Amidst Russian meddling in the presidential elections, North Korea’s saber-rattling, the horror in Syria and attempts to replace Obamacare, there’s another crisis President Trump will soon face: the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
Public Health England (PHE), an executive agency of the United Kingdom’s Department of Health, last week released guidelines for sweets manufacturers to cut sugar levels by 20 percent over the next three years.
What I find most interesting about these latest deals, however, is that this marks the first time that these two companies will be producing confections on U.S. soil, particularly since both of these involve giants who have production facilities scattered throughout the world.
But a week later, 1-800-Flowers.com, Fannie May’s New York-based parent company, announced it would sell the brand -- along with the Harry London brand, an Ohio manufacturing facility, two warehouses and 79 retail stores -- to Ferrero International for $115 million.
At this month’s State-of-the-Industry Conference organized by the National Confectioners Association, several speakers reinforced the health and wellness trend as it applies to confections and snacks. At an early morning supplier member meeting featuring executives from Mondelez International, it became clear that this multinational’s focus rests on “well-being snacks.”
Fannie May is undeniably among the city’s confectionery elite, not only for its signature sweets, but for its ability to underscore the company’s Chicago connection and to reach residents and tourists alike. And those are things the company never forgets to celebrate, says Fannie May President Steve Druckman.
Nonetheless, Today's Jeff Rosen ―who leads us to believe he’s quite a candy lover ―goes on a movie house shopping spree in the segment, purchasing Nestlé and Just Born products. He then returns to the studio and carefully stands up the boxes, cutting open a flap in each one to show the amount of white space there is before one sees actual candy.
Candy manufacturers and sellers have a tough audience in grocery, convenience and other retail buyers, but the true test comes from an even more discerning crowd: Children.
But this rant about stress in America actually brings up a perfect opportunity for the happiest profession in the world — candy making. Today, more than ever, we need to take time out and, yeah, indulge ourselves to maintain our sanity.
Having joined Candy Industry five months ago, I didn’t think I’d attend ISM, the world’s largest trade show for finished confections and snacks, for several years. Editor-in-Chief Bernie Pacyniak, a 30-year B2B news veteran and a 16-time attendee, usually has it covered.