Candy Industry articles from September 2008

Candy Industry archives from September 2008

Raising prices stirs backlash fears.(OPENING SHOTS)
September 1, 2008... When news reached my office regarding the Hershey price increase, subsequently followed by reports that Mars was going to bump up their prices as well, I could virtually see all the midsized wholesalers as well as mom-and-pop retailers...

Ulker Group picks up UK Lovells chocolate brand.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... Yildiz Holdings, the parent company of Turkish biscuit and chocolate conglomerate Ulker Group, has acquired the brand name of British chocolate producer Lovells, reported the World Bulletin. In a statement released by the company's media...

LinCap acquires Hospitality Mints.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... Private equity firm Linsalata Capital Partners (LinCap), acquired Boone, N.C.-based Hospitality Mints, Inc. from American Capital, Ltd. Serving more than 10,000 customers in foodservice, retail and ad specialty channels, Hospitality Mints...

Richardson Brands expands work force.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... Canajoharie, N.Y.-based Richardson Brands plans to increase production and therefore, increase job opportunities, says the Daily Gazette in a recent newspaper article. The candy manufacturer currently uses just 12% of its 180,000-sq.-ft....

'Belgian Chocolate Code' prevents false labeling.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... The Belgian Royal Association of the Chocolate, Praline, Biscuits and Sugar Confectionery Industry (CHOPRABISCO) has created labeling guidelines for chocolate manufacturers distributing "Belgian" chocolate, which took effect September 1,...

Neil Murphy, founder of Senor Murphy in Santa Fe, dies.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... Thirteen days shy of his 86th birthday, Neil Murphy died of cancer on August 12. The fourth-generation candy-maker known for his bolitas, brittles and pecan Tortugas ran candy operations in Atlanta and Albuquerque, eventually settling in Santa...

Cocoa flavanols may increase blood flow in the brain.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... According to an article by Stephen Daniells on foodnavigator.com, researchers have linked chocolate high in flavanols to increased blood flow in the brain. A recent study was performed on 34 healthy elderly volunteers to find the effects of...

Sugar prices may rise.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... Crop problems caused by rain in Brazil and India, the top producers of sugar, may cause sugar prices to rise, reported Reuters. In addition to the rains, the conversion of sugar cane to ethanol biofuel in Brazil has lowered the country's sugar...

Rocky Mountain Chocolate introduces hot cocoa mix.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... The nation's leading full-service licensing agency, IMC Licensing, announced an agreement between Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. and Lehi Roller Mills to produce a premium hot cocoa mix. "Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is the...

Canadian study finds candy sitting on shelves.(NEWSLETTER)
September 1, 2008... In a Canadian study performed by researchers from Brock University and Carleton University, the average confection in stores did not reach consumers until four and a half months, an Edmonton Journal story indicated. The study examined 3,206...

Hershey, Mars raise prices; as the price for cocoa reaches its highest in more than 20 years, confectionery companies are struggling to balance product prices with input costs.(NEWS)
September 1, 2008... First, it was The Hershey Co. that announced an increase in wholesale prices across its U.S., Puerto Rico and export chocolate and sugar confectionery products. A weighted average 11% increase will apply to the company's instant consumable,...

Exhibitors showcase technology, products at Sweet Eurasia.(NEWS)
September 1, 2008... Sweet Eurasia, the annual sweet, chocolate, biscuits and confectionery exhibition held this past June and organized by IPEKYOLU International Exhibitions, featured 72 exhibitors from 20 countries. Visitors from around the world, including...

Almonds bolster new product launches.(NEWS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... The Almond Board of California (ABC) revealed that the number of introductions of new almond-containing packaged food products in North America grew 30% from 2006 to 2007, according to the most recently available figures from the Mintel Global...

Cadbury upgrades plants, trims labor in Australia, New Zealand.(NEWS)
September 1, 2008... According to a report in Australian Food News authored by Daniel Palmer, Cadbury announced a $135-million proposal to improve productivity in its Australia and New Zealand manufacturing facilities. The company plans to convert operations at...

Mary Wagner joins Mars Botanical.(People)
September 1, 2008... Rockville, Md.-based Mars Botanical has hired Mary Wagner as its general manager and chief technology officer. Wagner will be responsible for the management of the Mars Botanical business, including the continued development of a sustainable...

