Candy Industry Blog

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We are barely into the middle of January, and it’s already become clear that 2018 is going to be a whopper of a year for mergers and acquisitions. M&A’s, they call them.

Last week, Business Insider posted a story titled “Chocolate is on track to go extinct in 40 years.” Yikes. That’s enough to inspire fear in the hearts of chocolate lovers everywhere — and compel them to click on the link.

Colian Group's ongoing investments and targeted acquisitions had caught the eye of the European Candy Kettle Club — our Candy Industry Kettle Committee equivalent across the pond — who, in turn, nominated Jan Kolański, president of the Colian Group, for the coveted ECKC award in 2017.

Mint, which some of us have grown in our gardens, just doesn’t immediately come to mind when it comes to sustainability issues. And yet, it’s one of the critical ingredients in Mars Wrigley’s mint and gum products.

Anything worth doing should be done right. And that, of course, takes time.

When I read the headline in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune that Mars Wrigley Confectionery was going to base its U.S. headquarters in Hackettstown and Newark, N.J., I was — to put it mildly — devastated.

This holiday shopping season is already shaping up to be merry and bright, according to data from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

According to a survey by OnePoll, which was sponsored by Stork US, nearly 63 percent of Americans say they don’t show appreciation because they simply forget, or their mind is focused on other things. Given that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I’m thinking most of us will remember to give and say thanks.

When Editor-in-Chief Bernie Pacyniak asked if I’d be interested in shadowing the caramel portion of a Caramel, Fudge and Toffee course hosted by the Professional Manufacturing Confectioners Association (PMCA) at Savage Bros. in Elk Grove, Ill. last week (Nov. 7), I said what any reasonable person would: Absolutely.

All of us would probably want more time to read books. Those of you who sleep only four or five hours a night may have found that your regimen allows you to get through your “Must Read” list.