Nassau Candy Brings Stix Back as Clever Candy Straws
Nassau Candy, leading manufacturer of specialty and private label confections, announced at the 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo (Booth #11948) its mission to bring back candy stix in a big way with the launch of its Clever Candy Straws.
Clever Candy Straws are a refreshing take on a candy icon: candy powder stix. While the candy powder might look the same, the flavor in Clever Candy Straws is more intense offering an entirely new experience.
“Newstalgia, new takes on a candy classic, is such a popular trend in the confectionery space right now, we wanted to develop a product that brought new attention to a longtime candy favorite for a new generation,” said Andrew Reitman, executive vice president, national brand confections for Nassau Candy. “Our new Clever Candy Straws line offers all the fun customers remember from classic candy stix like Pixie Stix, but with even more intense flavors to tickle their taste buds.”
Originally, Clever Candy Straws will be available in two versions. A 2.7-ounce peg bag full of single straws as well as a 15-inch giant straw. The Clever Candy Straws Peg Bag will feature popular flavors tropical punch, cherry, grape, and orange. Giant straws will come in over-the-top flavors cherry, blue raspberry, strawberry, and green apple.
Keeping with the look and feel of the Clever Candy brand, each straw’s packaging features brilliant graphics, including the brand’s signature splats in vivid colors and a joke. This allows Clever Candy Straws peg bags to be merchandised in line with other Clever Candy packaged offerings.
Clever Candy Giant Straws will come in their own standup box, creating an instant merchandising display that can be placed anywhere.
A bulk option will soon be available, with talks of new flavors and packaging options being introduced.
The Peg Bag and Giant Straws will be shipping later this year.
Nassau Candy is a wholesale manufacturer, importer, and distributor of confectionery and gourmet food products. Along with distribution of thousands of sweets and snacks to retailers across the country, the company also specializes in manufacturing and importing private label confectionery, and manufactures, develops, and merchandises customized souvenir, food, apparel, and promotional products.
From its six strategically located distribution centers in New York, Florida, Michigan, Texas and California (San Francisco and Los Angeles), and two manufacturing facilities, the company manufactures and distributes more than 10,000 products to thousands of customers ranging from the largest retailers in North America, to thousands of independent confectionery stores, corporate, foodservice, grocery and alternative market customers.
Clever Candy, a brand of Nassau Candy, is the source of playful and whimsical packaged and bulk confections that “make your sweet tooth smile.” From gummies, to licorice, to dextrose, to chocolate, to seasonal creations, Clever Candy looks to spark imagination and happiness in every bite.
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Barry Callebaut Showcases Innovations at Sweets & Snacks
Barry Callebaut announced its continued commitment to providing innovations for food manufacturers aligned to the company’s Future of Indulgence report that was debuted at last year’s Sweets & Snacks show. Barry Callebaut will showcase two recent innovations this year: Ruby Chip and the first taste of the 2nd Generation of Chocolate.
Consumers’ changing attitudes to life are affecting the way they indulge. Barry Callebaut revealed this at last year’s show with its The Future of Indulgence report, which included the discovery of three different types of indulgences that consumers shift between and pursue: mindful, healthy and intense. The Intense Indulgence attitude, Barry Callebaut’s focus at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo, is about enjoying life to the fullest, turning the moment into something special and looking for intense experiences.
The Ruby Chocolate Chip
Barry Callebaut’s dedication to providing consumers with innovations that satisfy the Intense Indulgence mindset is shown through the debut of the Ruby Chip. Following ruby chocolate’s 2017 debut as one of the biggest breakthroughs in the confectionery industry in decades, Barry Callebaut’s continuous expansion and innovation with ruby chocolate underscores its commitment to the premium and flavor-forward product range, including solutions for confections, ice cream and now baking and snacks. “We are excited to bring ruby chocolate into a new segment and category for our customers,” said Steve Woolley, president & CEO Americas. “The Ruby Chip offers a new flavor and taste experience for the snack and baking manufacturer.”
The 2nd Generation of Chocolate
Additionally, Barry Callebaut will be showcasing a first look at its upcoming innovation, the 2nd Generation of Chocolate, which was announced last fall. It is a redesigned approach to traditional chocolate production. Through the careful selection of beans, precise fermentation and roasting, the Second Generation offers a range of chocolates with low bitterness, allowing for the ingredient deck to list cocoa as the first ingredient and sugar as the last. This new product design achieves a 50% sugar reduction versus the most consumed chocolates on the market. The 2nd Generation of Chocolate honors the Mindful Indulgence pillar of consumer attitudes – an attitude that will be highlighted in coming months.
“The emergence of Intense Indulgence is apparent in consumers’ desire to indulge more, find more excitement in life, and turn little moments into something special,” said Laura Bergan, Barry Callebaut’s director of marketing, BC Brand. “We’ve been intently focused on providing solutions and innovations, like the ruby chip to satisfy this evolving consumer attitude.” Show attendees are invited to join the educational session, “Barry Callebaut’s Playbook to Win in the Indulgence Space,” which will occur at 12 pm CDT on Tuesday, May 23 on the Innovation Stage in Skyline Hall.
