Largest Candy and Snack Show Drives Sales, Tastes and Trends

CHICAGO, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The largest candy and snack show in North America, ALL CANDY EXPO(R) 2008 unveils more than 2,000 new confectionery creations and snack sensations, May 20-22 at McCormick Place West Building. The annual show presented by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) brings together industry experts and more than 430 manufacturers to preview new products and determine the hottest trends for the coming year.

New Product Releases Drive Trends

For 2008/09, NCA predicts the leading product trends including Authentic and Artisan, Helpful Helpings, Chocolate Evolution, Traditional Twists, Sensory Experiences, Play Time and Packaging Innovations.

-- Authentic and Artisan -- Many new premium sweets and snacks are inspired by handcrafted classics and the timeless corner candy store. Candy makers are producing gourmet confections like elegantly boxed Craves! (R), a superior signature blend chocolate handmade in small batches with dried cranberries and just a touch of all natural orange for a luxurious, sweet and tangy gourmet experience. Capturing authentic American flavors, Russell Stover(R) introduces the new American Classics(TM) line including New York Cheesecake Ganache, a silky cream cheese truffle that has a hint of raspberry, and Mississippi Mud Truffle, a rich, dark chocolate truffle center, drenched with an even denser, dark chocolate shell. Offering the signature flavors of the Cold Stone Creamery in a bite size jelly bean delight, Jelly Belly(R) introduces Ice Cream Parlor Mix with true-to-life Cold Stone Creamery flavor favorites like Chocolate Devotion(TM), Our Strawberry Blonde(TM), Birthday Cake Remix(TM), Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip(R) and Apple Pie a la Cold Stone(R). -- Helpful Helpings -- From organic to sugar-free and nutrient-packed to cause-related confections, new treats offer savvy consumers a range of better-for-you options. Enjoy a naturally sweet snack that is packed with soy protein and a good source of calcium and fiber with Landgarten(R) Organic Soy-Snack, which is exclusive Austrian-grown soy beans covered in smooth Belgian milk chocolate; or get a vitamin boost with Sunkist(R) Better for You! Fruit Gummies with natural fruit juices providing 100 percent of the daily recommended dose of Vitamin C with 35 percent less sugar than some other gummi candies. On the savory side, Naturally Baked Potato Crisps (Barrel O' Fun Chip and Snack Food Co.) offer a tasty, crispy crunch with zero trans fat, no MSG, no cholesterol and only 3.5 grams of total fat per serving.

For confections with a cause, clip on Aura(TM) Clip'n'Go(TM) Mints with the pink ribbon to support the fight against breast cancer; a portion of proceeds from these specially marked mints are donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Bloomsberry & Co.(R) Climate Change Chocolate(TM) bar provides a verified TerraPass offset of 133 pounds of carbon dioxide reductions (the average American's daily carbon impact) and the packaging includes 15 helpful hints for saving energy.

-- Chocolate Evolution -- Chocolate is being paired in innovative ways and popping up in classic candies likes PEEPS(R), now available in Chocolate Mousse Flavored Bunnies and Bears, and PEZ(R) Chocolate-flavored pieces. For a decadent chocolate and creamy combination, try the new Milk & Peanut Butter from Ghirardelli, a bar of gourmet milk chocolate squares filled with smooth, creamy and crunchy peanut butter. Chocolate-covered sweets continue to thrive like Melzy Enterprises Inc.'s Figamajigs(R), bite-size figs draped with dark chocolate. KOHLER also has dipped into chocolate with the new KOHLER Original Recipe Chocolates Cherry Almond, a gourmet dark chocolate bar crafted with dried fruit, almonds and pure vanilla. -- Traditional Twists -- Manufacturers are expanding the portfolio of some of consumers' favorites. Lemonhead(R) Chewy and Chewy Atomic FireBall(R) (Ferrara Pan Candy Co.) are new easy to chomp, chewy candies, packed with the classic flavors consumers know and love. And WONKA(R) Giant Chewy NERDS(R) from Nestle offer a chewy, gooey jelly-bean-like center, covered in a layer of classic, crunchy NERDS(R). The classic snack chip is getting a flavor kick with new Beer Chips(R), thick-cut kettle style chips made with a serious coating of salt and sugar, then covered with a dose of beer for a one-of-a-kind, savory and sweet snack. And adding dimension to the chewing gum category, Cadbury Adams introduces Stride(R) Always Mandarin(TM), The Ridiculously Long Lasting Gum(R) with a mouth-watering orange-flavor. -- Sensory Experiences -- New products offer a full sensory experience for your taste buds, whether it's a pop, crackle or tickle. Pop Rocks(R) 2 Piece Mega Bar not only melts on your tongue, but pops in your mouth and WOWzerz(TM) Sour Powder Bubble Gum releases tongue tickling sour powder from an extra-long log of bubblegum! And delivering a juicy explosion in every bite, Starburst(R) GummiBursts(TM) marries the original fruity flavors of Starburst(R) with a liquid filled twist. For a mature palate, try Hershey's Bliss(TM) Milk Chocolate with a Meltaway Center or Chuao Chocolatier's ChocoPods Firecracker -- a 60 percent dark chocolate shell filled with chipotle chile, salt and a "tongue-bursting" center. -- Play Time -- Creative, interactive and out-of-this-world, kids' candies continue to drive new product innovation with treats like the Nintendo Wii(TM) KLIK(R)-on Candy Dispenser and Candies, a mock Wii(TM) controller candy dispenser with SMARTIES(R) Bubble Gum and Au'some(TM) tart candies included. Kids can even enjoy playing with their food with a variety of hands-on candy creations like Marshmallow Farms(TM) (New Era Brands) gooey, chewy marshmallow animals that they can eat and enjoy. The box comes complete with fun facts and word games on the outside and the whole marshmallow gang (cow, pig, sheep, hen and chick) inside! And kids can get in tune with Hannah Montana Glamour Guitar Lollipops, a two-pack punch with one sweet and one sour guitar shaped pop; or rock out with the ultra-hip Hannah Montana Picture Ring Lollipop in electric, lick-a-licious flavors like green apple and blue raspberry. -- Packaging Innovations -- Thinking outside the box, new packaging is providing a fresh look and feel for confections. New tic tac(R) Chill, available in Exotic Cherry or Paradise Mint, comes in a trendy, handy on-the-go flip top case. Wrigley's Slim Pack(TM) offers a sleek, 15-stick envelope that helps keep gum fresher longer for favorites like Juicy Fruit(R), Doublemint(R) and Big Red(R). And taking a page from the past, many candies are packaged with the ole' time feel of local candy shops. Indulge Gourmet(TM) not only brings a fanciful twist to the chocolate pretzel with playful toppings like sprinkles or toffee chips, but the premium ribbon-tied packaging portrays a homemade touch straight from the corner candy store.

