Articles by Curtis Vreeland

Winter Fancy Food Show

Driven to the ‘dark side’

Hi-octane chocolate as well as reimagined marshmallows and marzipan catch the attention of Candy Industry’s trends spotter at the Winter Fancy Food Show.

Curtis Vreeland

January 26, 2016

The release of a new Star Wars movie seems to be affecting craft chocolate makers. Dark bars with a “force” factor above 80 percent cacao abounded at last week’s Winter Fancy Foods Show at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

Natural Products Expo East

Natural Products Expo East: 5 game-changing products disrupting candy and snack

Artisan jerky, savory snack bars, nut butters and more!

Curtis Vreeland

November 6, 2015

Natural Products Expo us an opportunity to spot today’s food category disruptors, which will evolve into tomorrow’s premium confectionery and snack stars.

The Bean-To-Bar Phenomenon: ‘Micro-batching’ grows up

This exciting stage of the American craft chocolate market is not unlike what happened in the mid-twentieth century to the California wine industry.

Curtis Vreeland

August 18, 2015

These artisans make chocolate from scratch; that is, buying the beans and processing them into the finished, go-to-market product..

WCF

One-on-one: 11 questions for WCF President Bill Guyton

Guyton, of the World Cocoa Foundation, talks climate change, listening to cocoa farmers, and his legacy.

Curtis Vreeland

June 24, 2015

Guyton discusses how his background in the Peace Corp shaped his perspective, what motivates corporations to pursue sustainability, and the future of the WCF.

Tracking confectionery ingredient trends

Consumer demand for clear and clean labels has suppliers offering natural and innovative alternatives.

Curtis Vreeland

June 22, 2015

What’s making the evolution of confectionery product development bend back to its elemental roots?

Top 5 trends from the Winter Fancy Food Show

Premium peanut butter cups, breakfast-themed chocolates, and more at this year’s fanciest food event!

Curtis Vreeland

January 21, 2015

So what are the hot trending chocolate and confectionery products? A tasting safari through the show, which is the West Coast’s largest trade show dedicated to premium food products, revealed the following fab five

Good Food Awards

2015 Good Food Awards winners provide a snapshot of emerging candy and chocolate artisans

America’s next wave of craft chocolate makers and confectioners recognized during annual event

Curtis Vreeland

January 14, 2015

The fantastic thing about American craft chocolate and confectionery movement is that it has wide tent-appeal, always welcoming a new wave of creative craftsmen and women.

One-on-one with Justin Gold from Justin’s

Nutty innovation spreads health, profitable snacking options

Curtis Vreeland

November 26, 2014

"To be honest, the business was failing [at first]. You can’t sell enough jars; you can’t have a big enough margin; not enough product differentiation," Gold says.

Natural Products Expo East

Natural Products Expo East: New candy trends from paleo to future tech

With a plethora of new products, there’s guaranteed to be something please everyone’s palates

Curtis Vreeland

September 24, 2014

Tracking this year’s trends at the Natural Products Expo East, which was held in Baltimore this past week, gave this veteran trend spotter a case of whiplash.

The top 10 candy companies from this year's Summer Fancy Food Show

It’s a great time for the specialty food industry.'

Curtis Vreeland

August 21, 2014

There are several factors at play: heightened consumer interest in small batch, artisanal foods; a desire to know where food comes from; clean labels; and health considerations.

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Articles by Curtis Vreeland

Snack on the latest trends, news, and developments!

Stay in the know with Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, the premier source of information for snack, bakery, and confectionery professionals.