With cocoa prices being pressured by speculators as well as industry concerns about consumption and harvests, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate’s Martijn Bron and Piet van Amelrooij hit the road, presenting cocoa market updates and potential crop scenarios to Cargill customers at 15 different sites across the United States and Canada.

At World Market, candy is a foreign and domestic affair. The Oakland, Calif.-based retailer brings together brands from internationally known confectioners and chocolatiers as well as nostalgic American sweets, seasonal favorites and value-priced private label products.

After reading the October 2009 issue of Retail Confectioner featuring two articles about English Toffee, the makers of Tungsten Toffee sent me an e-mail asking that my father (an English Toffee connoisseur, as mentioned in that month’s Sweet Talk) and I try their “melt in your mouth” products, which are made “right here in the good old U.S.A.”

Justin’s All Natural Chocolate Nut Butters are made in small, individual batches using a proprietary grinding process to ensure optimum flavor and best consistency.

This limited-edition offering from Mars is aimed at chocolate lovers and features a chocolate cookie base and creamy chocolate caramel covered in TWIX  brand milk chocolate.

Mango Delight is the first fruit flavor to be added to Best Sweet, Inc.’s Baskin-Robbins Smooth & Creamy Hard Candy line.

New for spring, Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Covered Cocoa Nibs are in keeping with Bridge Brands’ motto, “There is a chocolate for every occasion and an occasion for every chocolate.”

Adding to its 3 Musketeers brand portfolio, Mars has introduced 3 Musketeers Truffle Crisp Bars.

Walkers now is offering a portion-control twin pack of its famous Pure Butter Shortbread.

A healthful, tasty alternative to typical fried snacks, Snikiddy All Natural Baked Fries are made with real cheese and potatoes, and offer 50% less fat than regular potato chips.