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Just Born’s Lemonade Blends Supports Charitable
Initiative
Candy and philanthropy
come together in a new venture that teams Bethlehem, Pa.-based Just Born
Inc. with the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Just Born has announced that it will contribute a
minimum of $100,000 annually to the foundation, which is dedicated to
finding cures for childhood cancer. The foundation grew from a young cancer
patient’s front-yard lemonade stand to a nationwide fundraising
initiative, and has raised more than $16 million to date.
Alexandra “Alex” Scott was four years old
and undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer when she decided to set
up a lemonade stand to raise money to help other children with the disease.
Her selfless spirit and unique vision ultimately led to thousands of
lemonade stands and other fundraising events across the country. By the
time of her death at the age of eight in 2004, Alex had been featured on
“The Oprah Show,” and her objective of raising $1 million for
cancer research was in sight.
Just Born celebrated its partnership with Alex’s
Lemonade Stand Foundation with a reception held in Chicago during the week
of the All Candy Expo. At the reception, Alex’s father, Jay Scott,
shared the story of his daughter’s life, battle with cancer, and
commitment to helping others.
For Just Born, a key part of the campaign will be the
launch of its limited edition Mike and Ike Lemonade Blends, a tasty combo
of five lemonade-inspired flavors. Specifically, the flavors are lemonade,
strawberry lemonade, raspberry lemonade, tangerine lemonade and lime
lemonade.
Packaging for Mike and Ike Lemonade Blends, which will
be available for summer 2008, will be flagged with the Alex’s
Lemonade Stand logo.
More information on the foundation is available at
www.alexslemonade.org.
Galerie, Hershey Partner
Galerie, Hebron, Ky., a marketer of distinctive candy
gift items, has signed a master licensing and co-manufacturing contract
with the The Hershey Company.
As a result, Galerie will partner with Hershey to
provide innovative confectionery gifts featuring Hershey brands. The first
items will be available early next year.
Atkinson Unveils New Upscale Hard Candy
Lufkin, Texas-based Atkinson Candy Co., a proud
producer of American-made candy, is venturing into new territory with the
rollout of a line of premium hard candy.
The company debuted the double twist-wrapped candies
at the All Candy Expo in September, and Eric Atkinson, company president,
says he was pleased with the interest the rollout generated.
“We took orders [at the show],” says
Atkinson. “Right now, it’s available in bulk, but if a customer
wants it in packaged form, we’re ready to do that.”
Company staffers dedicated themselves to coming up
with top-notch formulations for the candy over the course of the summer
months, Atkinson reports.
The premium hard candy initially will be offered in 24
varieties including sugar and sugar-free versions of anise squares,
butterscotch buttons, lemon ovals and slices, cinnamon balls and
Atkinson’s signature Honeycombed Peanuts.
Atkinson notes that with the closing of Chicago-based
hard candy maker, Peerless Confections, earlier this year, he saw an
opportunity in the marketplace, given his company’s expertise in this
arena.
“It wasn’t a stretch at all for us to
start doing this kind of candy,” he says.
The key to success with such a premium product, he
emphasizes, is maintaining product quality over the long haul.
Jorge Farber Feted at Kettle Award Celebration
The mood was festive, lighthearted, and a bit
emotional at times earlier this fall when members of the candy industry
gathered to recognize one of their own — Jorge Farber, president of
Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Queens, N.Y., with the 63rd annual Kettle
Award.
The award, which acknowledges outstanding service to
the confectionery industry, was presented at a reception sponsored by Candy Industry and Confectioner magazines and held
in Chicago in September during the week of the All Candy Expo.
Also honored at the event were this year’s other
award nominees: The Hershey Company staff scientist, Judy Cooley, and
Charles Flavelle, chairman of R.C. Purdy Chocolates, Vancouver, British
Columbia.
The criteria for Kettle Award selection include
outstanding confectionery industry contributions in areas that range from
sales and marketing and education to quality advancement and research and
product development.
Farber’s career at premium chocolate maker
Madelaine began in 1984 when he joined the company as plant manager. He
moved on to roles as vice president and chief operating officer and company
president in rapid succession.
Under Farber’s leadership, Madelaine has tripled
sales, expanded and upgraded production facilities and substantially
broadened its product line.
In addition to his successful leadership of Madelaine
Chocolates, Farber maintains a high profile within the industry. He is
active in the National Confectioners Association and the Retail
Confectioners Association. Most recently, he spearheaded the creation of
All Candy Expo’s Gourmet Marketplace.
Farber also finds time for local community
involvement. He has served as chairman of the local school board and been
an active participant in various religious and civic organizations.
Fast Track Promo for Jolt
GumRunners LLC, Hackensack, N.J., is keeping its Jolt
energy gum brand fresh with a new racing team gum promotion that runs this
fall and winter. As part of the promo, the company offers limited edition
gum packaging that features a series of different race car drivers as well
as the company-sponsored Jolt race car. Purchasers enter a code online to
find out if they’ve won a prize. Top prizes include a weekend at
racing school and the chance to join a Daytona 500 pit crew.
Petronio Moves up at Just Born
Just Born’s Matt
Petronio has been promoted to the position
of executive vice president and chief operating officer. Petronio has been
with Just Born for five years, most recently as vice president of customer
and brand development.
Petronio is a graduate of the Wharton Business School.
Before coming to Just Born, he served in various management positions at
Procter and Gamble, M&M/Mars and Farmland Dairies.
Ross Born, co-CEO of Just Born, commented, “Matt
and his team have significantly improved our brand’s performance in
the market and strengthened our relationship with our customers and
consumers. We are confident he will build upon the momentum already
achieved.”
Just Born’s current president and chief
operating officer, Samuel Torrence, announced his plan to retire in June 2008, after nearly
six years at the helm of Just Born. Torrence will retain the position of
president until his retirement.
Simply Goodies, the company formed recently with the
merger of Blueberry Hill Foods and Warner Candy, has created a new
position, director of national accounts. Filling the position is Allison Quinn, who has been
employed by Simply Goodies/Blueberry Hill since November 2005 as director
of the Eastern Region.
Goetze’s Honors Brokers
Goetze’s Candy Co., Baltimore, Md., presented
its 2006 President’s Awards to top-performing brokers at an event
held in September.
To qualify, the broker must have improved in areas
such as overall sales, distribution, program execution, deduction
management, and administrative evaluations.
Brokers that met the criteria include:
Burdette-Beckman, Clawson-Hewett Brokerage, Eisman-Gleit Four Star
Brokerage, Fairley & Company, Geraci & Associates, Golick Martins,
Hoffmann-Vogler Company, Howard J. Eddy & Associates, H-V Mid-State
Sales Corp., J. Carroll & Associates, Key Sales Group, Kondas
& Wood, Mancini Sales & Marketing, Mitchell & Company, MSI LLC,
Ross Upstate Sales & Marketing, Singer Lee & Associates, Stockdale,
Reagan & Cain, and Wiltsie & Company.
Each of the honored brokers was presented with a
custom-made, low-back, Windsor arm chair with the Goetze’s Candy Co.
logo lasered into the front, and the broker’s name engraved into a
plaque and mounted to the back of the chair.