Candy Business articles from July 2003

Candy Business archives from July 2003

Two words make a difference.(Editorial)
July 1, 2003... PERHAPS IT'S TIME for the candy business to think about taking a page from the California Milk Processing Board's playbook. Why not develop a nationwide campaign designed to promote this industry and its broad diversity of products? In the 10...

Concord acquires Philadelphia Chewing Gum.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CONCORD, ONTARIO -- Dubble Bubble bubble gum supplier Concord Confections, Inc., has purchased 55-year-old gum and novelty candy supplier Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp. Financial details were not disclosed. The deal establishes Concord as...

New York City schools ban vend candy.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- New York City's public school system, the largest in the U.S., is banning candy, gum and soda from vending machines, as well as reducing the levels of fat, sugar and sodium in the 800,000 meals it serves daily. Starting this...

Brach's appoints retail service provider.(News)(Crossmark Inc.)(Brach's Confections Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Brach's Confections Inc., has selected Crossmark to provide retail services to customers in the supermarket trade class. The business services company Will provide a dedicated retail team for coverage on loose candy and...

Alpine rescue of Harry London approved.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... NORTH CANTON, OH -- Harry London Candies, Inc. will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Alpine Confections, Inc. after an Akron, OH, judge approved its plan to sell itself to the Salt Lake City-based confectioner. Founded in 1922, London filed...

Flavors of North America opens Mexican operation.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CAROL, STREAM, IL -- Guadalajara, Mexico-based Flavors Select de FONA marks Flavors of North America, Inc.'s formal entrance into the Mexican marketplace and will initially serve as a sales and application center. Joe Slawek, owner and CEO...

Wal-Mart to require RFID tags.(News)(radio-frequency identification tags)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- By January 2005, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s 100 largest suppliers will be required to equip all pallets and eases with radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) to distinguish their contents through the use of electronic product codes....

Ahold divests Dutch candy store chain.(News)(Royal Ahold N.V.)(Jamin Winkelbedrijf B.V.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS -- Royal Ahold N.V. is divesting its Dutch candy store chain Jamin Winkelbedrijf B.V. Through a management buy-out, Jamin's current executive team will run the company as an independent entity. The transaction...

Top products of 2002 awarded.(News)(Candy industry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- The winners of CandyBUSINESS sister publication PROFESSIONAL CANDY BUYER'S 2002 PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARDS were hosted at a black-tie gala attracting nearly 300 candys dignitaries and guests. The event, held in conjunction with...

Antonellis honored with Kettle Award.(News)(Domenic Antonellis, Neeco Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Domenic Antonellis, president and CEO of Neeco, has been presented the 58th annual Kettle Award, which recognizes excellence and superior achievement for contributions to the candy business. In accepting the award, Antonellis...

Hershey selects distribution center site.(News)(Hershey Foods Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... HERSHEY, PA -- Hershey Foods Corp. will build a 1.1 million-sq-ft distribution center in Madison County, IL, expected to be operational by March. The company says the new center is part of its strategy to improve customer service and implement...

C&S grocery to buy Fleming grocery unit.(News)(C and S Wholesale Grocers Inc.)(Fleming Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... DALLAS -- Fleming Cos., Inc. and C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., signed a letter of intent for Fleming to sell its wholesale grocery business to C&S for $400 million. In separate agreement, C&S will supply Fleming with selected vendor...

Former Hershey CEO dies.(News)(William Dearden)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... HERSHEY, PA -- William Dearden, former chairman of the board and CEO of Hershey Foods Corp., passed away May 10 after a lengthy illness. He was 80. Dearden joined Hershey in 1957 as assistant to the chairman of the board. He held several...

PMCA elects officers, opens offices.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CENTER VALLEY, PA -- The members of PMCA, An International Association of Confectioners, unanimously ratified a slate of new officers and several new directors at the association's Annual Business Meeting. PMCA Chairman Logan Jones, The Warrell...

Masterfoods "tie-dyes" M&M's, packaging.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... HACKETTSTOWN, NJ -- Masterfoods USA commissioned artist Michael Rios to redesign 200 million packs of M&M's, marking the first time the company has taken such a step. The new design, part of the company's Groovy Summer promotion, features...

SIG celebrates record-breaking 2002.(News)(SIG Pack Systems AG)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... BERINGEN, SWITZERLAND -- SIG Pack Systems AG realized a record turnover for 2002 of approximately U.S. $185 million, with sales up about 20 percent compared with 2001. Installation of SIG's new Systegra multi-leg packaging system lines...

Overproduction leads to cocoa price drop.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST -- With cocoa prices off more than 30 percent in recent months, the Ivory Coast government's minimum price of 625 CFA francs ($1.16) per kilo is too high, local traders say. As a result, buyers are holding back on their...

