Archive for the ‘New England Confectionery Company (Necco)’ Category

The folks at Weight Watchers are all about “no forbidden” foods and even post on their Web site that “there’s plenty of room for treats and extras.”

With a point system that takes into account height, weight, age, gender, and exercise level, daily points average between 20 and 40, and can rack up pretty quickly depending on what’s consumed.

To see the point levels candy generates, I scoured the Web for candy point lists and created a compilation of everyday and Easter candy (see below) from blog1, blog2, and blog3.

Interestingly, 35 Jelly Belly jelly beans equal a mere 3 points, while 10 Hershey’s Kisses put 7 points on the board. Most fun-sized bars fall between  2 and 2.5 points. Not bad if you can stop at two!

Weight Watchers Candy Points

Easter Candy
Brach’s Robin Eggs (6 pieces) = 4.5 points
Cadbury Caramel Egg (1 egg)  = 5 points
Cadbury Chocolate Egg (1 egg) = 4.5 points
Cadbury Creme Egg (1 egg)  = 4 points
Cadbury Mini Eggs (12  eggs) = 4.5 points
Dove Solid Milk Chocolate Bunny (6 oz.) 1/4 of the bunny  = 6 points
Hershey’s Candy-Coated Milk Chocolate Eggs (4 eggs) = 2.5 points
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (35 pieces) = 3 points
Lindt Lindor Mini Eggs (3 eggs) = 2.5 points
Milky Way Egg (1 egg) = 5 points
Peeps (3 pieces) = 3 points
Snickers Egg (1 egg) = 4 points

Everyday Candy

Abba Zaba (1 fun-size bar) = 1.5 points
Almond Joy (2 snack-size bars) = 4 points
Almond Roca (3 pieces) = 5.5 points
Andes Thin Mints (8 pieces) = 5 points
Atomic Fireballs (3 pieces) = 1.5 points
Baby Ruth (2 fun-size bars) = 4 points
Big Hunk (1 fun-size bar) = 1.5 points
Bit-O-Honey (6 pieces) = 4 points
Blow Pop (1 pop) = 1.5 points
Butterfinger (2 fun-size bars) = 4 points
Cadbury Crème Egg, 1 egg (1.3 oz) = 4 points
Candy Corn (22 pieces) = 3 points
Caramello (2 fun-size bars) = 4 points
Dots Fun Size (2 fun-size boxes) = 2 points
Dove Dark Chocolate (5 pieces) = 5 points
Dove Milk Chocolate (5 pieces) = 5.5 points
Dubble Bubble Gum (2 pieces) = 1 point
Dum Dum Lollipops (3 pops) = 1.5 points
Good & Plenty (33 pieces) = 3 points
Heath Bar (5 fun-size bars) = 6 points
Gummy Bears (14 pieces) = 3 points
Hershey’s Almond Bar (2 fun-size bars) = 5 points
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar (2 fun-size bars) = 5 points
Hershey’s Kisses (10 Kisses) = 7 points
Hot Tamales (1 fun-size box) = 1 point
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (35 pieces) = 3 points
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy (2 pieces) = 1 point
Kit Kat (2 fun-size bars) = 6 points
Life Savers 4 fruit-flavored candies = 1.5 points
LOOK Bar (1 fun-size bar) = 1.5 points
M&M’s Peanut (1 fun-size pack) = 2 points
M&M’s Plain (1 fun-size pack) = 2 points
Marshmallow Peeps (5 Peeps) = 3 points
Mary Janes (6 pieces) = 3.5 points
Mike and Ike (1 fun-size box) = 1 point
Milk Duds (4 fun-size boxes) = 4 points
Milky Way (2 fun-size bars) = 4 points
Mounds (2 fun-size bars) = 4 points
Necco Sweethearts (1 fun-size box 1 oz.) = 2.5 points
Nestle Crunch (2 fun-size bars) = 4 points
O’Henry (2 fun-size bars) = 5 points
Pay Day (1 fun-size bar) = 3 points
Raisinettes (3 fun-size boxes) = 4 points
Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups (5 pieces) = 5 points
Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs (4 eggs) = 4 points
Reese’s Pieces (51 pieces) = 5 points
Skittles (27 pieces) = 2 points
Smarties (4 rolls) = 2 points
Snickers (2 fun-size bars) = 4 points
Snickers Eggs (1 egg 1.2 oz) = 4 points
Sour Patch Kids (16 pieces) = 3 points
Spree (15 pieces) = 2 points
Starburst (8 pieces) = 3.5 points
Sugar Babies (2 fun-size pouches) = 4.5 points
SweeTarts (15 pieces) = 2 points
3 Musketeers (2 fun-size bars) = 3 points
Tootsie Caramel Apple Pop (1 lollipop) = 1.5 points
Tootsie Pop (1 lollipop) = 1 point
Tootsie Roll (2 snack bars) = 2 points
Tootsie Roll Midgees (6 pieces) = 4 points
Trident Sugarless Gum (1 stick) = 0 points
Twix (1 fun-size bar) = 2 points
Twizzler (1 fun-size bar) = 4 points
Warhead Sours (5 pieces) = 1 point
Werthers Original (3 pieces) = 1 point
Whoppers Malted Milk Balls (2 fun-size boxes) = 5 points
York Peppermint Patties (3 fun-size patties) = 3 points

