A chocolate toast to the All Candy Expo
CANDY EXPO | Cocoa, alcohol mix, other sweets on way
Sweets makers and retailers are at the three-day 2009 All Candy Expo planning to lure consumers to store aisles.
Among trends on the floor -- chocolate containing booze, higher cocoa contents and nods to fashion.
(Jean Lachat/Sun-Times)
PHOTO GALLERY
Tasty: All Candy Expo
Candy sales, though, were up about 3.7 percent, according to expo producer the National Confectioners Association.
English said higher prices accounted for more money being spent last year.
Taking chocolate and wine pairing to another level are Sweet Candy Co.'s Chocolate Wine Sticks, made with wine reductions. Remy Martin champagne cognac and Piper-Heidesieck champagne joined Anthon Berg's stable of liquor-infused chocolates.
Lindt in June will launch a 90 percent cocoa bar. Last month it expanded distribution of its sea salt-flavored chocolate.
Kohler's Rare Facets chocolates resemble stones that could be made into jewelry.
Other trends:
• • Super fruits. Acai berry and cranberry flavors will be in Jelly Belly's jelly bean Superfruits Mix.
• • Movie tie-ins. Necco might be late to the tie-in game, but its playing up its "Twilight" connection with special shapes of Sky Bars. It also is packaging its Sweethearts candy to promote the vampire romance movie's fall sequel, "New Moon."
• • Classic Remixes. M&M candies will be offered in coconut flavor and its "Tranformers: Revenge of the Fallen" tie-in offers a peanut butter-strawberry jam combo flavor. Snickers will come in a fudge version, as well as one with yellow nougat to capitalize on the film.