Landrieu to head up Barry Callebaut's Academy in Chicago.(Supplier News)
September 1, 2008... Barry Callebaut, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products will open a new Chocolate Academy in Chicago this month, the first in the United States, featuring Chef Jerome Landrieu as the technical advisor....

Chicago's sugar mavens: as owners of the only hard candy manufacturer left in Chicago, once the candy capital of the world, Primrose Candy Co.'s Jeff and Mark Puch recognize their obligation to deliver the highest quality at the best value. It's a philosophy that fuels their growth and success.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Daily, Mark Puch warily pedals his bicycle 13 miles from his home in Des Plaines, Ill. to the Primrose Candy Co. plant on Chicago's near Northwest Side. Every other week, Mark's older brother, Jeff, flies 7,806 miles...

Living the legacy: from the late 1800's to the early 2000's, Pease's Candy remains an old-fashioned confectionery haven for Springfield, Ill. locals.(CHOCOLATE TRENDSETTER)
September 1, 2008... In business for more than 75 years, Pease's Candy epitomizes the family-owned sweet shop, albeit with plenty of mystery thrown in. One of those mysteries involves its origins. The truth is, the company may have been in business for more than...

Extracting innovation: with licorice sales continuing to rise, manufacturers keep on the lookout for new trends and product improvements in the category.(CATEGORY CLOSE-UP)(Statistical table)
September 1, 2008... In a perfect world, confectionery products would be at the bottom of the food pyramid instead of the top. Parents around the globe would be encouraging their children to eat more candy because it's good for them. While sweets are obviously a...

A gourmet pairing.(Candy R&D: NEW PRODUCT MARKETPLACE)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE COMPANY: The San Francisco Chocolate Factory, San Francisco THE PRODUCT: Cocoa Vinoso dark chocolates THE HOOK: The San Francisco Chocolate Factory has created premium dark chocolates, Cocoa Vinoso, to...

Java holidays.(Candy R&D: NEW PRODUCT MARKETPLACE)
September 1, 2008... THE COMPANY: Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle THE PRODUCT: Starbucks Chocolate THE HOOK: Starbucks Coffee Co. introduces coffee-inspired chocolate truffles for the holiday season. New flavors include Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha,...

CandyRific.(At a glance)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Louisville, based CandyRific is releasing new candy items with the release of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Although the movie won't debut until Nov. 22, the themed candies will hit shelves in October. Characters Alex, Marry, Gloria and Melman...

Mars Snackfood US.(At a glance)
September 1, 2008... In lieu of the spooky holiday coming up in October, Hackettstown, N.J.-based Mars Snackfood US is introducing Cool Ghoul's Mix M&M's, joining purple and "electric green" M&M's with the original black and orange Halloween colors. The mix is...

Just Born, Inc.(At a glance)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Bethlehem, Pa.-based Just Born, Inc. has added new flavors to its Mike and Ike Tropical Typhoon candies. The new flavors, Caribbean Punch, Mango, Kiwi Banana, Strawberry Banana and Paradise Punch, reflect Caribbean-inspired tropical tastes. All...

Bloomsberry & Co.(At a glance)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Salem, Mass.-based Bloomsberry & Co. has released new designs for its premium chocolate bars for the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Winter holidays. Following suit of its other chocolate bar designs, the new holiday...

Tea and chocolate.(New Product Spotlight)
September 1, 2008... THE COMPANY: Smile Chocolatiers, Malibu, Calif. THE PRODUCT: Choclatea gourmet chocolate bars THE HOOK: After mastering the art of making chocolate at the California School of Culinary Arts, Cordon Bleu Chef Joanie Freeman came up with...

Chocolate artistry.(Candy R&D: NEW PRODUCT MARKETPLACE)
September 1, 2008... THE COMPANY: Choclatique, Los Angeles THE PRODUCT: Ingots, Tablets and Tapestries THE HOOK: Known for its authentic American flavors, Choclatique has introduced Ingots, Tablets and Tapestries to its collection. The Ingots chocolate...

Number of new confectionery products launched globally by sub-category.(Candy R&D: NEW PRODUCT MARKETPLACE)
September 1, 2008... Number of New Confectionery Products Launched Globally by Sub-Category Chocolate Snack/Cereal/ Date Confectionery Gum Energy Bars June 2007 329 69 ...