If you have candy items and corresponding points to add to this list, please comment!

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30 Oct

Candy Hall of Fame 2012 0

NCSA Candy Hall of Fame Head Table

On Oct. 19-21, the National Confectionery Sales Association held its 113th annual Candy Hall of Fame induction weekend in Tampa, Fla. Induction into the Candy Hall of Fame is a huge honor for candy industry professionals, much like induction into a sports-related hall of fame. This year, Candy.com was lucky enough to attend!

Nominated by their peers, Candy Hall of Fame members come from all walks of the candy industry: brokers, sales personnel, manufacturers, retail buyers, wholesalers, industry suppliers, retail confectioners, and others allied to the industry.

It’s pretty spectacular to sit amongst leaders of major candy companies like Jelly Belly, Ghirardelli, Mars, Hershey’s, Atkinson Candy, Necco, Goetze’s, Just Born, Brown & Haley, Ferrara Pan, Ferrero, Haribo, Promotion in Motion, Spangler, Smarties, etc.

The generations of candy history that is shared over the weekend is mind-blowing, as is the genuine collaboration between companies and competitors for the good of the industry.

Candy Hall of Fame 2012

2012 Candy Hall of Fame Inductees

This year, 12 confectionery professional were inducted into the NCSA’s Candy Hall of Fame, including (Standing from left in photo above) Fernando F. Pujals, Fernando C. Pujals & Bros., Inc.; A. Robert Fortunato, Sledd Co.; David G. Onorato, The Hershey Co.; P. Timothy Quinn, Mars Chocolate North America; Paul D. Minger, Walgreen Co.; Philip J. Shankman, Shankman & Assoc., Inc.; Pierson Bob Clair III, Brown & Haley. Seated from left: Anthony M. Rufrano, Maxim Manufacturing & Marketing; James S. Bourne, Hilliard’s Chocolate System; Judith K. Cooley, The Hershey Co.; James M. Finelli, The Promotion In Motion Cos., Inc.; and John H. Pola, Jelly Belly Candy Co.

Also  during this weekend event, top confectionery and snack product introductions in six categories, were honored. Product nominations across six categories came from candy and snack buyers, brokers and suppliers, and were narrowed down to 30 items by a panel of industry experts. Each nominated product offers significant innovation and/or sales potential to the candy and snack categories.

The winners in each of the six categories were:

1. Chocolate: – Air Delight Kisses and Bars, The Hershey Company

2. Licensed/Limited Edition:  Crunch Girl Scouts Line, Nestle USA, Inc.

3. Non-Chocolate:  Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘N Chew, The Hershey Company

4. Snacks: Brownie Brittle, Sheila G Brands, LLC

5. Premium/Gourmet: Dark Roca, Brown & Haley

6. Seasonal:  M&M’s White Chocolate Candy Corn, Mars Chocolate North America

Congratulations to the Class of 2012 and to the new product winners. Special thanks to the NCSA and its executive directors, Steve Forester and Teresa Tarantino, for hosting this special event. We had a ball!

Here are a few shots of the celebration …

NCSA Candy Hall of Fame Reception

The “After Hours” party on Sat. Oct. 20 was sponsored by The Hershey Company. Chocolate was plentiful!


Lunch at Clearwater Beach

Lunch on Clearwater Beach with wonderful candy industry friends (from left) Hans Becher, Ferrara Candy Co., Inc.; Mark Lozano, TNA North America; Jen Harmon; Sheryl Godwin, Godwin Associates; Gloria Becher, Bobbie McMichael; Joe Melville, Candy.com; Wayne Godwin, Godwin Associates; and Eric Atkinson, Atkinson Candy Company.