SweetWorks buys Sixlets, Ovation brands.(News)(Hershey Foods Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... HERSHEY, PA -- As part of its strategy to divest non-core, low-volume brands, Hershey Foods Corp. has sold its Sixlets and Ovation brands to SweetWorks, Inc. The transaction, terms of which were not disclosed, gives SweetWorks the rights...

IFT names chief executive.(News)(Institute of Food Technologists)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Barbara Byrd Keenan is named executive vice-president of the Institute of Food Technologists. She replaces Daniel Weber, who retires this Summer. "I will need to listen and learn before putting stakes in the ground, but what...

Connector optimizes warehouse ops for wholesale distributors.(News)
July 1, 2003... DANVERS, MA -- TurningPoint Systems, Inc., a warehouse and distribution solutions provider, has partnered with Lake Mary, FL-based technology provider Warehouse Innovations, Inc., to develop a system to connect warehouse management systems with...

International Cocoa Agreement put into force.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... GENEVA -- Starting October 1, the 2001 International Cocoa Agreement will be put into provisional effect. Resolved by members of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the agreement excludes economic clauses and emphasizes...

Lichko named Ford marketing director.(News)(Laurie Lichko, Ford Gum and Machine Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... AKRON, NY -- Ford Gum & Machine Co. promotes Laurie Lichko to director of marketing. She has served as marketing manager since she joined Ford in 2001. Lichko is responsible for overseeing marketing of the company's current retail products...

Sorter designed for candy applications.(New Products News)
July 1, 2003... Key Technology's new Optyx is said to provide affordable, automated optical sorting technology for low-volume candy applications, including production and re-sorting operations. Said to provide excellent color- and shape-sorting through the use...

Flexible conveyor system runs quietly.(New Product News)
July 1, 2003... SpanTeeh LLC's WhisperTrax modular flexible conveyor line is available in seven standard configurations. Available in a variety of chain widths with speeds ranging from five to 75 ft/min, designs include straight, incline/decline. horizontal...

Markem extends inks, coders, controls.(New Product News)
July 1, 2003... The recently introduced 5200SC ink jet printer, from Markem corp., is said to be capable of printing real-time and variable information using small and large characters at speeds of more than 400 ft/min with a print swath as large as 2.56 in....

Easier Carton handling.(New Product News)
July 1, 2003... Protectoseal Co.'s new Lift Mates Carton Grips are said to reduce the chance of back injuries. Two models are available--Solo Lift, for handling small cartons with one hand; and Dual Lift, for two-handed lifting of larger boxes. Solo Lift...

Self-diagnosing labeling system debuts.(New Product News)
July 1, 2003... Panther Industries' 2000 series Print & Apply Systems feature on-board PLCs that control and monitor operational sequences, including all printer signals and applicator components. According to the company, the system detects error sources and...

Cadbury specs SmartPackers for sticky items.(News Extra)
July 1, 2003... STONEY CREEK, ONT -- When Canada's Cadbury Trebor Allan, Inc. set out to equip its new warehouse and packaging facility in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Brett Thorne, the company's project engineering manager, had a challenge on his hands. Charged...

In on the ground floor: the essential Chocolate Co. is setting out to become a premiere, organic chocolate producer. CandyBUSINESS profiles the start-up of an artisanal chocolate maker.(Special Report)
July 1, 2003... WITH ROOTS IN THE ARTISANAL BREAD and pastry business, Seattle's Essential Chocolate Co. is gearing up to make its own chocolate using only organic and fair trade cocoa beans. The new operation, part of Essential Baking Co., will be housed in...

The changing face of chocolate: suppliers looking to cut costs or boost healthful offerings have more options as consumers demand more from chocolate without sacrificing flavor.(Special Report)
July 1, 2003... WTH COCOA PRICES reaching new highs in the last 12 months, new opportunities are becoming available to cut costs through alternate ingredients, increase sales by adding healthful benefits and capitalize on the FDA's new definition for white...

Medic Drug offers traditional value.(Customer Profile)
July 1, 2003... CLEVELAND -- With stores nestled mostly in neighborhoods, and average store size ranges from 10,000 to 13,000 square feet, Medic Drug Stores, Inc. "is trying to fit 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of candy into that space," according to Ken...

2003 All Candy Expo review.(Show Recap)
July 1, 2003... TEMPERED BY NEW qualification procedures and policies, a professional atmosphere dominated the National Confectioners Association's 2003 All Candy Expo. The event drew 17,241 visitors, including about 5,600 candy buyers. Although buyer...

Obesity: is candy to blame? Some say lawmakers are unfairly targeting confections in the fight against the U.S. obesity epidemic.(Exclusive Report)
July 1, 2003... The NUMBERS are staggering: 175 million Americans are classified as overweight or obese. The prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults increased to 20.9 percent in 2001, a 5.6 percent increase in one year and a 74 percent increase since...