Industry Reports on 2007 Product Announcements and Sales

In 2007, thousands of new confectionery and snack products debuted to meet consumer demand:

-- 3,261 new confectionery products debuted:* -- Chocolate: 1,800 -- Non-chocolate: 1,276 -- Gum: 185 -- 4,168 new snack, cookie and cracker products debuted:* -- Cookies: 1,036 -- Crackers: 285 -- Chips: 530 -- Popcorn: 183 -- Nuts and seeds: 501 -- Snack bars: 468 -- Other snacks (pretzels, puffed snacks, fruit snacks, meat snacks, etc.): 1,165 * Datamonitor's Productscan online database of new products SKUs 2007

Sugar-free Gum, Dark Chocolate Led 2007 Industry Sales

The confectionery industry grew 3.5 percent in 2007. Candy, chocolate and gum continued to lead the snack category in sales and ranked third in food sales overall. Specifically, key categories experienced growth in 2007:

-- Dark chocolate sales increased more than 50 percent compared to 2006. (NCA and IRI data) -- Sugar-free gum led industry growth with a 13.5 percent sales increase from 2006. Overall, gum sales grew 8.1 percent. (IRI data) -- Chocolate continues to be a big seller, with premium chocolate sales seeing significant increases. Sales of premium chocolate grew more than 30 percent this year alone, following three years of double digit growth. (NCA and IRI data) -- Licorice sales grew 3.1 percent compared to 2006. (IRI data) -- Chewy (non-chocolate) candy sales increased 4.2 percent from 2006. (IRI data)

Hot for Holidays: Sales Growth in 2007 and New 2008/09 Products Spark Celebrations

Seasonal product sales give reason to celebrate. Halloween led overall holiday sales in 2007 and posted a 2.6 percent gain from 2006. Easter ranked second, but posted an impressive 5.4 percent sales increase over 2006. Third overall, winter holiday sales jumped 2.2 percent. And Valentine's Day, the forth largest confectionery holiday overall, experienced the biggest growth within a seasonal category, up 6.7 percent from 2006.

New innovative holiday confections will help drive holiday sales in 2008. Specifically, new products debuting at the EXPO(R) include KoKo's Confectionery GloPopcifier(R), a Christmas lollipop pacifier that really lights up, and the Carousel(R) Halloween Safety Light, a fantastically fun, candy-filled pumpkin holder complete with a button-controlled light stick that's perfect for when the sun goes down. And celebrate every season with Madelaine Milk Chocolate Lolly Pops -- premium chocolate sticks dressed in playful wrapping special for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter or Halloween.

About the National Confectioners Association (NCA) -- Founded in 1884 in Chicago by representatives of 69 confectionery manufacturing firms, the National Confectioners Association is one of the oldest, most respected trade associations in the world. Today NCA has 700 members and is the major association representing the entire confectionery industry, offering education and leadership in manufacturing, technical research, public relations, retailing practices, government relations and statistical analyses. NCA fosters industry growth by advancing and promoting the interests of the confectionery industry and its consumers.

National Confectioners Association

CONTACT: Susan Fussell of National Confectioners Association,
+1-703-459-4296 (bb), susan.fussell@CandyUSA.com ; or Charlotte Fouch of
Fleishman Hillard, +1-202-828-5064, charlotte.fouch@fleishman.com , for
National Confectioners Association, or ALL CANDY EXPO(R) Press Room 471B,
McCormick Place West Building, May 20-22, +1-312-808-2105