Candy choices explode at AWMA conference

Drug Store News, April 26, 1999 by Jennifer Kulpa

The previous issue of Drug Store News examined some of the face-twisting super sour new candy items that delighted youngsters at February's American Wholesale Marketers Association Annual Conference and Candy Expo. But the confectionery industry did more than pucker, with a slew of new products in the intense flavor, interactive, chocolate and seasonal segments:

Intense

The same desire for ever-stronger flavors that drives the sour segment is apparent in the continued popularity of intense mints, and the intense fruit flavors of Nabisco's new Life Savors Intense Fruit Chews, which are positioned as competition for Starburst. The company also joined the mint makers with Breath Savors Cool Blast powerful mints, available June 1.

Amurol Confections introduced Everest, which it called the first long-lasting power mint gum, in a 1.5-ounce tin that resembles Altoids packaging.

Spangler extended its Dum Dums brand with larger, more intensely-flavored Super Dum Dums; Double-Dipped swirled pops; and Astro Pops with caramel, red apple and green apple flavor stripes.

Interactive

CAP Candy introduced a slew of increasingly complex toy-candy hybrids including "Rugrats," "Tarzan" and "Toy Story 2" Spin Pops; a Rain stick filled with Tart n' Tiny Gum; Inspector Gadget Adventure Wrist Pop with a working compass and pop-up candy; Warheads Spin Pop with a face that puckers as the pop turns; Fire Pop cinnamon lollipop with water sprayer to cool the mouth, and several M&M licensed items: swirled color Swarmees, M&M race car, Crispy M&M Hide n' Hander, Mini Rigs, Talking M&M's characters and the Peanut M&M hander.

CAP also unveiled Sound Bites pops with 13 seconds of recording time that plays back when you bite the candy and can be programmed without opening the package to "give the gift of your voice;" and Pop Radio, which scans the FM dial. Both will be available in May, supported by an Atlantic Records tie-in and television advertising.

Chupa-Chups created the Fantasy ball lollipop, a clear ball candy with gum inside; and announced its Pink Panther license, which involves several bubble gum-flavored Chupa-Chups products such as Pop Rocks and Crazy Dip.

Nibble Me Books added several interactive books-with-candy, including "Where's My Pet Tarantula," and "Dave the Dino Tourist," packaged with Goelitz gummies.

Amurol used its Pez license for Petz pig-, dog-, penguin-and monkey-shaped gum dispensers; WCW Sour Slam gum; and Stampubbles, edible stamps kids lick in order to decorate gum sheets, which are included.

Lollipop Land, a division of Impact Confections, introduced Lollipop Paint Shop, a candy paint brush sour mouth-coloring powdered "paints."

Au'Some Candy's new novelties included Bug Goo, a plastic critter filled with sour liquid candy; Nuts & Bolts candy with play tools; and candy-filled yo-yos.

Pez heads flipped with the nine-character Star Wars line, and a new mint flavor.

L.E.G. Candy created Twist-a-Pops with lollipops that emerge from plastic flowers or sports balls when turned; Candy Crawlers, candy-packed fabric hugs that crawl with the pull of a string; Kickers, gum-filled sports balls; Blast-off pops, with launcher and two foam rockets; and candy-filled robots that walk. Fun Factory debuted with candy mimicking familiar frozen treats: Boom Pop, with sour blue raspberry, red apple and watermelon layers; and Twin Pop, a two-stick pop in grape, orange and cherry flavors. A sour Twin Pop and Orange CreamCicle will be added in June.

Topps introduced Bazooka Pops, bubble gum-filled lollipops with comics inside the wrapper; sour Bottle Pops; and Popzoids, clear ball candy that magnifies shapes on top of the plastic handle. Next month the company will also add Treasure Pops, 14 collectible toys inside a hinged case sealed with a candy ball.

Chocolate

Russell Stover, which already announced Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups, single-serve Pecan Delights and Whitman's Miniatures, introduced Whitman's Sea Shells, upscale shell-shaped swirled chocolates in 8.4-ounce, 2.8-ounce and 4-piece boxes shipping in May.

Nestle extended its Treasures line with a caramel-filled chocolate, and produced candies for this summer's Tarzan movie: a chocolate bar packaged with stickers; Sweetarts shaped like Tarzan characters; and Tarzan Treats, chocolate pieces with a Sweetart candy shell. The company's Willy Wonka division introduced the Wonka Chocolate Bar with graham cracker hits and the familiar golden wrapper.

Charms introduced Smorsels, marshmallow balls with graham cracker and chocolate coatings.

Tootsie Roll Industries introduced Caramel-a-Lot, a chocolate-covered whipped nougat and caramel bar.

R.M. Palmer unveiled its Halloween line: fudge-filled Stones n' Bones and Skulls; peanut butter-filled Jack-o-Lanterns; foil-wrapped Bats, Cats, Rats and Jacks; marsh-mallow-gummy Alien Eyes; and Trick or Treat Mix.

Seasonal

Just Born introduced strawberry-flavored Peep marshmallow hearts and 12-ounce Hot Tamales for Valentine's day; Marshmallow Ghosts for Halloween; and limited edition 16ounce holiday tins for Mike & Ike's and Hot Tamales.