Archive for the ‘Nostalgic/Retro’ Category

30 Dec

Bosco Syrup Now Has Its Own Milk Chocolate Bar 0

Posted by Sue Gillerlain | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Right on the heels of my last post about 2010 candy product launches, a new candy bar has come to market: Bosco Milk Chocolate Bars. And, yes, it’s the same “Bosco” as Bosco brand Chocolate Syrup.

If you’re not familiar with Bosco Chocolate Syrup, it’s a brand that’s been around since 1928. Dick Van Dyke and Virginia Graham hawked Bosco back in the ’50s:

In 1960, Bosco Chocolate Syrup made a cameo in Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller, Psycho. The syrup was used as “blood” in Janet Leigh’s unforgettable shower scene.

Bosco Syrup also appeared on Laverne & Shirley (Bosco chocolate milk was Squiggy’s favorite drink) and Seinfeld. In the Nov. 1995 “The Secret Code” episode of Seinfeld, George Costanza reveals that his ATM PIN is “Bosco.”

Scott Sanders, vice president of the family-owned Bosco Products, Inc., says his dad, Steve, was contacted by Shrek 2 personnel to get permission to use the “I love Bosco” jingle. It made the 2004 film’s soundtrack.

And now, in the new year, big and small screens have a new prop star: the 3.5-ounce Bosco Milk Chocolate Bar.

___________________________________________________________________
Free Bosco Products Giveaway!
Bosco Milk Chocolate Bars are available exclusively on Candy.com through January! Pre-orders are available now; first shipment begins Mon.,  Jan. 10.

Try a bar and tell the Candy.com community what you think. EVERYONE who comments on ANY Bosco product (fond Bosco memories, anyone?) will be entered to win a Bosco T-shirt and a Bosco Variety Pack. So … spill your thoughts!
___________________________________________________________________

According to Paul Pruett, CEO of the Praim Group and manager of Bosco’s chocolate brand, the new all-natural milk chocolate bars are formulated to taste like Bosco Chocolate Syrup.

Unlike the syrup, however, the milk chocolate bars aren’t vitamin-fortified. Scott says fortifying the bars was a consideration, but that it presented technical complications and didn’t quite match the needs of the broader target market the bars are expected to attract.

Bosco Chocolate Syrup was originally created by a Camden, NJ-based physician to help with digestion. The extra thick syrup was later marketed as a “milk amplifier” and included iron and Vitamin D. Today, the product (which Scott describes as “fudge-like”) is positioned as an all-natural ice cream topper and milk syrup, and is fortified with B Vitamins.

At brick-and-mortar retail outlets, Scott and Paul both say the ultimate goal is for Bosco Syrup and Bosco Milk Chocolate Bars to be merchandised together, but they acknowledge the fact that the buyer for those two categories isn’t always the same person. It’s a big hurdle, but Paul says, “We’re bullish on that partnership.”

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in Bosco, Candy, Chocolate, Licensed, Milk Chocolate, News, Nostalgic/Retro, Novelty

26 Dec

Meet the inventor of Jelly Belly jelly beans 0

Posted by Sue Gillerlain | Tags: , , , , , ,

Described as “the true blue Willy Wonka,” “eccentric,” an “oddball,” and a “savant,” David Klein, I recently found out, is all of these things, and more.

David Klein is the inventor of Jelly Belly jelly beans, and he’s got quite a story. Last week, I talked with David about his new documentary, Candyman: The David Klein Story, produced by his son and daughter-in-law. I’d been hoping to see this film, which chronicles David’s Jelly Belly journey, so I felt like I won a first prize when he offered to send me a copy.

So far, I’ve watched this feature-length film twice. It’s quirky and a little addicting. Ellia Kassoff, the owner of Astro Pops, LLC, says he’s watched it four times.

I am drawn to this film because David is a walking candy Wikipedia. If I were writing a historical piece on the industry, he’d be the first guy I’d call. Ask David a question about a candy brand and he’ll tell you when it was invented, the company that manufactured it, when the brand changed hands, and the people behind it all.

I am also drawn to this film because of David’s character. He is wacky (he writes all of his notes on paper plates) and would probably drive you nuts if he were your dad, but he’s got a heart of gold and an entrepreneurial spirit that trumps The Donald’s.

I’m no film critic, so I won’t go into details about the film (see the Candy Professor’s review), but I will share a few good takeaways I got from my call with the Candyman:

- From the beginning, David sold jelly beans as individual flavors. “If I only sold an assorted box, I’d only have one spot in the store. By forcing retailers to buy single flavors, I got much more shelf space.”

- David got the idea for intensely and realistically flavored jelly beans while watching “Happy Days.” He got the idea for the brand name, “Jelly Belly” while watching “Sanford and Son.”

