World's largest candy store' draws 450 vendors - the American Wholesale Marketers' Association - Food Merchandising

Discount Store News, March 7, 1994

Three miles of candy and snacks were on display in Orlando, Fla., at the American Wholesale Marketers' Association show last month, held in conjunction with the association's 35th National Winter Convention.

"This truly is the country's biggest candy store," said AWMA board chairman Jerry Mackoul, of Mackoul Distributors, Jacksonville, Fla. More than 450 candy and snack manufacturers exhibited at the show, seeking out the "Hot issues and cool solutions," of its theme. Noted Mackoul, "We have literally thousands of wholesale and retail buyers here, all looking for what's going to be hot on the market in the next six to twelve months."

Here's a roundup of some of the new product introductions.

Minute Maid: The makers of Minute Maid Premium Choice are using an aggressive campaign to build share, and will begin shipping Premium Choice in a new 64-oz. pure-lock plastic package.

Nestle: Nestle Chocolate and Confections, a division of Nestle Food Co., is unveiling the Universal Studio bars, their fourth moulded bar series, to hit stores in April.

Gatorade: The beverage maker's cool solution for summer heat is a new flavor, lemon ice. The drink was preferred over the company's lemonade flavor by almost 2 to 1. It will be on store shelves this month.

BerZerk Candy Works: Following the success of its Candy Caller, the Memphis, Tenn.-based company is debuting Candy Keyboard, a candy-filled music maker. Once again, the product teams candy--140 Smarties--with a fun toy container.

Gardettos: The snack maker has updated its Chips & Twists, to include new wheat chips, pasta twists, wheat cracker chips, bacon cracker chips and breadstick and pretzel twists. Bold packaging calls attention to the improved formulas.

Tropicana: The beverage vendor has added three flavors to its ready-to-drink fruit tea line: diet lemon, diet raspberry and lemon.

Elmer's: The New Orleans-based chocolate maker has introduced Christmas stocking versions of its small heart chocolate gift boxes.

Veryfine: The Westford, Mass., juice company has brought out Veryfine Chillers, a line of eight real brewed ice teas and lemonades, in flavors like peach kiwi iced tea, and tangerine lemonade.

Creative Confection Concepts: The Milwaukee company is debutting confections to capitalize on the May release of the Flintstones film: Flintstones Bowl-o-rama Jawbreakers in a reusable bowling bag, Flintstones Bubble Gum in neon colors and Pigasaurus Burrrps.