The retail sector is still struggling overall, but as some segments continue to sink, others rise. American consumers are still buying billions of dollars of candy each year, and this isn’t changing as they resist making major purchases. Even during a recession, American consumers still have a sweet tooth, which explains why gum and candy…
Strong Outlook for Confections
Candy Shopper Insights Repositioning candy to the highest traffic aisle in the store could significantly boost sales, according to the “Convenience, Candy & Profit” study conducted by Kit Dietz, of Dietz Consulting. Other key findings include: • Keeping core brands in stock at all times. • Improving in-store product placement. • Understanding and responding to…
Sweet Opportunity
By Bob Gatty, Contributing Editor If manufacturers, distributors and convenience store retailers would embrace some basic changes and work more closely together, they could realize a potential bonanza of hundreds of millions of dollars in new profit, according to a new joint industry study. That is the message of the soon-to-be released “Convenience, Candy &…
Healthy Trends in Kids’ Candy
They came, they saw, they tasted. Dozens of children, ages 8-13, were invited to become junior candy buyers by sampling various candies at ECRM’s Confectionary Efficient Program Planning Session (EPPS) in Dallas. The junior candy buyers were given an inside look at the confection industry from retail buyer attendees that included convenience stores and cross-channel…
Retailers Salute Their Leading Suppliers
Despite the much-ballyhooed growth of chains like Walgreens, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and Wal-Mart, it is convenience stores that remain an important daily stop for the nation’s busy consumers. As a result, convenience stores represent a powerful sales opportunity for product and service supplier companies, CSD set out to find the industry’s top performers as identified…
Bic’s Pat Cordle leads new NACS Supplier Board
New NACS Supplier Board Chairman Pat Cordle, vice president of sales and marketing for Bic Corp., leads the new slate of officers who will serve on the 2007-08 NACS Supplier Board that was announced today during the Supplier Board meeting at the NACS Show 2007 in Atlanta . In addition, Brad Heetland, director of east…
Chew on This
Innovation in candy, gum and mints creates big opportunities and even bigger margins for space-challenged category managers. Consumers appear to be shying away from ‘intense’ or ‘extreme’ mints in favor of flavors. Convenience retailers should expect some volatility when it comes to famously unpredictable categories like tobacco and gasoline. But candy? Sweet, innocent candy? In…
Sweet Jewels
August marked the 30th anniversary of a jewel of a candy: the Ring Pop. Manufactured by Topps Confections since 1977, the candy ring was originally offered in two flavors: cherry and grape. Kids now choose from more than 10 different fruitand twisted flavors, as well as specialty seasonal tastes. Ring Pops enduring popularity has become…
Tootsie Roll
Tootsie Roll Industries just sweetened the pot for consumers on sugar restricted diets with the unveiling of new Sugar-Free Tootsie Roll Midgees! This chewy, chocolatey treat, sweetened with Splenda, offers the same great taste and texture as the original, without any of the sugar. Its the perfect indulgence for diabetics or anyone limiting their sugar…
Special Attention
Perfetti Van Melle will launch a ground-breaking promotion with DC Comics with a specially created comic that features Superman and the Airheads Balloon Guy. This eight-page custom comic will be inserted into 500,000 DC Kids comic books this September. Any six pack of Airheads bars that feature Superman on the package will contain two,…