Candy & Snack TODAY

Tortilla Chips Get Popped

2012-05-31T04:03:00Z

Irvine, CA — Poptillas are tortilla chips that are popped, instead of fried, and are new from Classic Foods, Inc.

Made with whole grains, the chips are available in original yellow corn, nacho cheese and salsa verde flavors, and have 25 percent less fat than leading tortilla chips, the company claims.

Poptillas pack in four-ounce bags and have a SRP of $2.49.

Newtree Opens Retail Shop

2012-05-31T04:02:00Z

San Anselmo, CA — Belgian chocolatier Newtree America, Inc. has opened its first U.S. retail location in San Francisco.

Part café and part chocolate shop, Newtree café offers the company’s signature products, including bars, brownies, mousses, salad dressings and sandwich spreads as well as Belgian-inspired foods and beverages made with local and organic ingredients.

Larger Santé Nuts Packs Debut

2012-05-31T04:01:00Z

Santa Clara, CA — Santé Nuts is adding larger, reclosable pack sizes to its line of flavors launched earlier this year.

Cinnamon pecans and sweet & spicy pecans come in four-ounce standup bags, while cardamom cashews and candied pistachios come in five-ounce standup bags. All have a SRP of $5.99.

Also available in five-ounce standup bags are chipotle almonds, which have a SRP of $4.99.

Frito-Lay Extends Ruffles Line

2012-05-30T04:03:00Z

Plano, TX — Ruffles Ultimate potato chips feature ridges twice the size and depth of those in the brand’s original chips and are targeted at male consumers, Frito-Lay North America, Inc. says.

The chips are designed to hold large helpings of dips, such as Ruffles Ultimate dips, which are being debuted alongside the line extension.

Ultimate potato chips are available in original, Sweet & Smokin’ BBQ and Kickin’ Jalapeno Ranch, while the dips come in Beef N’ Cheese and Smokehouse Bacon varieties.

Bags holding 1.88 ounces have a SRP of $1.09, while 2.5-ounce bags have a SRP of $1.49 and eight-ounce bags have a SRP of $4.29. Dips come in 15-ounce jars and have a SRP of $3.99.

Court Rejects Lindt Rabbit Appeal

2012-05-30T04:02:00Z

Luxembourg — The earlier rejection of a community trademark application for Lindt & Sprüngli AG’s chocolate rabbits with red ribbons has been upheld by the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The Court confirmed the reasoning of a lower court, which said Lindt had failed to prove that distinctive character had been acquired through use across the EU.

Snyder Celebrating 65 Years

2012-05-30T04:01:00Z

Berlin, PA — Snyder of Berlin is celebrating 65 years by offering consumers a new camera and $1,000 in a photo contest running through December 31.

Shoppers should submit photos of themselves or others enjoying Snyder snacks at snyderofberlin.com.

NCA Takes ‘Candy School’ Registrations

2012-05-29T04:03:00Z

Madison, WI — The NCA is accepting registrations for its annual “Candy School,” which provides hands-on laboratory training for confectionery technology personnel.

The two-week Resident Course in Confectionery Technology is held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and includes courses on chemical and functional interaction of ingredients, sensory analysis, panning and polishing. Classes are led by industry experts and members of the university’s Food Science Department.

Although intended for technical personnel, the Candy School also is helpful for management and sales personnel, according to the NCA.

The course, which is slated for mid-July, will include a 50th anniversary reunion event on Saturday, July 21.

Go to foodsci.wisc.edu for further details.

New iD Gum Targets Teens

2012-05-29T04:02:00Z

Northfield, IL — New iD gum comes in folding packs with magnetic closures and is targeted at teenage consumers, Kraft Foods, Inc. says.

Packs are wrapped in semi-transparent cellophane that reveals original artwork from young artists to reinforce the theme of individuality and expression, Kraft says.

Each pack holds 14 individually wrapped sticks that are imprinted with colorful designs and are available in peppermint, spearmint and BerryMelon flavors.

