Candy Business articles from March 2005

Candy Business archives from March 2005

Check and mate.(EDITORIAL)(Candy industry)(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... COMPETITION IS A WONDERFUL THING, particularly when two relatively evenly matched contestants have the opportunity to go head-to-head. That doesn't happen too often, so what usually passes as a contest turns out to be a cakewalk for whichever...

NCA reverses course, joins with ECRM on sales events.(NEWS)(National Confectioners Association)(Efficient Consumer Response Management Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... VIENNA, VA -- In a stunning reversal of policy, the NCA has joined forces with its 20-minute sales event rival, Efficient Consumer Response Management Inc. (ECRM), after just one round of what could have been a long, bruising match. Only...

Fruit sweetener from Wild allows for natural label claim.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... HEIDELBERG, GERMANY -- Rudolf Wild GmbH & Co. KG offers Fruit Up, a new sweetener derived from fruit that is said to be a suitable alternative to sucralose in natural food products. The company claims it can be used in all confectionery...

FONA gets new name, new web site.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... CAROL STREAM, IL -- Flavors of North America, Inc. is changing its name to Fona International Inc., effective April 15. The flavor supplier says the new moniker more accurately reflects the influence its international expansion efforts have had...

New ingredients said to battle stress, boost immunity.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... BRATTLEBORO, VT -- NutraGenesis LLC is rolling out Essentra, a GRAS affirmed functional ingredient said to be suitable for use in chewing gum, gummies, hard candy, cough drops, nutrition bars and items in other food categories. According...

Palatinit extends isomalt.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... MORRIS PLAINS, NJ -- Isomalt GS is a new sugar replacer from Palatinit of America. It is said to provide the levels of solubility necessary for the production of coated items and nutritional products ranging from chewy and high-boil candy to...

Nice joins JHolland Corp.(NEWS)(Appointed Graham Nice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... TAMPA, FL -- JHolland Corp. appoints Graham Nice vice-president of sales. Nice was previously vice-president of sales and marketing at Carle & Montanari USA, Inc. and has held sales positions at SIG Pack and what is now APV Baker PLC. He...

Clasen names two to top tech posts.(NEWS)(Clasen Quality Coating Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... MADISON, WI -- Art Rittenberg and Rose Defiel have joined the technical management staff at Clasen Quality Coatings, Inc. Rittenberg, now senior technical services manager for the supplier, is an industry veteran with 38 years experience. He...

Cargill boosts polyol capacity.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- Cargill, Inc.'s Food & Pharma Specialties expands the manufacturing capacity at its plants in Blair, NE, Krefeld, Germany, and Castelmassa, Italy. The Blair plant adds polyol hydrogenation and finishing capacity, reportedly...

Just Born promotes Torrence, hires plant manager.(NEWS)(Samuel Torrence )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BETHLEHEM, PA -- Samuel Torrence is now president and COO of Just Born, Inc. Formerly serving the company as executive vice-president and COO, he joins co-CEOs Ross Born and David Shaffer at the company's helm. Torrence will lead the...

Trolli Road Kill dies under pressure from animal activists.(NEWS)(Kraft Foods Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... PARSIPPANY, NJ -- Kraft Foods, Inc. is stopping production of Trolli Road Kill Gummies following complaints from New Jersey animal rights activists. The partially flattened squirrel, chicken and snake gummies are shaped to resemble animals that...

Italian confectionery show picks up steam.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... PARMA, ITALY -- Italy's first confectionery production show, InterDolciaria Manufacturing (IDM 2005), is gathering support from the Italian Ministry of Industry and the country's confectionery trade group, the Association of Italian...

ADM promotes Cocoa exec.(NEWS)(Archer Daniels Midland Co promotes Mark A. Bemis)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... DECATUR, IL -- Mark A. Bemis has been named vice-president of Archer Daniels Midland Co. He will continue to serve as president, ADM Cocoa. Bemis joined the company in 1983 and previously held the position of vice-president and general...

