Tootsie's earnings roll is over; As candymaker's sweet winning streak ends, Wall St. wonders whether it's a fluke or trend.(Tootsie Roll Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Crain's Chicago Business, November, 2001 by Gallun, Alby

Tootsie Roll Industries Inc.'s extraordinary growth streak is nearing its end. Posting profit gains for 19 years and sales increases for 24, the Chicago-based candymaker has earned a reputation as a paragon of predictability, cultivating a loyal following of investors seeking slow but steady growth.

Yet unless Tootsie can pull off a miraculous fourth-quarter recovery, it's on track to report its first annual earnings drop since Ronald Reagan was president and Kool and the Gang's ``Celebration'' was a hit single. The maker of Tootsie Rolls, Dots and Junior Mints has had a tough year amid a slumping economy, increased competition and rising costs, especially for energy and shipping. Net income for the first nine months of the year fell to $53.3 million, or...

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