- David’s all-time favorite candy is not jelly beans. It’s actually Junior Mints (and Queen Anne’s Caramellos, but they are extinct).

- David wishes the manufacturer of Junior Mints (Tootsie Roll Industries), would come out with a Junior Mint peppermint patty.

- David is working on a new line of jelly beans that he says will “revolutionize the jelly bean business.” If all goes to plan, the new beans will roll out before Easter 2011.

- The outlandish rhinestone cowboy outfit that David wore on “The Mike Douglas Show” set him back $4,760.

Candyman: The David Klein Story is now playing on The Documentary Channel, which is primarily available through satellite television services DISH Network (Channel 197) and DIRECTV (Channel 267).

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in Astro Pop, Business, Candy, Commercials/Videos, Jelly Beans, Jelly Belly Candy Company, Junior Mints, Nostalgic/Retro, Reviews, Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.

2 Sep

Call for Candy Casualties 0

Posted by Sue Gillerlain | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s audience participation day here at Candy.com.

We want to know, “What discontinued candy brands would you like to see revived?” (Think PB Max, Summit Bar, Hershey’s BarNone, etc.)

I personally want to see the Marathon Bar* make a comeback, and not as a protein bar.  You know, the long, braided caramel bar covered in chocolate from the 1970s that left a trail of chocolate crumbs when you ate it? (If you’re not 30-something yet, you missed a good mess.)

Win Free Candy!
Everyone who replies to this call for candy casualties on Facebook/CandyDotCom or the Candy.com blog will be entered into a drawing to win 30 full-sized classic candy bars, including Kit Kats, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate With Almonds. Yum!

From your feedback, I’ll occasionally channel Colombo and find out whatever happened to a particular candy and report my findings here. Stay tuned.

I wonder if Lt. Columbo ever ate a Marathon Bar?

*See CandyBlog’s I Miss: Marathon post for great historical information on the original Marathon Bar.

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in Brands/Companies, Candy, Caramel, Chocolate, Contests, Hershey Company, The, Kit Kat, Marathon Bar, Mars, Milk Chocolate, Nestle, Nostalgic/Retro, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

30 Aug

Unique Halloween Candies for 2010 Tricks and Treats 0

Posted by Sue Gillerlain | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I know it’s still August, but I already hung a fall wreath on my front door. I couldn’t help myself. My kids are back in school and I’m sniffing fall leaves from the front porch. I also just bought my daughter a pink wig for her Halloween costume, so I’ve got trick-or-treating on the brain before Target has its “Halloween Headquarters” candy aisles up and running.

Since I’m way ahead of myself (and mass retailers), I thought I’d take the opportunity to share some unique Halloween candies that you may not find locally … but you will find online.

Jack-O-Lantern Truffles If you want to go highbrow this Halloween, Lindt’s milk chocolate truffles wrapped in pumpkin-motif foils will get the attention of even the biggest Halloween candy snob.

Candy Corn Taffy Think outside of the box this Halloween by putting candy corn taffy in your candy dish instead of traditional candy corn. This might sound like fingernails on a chalkboard, but trust me, change is good. If you can’t bare the thought, try adding roasted peanuts to your candy corn. The sweet-and-salty mix is perfect for tailgating.

Pumpkin Pie Nougat Fluff How cute are these little nougats that taste like pumpkin pie? Make a colorful party favor by putting a handful of these pretty pumpkin chews at the bottom of a clear cello bag and top with a box of Dots Candy Corn.

Black Licorice Skulls Here is another Halloween bulk item that scores a 10 on the cuteness chart …

Pop Rocks Pumpkins Pop Rocks were as popular as Dum Dum Pops and Tootsie Rolls when I was a kid, but we never got them in our trick-or-treat bags. It was probably because there was an urban legend floating around that Pop Rocks exploded in your stomach if you washed them down with a soda. Now that time has proven that these candy rocks can safely be paired with a Diet Coke, they are the perfect giveaway for modern day trick-or-treaters.

Orange & Black Mint Twists If you’re gearing up for an October wedding, birthday party,  baby shower, or general Halloween bash, this minty, yet festive bulk item would look killer in a tall glass candy dish.

Halloween Licorice Pastels I am a Good & Plenty fan, so I felt it necessary to include these chewy orange, black, and yellow licorice tubes in my list of unique finds. Like the Orange & Black Mint Twists, Halloween Licorice Pastels would add zing to any candy buffet table or treat bag.

Halloween Early Birds! Save 5% on Candy.com’s Halloween Candy by using Coupon Code “early5.” Offer applies to both wholesale and retail orders. Hurry, this offer ends August 31.

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in Candy, Foiled, Gummy, Halloween, Hard, Licorice, Lindt & Sprungli, Inc., Marich Confections, Nostalgic/Retro, Nougat, Pop Rocks, Sour, Sweet's, Taffy, Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.