![](/content/CO/2007/09/img/newsandtrends.gif)
Starbucks & Hershey Tie a Chocolate Knot
There won’t be any
“kisses” involved, but Starbucks Coffee Company and The Hershey
Company are aiming for a marriage made in chocolate.
This fall, the two companies will create and market
new Starbucks-branded, coffee-flavored, premium chocolate products.
Executives with both companies are apparently eager to
respond to the growing consumer demand for more premium chocolate in their
unique way.
“Hershey’s chocolate expertise,
distribution and selling capabilities, combined with the strength of the
Starbucks brand, will help transform the high-growth premium chocolate
segment,” says Christopher J. Baldwin, senior vice president at
Hershey, and president of its North American Commercial Group.
“Chocolate is the perfect complement to coffee
and tea, and has long been a part of the coffeehouse experience,”
maintains Gerry Lopez, president of Starbucks Global Consumer Products
Group. “We are excited to bring premium chocolate inspired by
Starbucks coffee and café flavors to Starbucks customers and
chocolate lovers.”
The companies offered that “expert
chocolatiers” with Artisan Confections Company, a Hershey subsidiary,
were working with Starbucks to develop the new line of
“distinct” coffee-flavored chocolate products, combining
premium chocolate with Starbucks beverages and café flavors, as well
as fruits, nuts, herbs and spices.
Beyond innovative flavors, the line is reported to
offer new forms and packaging — and will be available in a wide
variety of channels, such as food, drug and mass retailers, across the
United States. Starbucks may sell some of the confections in its stores,
but hasn’t reported yet which ones.
A premium hot chocolate will be launched this fall. By
early next year, other products expected to hit the shelves include
chocolate bars, truffles and chocolate-covered coffee beans.
In developing the line, the two companies are also
developing cocoa sourcing guidelines aimed at improving labor standards,
making farming practices ecologically sustainable and boosting income for
farmers.
“Starbucks and Hershey share a deep dedication
to making a positive difference in the communities where they live, work
and do business,” states Thomas K. Hernquist, senior vice president,
global chief growth officer, at Hershey.
A Unified Mars
The company is currently known as Masterfoods in most
markets, but by the end of this year, the regional corporate brands of Mars
Incorporated, operating in more than 65 countries, will be unified under
the single corporate brand name, Mars.
The idea is that a single corporate brand name
“will consolidate and leverage the credibility and goodwill that Mars
has earned world-wide through its famous product brands,” according
to Paul S. Michaels, Mars’ global president. “By introducing a
unified corporate brand name, we will reduce complexity, provide one point
of reference and build greater awareness for our business,” he adds.
In addition to confectionery items, Mars is well-known
for its food and pet care products.
Ring Pops Turns 30
Diamonds may be forever, but Ring Pops have been for
30 years. Created in August of 1977, Topps Confections’ Ring Pop
celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Featured as a lollipop on a ring
band, Ring Pops are among the top-selling non-chocolate confections. Since
their debut, there have been an estimated 3 billion sales of the Ring Pop
with uses from children’s snacking to marriage proposals.
Merci Makes ‘Thank You’ a Holiday
Gratitude will not be a lost art anymore. Merci
Chocolates is sponsoring National Thank You Day, which will take place this
year on Monday, September 24, and annually thereafter on the last Monday in
September. National Thank You Day was inspired by a recent survey revealing
that 90 percent of Americans feel they don’t say thank you enough,
and 87 percent of Americans are bothered when they aren’t thanked.
In honor of National Thank You Day, the company
developed the National Thank You Day Contest encouraging consumers to
nominate someone whose good deed has gone a long way to help or inspire
them. One grand prize winner will be awarded a thank you prize personally
selected by his or her nominator with a value up to $20,000, and it will be
delivered in person by Peggy Post, etiquette expert and best-selling author
for the Emily Post Institute on September 24.
All nominators who submitted an eligible entry
received two 8.8-ounce boxes of Merci — one to enjoy and one to pass
on to the person whom they would like to thank.
Oral Fixation Goes Pink
It’s more than just a “pretty in
pink” tin for Oral Fixation. The company will be donating 5 percent
of all profits from the sale of its Fabulous Fruit Gourmet Mints during the
month of October to the American Cancer Society.
The brushed metal tins, reminiscent of 1920s cigarette
cases, will be highlighted by a pink hue in honor of the cause, and can be
purchased at gourmet retailers. The company maintains that celebrity fans
include Beyonce, Britney, Cate Blanchette, Carmen Electra, Gwyneth Paltrow,
Janet Jackson, Jessica Simpson, Jude Law, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio,
Paris Hilton, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Tim Robbins and Whitney
Houston.
Hershey Backs Olympics
The Hershey Company and the United States Olympic
Committee recently announced that Hershey will be an Official Sponsor of
the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and will proudly support America’s top
athletes at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
In the coming months and throughout 2008, some of
Hershey’s confectionery products will bear the U.S. Olympic Team
Supplier mark. A national promotion and advertising campaign highlighting
the tradition of the U.S. Olympic team will also unite brands in the
sponsorship.
Hershey has a tradition of supporting and partnering
with elite athletes through its Hershey’s Track & Field Games,
which marked its 30th anniversary in August 2007.
Anniversary Sparks Package Award
Herbert Candies was inspired by its 90-year history to
look ahead — and think creatively with the box. The candy company
developed a whole new boxed look for its hand-crafted confections and it
went beyond expectations —winning it a prestigious packaging award.
The winning package, created by The Mason Box Company,
earned the Excellence Award for General Superiority According to End-Use
Confections, presented recently at the Annual Competition Awards of the
North American Packaging Association in Orlando, Florida.