Candy Business articles from May 2004

Candy Business archives from May 2004

Perception is reality.(Editorial)
May 1, 2004... * WHAT IS WITH THOSE STUNNINGLY SILLY folks who run the Center For Science in the Public Interest? Considering their puritanical penchant for striking out against most anything pleasurable, perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, or annoyed, by their...

Lollipop leaders combine portfolios.(News)(Alliance and Partnerships)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... BRYAN, OHIO -- Spangler Candy Co. and Chupa Chups, SA are combining product portfolios in order to strengthen their presence in the North American market. In the U.S., the combined lines will be represented by Spangler, while Chupa Chups will...

Sorbitol prices set to rise.(News)
May 1, 2004... NEW CASTLE, DE -- Confectioners will soon be paying 15 percent more for liquid and crystalline sorbitol. SPI Polyols, Inc. is raising the third quarter selling price of the ingredient and says the increase will be included in distributor price...

Court auction settles Alpine's purchase.(News)(Mergers And Acquisitions)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Alpine Confections Inc. received official approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois on the company's $38.9 million bid to purchase the intellectual property and 31 company-owned retail stores of...

Richardson Brands Co. acquires Joyco USA.(Mergers And Acquisitions)(Joyco USA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Richardson Brands Co. has purchased the assets and shares of Joyco USA. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. According to Joe Milligan, vice-president of sales and marketing, the company will continue to offer...

Bosch buys SIG Pack.(Mergers And Acquisitions)(Robert Bosch Verpakkingmachines B.V.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Robert Bosch Verpakkingmachines B.V. (NL) has purchased SIG Pack from SIG Holding AG, Neuhausen, Switzerland. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. With annual sales of about $274 million, SIG manufactures horizontal...

Tonalin approved GRAS.(Generally Recognized As Safe)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... LAGRANGE, IL -- Tonalin, a branded conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG's Nutrition and Heath unit, has been approved Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by a panel of independent experts. The ingredient,...

Grupo Lorena calls for self-policing of Mexican industry.(News)(Grupo Lorena SA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... JALISCO, MEXICO -- In the wake of growing health concerns and a wave of negative publicity surrounding contaminated Mexican-made items, Grupo Lorena SA is proposing the formation of an industry group that would work to eradicate lead from the...

CVS, Jean Coutu buy Eckerd.(News)(Mergers And Acquisitions)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... DALLAS -- J.C. Penney Co. has agreed to sell its Eckerd chain of drugstores for $4.5 billion to CVS Corp. and Canada's Jean Coutu Group Inc. The deal will make CVS the largest drug store operator in the U.S. passing Walgreen Co. in number of...

Terry's production relocated, Kraft closes plant.(News)
May 1, 2004... YORK, ENGLAND -- Calling an end to a reported 200 years of UK-based production, Kraft Foods International is moving the production of Terry's Chocolate Orange and other items to existing company plants in Sweden, Belgium, Poland and Slovakia....

Frankford buys Nestle's Wonderball.(News)
May 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Frankford Candy & Chocolate Co. has purchased the Wonderball brand from Nestle USA, Inc. Wonderballs are hollow milk chocolate balls with candy surprises inside. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Frankford CEO...

CME dubbed a success.( Confectionery Manufacturing Expo)(Trade Shows)
May 1, 2004... WIESBADEN, GERMANY -- The April debut of the Confectionery Manufacturing Expo attracted more than 1,000 machine and ingredient buyers to the booths of 100 exhibitors. According to show organizer Simply Events, Ltd., most visitors were from...

Low-cal predicted as next big trend in chocolate.(Chocolate Industry Forecasts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... KANSAS CITY -- Calorie Smart chocolates, new from Russell Stover Candies, are in test until Fall in the Kansas City area. Participating stores include Price Chopper and Hen House grocery stores as well as Bruce Smith drugstores and Russell...

CSN names executive director.(Consolidated Sales Network )(Appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Michael Makarewiez is the new executive director of The Consolidated Sales Network (CSN). He previously served as director of sales--alternate channels for New World Pasta and spent several years as vice-president, sales for...

R.M. Palmer to produce Spider-Man, Hulk candies.(News)(Candy Industry )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... WEST READING, PA -- R.M. Palmer Co. introduces Valentine's Day and Easter novelty candies featuring Marvel Enterprises, Inc.'s Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk characters. Available in heart boxes for Valentine's Day, the foiled...

Fortitech grows to meet demand.(News)
May 1, 2004... SCHENECTADY, NY -- Rising global demand for nutritional premixes is prompting Fortitech, Inc. to invest more than $9 million in production and laboratory expansions in the U.S. and Europe. Markets for the company's products, including the...