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Have you ever known someone for a while, and later discovered one of their secret talents? Like, learning that a coworker sews amazing mens’ suits at night, or finding out that your retired neighbor happens to be a pool shark and travels to Vegas to compete. I love when this kind of stuff unfolds.

Last week at the Sweets & Snacks EXPO in Chicago, I came across a “Candy Never Goes Out of Style” exhibit. It was a display of couture dresses, jewelry, high-heeled pumps, and a Louis XVI chair all made out of candy wrappers and individual pieces of candy.

Exhibit A:


Turns out the dresses and accessories were created by Terese McDonald, owner of Candyality candy shops in Chicago, along with several of her staff members, siblings, and sister-in-law. The Louis XVI “sweet seat” was made by Beth Kimmerle, candy historian and author. Both Terese and Beth are friends of Candy.com, and neither came clean with their hidden talents until last week.

Terese says the “Skittles Riddles” dress (above) took her employee, Ashley Reinsmith, about 15 hours to make. (Skittles Riddles got lots of buzz at the Sweets & Snacks EXPO, winning the NCA’s Most Innovative New Product Award in the non-chocolate category.)

The matching Skittles Riddles high heels scream “Katy Perry!” …


Exhibit B:

According to Terese, the Jelly Belly Wedding Dress took the most amount of time to design and bring to life … about 50 hours. (That may have topped the time it took Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen to create Kate Middleton’s wedding dress!) The bodice and boning accents were made with Vanilla Jelly Belly jelly beans.

Terese says two of her team members worked diligently on the Jelly Belly dress in the middle of her new Water Tower Chicago store location, while customers watched the progress.


Exhibit C:

The vibrant Wm. Wrigley Jr. 5 Gum Dress was made by Terese’s sister-in-law. Terese comes from a family of seven children and says all of her siblings and her sister-in-law have creative and artistic backgrounds. The talent pool runs deep! Terese says she and two of her sisters caught the fashion design bug two years ago when they collaborated on their first candy wrapper dress.

“We constantly study all of the current fashion trends and fashionable people, and make an inspiration board to get us going. Each dress is different as it expresses the vision of the artist,” says Terese.


Exhibit D:

Inspiration by J.Lo? This M&M’s Dress features a boho chic hat and rows and rows of wrappers cut like petals.


Exhibit E:


The summery tangerine dress made with Goetze’s Classic Vanilla Cow Tale wrappers took Terese and her crew about 36 hours to craft. The neckline features unwrapped Goetze’s Caramel Creams. (Yum!)

When asked about what happens with all the candy that gets unwrapped, Terese says, “Most companies donate the wrappers for our dresses, but from time to time, we do end up with vats of unwrapped candy. We recycle that candy because we do so many art projects in our stores. We don’t like to throw anything away.”


Exhibit F:

Beth Kimmerle’s antique Louis XVI chair was covered in retro candies like Tootsie Rolls, red licorice wheels, candy dots, Necco Wafers, and Pez. It was, by far, the sweetest seat in the house.

To learn more about the dresses and accessories that debuted on the Sweets & Snacks Expo runway, as well as Candyality’s upcoming candy fashion events, click here.

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Update: Contest winner announced! Congrats to Donna Anderson, who won the $25 Candy.com gift certificate with her Valentine candy heart phrase: RAWR! Thanks to all who participated. Candy.com fans are sweethearts!


We got an avalanche of responses to the contest question: “What Sweet Saying Would You Place on a Valentine Candy Heart?”

After a careful and top-secret review process, a Top 25 list has emerged.

From the 25 Valentine phrases below, tell us your favorite after this post or on Facebook. The phrase with the most nods wins the $25 Candy.com gift certificate. Here goes …

YOU SWEETEN ME
MEOW
LUV U MORE
SMOOCH
KISS MY …
SUGAR RUSH
SHORE THING
SUGAR LIPS
LUCKY CHARM
LUV U MORE
CUDDLE BUG
URS 4-EVA
LIKE
MY 1 & ONLY
KNOCKED UP
EAT YOUR ? OUT
SNUGGLE BUNNY
KISS MY …
LOVE SICK
SWEET BUNS
SQUISHY HUG
SUGAR BOOGER
RAWR!
U + ME = ?
GLEEK

I’ll post the winner tomorrow.

P.S.  There were quite a few entries that ran a bit long for a tiny candy heart, but these three deserve an honorable mention …

I’D CATCH A GRENADE FOR YA
I TASTE BETTER THAN THESE ANTACIDS
LIKE COOKIES AND MILK, WE BELONG TOGETHER

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