Hershey foods: taking a broader view: armed with a fresh outlook on the company's role in the industry and the broader food market, David West, Hershey's head salesman, reveals the strategies driving the company's new approach to the market.(Exclusive Interview)
July 1, 2003... EVEN THE MOST casual observer of the candy category can't help but notice the sweeping changes taking place at Hershey Foods Corp. While last year's headline-grabbing, near-sale to The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. might have caused a lesser firm to...

First impressions: specialty containers are literally changing the face of the candy business. Suppliers reveal what's selling best, and why.(Packaging Report)
July 1, 2003... SPECIALTY packaging suppliers are providing all-in-one co-packing solutions and adding ways to ensure your products are noticed quickly on-shelf, including embossing and specialty printing. J. Anthony Petrelli, vice-president of marketing...

New tech brings life to pops: from industry standards to the newest depositors, suppliers bring lollipop production capabilities into the 21st century.(Exclusive Report)
July 1, 2003... NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE revitalizing lollipop manufacturing capabilities, extending the range of possible pop designs into new territory. Whether the market calls for flat, shaped or ball pop forming equipment, suppliers are making sure candy...

Calendar.
July 1, 2003... * THIS CALENDAR IS PROVIDED AS A SERVICE TO OUR READERS AND CandyBUSINESS ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS AND TO SUBMIT EVENTS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.CANDYBUSINESS.COM AUGUST 2003 AUGUST 26-29 SIAL...

Manufacturing Expo set for Navy Pier, Chicago.(Publisher's Note)
July 1, 2003... * AFTER WEEKS OF speculation and a flurry of surveys, UK-based exhibition organizer Simply Events has east caution to the wind and remounted a U.S. event at Navy Pier, Chicago, next year. Confectionery Manufacturing Expo Americas will be...

Mixers.(Buyer's Guide)(Illustration)
July 1, 2003... MIXERS * CandyBUSINESS presents a guide to the latest available mixers from suppliers across the globe. To ensure accuracy, we work closely with industry suppliers and their representatives to obtain the most up-to-date information...

Featured prominently.(Confidential)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * FEATURED PROMINENTLY in Japanese anime cartoons, candy-coated, snack sticks, such as Pocky and Yan Yan, are flying off video store shelves as kids snap them up for several bucks per box. Who've known such a strange snack would become so...

But the wildest.(Confidential)(Candy industry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * BUT THE WILDEST Asian candy I've got word of is a nearly 10-foot high chocolate statue of English soccer star David Beckham. Hundreds of fans turned up for the candy's unveiling in Tokyo with one female fan reportedly admitting: "Yes, I want...

A cut above.(Confidential)(Ghana Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * A CUT ABOVE. Ghana Ltd., a Ghanaian cocoa-buying company, has an unusual idea for rewarding its best farmers--each received a pair of boots and two machetes.

A popular spot.(Confidential)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * A POPULAR SPOT on the recent Atlantic Coast Exposition exhibit floor was the massage therapy booth. Attendees enjoyed back and neck massages courtesy of broker Burdette Beckmann, Inc.--of course made all the more relaxing by the virtue of...

In addition to.(Confidential)(Steve Forster, Candy Business)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * IN ADDITION TO Steve Forster's duties as CandyBUSINESS executive editor, he moonlights as a bouncer for the magazine's All Industry Party, held during the All Candy Expo at the House of Blues. Ticketed guests needn't fear, but the uninvited...

The WM. Wrigley Jr. Co.(Confidential)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * THE WM. WRIGLEY JR. CO. recently received a patent for chewing gum formulated with sildenafil citrate, the effective ingredient in Viagra. To be chewed "at least 30 minutes prior to engaging in a sexual activity," the gum is said to enhance...

Kids are in.(Confidential)(International Dairy Queen Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * KIDS ARE IN the know, according to International Dairy Queen, Inc., which is asking tweens to test and develop "kid-friendly," potentially candy-based and -branded flavors for next year's ice cream treats. Last year, a panel helped decide...

Bomb disposal.(Confidential)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * BOMB DISPOSAL officers in England, called to blow up a lunchbox left on the counter of a local bank, found a Snickers bar inside, not the expected explosives. "The box was suspicious and we cannot be too careful," a police spokesperson said....

Erotic bubbles?(Confidential)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * EROTIC BUBBLES? In an All Candy Expo report, a USA Today columnist described a candy bubbles demonstration as "possibly the most uncomfortably erotic moment of the convention." If anyone can explain this to me, please do, keeping in mind this...

The Guam environmental.(Confidential)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * THE GUAM ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency panicked when it heard toxic waste was being shipped to the island nation. It wasn't until local print and TV media picked up the story that the waste was revealed to be Pacific Western Enterprises,...

Cheers & jeers.(Confidential)(United Service Organization)(Sweet City Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Cheers To contract manufacturer Sweet City, Inc., for donating 250,000 bags of assorted candy to the USO for distribution to troops abroad. Jeers To the New York City schools system for banning candy in vending machines. Cheers To the...