PMCA sets record.(Pennsylvania Manufacturing ConfectionersE Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... HERSHEY, PA -- PMCA's 58th Annual Production Conference reported a record 191 exhibitors participating in the group's half-day Supplier Exhibit. According to PMCA Administrative Director Yvette Thomas, 890 industry executives from 14...

Reclosable, flexible boxes debut.(News)(Quatro Boxes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... WEERT, THE NETHERLANDS -- Quatro Boxes, new from Convenience Food Systems, are rectangular, reclosable flexible boxes that can be stacked on retailers shelves. Made from standard OPP/PE laminate, the structure is designed to be easy to carry,...

Caramel color targets soy-based apps.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Sethness Products Co. introduces a caramel color with ionic charges specifically designed to help color adhere more effectively to texturized soy-based vegetable proteins while withstanding the heat and pressure of extrusion. ...

EU bans sales of jelly mini-cups.(News)(European Union. European Commission)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has halted the sale of jelly mini-cups in the EU after reviewing an earlier recommendation by The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health to suspend marketing of the items. The Committee first...

House of Brussels pens deal in China.(News)(Contracts)(China Portal Limited)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... HOUSTON -- The emerging Chinese market for foreign-made gourmet chocolates could prove a windfall for House of Brussels Chocolate, Inc. (HBSL). With manufacturing facilities in Vancouver, BC, and San Francisco, the Texas-based manufacturer has...

Cadbury Adams readies lab for move.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... HANOVER TWP., NJ -- Construction is set to begin on Cadbury Adams USA's 147,000-sq-ft science and technology facility. City officials approved the project in April, and demolition of a vacant warehouse on the site could begin in late spring....

Hershey sets sights on Hispanic market.(News)(Targert Marketing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... HERSHEY, PA -- Hershey Foods Corp. will reformulate a number of its top brands to include chili-based flavors and duce de leche fillings when it rolls out a new line of Hispanic products this fall. Cobranded with Latin singer and actress Thalia...

Calendar.(Calendar)
May 1, 2004... * 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 2004 JUNE 7 PROFESSIONAL CANDY BUYER...

Industry slow to adopt RFID.(News Extra)(RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION)
May 1, 2004... THE RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) buzz is building as the January deadline for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s top suppliers to be equipped with the technology draws near. But Wal-Mart is not the only company putting RFID into play, as Target...

Lighting designed for candy displays.(New Product News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... AMERLUX LOW VOLTAGE track fixtures are designed for MR-16 Bi-Pin 12-volt halogen lamps and are said to offer 66 percent more cost-efficient lighting for candy displays. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The miniature track heads are adjustable to...

High resolution print speeds boosted.(New Product News)(Automated Packaging Systems )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... AUTOBAG PI 412C high-speed printers from Automated Packaging Systems are said to be programmable thermaltransfer printing systems that can imprint up to 80 bags per minute and apply bar codes, alphanumerics, text and graphics to individual...

Explosion-proof vacuums handle powder, dust.(New Product News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... CFM A17 EXPLOSION PROOF (EXP) VACUUMS from Nilfisk-Advance America are said to meet UL standard 1017 and are designed to safely collect and retain potentially explosive materials such as powders, gasses, vapors, liquids and dust. ...

Level detectors handle liquids, slurries.(New Product News)
May 1, 2004... DYNATROL RH-SERIES Level Detector Switches, from Automation Products, Inc., are said to provide accurate high, intermediate and low point level detection for liquids and slurries. The switches are now available with a corrosion resistant...

Gift boxes feature themed toppers.(New Product News)(The Bordeaux Company, Box Blossoms)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... BOX BLOSSOMS from The Bordeaux Company are printed gift boxes with toppers, depicting potted plants, bird houses, Christmas trees and other themes. Printed on quality paperboard in full color, Box Blossoms are aqueous coated, intricately die...

CIP displacement pumps meet sanitary standards.(New Product News)(clean-in-place, Wright Pump)
May 1, 2004... THE U2 SERIES positive displacement sanitary pumps from Wright Pump are said to offer clean-in-place capabilities and conform to 3-A sanitary standards for food and dairy applications. Made with Wright 808 non-galling alloy rotors and...

Toray clear BOPP films replace PVdC.(New Product News)(Barrier polypropylene )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... TORAYFAN CB-S and CB-P Clear Barrier polypropylene (BOPP) films from Toray Plastics (America), Inc. are non-coated and said to have moisture transmission rates equal to PVdC-coated films. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The non-yellowing films...

