Coordinated by Koelnmesse Group and the Dubai World Trade Center, Yummex Middle East, formerly known as Sweets & Snacks Middle East, will host the sold-out event Nov. 7-9.

As one would expect, with the popularity of this year’s team, both products have been top performing items in-store and online, says Dave Taiclet, president of the Gourmet Food Group, 1-800-Flowers. As he points out, Fannie May and the Chicago Cubs are two iconic Chicago brands.

Halloween always promises a good scare, but a new survey sponsored by the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates spending for this year’s holiday will be downright spooky -- spooky good, that is.

Those of us who are in the confectionery business may feel a bit uneasy digesting child obesity figures, perhaps even feeling a little guilty. But let’s get one thing clear, eating candy in moderation doesn’t make you obese, particularly children. 

Just when I thought that the presidential campaign had demonstrated how weird a year 2016 could be, the FDA announced yesterday that it was going to tackle the definition of the word “healthy.” Is that nuts or what?

I’m pretty sure Haribo founder Hans Riegel, Sr. didn’t have supplements and vitamins in mind when he invented the gummi bear in 1922. But in case you hadn’t noticed, more and more vitamins and supplements are now available in gummi form, be it a bear, a raspberry, fish or whatever.

Fortunately, the participating sellers, buyers and I won’t be the only people to benefit from the three-day ECRM show. At the end of the event, 300 boxes of unspoken-for candy were donated to Boo at the Zoo, an annual fundraiser hosted by the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans and the nearby Audubon Zoo.