Candy Industry Blog

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Just like Fannie May, Frango Mints became a Chicago confectionery icon, one that connected you to the community. So when news broke that Garrett Brands had purchased the brand, it was one of the headlines that makes us hometown cheerleaders nod our head in agreement.

Last week, deputies from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department in southeast Wisconsin came across thousands of red candies scattered across a county highway between the cities of Leipsig and Juneau.

If you missed the column, which appeared in Sweet & Healthy Issue 1, it dealt with a mother’s proposal to create candy- and tabloid-free checkout aisles for parents who are shopping with their children.

One of the things I do is go through last year’s calendar to pull important dates, birthdays and anniversaries and get them on the new one. That way I don’t forget or miss them. This year, though, I decided to take a light-hearted approach to calendar planning. 

As Judy Putnam, Lansing State Journal columnist put it, “If you have a kid, you know the moment.” Putnam was referring to the checkout drama that occurs when children tug at their parents’ sleeves and ask for candy, which is conveniently placed at eye level. 

I do see two issues looming ahead, however, and those are sugar taxes and legalized marijuana, both of which have major implications for the confectionery industry. But let’s focus on something all confectioners should do well to monitor: sugar taxes.

However, the run-of-the-mill peppermint flavor often makes me say “Bah! Humbug!” Thankfully, Seattle-based novelty dealer Archie McPhee and other companies are here to help.

It’s been a long journey to and from Cote d’Ivoire, known to some as the Ivory Coast. Having just completed the final leg of a four-day Barry Callebaut press tour featuring 10 journalists, I wanted to share my experiences and thoughts on an incredible journey.