The IFT Food Expo 2004: technical and scientific education opportunities abound.(Special Report)(Institute of Food Technologists)(Calendar)
May 1, 2004... FACED WITH SHORTER PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT cycles, leaner staffs and tighter budgets, the demands on confectionery technologists' talents are rising. For those looking for time- and cost-effective ways to expand their knowledge and expertise, The...

All Candy Expo is premier venue for 2004 product launches, line extensions.(Scouting Report)
May 1, 2004... * IN EVERY ISSUE, CandyBUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS THE NEWEST PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE WORLD'S PREMIERE CANDY MANUFACTURERS. * Baseball and football gumball machines from Ford Gum & Machine Co. stand 10 inches tall and feature a spiral drop...

New depositor stretches boundaries.(News Extra)
May 1, 2004... GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Depositing technologies pioneered by APV Baker ple are pushing the boundaries of hard candy production. According to the company, its latest innovation in multi-color, multi-component depositing allows marketers to envision,...

The art of roasting: from traditional batch to continuous systems, guest author Chris Taylor details the critical role cocoa roasters play in chocolate and cocoa processing.(Processing Spotlight)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2004... REFERENCES TO THE ROASTING of cocoa beans for aroma and flavor development date back to 1528 when Cortes conquered Mexico and discovered the Aztecs roasting cocoa beans in earthenware vessels. While Cortes was responsible for introducing...

Turning waste to gold: from office waste to production scrap, manufacturers find it pays to go green.(Special Report)
May 1, 2004... FOR SOME CANDY MAKERS, recycling is more than a matter of corporate environmental responsibility--it's sound business practice that reduces operating and production costs, provides new revenue streams and enhances their community image. ...

Supermodel Klum lends style to licensed line.(News Extra)(Heidi Klum)
May 1, 2004... HILLSIDE CANDY CO. IS BANKING on adult consumers, especially women, to identify with international supermodel Heidi Klum. The company has partnered with Klum to launch My Favorite Candies by Heidi Klum in the U.S. "Having a supermodel of...

Dairy supply lagging: with dairy prices at all-time highs, candy makers roll with the punch.(Ingredient Report)
May 1, 2004... THE INCREASING COST OF DAIRY is already chewing at some manufacturer's bottom lines, and even those protected by long-term contracts will feel the bite when renewals roll around. With supplies low, dairy prices are "at a record high in modern...

Winning the name game.(Resource Center)
May 1, 2004... YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS, your customers and how to reach them, so faced with the challenge of selecting a brand name, you might think you should choose first and call your lawyer later. But developing a brand name has become a complex...

Will hack for chocolate!(Confidential)(Chocolate Bars)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... WILL HACK FOR CHOCOLATE! Batten down those firewalls, particularly after a street survey found a whopping 71 percent of Brit office workers were willing to give up their corporate security passwords in exchange for nothing more than a chocolate...

Follow that limo.(Confidential)(Ms. Moneybags)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... FOLLOW THAT LIMO--the chauffer-driven one a London woman recently loaded with every Mars bar a London Woolworth had in stock. Totaling 10,656 bars packed in 220 boxes, Ms. Moneybags spent the equivalent of $5,263 for the indulgence. All a...

I bet she headed.(Confidential)(Chocolate Industry )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... I BET SHE HEADED straight to see Mrs. Creegan, the 49 year-old Brit who claims she's eaten nothing but chocolate, three meals a day, for her entire life. OK, she admits to an occasional bowl of mashed potatoes, but talk about world-class...

Bunnies in the crosshairs?(Confidential)(Candy Industry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... BUNNIES IN THE CROSSHAIRS? Seems Elmer Fudd's not the only one gunning for wabbits. Chocolate makers Lindt & Sprungli and Hauswirth OHG are in the briar patch, up in arms over who can market gold-foiled chocolate bunnies. Lindt says it has a...

I forget why this is important.(Confidential)(Candy Industry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... I FORGET WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, but a West Virginia sports psychologist says chewing cinnamon gum aids memory and thought processes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Cranky kid?(Confidential)(Candy Industry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... CRANKY KID? Not if Mom ate chocolate while she was pregnant, say University of Helsinki researchers. Seems that Moms' daily doses of the stuff resulted in kids who smiled and laughed more and were less afraid of new situations. Researchers...

Do I smell a global trend?(Confidential)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... DO I SMELL A GLOBAL TREND? While talk of a low-carb bust is already underway in the U.S., the rest of the world is just catching on. What else could explain Nestle's decision to squeeze its UK KitKat and Rolo through the low-carb wringer?