Lindt posts record growth.(NEWS)(Lindt und Sprungli Aktiengesellschaft Chocoladefabriken)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... KILCHBERG, SWITZERLAND -- Chocolate maker Lindt & Sprungli AG saw its sales climb 9.7 percent in the second half of 2004, said to be spurred by growth in European markets. Overall sales for the year were a record $1.69 billion. The...

Hershey splits operations, plans name change.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... HERSHEY, PA -- Hershey Foods Corp. is splitting its operations into two business groups and seeking shareholder approval to both change the company's name and issue an additional 525 million shares of stock. The board is also considering...

Fire briefly disrupts blueberry operations.(NEWS)(Blueberry Hills Foods Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... JUAREZ, MEXICO -- Although a February 1 fire destroyed 25,000 sq ft of Blueberry Hill Foods Inc.'s production facility, the company says the event had minimal impact on its production capacity. Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing Scott...

CP Kelco, Noviant to operate jointly.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... CHICAGO -- Specialty hydrocolloid suppliers CP Kelco and Noviant, both owned by JM Huber Corp., will operate together under the CP Kelco name. According to JM Huber, the arrangement will not affect the companies' suite of products. "The CP...

Competition among sweetener suppliers heats up.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... LOS ANGELES -- Swiss Research, Inc., a business unit of Health Sciences Group, Inc., is rolling out Swiss Diet-brand Shugr, a new zero-calorie GRAS sweetener blend of erythritol, tagatose and polydextrose. Said to taste similar to cane sugar...

Lengsfield heads Green Bay folding carton sales.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... GREEN BAY, WI -- Green Bay Packaging Inc. has named Jack T. Lengsfield, Jr. as sales manager for its folding carton division. He is responsible for sales efforts and management of sales representatives. With more than 20 years of experience...

Demand drives Wrigley sales increase.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... CHICAGO -- Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. posted a 17 percent gain in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2004, to $961.9 million with the company's profits growing six percent. Net sales for the year were up 19 percent, to $3.65 billion, said to be...

Loders Croklaan tackles omega-3 taste problems.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... CHANNAHON, IL -- The Lipid Nutrition division of Loders Croklaan introduces two marine-based omega-3 fatty acid products said to help overcome the taste and smell issues typically associated with fish oils. According to the company, the...

Supplier opens tech center during Interpack.(NEWS)(Aquarius CFS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... WEERT, THE NETHERLANDS -- As part of its promotional and informational efforts at Interpack, CFS Weert BV's Aquarius CFS unit is opening its technical center in Holland to show visitors. The move is designed to allow potential customers the...

Europe takes aim at obesity.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... LONDON -- Several European governments are stepping up their monitoring of food labeling and marketing of foods high in salt, sugar and fat to children. In March, EU officials will meet with industry, health and consumer groups to begin...

Spangler names Brock to manage brands.(NEWS)(Spangler Candy Co. Appointed Evan Brock )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BRYAN, OH -- Evan Brock is now brand manager at Spangler Candy Co. He will oversee scan data analysis for the Spangler and Chupa Chups brands and oversee management of Circus Peanuts and Spangler Gold Leaf chocolates. [ILLUSTRATION...

Storck to take top brands into sugarfree Arena.(NEWS)(Storck GmbH & Co. KG )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BERLIN -- Storck GmbH & Co. KG plans to boost sales in 2005 with the introduction of sugarfree mini versions of Werther's Original, fruit and cream Campino and vitamin-fortified nimm2 hard candy and fruit-shaped gummi items. Storck says it...

Chocolate company reveals growth plan.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... TALENT, OR -- The Endangered Species Chocolate Co. (ESCC), manufacturer of Bug Bites chocolates, plans to triple its 2004 production of more than five million chocolate bars by 2010 and introduce new products to drive growth, according to Jon...

Wilbur rolls out no-trans drops.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... LITITZ, PA -- Wilbur Chocolate Co. is introducing a new line of cinnamon drops that contain no trans-fats. Targeting bakery applications, it is the first of what the company says will be a line of compound drops that could soon include...

Retailer survey gives low marks to manufacturers.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... CHICAGO -- A survey of more than 100 retailers and consumer products companies reflects retailers' discontent with manufacturers in the areas of consumer insight development, as well as design and execution of promotional programs. The...