April Retail Sales Show Improvement

2012-05-29T04:01:00Z

Washington, DC — Grocery store sales during the month increased 0.5 percent compared with March, reaching $47.2 billion, while food and beverage store sales grew 0.3 percent, totaling $52.7 billion, according to advance estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Compared with April 2011, food and beverage, and grocery store sales increased 3.2 percent and three percent, respectively.

April total retail sales, excluding motor vehicles and parts, increased 0.1 percent compared with the past month, reaching $334 billion when adjusted for calendar variations. Overall retail sales for the month, excluding motor vehicles and parts, increased 5.9 percent year-on-year.

Daily News Postponed

2012-05-28T04:01:00Z

In observance of Memorial Day, daily news will not be published today.

Posts will resume on Tuesday, May 29.

Cycling Tour Honors Pietro Ferrero

2012-05-25T04:03:00Z

Somerset, NJ — A cycling event on May 28 will honor former Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. co-CEO Pietro Ferrero, who died while cycling in South Africa in 2011.

Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. is sponsoring the annual Tour of Somerville Cycling Series in partnership with Middle Earth, a Somerset County-based non-profit that serves youth.

The company will provide samples of its products as well as activities for participants.

Girl Scout Crunch Bars Prove Popular

2012-05-25T04:02:00Z

Glendale, CA — Limited-edition Girl Scouts cookie-flavored Crunch Bars are available in three flavors: Thin Mints, Caramel & Coconut and Peanut Butter Crème.

The bars are licensed through Girl Scouts of the USA to mark the organization’s 100th anniversary and will be at retail June 1 through September, Nestlé USA, Inc. says.

Cookies Take Chip Shape

2012-05-25T04:01:00Z

New Orleans, LA — Crunchy Cookie Chips are thin, chip-like cookies now available in four flavors from HannahMax Baking.

Cinnamon sugar cookies are filled with cinnamon and dusted with cinnamon and sugar, while sea salted peanut butter cookies contain peanut butter with roasted peanuts and sea salt. The original flavor is a brown sugar cookie with vanilla and chocolate chip cookies are made with semi-sweet morsels.

Ferrara Pan, Farley’s To Merge

2012-05-24T04:03:00Z

Forest Park, IL — The merger of Farley’s & Sathers Candy Co., Inc. and Ferrara Pan Candy Co., Inc. has been announced.

The new company, named Ferrara Candy Co., Inc., will be led by Sal Ferrara II, the chairman and CEO of Ferrara Pan.

“Farley’s & Sathers has significant expertise in confections and a strong portfolio of brands that connect with consumers, and both companies have outstanding teams of hardworking employees,” Ferrara said.

Catterton Partners, which owns Farley’s & Sathers, will be the majority investor in the combined company. Farley’s & Sathers has experienced significant growth since its inception in 2002 and is expected to continue that growth with Ferrara, the private equity firm said.

Ferrara produces both branded and private label candies including Lemonheads, Red Hots, Black Forest and Atomic Fireballs. Minnesota-based Farley’s & Sathers manufactures confectionery and gum products including Brach’s, Now and Later, Trolli, Jujyfruits and Chuckles.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed and the merger remains subject to regulatory approval.

New Products Deadline Approaching

2012-05-24T04:02:00Z

Cleveland — Nominations are due July 20 for the National Confectionery Sales Association’s (NCSA) 2012 New Product Awards.

Using forms available at candyhalloffame.org, the best products in six categories: Chocolate, Licensed/Limited Edition, Non-Chocolate, Premium/Gourmet, Snacks, and Seasonal, can be nominated.

To be eligible, new products must have been at retail for at least six months and have national distribution. Past winners are not eligible, the NCSA reports.

Industry experts will review the products and select five finalists and one winner in each category. Trophies and certificates will be awarded at the NCSA’s annual meeting and Candy Hall of Fame event on Saturday, October 20, at the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza. Gift bags containing samples of nominated products will be distributed to attendees.