Those of us who work in and with the industry sometimes forget that the outside world doesn’t necessarily know what we know, particularly when it comes to chocolate.

Hu Products, maker of organic, paleo and vegan chocolate, has received a minority investment from Sonoma Brands, the food incubator responsible for Krave jerky, SMASHMALLOW and other brands.

Somerville, Mass.-based Taza Chocolate has named Barbara Reilly as the company’s first chief operating officer and chief marketing officer.

Mastika, The Mastika Gum Co's award-winning mastic-flavored chewing gum, continues to capture attention in Middle Eastern markets.

Mondelēz International will acquire Long Island, N.Y.-based Tate’s Bake Shop for $500 million. Known for its signature thin-and-crispy cookies made with simple, high-quality ingredients, Tate’s is a fast-growing premium cookie and baked goods brand.

American soldiers used chewing gum to quench thirst and reserve water supplies in World War I, but as its popularity spread through Europe, so did aversion to it. Among its detractors was Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky. Contributor Curtis Vreeland tells the story in an excerpt from "Candy Goes to War."

Austria-based PEZ is auctioning a set specialty dispensers for the union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with the goal of raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

When Editor-in-Chief Bernie Pacyniak heard that CIA's Peter Greweling, professor of baking and pastry arts, would demonstrate the art of creating edible geodes out of chocolate and naturally-formed sugar crystals at PMCA’s production conference earlier this month, he had to reacquaint himself with what a geode is.