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Companies 'juiced' with new gummy products
Manufactures look to natural flavors, better-for-you innovations to juice up by their gummies and jellies
Chocolate challenges chefs
Students and professionals compete in the first ever Cacao Barry L'art du Chocolatier Challenge.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Cargill's Work with Cocoa Farmers
The U.S. Chamber Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) has awarded its 2010 International Community Service award to Cargill for its work to improve the livelihoods for cocoa farmers and their families in Africa, Asia and South America.
Roark Capital Group Acquires Atkins Nutritionals
Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, announced last Friday that its affiliates have acquired Atkins Nutritionals, a leading international weight control and nutrition brand. Atkins' management team, led by Monty Sharma, will remain with the business and invested alongside Roark Capital in the transaction.
Marlow Candy & Nut Company to offer fundraising options
Those looking for new fundraising ideas now can turn to Marlow Candy & Nut products.The company, which is the leading brand of peg candy and snacks in the New York Metro area, has joined the Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers (AFRDS).
NECCO on the block
Revere, Mass.-based The New England Confectionery Company, Inc., commonly known as NECCO, announced this month that it has retained New York City-based Sawaya Segalas & Co., LLC.
ProSweets Will Debut Flavors Conference at ISM
Although there will not be any ProSweets exhibit during the upcoming International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM), which will be held in Cologne Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 next year, organizers have scheduled the first topic-specific conference during the famed confectionery exposition.
Enstrom's Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Three generations ago, Chet Enstrom perfected the art of blending the finest natural ingredients to create batches of almond toffee as gifts for family and friends
World Cocoa Foundation Marks Tenth Anniversary
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), which celebrated its tenth anniversary last month, marked the occasion with a gathering of representatives from industry, government, development organizations and research institutes around the globe at its two-day Partnership Meeting in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 26-27.
Scharffen Berger Ben Tre Bar
Cacao beans exclusively sourced from the southern Ben Tre province of Vietnam are used to make Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker’s new Scharffen Berger Ben Tre chocolate bar
'Choice' Confections
“Junior candy buyers” from the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas selected their favorite confections from those submitted by exhibitors at ECRM’s Candy Annual Planning Event last month, naming three winners in the 2010 Kid’s Candy Choice awards.
WONKA Goes Retail with Toys "R" Us Times Square
Nestlé Confections and Snacks debuted its first WONKA retail shop last week in New York City.
AACT Iron Confectioner Competition a Close Battle
Teams competed in the American Association of Candy Technologists Iron Chef competition held in Chicago on Sept. 24
Boutin Receives Stroud Jordan Award
At the American Association of Candy Technologists’ (AACT) 2010 Technical Seminar, held late last month in Lincolnshire, Ill., Robert Boutin, principal and president of Skokie, Ill.-based Knechtel, Inc., was presented with the association’s highest honor: the Stroud Jordan award.
Carle & Montanari Reorganizes with New Leaders
Moreno Roncato has been named managing director of Milan-based Carle & Montanari SpA by the Sacmi Group, sole shareholder of the company.
U.S. chocolate sales up, volume down
Last year, U.S. retail chocolate sales topped $17.3 billion, a new record. These sales mark a 2.8% increase over 2008, but a percentage point lower than pre-recession 2007.
Barry Callebaut and Kraft Foods Sign Global Supply Agreement
Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest manufacturer of cocoa and chocolate products, and Kraft Foods, Inc., the world’s second largest food company and a global leader in confectionery, have signed a long-term global master product agreement.
Candy Entrepreneur David Babiarz Dies
Candy importer and manufacturer David E. Babiarz, a leader in the candy industry for more than 40 years, passed away peacefully Sept. 1 at home from complications of diabetes. He was 61.
Premium Chocolate Market Trends
Eleven trends identified by Packaged Facts in the premium chocolate market:
Private Label: Missed C-Store Opportunity
Private label products or store brands are growing faster in convenience stores compared to other stores and represent a tremendous growth opportunity for the convenience channel, according to new research from The Nielsen Co., Schaumburg, Ill.
‘REAL PEEPS’ Help Get Out the Vote
David Ottogalli, a Washington, D.C.-based artist and the Web master for www.peepsshow.com, recently created a tribute to the election process called “REAL PEEPS VOTE.”
Spangler Names New Dum Dum Flavor
Spangler Candy Co., Bryan, Ohio, has announced the results of its 2008 Pop Vote to elect the next new flavor of Dum Dum Pop: Strawberry Shortcake.
Taking it in the Stride
A friend recently forwarded me a link to a Web video that is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen online.
M&M’S Premiums Make Star-Studded Debut
Smooth and sophisticated describes the latest introduction from Mars Snackfood … as well as the way in which the company launched the product in early September.
Toxic Wasteland
Move over Indiana Jones. The Crystal Skull’s got nothin’ on Professor Sauernoggin and the Landfill of Doom, the latest adventure from the makers of Toxic Waste candy.