Three earn Buyer’s Choice Awards at Orlando ECRM event

Candy Planning: Everyday & Summer Seasonal show held Aug. 13-17 at the Rosen Centre Hotel attracts new industry participants.

ECRM hosted its annual Candy Planning: Everyday & Summer Seasonal event Aug. 13-17 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla., where new and previously attending manufacturers showcased more than 100 new, innovative products.

No Everyday & Summer Seasonal event would be complete without the Buyer’s Choice Awards, sponsored by Candy Industry Magazine and ECRM. Participating candy companies submitted new products for retail buyers to taste. The buyers also voted for their favorite in each of three categories: Chocolate, Non-Chocolate and Novelty.

Candy Industry would like to extend its congratulations to all the winners. A look at the winning companies and products appears below:

Best Chocolate

JC’s

Chatsworth, Calif. / ilovejc.com / (818) 349-1880

JC’s Pie Bites

Creamy and decadent on the inside with a punch of crunch on the outside, these poppable truffles come in a variety of flavors including Caramel Turtle, Chocolate Silk, Mint Chocolate Cookie, S’mores, Key Lime and Strawberry Cream.

S.R.P. (4.8 oz. bag): $4.99

Best Non-Chocolate

Torie & Howard

New Milford, Conn. / torieandhoward.com / (888) 826-9554

Torie & Howard Chewie Fruities

These USDA organic-certified fruit chews are available in three sophisticated flavor duos: Italian Tarocco Blood Orange and Wildflower Honey; California Pomegranate and Sweet Freestone Nectarine; and Meyer Lemon and Raspberry.

S.R.P. (10-piece stick pack): $1.99

Best Novelty

Bazooka Candy Brands

New York, N.Y. / topps.com / (212) 376-0300

Baby Bottle Pop with Popping Powder

Like the original Baby Bottle Pop, consumers can dip a baby bottle-shaped lollipop into sweet powder, but in this product, the powder offers a mouth-tingling pop. They’re available in four flavors: Blue Raspberry, Strawberry and Watermelon.

S.R.P.: N/A

Alyse Thompson has held many positions with BNP Media, first serving as an intern at Candy Industry Magazine in summer 2012. She joined Candy Industry's staff full time as associate editor in August 2016 after a few years at newspapers in West-Central Illinois, becoming managing editor in March 2019. Alyse has also served as managing editor of Cannabis Products Magazine since March 2019. She has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from Western Illinois University.