SPI's Roland dies.(NEWS)(SPI Polyols Inc.'s Jerry Roland)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
March 1, 2005... NEW CASTLE, DE -- Jerry Roland, marketing director at SPI Polyols, Inc., died at home in early March following a battle with liver cancer. Roland, 47, spent his career in the food industry after earning a master's degree in food science from...

CSM sale approved.(NEWS)(CVC European Equity Partners)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... AMSTERDAM -- CVC European Equity Partners has received the go-ahead from the European Commission, clearing the way for the investment group to acquire CSM nv's sugar confectionery division. The reported price tag is $1.1 billion. CSM...

Haak now heads Brach's.(NEWS)(Brach's Confections Inc. appointed Charles Haak)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... DALLAS -- Charles Haak is named president and COO of Brach's Confections Inc. following outgoing president Terry O'Brien's decision to leave the company. Haak served as the company's senior vice-president of operations. [ILLUSTRATION...

Worth mentioning ...(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. patented a process for producing biodegradable chewing gum using prolamine blends with polyester. The process can be used to make other edible products, including packaging films, coatings, adhesives and encapsulation...

Tisma cartoner designed for hand or robotic loading.(NEW PRODUCT NEWS)
March 1, 2005... HORIZON 100 horizontal cartoners are new from the Tisma division of SWF Companies. Manufactured to a standard design, the cartoners are said to be capable of reaching speeds of up to 440 cartons per minute. For hand loading or automated...

Bosch upgrades belt coaters, cuts price.(NEW PRODUCT NEWS)
March 1, 2005... BCP 60 belt coaters from Bosch Packaging Technology have been cut in price by more than $5,000. The line has been upgraded with simplified electronics and new software said to provide improved control over the flow of chocolate and timing...

Savage launches table top cookers, extruders.(NEW PRODUCT NEWS)
March 1, 2005... SAVAGE BROS. CO.'s one-person cooker is said to be capable of producing fudge, brittle, hard candy, caramel, toffee and similar products in batch sizes ranging to about 25 lbs. The new scrape-surface cookers feature an agitator with...

Sterilobe pumps feature simplified seal access, cleaning.(NEW PRODUCT NEWS)
March 1, 2005... VIKING PUMP, a unit of Idex Corp., introduces the Sterilobe series of positive displacement pumps featuring front-loading seal access for simplified seal removal. Said to be suitable for use in CIP and SIP installations when equipped with a...

Automated adds self-programming candy scale to Autobag line.(NEW PRODUCT NEWS)
March 1, 2005... THE ACCU-SCALE 220, new from Automated Packaging, Inc., is said to be able to detect and count wrapped candy and other items weighing as little as 0.003 oz. The scale is designed for use with the company's Autobag AB 180 bagger. According...

Health issues lead industry concerns.(SPECIAL REPORT)(Candy industry)
March 1, 2005... DIABETES was the buzzword among trend analysts who addressed NCA members at their annual conference. However, delegates also heard how such challenges could present opportunities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Attended by more than 400...

The mysteries of conching: why conche when other systems are available? Consultant Technical Editor Chris Taylor details the crucial role this little understood process plays in chocolate production.(SPECIAL REPORT)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2005... IN A DEBATE THAT HAS RAGED for much of conching's 125-year history, about the only thing experts agree on is that the process can be defined as "the working of chocolate flake and crumb into a fluid paste." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For...

PMCA showcases technical trends: PMCA's 59th Annual Production Conference features a host of opportunities that can advance your knowledge and improve your processes. CandyBUSINESS presents a guide to this year's gathering.(SHOW PREVIEW)(Pennsylvania Manufacturing ConfectionersE Association)
March 1, 2005... FOR THOSE SEEKING EDUCATION, industry insights and networking prospects, few events offer the in-depth opportunities that can be found at PMCA's annual production conference. This year's three-day meeting, to be held April 11 to 13 at the...

