Though we’re celebrating love today with chocolate and candy hearts, it’s not too early to start thinking about Halloween and Christmas.
ECRM’s Candy Planning: Christmas & Halloween event, set for Feb. 18-21 at the Hilton in Chicago, will bring together manufacturers and retail buyers in short, speed-dating-style meetings designed to maximize efficiency.
Furthermore, Candy Industry and ECRM will again host the Kids Choice Awards. About 50 young people from the Union League Boys & Girls Club of Chicago will judge submissions in the Chocolate, Non-Chocolate and Novelty categories. In addition to bragging rights, winners will receive free advertising space in an upcoming issue.
Be sure to pick up our April issue for post-show coverage. In the meantime, check out a few products manufacturers will debut or highlight at the show. See you there!
Boston America Corp.
Woburn, Mass. / bostonamerica.com / (781) 933-3535
Alien Head Sours
Each tin is filled with 1 oz. of alien head-shaped, Green Apple sour candies. These are packed 12 tins to a display.
S.R.P.: $2.99-$3.99
Emoticandy tins
Each tin is filled with lemon-flavored, emoji-shaped candy sours. These are packed 12 to a display.
S.R.P.: $2.99-$3.99
CandyRific
Louisville, Ky. / candyrific.com / (502) 893-3626
Surprise Candy Pals
CandyRific has launched Surprise Candy Pals, which includes a four-inch plastic ball container with a scented plush animal toy, a collector’s sheet and 0.35 oz. of dextrose candy inside.
The first series includes six characters and scents: Sprinkles Star (candy-scented), Louie Lolli-pup (Cherry), Khloe Kitty (Bubble Gum), Annie Oinksley (Grape), Hannah Banana (Banana), and Ellie Berry (Strawberry).
A holiday series is also available. It includes six different styles and scents: Mindy Mouse (Mint), Dotty Scarlet (Strawberry), Penelope Pony (Watermelon), Phoebe Peeps (Bubble Gum), Bella Bunny (candy-scented), and Claus Fuzzbert (Vanilla).
S.R.P.: $4.99
Enstrom Candies
Grand Junction, Colo. / enstrom.com / (970) 242-1655
Holiday shipper
This display features 16 boxes of Peppermint Bark, 16 boxes of Milk Chocolate Toffee and 16 boxes of Dark Chocolate Toffee, which features new, dark brown packaging to differentiate it from the milk chocolate variety.
S.R.P.: N/A
Ethel M Chocolates
Henderson, Nev. / ethelm.com / (800) 438-4356
Pecan Caramel Raptures Ornament tin
This 16-piece tin is for those who like to keep things interesting. It features the perfect blend of chopped pecans, copper-kettle caramel and delicious milk chocolate.
S.R.P.: N/A
Crème Liqueur Ornament tin
This 16-piece tin features gourmet, liqueur-infused chocolates.
S.R.P.: N/A
Peppermint bark
Peppermint candy pieces are mixed into slabs of white chocolate and drizzled with dark chocolate before being broken into shareable chunks. They’re packaged in festive holiday box and tied neatly with a bow.
S.R.P.: N/A
Dark chocolate almonds
Delicious roasted almonds are covered in rich, smooth dark chocolate. They’re packaged in festive holiday box and tied neatly with a bow.
S.R.P. (6 oz.): N/A
Gerrit J. Verburg Co.
Fenton, Mich. / gerritjverburg.com / (810) 750-9779
Fort Knox Unicorn Coins
Playing off the popularity of the unicorns, these gold foil-wrapped Belgian chocolate coins now come with unicorn stickers, which feature seven different characters. They’re available in 1.47-oz. bags.
S.R.P.: N/A
Imaginings 3 - Flix Candy
Niles, Ill. / flixcandy.com / (847) 647-1370
Oh Poop! Halloween candy dispensers
Building off the success of the Oh Poop! line, Flix has introduced poop-shaped candy dispensers dressed a witch and a pumpkin. When wound up, the dispensers drop fruity dextrose balls. They can be refilled with any small round candy.
S.R.P.: $3.49
Nightmare Before Christmas Pop Ups
Jack, Sally and Oogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” are Flix’s newest Pop Ups. They’ll be available in blisters with three Chupa Chup pops (S.R.P.: $2.99) and a single Chupa Chup pop.
S.R.P. (Single Pop Up): $1.50
LOL-Zollipops
Walled Lake, Mich. / zollipops.com / (248) 214-7771
Zollipops Clean Teeth Pops
Keep those little fangs clean this Halloween with Zollipops, available in 5.2-oz., Halloween-themed packages. These tooth-friendly lollipops come in six natural fruit flavors. They’re also vegan and kosher, and free of sugar, nuts, gluten and artificial colors.
S.R.P.: $5.99
Zaffi Taffy Clean Teeth Taffy
This chewy, teeth-friendly treat is available in 5-oz., Halloween-themed packages. Zaffi Taffy comes in five natural fruit flavors. They’re also vegan and kosher, and free of sugar, nuts, gluten and artificial colors.
S.R.P.: $5.99
YumEarth
Stamford, Conn. / yumearth.com
Candy Corn
Available year-round, YumEarth’s candy corn is USDA organic, non-GMO and free of nuts, gluten, high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors, flavors and dyes. Packages of loose candy corn are available in 2.5 oz., 5 oz., and 8 oz. YumEarth will also have Halloween-themed bags of 10- and 24-ct. (S.R.P.: $9.99) 7-oz. snack packs.
S.R.P. (10-ct.): $6.99
Halloween, Christmas gummies
YumEarth is introducing gummy fangs and bats for Halloween and snowflakes for the winter season. All of YumEarth’s gummies are USDA organic, non-GMO, vegan and free of gluten, soy, dairy, nuts, egg, high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors, flavors and dyes. They’ll be available in 10- and 24-ct. (S.R.P.: $9.99) snack packs.
S.R.P.(10-ct.): $6.99
Candy Cane Pops
YumEarth’s candy cane pops give consumers the taste of a candy cane without the mess. They’re USDA organic, non-GMO, vegan and free of gluten, soy, dairy, nuts, egg, high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors, flavors and dyes.
S.R.P. (10 ct.): $6.99