Candy, Gum & Mints
Convenience stores continue to be the dominant retail venue for confections. While candy, gum, mints and chocolate products are often a planned purchase, confections are now sold in almost all retail formats as marketers aim to increase impulse purchases at the front counter. To boost sales in this core convenience store category, retailers need to ensure they are never out of stock on customer favorites, but also invest in new products and line extensions to keep confection customers interested. Candy promotions and effective merchandising materials are also effective for driving sales.
Gum Gets a Fresh Start
Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. After years of tremendous growth, gum sales have struggled as new products and line extensions crowd the category. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Innovation is a great thing, especially in the fickle gum category. But Danna Huskey, category manager for Texarkana, Texas-based E-Z Mart stores [...]
Sweeten the Deal for Chocolate
Market researchers report that between 82% and 92% of Americans admit to indulging in chocolate candy. Even more important is the revelation that the majority of them do it at least once a month. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Americans aren’t eating out as much as they used to, but they are eating more chocolate, [...]
Sweet Outlook for Candy and Confections
Despite the continued economic doldrums, U.S. confectionery sales have grown at a pace of 4.2% annually and generate $29 billion in total sales, according to SymphonyIRI, a Chicago-based research firm. Jenn Elleck, of the National Confectioners Association (NCA), said the biggest misconception about selling candy is that candy sells itself. “Retailers don’t think they need [...]
Chocolate Sales Boost Confections
Despite the weak economy, consumers continue to indulge in candy. By Joe Bush, Contributing Editor. The confectionery retail market has grown across all trade channels, but convenience stores have outpaced the overall retail market. Iconic brands (Hershey, Nestlé, Mars) prowl the chocolate landscape and provide consumers an affordable indulgence in a bitter economy. According to [...]
Sweetening Candy Sales
Avoiding common pitfalls and developing a merchandising plan can boost convenience store confectionery sales. By Heather Henstock, Contributing Editor. Keeping shelves full of customers’ favorite candy, gum and mint brands may seem like an obvious practice for convenience store category mangers. However, controlling out-of-stocks continues to be the top challenge for c-stores managing the candy [...]
Sweet Treats
KoKo’s is releasing three new lollipops. KoKo’s new Cupcake Lollipops convert this hot bakery trend to sweet candy form. Each 1.7-ounce lollipop is brightly decorated and resembles a cupcake with frosting. Available in fruity flavors with three designs, the treats come in 18-count open display boxes that resemble novelty bake shops, with four displays per [...]
Sweets & Snacks Expo Debuts New Trends
“Consumers look for value, exciting flavors and nutrition when seeking new sweets and snacks,” says NCA president. More than 2,000 new candy and snack products debuted this week at the National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO, May 24-26, at Chicago’s McCormick Place. As the largest confectionery, cookie and snack trade show in the [...]
The Power of Chocolate
Once considered a “guilty pleasure,” chocolate’s potential health benefits are attracting customers. By Howard Riell, Associated Editor. If there is one category that has historically been immune from an economic recession it is chocolate. Despite the difficult times many households have had to endure over the past two years, chocolate is one of those treats [...]
Expanding Confectionery Sales
Functional and sugar-free gums are predicted to see strong growth through 2014, tapping into the increasing demand for health-oriented products. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Gum manufacturers are giving Americans more healthy options, additional flavors and better packaging, creating an opportunity for category managers to remerchandise the candy aisle to capitalize on this exciting product [...]
Chocolate Sweetens Confectionery Sales
As the economy sputtered through 2010, confections emerged as the indulgence of choice for price-sensitive customers. The confections segment enjoyed a banner year with total chocolate sales increasing 6.89% to $2.1 billion. Units sold increased 6.3% to 1.78 billion. The average price held steady at $1.18, according to SymphonyIRI Group, for the 52 weeks ended [...]
Ko! Ko! Ko! KoKo’s Candy Christmas
The holiday season has come early with a sleigh full of new KoKo’s candies. Let these festive treats deck your retail aisles during this year’s winter season. KoKo’s Confections introduces: The new and improved Gingerbread House Kit from KoKo’s featuring Mike and Ike. What better way to celebrate the season than to decorate a 14.7-ounce [...]
PEEPS Goes On Tour
Organizations interested in hosting the PEEPSTER can view the tour schedule to request a potential visit when the Volkswagen chick rolls into your city. Just Born Inc., maker of PEEPS Brand candies, is sending its PEEPSTER Volkswagen “chick” on a tour of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest to celebrate its NEW peepsandcompany.com online store and [...]
Mars24seven.com Launches Fantasy Racing Program
Exclusive Web site for c-store operators now offers retailers a chance to win a trip for two to Daytona. C-store operators are speeding to the new 2011 Fantasy Racing program on Mars24seven.com, a site launched in spring 2010 and designed exclusively for c-store operators as a resource center with everything needed to create, enhance and [...]
Mars Extends Partnership With Joe Gibbs Racing
“From connecting with NASCAR fans to engaging our retail partners, our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing has proved to be tremendously successful,” says Mars spokesperson. Mars Inc. announced its continuing its partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) through a new multi-year deal. The deal extends the winning partnership that has brought the No. 18 Toyota [...]
Tapping the Power of Candy
Despite the economic slowdown, chocolate remains a relatively inexpensive indulgence for cautious consumers. By Howard Riell, Contributing Editor. Americans aren’t eating out as much as they used to, but they are eating more chocolate, which means the time has come for retailers who haven’t already done so to rethink, revamp and restock their chocolate sets. [...]
