When I arrived at my early morning media appointment with Mars Chocolate North America Wednesday during the Sweets and Snacks Expo,* I was expecting the usual — a look at the company’s new products, followed by a discussion about said products, followed by them handing me a glorious bag of samples filled with said products (preferably with M&M’s characters on it). And while we did eventually get to all that, we didn’t start there. 

I wish I could tell you that a year and a half at Candy Industry magazine has made me too cool to get excited about the NCA Sweets and Snacks Expo and the subsequent bounty of samples associated with the event.  

When I first started working for Candy Industry more than a decade ago, my knowledge about the industry was at best rudimentary. It was also unbiased. Hence, when the first headlines about child labor began to surface, I did what every good journalist should: research the hell out of the topic.

In Thomas Wolfe’s novel, You Can't Go Home Again, the central character, George Webber, exclaims, “You can't go back home to your family, back home to your childhood ...

In case anyone doesn’t recognize the prettier face on this page, that’s Crystal Lindell, my associate editor. 

It was one of those times when anyone witnessing the event would want to jump in and make everyone happy. But it was also one of those times when anyone witnessing the event would do their best to stay out of the way. And then, I had a sugary idea.

It is good practice to occasionally walk out from amongst the trees and take a look at the forest with a fresh perspective. In reviewing the bullet points within the executive summary, I thought I would share some insights with you and entertain some feedback.

For the past 14 years, Candy Industry has organized the European Suppliers Roundtable in London. Naturally, 2012 was no exception. 

Editor-in-Chief Bernie Pacyniak comments on Fannie May's newest undertaking, FM Artisan by Norman Love.