Jetting: a new look at dispensing technology; Will jetting technology find a home in candy making? Guest author Bill Donges details its potential to revolutionize production and product design.(FOOD FOR THOUGHT)
March 1, 2005... THERE'S A NEW TECHNOLOGY EMERGING that might change the way you coat confectionery products forever. It's called jetting, and just as ink jet technology has revolutionized printing, the jetting of chocolate and other coatings can provide a...

ISM 2005: CandyBUSINESS reports from Cologne, where the world's largest candy show sported a new look and drew generally favorable reviews.(SHOW REPORT)(International Sweets and Biscuits Fair )
March 1, 2005... COVERING FIVE NEW HALLS, three with two floors each, ISM 2005 didn't disappoint visitors walking its broadened aisles to find what's in store for international confectionery markets this coming year. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What...

Calendar.(Candy industry)(Calendar)
March 1, 2005... 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 2005 APRIL 11-13 PMCA PRODUCTION...

A new kind of focus group.(SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT)(William Fox Munroe inc.)
March 1, 2005... WHEN MANUFACTURERS ARE TRYING to grab customers' attention from a store shelf, the initial impact is often the most important. Now, a team of packaging designers has developed a research tool that might provide manufacturers with a look at how...

How lame can it get?(CONFIDENTIAL)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... HOW LAME CAN IT GET? New Jersey's Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals could find better things to do with donors' dollars than put the brakes on Kraft's Trolli Road Kill Gummies. I guess they don't mind kids eating worms, spiders,...

No licking!(CONFIDENTIAL)(Madame Tussauds London)(Cadbury Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... NO LICKING! Madame Tussaud's wasn't content with its interactive wax version of Jennifer Lopez that blushed when patrons whispered in its ear, now they've teamed with Cadbury to produce a chocolate version of the Latina bombshell. Word is UK...

I'd have given almost anything to have seen the execs from some of the top candy companies in the U.S. get down on their hands and knees to blow on an armadillo's butt.(CONFIDENTIAL)
March 1, 2005... I'D HAVE GIVEN almost anything to have seen the execs from some of the top candy companies in the U.S. get down on their hands and knees to blow on an armadillo's butt. The stakes must have been high when they raced the critters at the NCA's...

Which likely explains.(CONFIDENTIAL)
March 1, 2005... WHICH LIKELY EXPLAINS what CB Publisher Teresa Tarantino was thinking during her all-singing, all-dancing debut at the NCA Management Conference! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Is it the candy or the media?(CONFIDENTIAL)(National Security and Defense Council)(Roshen Confectionery Corp)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... IS IT THE CANDY OR THE MEDIA? Ukrainian politics might be sweeter now that Petro Poroshenko, once proclaimed the country's "Chocolate King," is head of the new government's National Security and Defense Council. The owner of Roshen...

Speaking of Forster.(CONFIDENTIAL)
March 1, 2005... SPEAKING OF FORSTER, his plan to take the checkered flag at the ISM go-kart races sponsored by Garoto, Mayfair, Creative Sweets and others backfired when CB-staffer Cathy Hoehn's team left him drying in the weeds. He says he was just easing off...

Just desserts?(CONFIDENTIAL)
March 1, 2005... JUST DESSERTS? In a rush for a high, a desperate crook gulped a handful of drugs while robbing a drug store in Ireland, but the quick-witted pharmacist substituted M & M's for the dope the dope was after. The diabetic crook was busted a short...

M & M.(CONFIDENTIAL)
March 1, 2005... AND WHILE WE'RE on the subject, if a bag of M & M's is full of M & M's, what do you call just one piece of the candy?

Some would rather be lucky than good, but it's even better to be good and lucky.(CONFIDENTIAL)(KitKat )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... SOME WOULD RATHER BE LUCKY than good, but it's even better to be good and lucky. Word is kids in Japan are snapping up KitKat bars at a record pace. Seems the bar's name is similar to the Japanese expression, "kitto katsu," which kids use to...

Cheers & jeers.(CONFIDENTIAL)(Mars Inc.)(Hasbro Inc)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... IEERS To the editors of PROFESSIONAL CANDY BUYER magazine (yeah, the very same ones who produce this magazine). They failed to catch that Trident, a candidate for PCB's Product Of The Year, is actually made by...