Sugar Pressure

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - More New Items

This will be my last post for the Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010. I'll start photographing and reviewing the new candy I received later today.

Haribo introduced a new gummy called Fruity-Frutti, look for it on store shelves June 20. It is a gummy in different shapes with real fruit juice inside, I liked it.

Here is a retro candy making a comeback. They are working on the recipe to get it perfect, this is not a finalized product. Release date = ??

Another retro candy, this one has a HUGE number of fans awaiting it's return. Sales of Turkish Taffy stopped in the 1980's. It is now being manufactured and distributed by Classic Caramel, LLC. Look for this in July 2010. This is a chewy taffy-like candy bar, it will be sold in Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate and Banana.

Warheads introduced a new roll pack. This is similar to a SweeTarts roll package. I think this makes stocking Warheads at Convenience Stores much much easier.

Pop Rocks chocolate makes a comeback. These were out in 2007, they also had a Pop Rocks Chocolate bar, no word on if or when they'll bring that back. I happened to like the Wonka Tinglerz better though.

Honey is a popular "all natural" sweetener and Jelly Belly and Gimbal's have responded with two great products.

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - Trends

The National Confectioners Association released a really nice press release about the 2010 Sweets and Snacks Expo that several news agencies used to write about the Expo. One of the highlights of the press release was a section called "New Product Releases Drive Trends". Here is the list of trends they identified in this year's show:

Chocolate-Covered Everything - example = M&M's Pretzel Chocolate Candies

Twisted Traditions (new twists on classic candies) - example = Reese's Minis, Twix Java, Milky Way Simply Caramel

Up in the Air (aerated confections) - example = 3 Muskeeters Truffle Crisp Bar

REAL Good (natural and wholesome) - example = Jelly Belly Honey Bean, Gimbal's Honey Lovers

The Galloping Gourmet (small indulgences) - example = Wonka Exceptionals, Madelaine Chocolate Duets

Fresh-N-Fruity - example = Starburst Summer Fruits, Stride Shift

Dark and Dreamy - example = Kit Kat Dark, New Necco Clark Bar Dark

This is a great list, I think it does a fantastic job summarizing the show overall. One additional trend that i noticed was the availability of solid color candy to buy in bulk. This has become a sought-ofter item due to the popularity of "candy buffets" at weddings.  Jelly Belly has been doing this for some time and M&Ms are available in single color packages and by on-line order (see green M&M's in a Spring mix).  Now many other companies are getting into this trend. New Decorator Sixlets was one example at the Expo of this trend.  Two great places to look for solid candy for a wedding or other special occasion where a "candy buffet" will be used: Candy.com has a page where you can sort candy by color, Candy Warehouse has page dedicated to Weddings and candy buffets.

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - Other Sites for News

Here are two other sites to follow for Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 related news:

1. http://candy.about.com/
2. http://www.candyblog.net/
3. Candy and Snack Today

If there are other sites with coverage, please add a link in the comments and I will add them to the list.  I should have more news posted tonight and this weekend is a 3 day weekend so I'll have some actual reviews of new products ready to go. 

News Stories about the Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010:

1. China Daily
2. Food Product Design
3. Fox Business looks at Trends
4. Fox Business looks at Mars
5. Gapers Block looks at chocolate
6. Colorful Fans has a Mars NA Video on YouTube
7. Medill Reports Chicago Video & Article
8. Chicago Tribune - The Stew - Sugar Crash: the five weirdest candies we found at the Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010
9. LA Times: Got a Sweet Tooth? Latest trends from the Sweets and Snacks Expo
10. FORMzine recap of the Sweets and Snacks EXPO 2010 - great pictures
11. Urban Scrawl article on SSE10
12. WCIU The U Chicago has 4 great videos from the EXPO
13. Exhibitorsdaily on candy Trends from SSE10
14. Serious Eats Part 1 of the 2010 Sweets & Snacks EXPO

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - My Favorites: Queen Anne Blueberry Cordial & Elmer Chocolate Tabasco Truffles

Chocolate is a huge part of Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010. Americans sure do love chocolate. Anything we can can put in chocolate we do, anything we can make out of chocolate we do, it's everywhere. Two of my favorite items in the entire show, the two I loved the most are pictured below. These are the two items that you absolutely have to try when they are released, they are amazing.

