Corporate Profiles - 2021 - 46

INDUSTRY REVIEW: CONFECTIONERY
the transaction were not disclosed. Glen Walter, executive vice president and
president of Mondelez International North America, said the deal " provides further
growth opportunities in chocolate. "
American Licorice Co., maker of the Red Vines and Sour Punch brands,
acquired Torie & Howard, which offers a range of vegan candies made with
organic ingredients.
Undercover Snacks, which produces crispy quinoa clusters lightly coated in
chocolate, raised $13.7 million of equity for a minority stake in the company
led by Octagon Capital Holdings, 900 Chocolate Investors and the company's
founders. The company planned to use the funds for marketing, retail expansion
and increased production capacity.
NEW PRODUCT TRENDS
Meanwhile, category innovation coming to market during the year centered
on reducing calories and sugar or eliminating ingredients viewed unfavorably.
Russell Stover Chocolates launched Joy Bites, a collection of no-sugar-added
chocolate bars. Crafted with fair trade cocoa and sweetened with stevia extract,
the chocolate bars are made without artificial flavors, preservatives or added
LEADING
sugarless gum vendors
1 William Wrigley Jr. Co.
2 The Hershey Co.
3 Mondelez International, Inc.
4 Perfetti Van Melle
5 Ferrero USA, Inc.
6 The Pur Co., Inc.
7 Project 7, Inc.
8 The Topps Co., Inc.
9 Starbucks Coffee Co.
10 Strauss
Total
LEADING
sugarless gum brands
1 Wrigley's Extra
2 Ice Breakers Ice Cubes
3 Trident
4 Orbit
5 Mentos Pure Fresh
6 Wrigley's 5 Cobalt
7 Wrigley's Eclipse
8 Wrigley's 5 Rain
9 Wrigley's Extra Refreshers
10 Mentos
Total
% change
from
Dollar sales
$328,711,512
$237,874,946
$165,354,229
$130,101,114
$125,953,104
$53,430,348
$50,161,117
$41,208,941
$37,302,009
$29,221,775
$1,389,344,346
year ago
-15.3%
3.2%
-16.7%
-25.0%
-8.4%
-21.4%
-31.0%
-24.9%
9.7%
-2.7%
-15.3%
Data for 52 weeks ended July 11, 2021
Total US - Multi-outlet with C-Store (Supermarkets, Drugstores and Mass Market Retailers,
Gas/C-Stores, Military Commissaries and Select Club & Dollar Retail Chains)
Source: IRI
% change
from
Dollar sales
$735,968,927
$237,879,529
$237,382,142
$170,311,676
$2,379,541
$2,296,703
$1,544,836
$352,614
$321,772
$287,711
$1,389,344,346
year ago
-18.8%
3.2%
-19.8%
-8.1%
-83.1%
-3.0%
-63.4%
-25.5%
-17.9%
5.7%
-15.3%
colors. They feature breakable bites and are available in five filled and solid
varieties, including caramel in chocolate, peanut butter in chocolate, smooth
creamy chocolate, sea salt caramel in dark chocolate, and roasted almonds in
dark chocolate.
Perfetti Van Melle North America introduced Fruit-tella, a line of better-foryou
soft gummies made with fruit puree. The company positioned the line as
clean label, noting that the products are not formulated with high-fructose corn
syrup or gelatin.
Nestle launched a vegan version of its KitKat bar in test markets throughout
Europe. KitKat V was developed by chocolate experts at Nestle's confectionery
research and development center in York, UK. The certified vegan product took
about two years to develop.
" There is a quiet food revolution underway that is changing how people
eat, " said Alexander von Maillot, head of confectionery at Nestle. " We want to
be at the forefront of that, championing the discovery of plant-based food and
beverages. What better way to do that than offering a vegan version of one of
our most famous and much-loved brands? "
SkinnyDipped, a maker of coated almonds, peanuts and cashews, debuted
chocolate bars and peanut butter cups featuring a blend of maple sugar,
cane sugar and allulose. The confections contain up to 79% less sugar than
leading brands and are made without stevia or sugar alcohols, according to
the company.
The team behind Halo Top ice cream unveiled Gatsby, a chocolate brand
with fewer calories and less sugar than traditional chocolate. Available in milk
chocolate and almond dark chocolate varieties, Gatsby products are formulated
with allulose and esterified propoxylated glycerol, a modified plant-based oil
that tastes and functions like fat with fewer calories. Other ingredients include
medium-chain triglycerides, milk, sugar and cocoa.
FLAVOR INNOVATION
More than 450 exhibitors showcased innovation at the 2021 Sweets &
Snacks Expo, which was held June 23-25 in Indianapolis. The National Confectioners
Association identified four trends at the show.
Smaller pack sizes containing 200 calories or fewer were prevalent, pointing
to consumer demand for smaller portion sizes for more mindful snacking.
Tropical flavors flourished in new product launches, with pineapple and coconut
taking center stage.
Mix-and-match offerings give consumers the best of both worlds, allowing a
combination of sweet, salty, fruity or tart flavor profiles.
Fiery flavors like chili, sriracha, jalapeño and habanero heated up the show
floor, showing up in spicy mango candies, jelly beans and more.
" The Sweets & Snacks Expo is where the top candy and snack companies
showcase their newest products, and this year is even more important
as we get back to business, " said John Downs, president and chief
executive officer of the National Confectioners Association. " While consumer
purchasing habits may have shifted to meet the new environment,
manufacturers are exceeding expectations with new products, flavors and
innovations. " CP
46 \ October 2021
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Corporate Profiles - 2021

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