Candy Industry

CandyRific LLC has announced the promotion of Frank Puglia to executive vice president, product development. Previously Puglia’s title was creative director. Puglia has worked with CandyRific for 18 years, ever since he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in fine arts with a concentration in graphic design from Long Island University, South Hampton, in 2004. It was then he worked for a design agency out of Long Island on CandyRific products.

Mars-owned Dove Chocolate is continuing its commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs and small businesses in the U.S. by launching its second year of Dove InstaGrants—a program that is designed to uplift, celebrate and empower women entrepreneurs with a chance to win one of three $10,000 grants.

The International Chocolate Salon (ICS) and TasteTV have announced the winners of their Best Caramels of 2022 awards, as well as the Best Chocolate Truffles Artistry. The International Chocolate Salon Awards for the 2022 Caramel Awards are based on the total combined number of votes received by each entrant from the judging panel. These competitions included a panel of talented and experienced judges tasting a variety of ingredient combinations, chocolate sources, and creativity.

The ProSweets Cologne 2023 - Special Edition is taking place from April 23–25, 2023, at the same time as the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair ISM at the Cologne fairgrounds. At the present moment, the number of applications from exhibitors is already twice as high as expected. Due to the high demand, the exhibition space is being expanded. The exhibition space was originally limited down to the Central Boulevard, located in the heart of ISM.

Massachusetts cannabis grower and retailer Insa has released a line of limited-edition products for the holiday season. The seasonal line will feature two varieties of chocolate bars and two flavors of drops at all Insa locations in Massachusetts. “Our mission this year was to infuse the flavors of the holiday season into each limited-edition product by using the highest quality ingredients,” said Julian Rose, head chef and director of R&D at Insa.

Massachusetts cannabis grower and retailer Insa has released a line of limited-edition products for the holiday season. The seasonal line will feature two varieties of chocolate bars and two flavors of drops at all Insa locations in Massachusetts. “Our mission this year was to infuse the flavors of the holiday season into each limited-edition product by using the highest quality ingredients,” said Julian Rose, head chef and director of R&D at Insa.

Next year, interpack will once again offer the packaging and related process industry the largest international market overview. To ensure that visitors do not get lost in the 18 exhibition halls, interpack 2023 will feature an ideal hall concept based on the core target groups: food, beverage, confectionery and baked goods, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, non-food, and industrial goods.

On December 4, fans across the country tuned in to watch the holiday season’s multi-generational celeb duo kick off Brach's first-ever tradition exchange, “Brach's Sweetness Swap," on Instagram Live, recreating one another’s favorite activities to make moments sweeter during the holidays using Brach's Candy Canes. Multi-platinum and diamond-selling GRAMMY award-winning artist and dad of three, Macklemore, got festive in the kitchen trying out Babs’ go-to Candy Cane Bark and Hot Cocoa recipe.

This Christmas, Purdys Chocolatier voyaged deep into the Arctic Circle, where the North Pole lies, to source one ingredient: polar sea salt, which is sprinkled on Purdys’ new, limited-edition North Pole Salted Caramels. The chocolates are crafted from Purdys original 1907 caramel recipe and garnished with flaked polar sea salt. Purdys worked with BC-based Vancouver Island Sea Salt to create a custom batch of polar sea salt to top its new North Pole Salted Caramels.

Williams Sonoma has announced its annual celebration of National Peppermint Bark Day. The Williams Sonoma nostalgic Peppermint Bark candy, launched 24 years ago, is the original recipe that sparked the popular holiday confection becoming a staple of the holiday season. The once-a-year favorite is crafted in small batches with a custom blend of Guittard chocolate and triple-distilled peppermint oil, with no added artificial flavors or colors.