My Christmas article where I put Brach's against Cella's against Queen Anne for chocolate covered cherries is still one of my most visited posts. So this year, Queen Anne is taking it up a notch and adding a SuperFood addition to their cordial line. This is exactly like a chocolate covered cherry, but with a blueberry instead. It is a fantastic taste, great product and they spent a lot of time talking to me in their booth. They've worked very hard at creating a new cordial and it shows. I asked if they were thinking of other fruits and they were open to that and I'm assuming were already trying things out in some research and development lab somewhere. These will be in every store that carries Queen Anne Cherries for the Christmas season 2010.

The other product I thought was the best thing I tasted at the show was by the Elmer Chocolate Company. I reviewed another item from them on Valentines Day this year. This product is nothing like what you'd think of when you think, "what could I put in a truffle". Honestly, at first, I thought they were crazy. Then I tried one, now I'm crazy for them. It starts off like a normal chocolate, but after a few seconds the spicy and somewhat hot Tabasco kicks in and gives this chocolate a fantastic flavor. This says it is made with Tabasco sauce, but when I inquired a bit more, they informed me that they actually used the Tabasco Green Habanero sauce in the truffle. Normal Tabasco gave the truffle a earthy kind of odd flavor, so they switched to habanero and oh my, the taste blew my mind. I love the idea of mixing crazy things you'd never consider in chocolate. I always wonder what person sat down and thought this recipe up. Because I would not have put these two flavors together. Look for this one around Christmas 2010 and Valentine's Day 2011, I'll probably buy a few boxes myself, so tasty! 2.4oz $1.99, 9 oz $4.99

There it is, my two show favorites. I'd give them a best in show ribbon, but I don't have any to give out. I heard that the Pomegranate Cosmo Jelly Belly won best in show last night, I think Elmer's was robbed! (joking)

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Strawberry Creme

Ritter Sport is introducing a new flavor this year. The people staffing the booth said it would be released in August, but I saw that Candyblog.net says October, so I'm not sure the exact date. This is a limited edition release that will donate a portion of each sale to Breast Cancer Research. This is the same product that you can buy in Germany, but it's the Milk Chocolate Strawberry Yogurt in Germany. Apparently that does not translate well in the U.S., so they renamed it "Strawberry Creme" to reach a broader audience.

I love the giant package, although I doubt it's only a 100g, 16 square pack. I think this is a great idea and look forward to trying these. If you are a German Ritter Sport fan, this will be the exact same formula/bar repackaged for the U.S. market.

Since I had plenty of time, I started a conversation with the Ritter Sport people and asked them a few questions. I have to admit that I get really excited when people start giving me facts and figures about their products. Anyway, here is the list they gave me on best sellers of Ritter Sport bars in the U.S.

1. Whole Hazelnut Milk
2. Marzipan
3. Butter Biscuit
4. Dark Hazelnut
5. Alpine Milk
6. Almond Milk Chocolate
7. Cornflakes!!!!!  (my favorite)

For Christmas 2010, we will once again see the Ritter Sport Dark Peppermint.  Also, Trader Joe's is the #1 seller of Ritter Sport Bars in the U.S.  I've found the mini-Ritter Sports at Aldi, apparently that's a test market to see how they sell.  Oh..Cornflakes was pushed way way up because they were offering it at Wal-Mart for a limited time.  I sure hope they put it back in there, my guess is that it would be pushed into the top 5 easy.  

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - Just Born New Products: Mint Peeps, Raspberry Peeps, Mike and Ike Red Rageous!

Just Born unveiled several new items for the Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010. First we have Mike and Ike Red Rageous! This reminds me of the Starburst Fave Reds pack I reviewed. They did not have samples of these, but I scooped up a handful and tried them and they were pretty darn good. I like Mike and Ike's so their flavors and candy really appeal to me. These will be out this month, they are probably making their way to stores near you already. Try them out!

