line. SparX come in three varieties,...

A splash of flavor.(Trident Splash)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Cadbury Adams USA LLC, Parsippany, N.J. THE PRODUCT: Trident Splash THE HOOK: New Trident Splash gum introduces a fruit-flavored gel center to traditional pellet gum. The sugar-free product comes in two flavors, Peppermint...

Gummie goodness.(Dare Realfruit Gummies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Dare Foods, Inc., Spartanburg, S.C. THE PRODUCT: Dare Realfruit Gummies THE HOOK: Made with real fruit juices and purees, these gummy snacks contain no artificial flavors or colors and come in three varieties: Orchard...

Impact Confections.(At a glance)
September 1, 2005... Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Impact Confections introduces their new Paint Shop Spray. The candy spray features four intense fruit flavors apple, blue raspberry, cherry and watermelon. A new safe bottle design allows for easy portability. The...

Godiva Chocolatier.(Platinum Collection)(Platinum Legacies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A new line of chocolates debuts this month from Godiva Chocolatier, introducing the Platinum Collection to their current confectionary varieties. The chocolates feature 15 new and exotic flavors including Orangelide (dark chocolate and orange)...

Jojomo Enterprise Co.(Jojomo Enterprise Co)(Fruit Jelly)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A popular Taiwanese confection makes its way to the United States. Taiwan-based Jojomo Enterprise Co. releases their Fruit Jelly series with four different products including Juicy Chews, JellyBar, Fruit Cup Yogurt Drops and Yum Yum Jelly...

The Hershey Co.(Pink Pattie)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Two new limited edition candies join The Hershey Co. product line. KitKat is now available in Coffee flavor for a limited time. In support of breast cancer awareness, the company's York Peppermint Pattie comes with pink centers instead of the...

Quick caffeine.(Mad-Croc Energy Gum)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Nutravail Technologies, Inc., Chantilly, Va. THE PRODUCT: Mad-Croc Energy Gum THE HOOK: Available in Power Peppermint, Cinnamon Kick and Spiked Spearmint flavors, two pieces contain as much caffeine as an 8-oz. energy...

Quality confections.(Premium Fruit and Nut Confections-Chocolate Toffee Almonds)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... THE COMPANY: Sconza Candy Co., Oakland THE PRODUCT: Premium Fruit & Nut Confections-Chocolate Toffee Almonds THE HOOK: Based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1939, the Sconza family releases Chocolate Toffee Almonds as part of their...

Sweetener receives EU approval.(Low-glycemic sweetener Palatinose)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Low-glycemic sweetener Palatinose, produced by PALATINIT, recently received approval from the European Commission for use in all EU foods and beverages. The functional carbohydrate already has GRAS (Generally-Regarded-As-Safe) status in the...

Kerry releases heart-healthy functional bar.(Cherry Almond Crisp Bar)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Beloit, Wis.-based Kerry Ingredients U.S. released a new concept sample through their functional bar team--the Cherry Almond Crisp Bar. The bar contains whole-grain, high fiber crisps, beta glucan crisps, high-protein soy concentrate, soy flour...

Two new vanilla-producing countries emerge.(new vanilla producers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Following the end of the vanilla shortage that started in 1999, two new vanilla producers have come on the scene. Brooklyn-based Virginia Dare discussed the emergence of Uganda and Papua New Guinea in the vanilla industry during their press...

The planning future: long a believer in delivering quality products as well as premier service, Barry Callebaut North America remains committed to knowing its customers and addressing their needs, be it through research, education, new product development or simply timely shipments.(Supplier Spotlight)
September 1, 2005... Joe Lucas' sales pedigree goes back quite a few years, actually "back to the day I was born," he jokes. The vice president of chocolate and cocoa sales for Barry Callebaut North America points out that his father was a food broker, and well,...

Walkers Shortbread tins celebrate Scottish history.(Jacobite rebellion )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Aberlour-on-Spey, Scotland-based Walkers Shortbread will educate consumers with a bit of history during the coming season with its seasonal tins. The Flagship Tin--Flora MacDonald's Farewell displays a reproduction of the famous painting of...

60-year partnership still going strong.(Innovations In Packaging)(cellophane wrapper)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... For 60 years Bogdon Candy and Innovia Films have partnered together, the Kansas City-based manufacturers of chocolate-dipped Reception Sticks using cellophane packaging from Innovia throughout its long history. Originally cellophane was...

Sweet profile.(candy wrapper)(Interview)
September 1, 2005... Born in Quebec, Canada, Ghyslain Maurais spent three years studying to become an architect. It was during this time, however, that he realized his true passion in life didn't reside with homes or high-rises. Having worked at a local restaurant,...