Good news, bad news. Bad news, good news. Good news…well, you get the drift. At the 34th International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM) in Cologne, Germany, there seemed to be plenty of dichotomies circulating at the confectionery industry’s annual global get-together.

For example, there was the good news that China has opened up its marketplace to confec-tionery imports. Bad news that there are more Chinese companies entering the global confectionery marketplace, capitalizing on much lower labor costs.

Good news that the euro’s value has gone up, reinforcing its position as an international currency. Bad news that the euro’s value has gone up, making European Union (EU) exports that much more expensive.

Good news that the EU will add 10 more members (70 million people) this year, expanding the continent’s consumer base by 20 percent to 450 million. Bad news that the EU is adding 10 more members, facilitating trade of confectionery products from those countries, which have lower labor costs, thus increasing competition.

Good news that manufacturers are continuing to turn out a broad range of innovative and indulgence confections. Bad news that concern about obesity has increased interest in regulating the marketing and place-ment of sweets.

But as unsettling an effect as such dichotomies can have on planning, the fact that the viewpoints took in both good and bad perspectives underscored the quiet, albeit cautious, optimism that pervaded the fair.

First, the turnout proved — if not necessarily spectacular — certainly solid. During the four-day confectionery “Carnival,” 33,500 buyers from 140 nations sampled, sucked and swallowed a broad range of sweets and treats from 1,515 exhibitors representing 72 countries.

Second, the fair’s ability to generate excitement and innovation among manufacturers continued in a grand manner, with large and small companies contributing to both.
On the chocolate end, the emphasis on dessert-type fillings and inclusions, especially of an Italian origin, was evident. The trend toward single-origin cocoas in chocolate continues, as does a move toward all-natural and/or organic labeling. And alcohol/ cocktail flavors and fillings remain a strong influence in both chocolates and sweets.

For many perennial visitors to the fair, this year’s confectionery confab represented the last year at Koelnmesse’s “old halls.” The fair is moving to newer “Eastern Halls” in 2005 as a result of Europe’s radio and television giant, RTL, which purchased the Rhineside. Manufacturers who’ve held certain exhibit sites for years will face establishing new “destination points” for visitors in 2005.

One German manufacturer, however, did make maximum use of ISM’s existing venue, occupying one of the fair’s largest spaces. Stollwerck, bolstered by the resources of its new parent, Barry Callebaut, showcased plenty of its new concepts while occupying the former exhibit area held for the longest time by Storck.

The company devoted a good portion of the area to highlighting its Sarotti brand, now designated as Stollwerck’s leading umbrella brand. Sarotti’s new limited edition Tiamo line, features truffles in three Italian dessert renditions: Tiramisu, Cappuccino and Cantuccini.

In addition, Stollwerck has added summery notes to its value line of products under the Alpia name. One of the new Alpia Summerfresh launches is Schwarze Johannisbeere, a 100-gram bar of white chocolate featuring fruity pieces of black currants.
Finally, for those more traditional consumers seeking true chocolate taste, Sarotti will launch four new “Origin Chocolate” products.

The trend toward single-origin chocolates continues to gather momentum, with several manufacturers offering their specific interpretations. Well known Italian chocolate manufacturer ICAM, which unveiled its line of dessert-filled pralines last year under the Caffe Italiano and Praline Italiano brands, launched a new line of high-cocoa content, single-origin chocolates under the Extremo brand.

One company that’s taken note of consumers’ call for variety is Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. The Waldenbuch, Germany-based produce of Ritter Sport chocolate squares has taken its penchant for geometry to another level, “a third dimension,” says Jurgen Hermann, marketing director.

Debuted at ISM as the “chocolate cube,” the square box features 30 individually wrapped 8-gram Ritter Sport minis in assorted varieties. The box provides consumers with several options, be it for “self-pampering, sharing” or “giving as gifts,” the company says.

Of course, when it comes to self-pampering or gift-giving (sharing could prove difficult), Trubs-chachen, Switzerland-based biscuit manufacturer Kambly understands exactly what it takes to achieve ultimate indulgence. This year’s latest creation, the Coeur aux Noisettes or Hazelnut Heart, delivers three taste sensations in one: a crisp hazelnut biscuit, a virtual melting chocolate coating, and a “heart” of velvety caramelized nuts.

When it comes to eye appeal, Katjes has never suffered in drawing a crowd to its television com-mercials, which featured supermodel Heidi Klum.
The ongoing collaboration takes on increased intensity this year as Katjes launches a new line, “My Favorite Candies by Heidi Klum.” The line will feature two yogurt-based products, Heidi’s Yogurt Fruit Cremes and Heidi’s Yogurt Dessert Cremes as well as classic fruit chews, Heidi’s Fruit Flirtations, which will feature shapes personally designed by Klum. The new Heidi products will debut in April in the United States and be distributed by Hillside, N.J.-based Hillside Candy.

Katjes, known for its broad line of “good-for-you” confections has taken that philosophy and added yet another healthful twist: vegetable flavors in fruit gums.

Gum-muse, a play on the German word Gemuse, which means vegetables, come in the shapes of vegetables and contain a total of 10 percent natural juice concentrates from the following: tomatoes, carrots and pumpkins.

In keeping with the Italian dessert theme, wafer and confections manufacturer Loacker expanded its Qaudratini products, those bite-sized square renditions of classic Loacker wafers with an Italian Selection of flavors, Amaretto, Cappuccino and Tiramisu.

Does one sense that there was an Italian theme at the show? Even Lambertz, the manufacturer of such typically German products as Pfeffernusse and other gingerbread specialties such as Mozartkugel, came out with an Italian–sounding product line of filled biscuits dubbed Lamber Tissimo.

Conscious of the wellness demands by consumers, the company has also launched a new line dubbed Sensations. The 175-gram bags, available in mint or latte macchiato flavors, contain chocolates filled with rice crisps and biscuits.

Wellness, of course, doesn’t just extend toward one’s physical state of being. It also encompasses a state of mind, one that can be triggered by flavors and aromas.

Take Ragold’s new caipirinha-flavored granini candy. By capitalizing on the recent popularity of Brazil’s national cocktail, one that combines brown cane sugar alcohol with limes, the company introduced its granini Caipirinha, a hard candy that combines freshly squeezed limes and brown cane sugar flavors punctunated with a fruity filling.

The company also added two new summer products, granini Schorle Apple and granini Schorle Black Currant. The fruit candies feature an innovative surprise for consumers, a “fizzy” and fruity sherbet center that delivers texture and taste.

Of course, there were countless other offerings at the fair, ranging from the unusual to the usual. But that’s another dichotomy for another time.