A rush of energy.(Candy R&D: NEW PRODUCT MARKETPLACE)
September 1, 2008... THE COMPANY: BDI Marketing, Carmel, Ind. THE PRODUCT: Mini Thin Rush Energy Gum [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE HOOK: Branching off from its energy drink shots, BDI Marketing has developed spearmint-flavored Mini Thin Rush Energy Gum....

Sour power.(Candy R&D: NEW PRODUCT MARKETPLACE)
September 1, 2008... THE COMPANY: Candy Dynamics, Indianapolis THE PRODUCT: Toxic Waste Hi-Voltage Bubble Gum THE HOOK: Candy Dynamics has expanded its line of Toxic Waste products to include Hi-Voltage Bubble Gum. Over two feet of hollowed-out rope gum is...

New natural 'Cweetener'.(CREATORS' BRIEFS)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Natur Research Ingredients announces plans for its new natural sweetener Cweet (3000x), which follows the company's past sweetener Cweet (1000x). Cweet 3000, derived from a sweet fruit found in West Africa, is 3,000...

Cargill extends gum line.(CREATORS' BRIEFS)
September 1, 2008... Manufactured in its China facility, Cargill has started production of two new xanthan gum products: Satiaxane CX 800 and CX 801. The CX 800 gum is an 80-mesh product that stabilizes, suspends, thickens and improves texture, says a spokesperson....

Cognis ingredient gets GRAS status.(CREATORS' BRIEFS)(Cognis Nutrition and Health)(generally recognized as safe)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cognis Nutrition and Health's non-stimulant ingredient Tonalin has achieved FDA GRAS status to be used in food and beverage applications, including chocolate. The naturally sourced ingredient has been proven to...

Bernard Dumoulin retires, son Bertrand takes over.(Supplier News)
September 1, 2008... Dumoulin, a leader in coating technologies for the confectionery and pharmaceutical industries based in Tournan-En-Brie, France just outside of Paris, announced that Bernard Dumoulin, the son of founder Femand Dumoulin, has retired. His son,...

Tom Sutherland to drive new business for Comax Flavors.(Supplier News)
September 1, 2008... Comax Flavors, a world leader in proprietary technology of flavors and aroma components based in Melville, N.Y., hired Tom Sutherland, a 15-year veteran in the flavor industry, as its new vice president of business development. ...

Echeandia joins Frey Enterprises.(Supplier News)(Lisbeth Echeandia)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Lisbeth Echeandia, formerly publisher of Candy Industry and Confection and Snack Retailing, has joined Frey Enterprises, a strategic advisory and consulting management team comprised of consumer packaged goods (CPG) senior executives based in...

Correction.(NEWS)(Correction notice)
September 1, 2008... In last month's Category Closeup article on Sugar-free hard candies, the chart showing branded sales and volume was incorrectly totaled. The "Total" line should have read as follows: Sales--$79.9 million; % change year ago, -3.4%; unit...

Cacao bean origins dictate flavor variations.(INGREDIENT INTELLIGENCE)
September 1, 2008... Chocolate production is a complex process, which is part science and part art. But before a single pound of chocolate is produced, packaged or sold to consumers, the cacao bean, with rich and exotic roots, must be cultivated. Domestication of...

ZDS's Chocolate Technology symposium tracks ingredient, processing developments.(CONFERENCE PREVIEW)
September 1, 2008... Everyone's focused on chocolate these days, with consumers, food critics and artisanal chocolatiers seemingly tasting, analyzing and making chocolate virtually around the clock. But it takes more than just media buzz to produce quality...

Chocolate mass production benefits from extra dry ingredients.(CONFERENCE PREVIEW)
September 1, 2008... Chocolate conching is usually still performed in a time-consuming batch process. For milk chocolate, its main purpose is to remove water and to adjust flow properties. As the conch is not an efficient dryer and flow properties are mainly...

Candy wrapper.
September 1, 2008... After owning an automotive aftermarket business for 13 years, Gina Armenia got married and decided to leave the business world behind. She quickly had two children, Michael and Gia, and made it her full-time duty to take care of them. ...