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…
Speedy Treats
Put an exciting spin on kids meal combinations with the M&Ms-branded NASCAR kids meal carrier, inspired by the fastest-growing spectator sport in America. With the power of the M&Ms brand plus a tasty menu offerings, this fun and brightly colored interactive piece can drive the sale of an entire meal while increasing traffic and keeping…
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,…
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…
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…
Candy That Cares
To help find a cure for breast cancer, dedicated packages of Fruit Punch flavor of Sport Beans jelly beans by Jelly Belly will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The new pink ribbon packaging includes a pledge todonate 5% of the sales of Sport Beans energizing jelly beans to the non-profit group. The campaign…
Bubble Blasts
Farleys & Sathers is expanding the Super Bubble 36-ounce tray change makers to include Super Tasting grape flavor. This big 8-gram piece of bubble gum comes in a 36-ounce tray packed nine to a case. Each tray contains approximately 180 pieces. The new Grape flavor Super Bubble Bubble Gum compliments the existing change maker trays…
Fresh-Brushed Feeling
The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. continues to grow the successful Orbit franchise with the debut of Orbit Mint Mojito and Orbit Raspberry Mint, the 10th and 11th flavors of the No. 1 selling gum brand in the U.S. The new introductions coincide with the growing popularity of both lime and berry flavors enteringnew product categories.…
Fashion and Function
Celebrity designers Nicky Hilton and Nicole Miller have created the ultimate fashion accessory: York Mints Designer Tins to benefit the Young Survival Coalition. The intricately designed tins house the latest mint offering from York’s: a soft mint center surrounded by alayer of dark chocolate and hard-candy shell. Hilton’s tin features a chic black and…