Fed up with the growing tide.(Confidential)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... FED UP WITH THE GROWING TIDE of legislation banning or restricting harmful products, a Brooklyn, NY, pol introduced a tongue-in-cheek resolution banning the sale and possession of candy because "candy is more deleterious to the health of the...

It's brash, and it's refreshing.(Confidential)(Steve Almond)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... IT'S BRASH, AND IT'S REFRESHING. Author Steve Almond's new book, Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America, chronicles his lifetime love of candy and adventures in finding and eating it. There are no sacred cows here--he...

Cheers & jeers.(Confidential)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
May 1, 2004... CHEERS To Grupo Lorena SA for proposing the formation of an industry group dedicated to eliminating lead from Mexico's candy. JEERS To the American Sugar Alliance for continually failing to look beyond selfish, short-term...

From the NCA.(National Confectioners Association)
May 1, 2004... SOMETIMES BRAGGING CAN BE DIFFICULT. When CandyBusiness first suggested to us that we highlight in this year's annual publication of "Issues, Trends and Performance of the Confectionery Industry" the many programs NCA has available to its...

Confectionery industry rebounds with economic turnaround: factors impacting the U.S. confectionery category are as far ranging as the weak dollar, NAFTA, shifts in consumer holiday shopping patterns and the restructuring of the retail frontier.(North American Free Trade Agreement)
May 1, 2004... ALONG WITH MUCH OF THE U.S. economy, the confectionery industry began to see signs of a recovery in the second half of 2003. This strong second half performance overcame a slow start to the year and has created a great deal of optimism for the...

Free trade agreements: mixed results for increased access for sugar; U.S. candy manufacturers made some gains as a result of the recent trade agreement with Central American countries, but realized no relief in the agreement with Australia.(trends)
May 1, 2004... THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION has been a strong advocate of broad-based free trade agreements (FTAs), both regional and bilateral, that include agricultural and processed food products. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For...

Commodities--cocoa review: with production expected to dip in West Africa, other regions are in a prime position to pick up the slack, with Asia and the Americas expected to see increased production.(World Production Forecasts)
May 1, 2004... WORLD SUPPLY AND OUTLOOK WORLD PRODUCTION FORECASTS for 2003/04 are slightly lower than the previous year, with West Africa continuing to lead global production. Roughly 70 percent of the world's crop is grown in West Africa, but analysts...

Commodities--non-cocoa ingredients: U.S. candy makers can look forward to stable prices on some key ingredients, including sweeteners and nuts, despite broad-based increases in commodity indexes.
May 1, 2004... LEAVING ASIDE COCOA, confectionery ingredient prices in the United States in 2004 will be comparatively insulated from some of the broader forces affecting world commodity markets, notably the rapidly weakening U.S. doilar. [ILLUSTRATION...

Supporting responsible, sustainable cocoa growing: the World Cocoa Foundation continues to work to improve cocoa production through programs aimed at the world's three cocoa producing regions.(knowledge and skills)
May 1, 2004... TODAY, MORE THAN 85 PERCENT of the world's cocoa is grown by five to six million farm families in West Africa, Asia and Latin America. Many of these families depend on income from cocoa to survive. Without them, there would be no chocolate. ...

Diet and health: NCA has worked to develop partnerships within the health and nutrition community to educate consumers about healthy eating and active lifestyles.(National Confectioners Association)
May 1, 2004... OBESITY IS A COMPLEX HEALTH ISSUE with a wide variety of contributing factors, including excess calorie consumption, sedentary lifestyles, lack of exercise and time pressures on both families and individuals. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Food security regulations: with Homeland security a top priority in Washington, the confectionery industry is working to comply with the Bioterrorism Act with registration and identification at the top of the agenda.(proposed regulations)
May 1, 2004... IN JUNE 2002, CONGRESS PASSED the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for implementing many parts of the Bioterrorism Act and in 2003 the agency issued...

State legislative activity: it is important that the confectionery industry devotes full attention to state measures aimed at taxing confectionery, and allocates sufficient resources, including grassroots activity, to influence the legislative process in this regard.(candy tax proposals)
May 1, 2004... THE CANDY INDUSTRY SAW an amazing amount of growth in the number of state bills impacting confectionery products in 2003, a trend that is expected to continue in 2004. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many of the state bills were a result of the...

Labeling changes on the horizon: allergen labeling legislation was introduced in Congress in 2003 and is likely to pass in 2004. The current bill is very similar to NCA voluntary guidelines.(National Confectioners Association)
May 1, 2004... NO IMMEDIATE LABELING CHANGES for the confectionery industry are expected in 2004. However the industry should be aware that trans-fat and allergen labeling are on the horizon for implementation by January 1, 2006. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...