The Candy News

Sour and Sweet Candy Here to Stay

Despite uncomfortable side effects like a burnt tongue, people continue to enjoy all kinds of acidic sour candies.  Sour Patch Kids, one of the most popular sour candies on the market, are described in advertisements as “Sour. Sweet. Gone.”  This suggests that people enjoy them for their transition from sour acidity into tamely sweet gummy candies.  I truly enjoy these candies.

Want to learn about a class act CEO who is in charge of Trident Gum?

Want to learn about a class act CEO?  Read about Todd Stitzer, The Man Behind Cadbury Adams, at the BW Clifford Candy Education page.

 

Cadbury Adams makes great products such as Trident Gum.

Pros and Cons, Corporate America vs. Run Your Own Business

It seems in the corporation everyone wants to keep their job and this creative tension somehow fuels us to do great things so the company survives and in turn we do well also.  Fundamentally, this works with the exception of a couple key points.  Those exceptions are greed, jealousy and politics.

As the corporate jobs get fewer and outsourcing continues, it is harder and harder to keep a decent job in the US.  In order to secure, such employment the political element enters and take care of the boss and all related people in any way.  Perhaps this is good as it keeps the mass aligned but it can be slow as it in reality is just a big line or process that has to move.  Add a boss or group of bosses who do not care about the details and you end up with a non-optimal and frustrating work environment.  Just in case my boss reads this (as you some times do), you know you are the best and this does not pertain to you.

The small business route is also a very interesting alternative.  For a self-employed individual job, security is assured but business life is not.  All of the sudden customers are very important.  When negotiating a deal that 1% is yours or not yours and on a big enough deal it can mean something.  Excess inventory, accounts receivables …. all are very important.  Supplier quality takes a new meaning.  When a supplier sends the wrong candy or is constantly, short it is costing you personally and you cannot serve your customers well.

Yet the small business is yours.  Your work serves you. 

Some folks tend to lean toward the self-employment solution others corporate life and some like me both.

The question, which I ask you to blog about, is which is better:

1. Own your Own Business
2. Work in Corporate America.
3. Do both

Top Selling Mints and Hard candy

Recent studies have indicated that Tic Tacs are the top selling mint in the US.  Sales over a rolling year ending in Jan 2010 were almost $68 million dollars.  Comparatively Altoids or Altoids Mints were a close runner up with sales of just over $48 million dollars.  Very close and in third place were Ice Breakers coming in at close to $48 million dollars but a little shy of second place Altoids or Altoids Mints.  Listerine Pocket Paks sales were close to $27 million and Breathsavers came in fifth place at just under $20 million dollars.
The total reported sales of the five brands were approximately $210 million dollars.  This is a sample of data but gives you an idea of the leaders in the candy mint or breath freshener market.  I have been a avid Tic Tac consumer but certainly enjoy Altoids.  I particularly like the tin the Altoid Mints come in.  They are a classy accessory mint.

CEO Paul S. Michaels and his global management team at Mars Inc. did it.

Paul Michaels CEO of Mars announces they plan to purchase Wrigley for $23 Million Cash.   With the acquisition about 2 years ago, now the manufacturer of popular candy items such as M&Ms, Milky Way, Skittles and Snickers candy bars has expanded their product line into popular chewing gum products.  5 gum, Eclipse Gum, Orbit Gum, Wrigley Extra Gum and even Life Savers if the buy goes through will all fall into the Mars portfolio.

This was the headline in 2008.  Well how did it go as the candy giant and family owned company Mars Corporation tries to maintain the number one spot on the candy sales chart?  Moving the companies together was an organizational project that was huge.  The company had to merge the family corporate culture of Mars and that of a private company Wrigley.   They did so using their five principles of quality, responsibility, mutuality, efficiency and freedom.  Wrigley Gum and Confections is now one of the 6 business segments of Mars Inc.  Mars Inc. is clearly the industry leader in candy sales.

Congrats to the Duke Men's Basketball team on another NCAA championship. Great team work and coaching helped the team prevail.

Candy cheers to the Duke Blue Devils

Candy cheers to the Duke Blue Devils as they hit 3-pointers and have the opportunity to win their fourth national title and first since 2001 after beating West Virginia 78-57. In addition to 3 pointers Singler, Smith and Scheyer scored big. 7 foot plus Zoubek stayed out of foul trouble and was dominant for the team. He grabbed multiple rebounds helping Duke win the rebounding battle leading to the win.

Best New Products in 2009
Tic Tacs
Lifesavers
M&Ms
Twizzlers
Dots
Mike & Ike

Buy Wholesale Candy and enjoy lots of fun!!!

Confectionery Industry Ascending in Sales, Recent History and Predictions

The confectionery industry, despite an economy in recession, is ascending in sales and popularity.  Even with a health cautious world, chocolate, non-chocolate and gum sales are all predicted to rise as years pass by. However, the odds would seem to be against the confectionery industry, yet profit margins are expected to grow. With chocolate on top of the confectionery empire, it rakes in the majority of all confectionery sales yearly. Non-chocolate trails behind but still brings in a good share of the confectionery sales. Gum is responsible for the smallest share in sales.  Wholesale candy and candy store sales should stay strong despite increasing new players in the market.

Candy and The Quiet Revolution

Sources say there is a quiet revolution happening in the marketplace. Candy store sales of sugar-free, organic and other healthier-for-you snacks and candy are making the industry pay attention to consumer's dietary needs. New product lines debut each year promoting improved portion control, all-natural ingredients and a variety of nutritional benefits. The trend shows no signs of a downturn since analysts report these products have universal appeal from the elderly to young children.

Mars Inc, Cadbury, Nestle, Hershey, Kraft Foods battling it out for market share.