The Candy News

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.