It wouldn't be a Just Born booth without Peeps. The iconic marshmallow candy will have 2 new flavors this year that they'll cover in dark and milk chocolate. For Valentine's Day we'll see raspberry flavored marshmallow Peeps, for October we'll see pumpkin shaped chocolate covered peeps in the normal Peeps flavor. I somehow thought they'd be pumpkin flavored Peeps and really could not wrap my head around what that would taste like. Lastly, we have the Christmas Holiday tree in a marshmallow mint flavor covered in milk and dark chocolate.

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - NECCO Candy

Here is the official press release from NECCO:

Since 1902 the New England Confectionery Company's (NECCO) Sweethearts conversation hearts have delighted the nation, and will now delight the fans of the popular Twilight series books and movies with New Moon Sweethearts Fire and Ice featuring intensely cool flavors for Team Edward fans and intensely hot flavors for Team Jacobs fans.

I'm on Team Jacob if you wanted to know. I love all things Vampire, but in this series of books, I'm cheering for the werewolves. Wow, do I sound like a geek or what?

NECCO is also bringing out new Dazzled Tart Sweethearts for Valentine's Day 2010. These are sparkly and tart all at once!

Closeup of the sparkle. They did not have any of these for samples or on display so the cardboard picture will have to do. I need to head back down there and see if I can get one of their new Clark Bars. I still haven't found those to review. More updates coming soon!

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - New Products from Ferrara and Ferrara Pan

Ferrara and Ferrara Pan are one in the same company for those of you that do not know. The Pan added to the end is for their LemonHeads brand candy since it is created in a sugar panning process. They also own the Black Forest gummy brand, so there is an update for that line too.

LemonHead Berry Chewy will be out June 1. This is a $.25 package and it's all berry flavors. It's pretty good, I'll do a review of it at some point in the next week, they had plenty of samples on hand.

In the Black Forest Juicy Oozers Line, they are finally adding a Juicy Oozer Gummy Bear. These will be out June 1 too.

This product was released in a limited test market in 2009 and they had fantastic feedback and sales. So Ferrara will be releasing this Strawberry Smash into slices product for Valentines Day 2010.

I'm not quite sure about this new candy. Hazelnut Filled Chocolate Sea Shells are a very interesting addition to their chocolate line.

There are 2 new products in this picture. Flanking each side you see 2 boxes with what the industry calls "change makers" in them. These are in the checkout aisles and usually cost around $.25 to $.30 Ferrara is also introducing a new size of their giant chocolate bar. They are shrinking the size, see the small bars hanging up, so they can branch out into convenience stores etc... Their large bars are very hard to shelf in smaller convenience stores. These will be available mid-July and should have a smaller price of $.99

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - New Products from Tootsie

Tootsie is a candy company that I really like. When they release new products, it's normally a tweak or different flavor that builds on their already very popular lines of candy. With their new introductions this year at SSE 2010, they will have something available for every season, which is a first for them. I did not see changes for their Dots candy, but they have special flavors for every season already for that line. Here are some of the new offerings for this year:

New items for Valentine's Day, Halloween, Christmas and I'm not sure when the Wild Berry Tootsie Pops will be out. They look and taste fantastic, but I picked a Wild Apple Berry and loved it.

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 - Clever and Funny Items

Since I've played a few thousand hours of World of Warcraft in my life, I really liked this item. Very clever and yes I know I'm a nerd. This is made by Harcos Laboratories. It's an energy drink with a ton of caffeine in it. They'll be adding more potions and bringing in other games in the future, definitely a product to watch.

I thought the name of this product was funny. I still don't understand what it is, but String, Nuggets, Sticks? heh

PEZ obviously didn't have these new dispensers ready to go, so they put cardboard heads in the packaging. I don't know why, but I laughed at that for a good 5 minutes, then took a picture of it.