2013 show floor is already 85% sold out. The 2012 SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO, held May 8–10 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, featured the biggest show floor in the history of the event, attracting new companies, top customers and product innovation. Sponsored by the National Confectioners Association (NCA), the 2012 SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO, hosted a…
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…
Rite Aid’s Stansfield Honored With 2012 Confectionery Leadership Award
2012 marks the third time Stansfield is recognized by NCA with previous wins 1994 and 2003. Rite Aid Category Manager Val Stansfield received the 2012 Confectionery Leadership Award from the National Confectioners Association (NCA), one of the oldest, most respected confection associations in the world. Awarded annually, recipients must demonstrate exemplary leadership behaviors in business…
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…
Candy Tax Overturned
Tuesday’s election results brought relief to Washington consumers and a hard fought victory for Washington confectioners. The citizens of Washington overturned a food and beverage tax that would have cost consumers nearly $300 million over the next three years. This was achieved through the work of a coalition of consumers, retailers and food and beverage…
NCA Announces New Board
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the recent election of three new NCA officers, as well as several members to the Board of Trustees and Executive Board. Mitchell Goetze, executive vice-president & COO of Goetze’s Candy Co. Inc., has been elected chairman of the Board of Trustees. He succeeds Michael Gilmore of the Ferrara…
Maximizing Candy and Gum Sales
What’s Coming? Thinking about a planogram refresh in candy? The National Confectioners Association (NCA) in Washington, D.C. advised that the category is taking a turn toward the upscale. “There is a big gourmet boom. I think we’re also going to have a ‘chocolate-covered’ category made up of things you don’t normally see covered in chocolate,…
Sweetening Candy Sales
Americans’ love affair with chocolate will never end. That said, sales of non-chocolate candy and gum are rising steadily, fueled by the economy and the search for innovative, flavorful new products. “Yes, people are right in calling this a strong category,” said Bill Singer, a principal in Singer’s Chevron Inc. in Walla Walla, Wash. “When…