The 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo (May 22-25) at 2301 S King Dr, Chicago. Attendees are invited to stop by to learn more about Barry Callebaut at Booth #11956 in the West Hall. For more information about Barry Callebaut, please visit https://www.barry-callebaut.com/en-US.
About Barry Callebaut Group
The Zurich-based Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products – from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing the finest chocolates, including chocolate fillings, decorations, and compounds. The Barry Callebaut Group serves the entire food industry, from industrial food manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate, such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants, or caterers. The Group runs more than 60 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 12,000 people. The Barry Callebaut Group is committed to make sustainable chocolate the norm by 2025 to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods. It supports the Cocoa Horizons Foundation in its goal to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future.
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Pillsbury, Miami Chef Create Doughboy’s Simply Sweet Brunch Bouquets
This Mother’s Day, Pillsbury wants families to skip the long waits at restaurants and give mom what she really wants — a bouquet of her favorite brunch bites courtesy of the Doughboy. Pillsbury is making this Mother’s Day special, easy and sweet by releasing edible Brunch Bouquets featuring its iconic Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, Biscuits and Crescent Rolls, arranged in a beautiful and visually stunning display that mimics a traditional floral bouquet.
Each Pillsbury Brunch Bouquet is made entirely of beloved Pillsbury brunch bites created in partnership with Miami-based chef Amaris Jones, owner of Chick’N Jones. The limited-edition bouquets will be available for purchase and delivery in Miami while supplies last. Anyone outside Miami who still wants to impress mom can follow easy instructions to recreate a Brunch Bouquet at home this Mother’s Day!
Pillsbury Brunch Bouquets are available in two options, perfect for indulging mom this Mother’s Day:
The Doughboy’s Simply Sweet Brunch Bouquet: This sweet bouquet was crafted for the sweetest moms and features Pillsbury’s most-loved baked goods — each bursting with flavors like cinnamon sugar and fresh fruit preserves.
Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Roses with icing
Pillsbury Grands! Buttermilk Biscuits Blossoms covered in cinnamon sugar with a peach cobbler center
Pillsbury Crescent Roll Twists with strawberry preserves and cinnamon sugar
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls filled with guava and cream cheese
Fresh Strawberries
The Doughboy’s Chocolate Dipped Delights Brunch Bouquet: The perfect chocolate-filled assortment that’s sure to satisfy mom’s sweet tooth! This arrangement features Pillsbury products you know and love, transformed into delicious baked treats — all dipped and decorated in milk and white chocolate.
Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Pops coated in white chocolate and sprinkles
Pillsbury Grands! Buttermilk Biscuit Doughnut Holes with coconut pineapple cream filling
Pillsbury Crescent Roll Pinwheels with bright pink chocolate ganache
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
These fresh baked bouquets smell just as good as flowers — and taste a whole lot better — but you need to act quickly because these won’t last long. Pillsbury Brunch Bouquets are available while supplies last for pre-order from Chick’N Jones via DoorDash starting May 10 for $20 each (not including applicable taxes or fees). The Miami delivery and pick-up orders will be fulfilled on Mother’s Day, May 14, from 12-8 p.m. EDT.
“Pillsbury and the Doughboy are synonymous with baking up family memories, so creating limited-edition Brunch Bouquets for Mother’s Day felt like the perfect way to celebrate mom, and all the beloved mother-figures in our lives, with the most delicious bouquet they’ll ever receive,” says Tiffany Seelen, senior manager, brand experience, Pillsbury.
You can replicate The Doughboy’s Simply Sweet Brunch Bouquet at home with easy DIY instructions from Jones available at Pillsbury.com/BrunchBouquet. With the DIY guide, brand fans can easily bake up their own Mother’s Day masterpiece bouquet in their kitchen using simple Pillsbury recipes and products. Even if you don’t make the full bouquet, these individual recipes, like the Cinnamon Roll Roses, are a great Mother’s Day treat!
For more information on Pillsbury products, recipes, and updates from the Doughboy, please visit Pillsbury.com and follow @Pillsbury on Instagram and Facebook.
General Millsis guided by its Accelerate strategy to drive shareholder value by boldly building its brands, relentlessly innovating, unleashing its scale and standing for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, General Mills generated fiscal 2022 net sales of $19 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled $1.1 billion.
Chef Jones spent her life honing the perfect iteration of the modern soul food concept. Between her talents of fusing family recipes, her ability to throw a party, and always being the consummate hostess, you can find the chef curating guest chef dinners and catering events throughout South Florida and around the globe. In 2021, Chef Jones opened Chick’N Jones, a fast casual chef driven concept located inside Time Out Market Miami. She was also recently appointed Chef at Large by Marcus Samuelsson for Red Rooster Overtown. Throughout her career, she has landed catering gigs with the NFL, NBA, American Express, Chase Bank, Pérez Art Museum Miami, and Art Basel. Her cuisine has been featured in media outlets such as BET, CBS, Complex Media, First We Feast, Fuse Network, GQ Magazine, HuffPost, Miami Magazine, Miami Herald, W Magazine and many more.
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