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GOURMET NEWS MAY 2014 www.gourmetnews.com CONFECTIONS 1 6 BY ZACH CALVELLO Dessert pizzas are quickly gaining atten- tion in the world of gourmet foods. Virginia Feitner, a Managing Partner of Sensational Sweets, says, "Since we intro- duced our dessert pizzas at the Fancy Food Show, they have been a huge success. Demand just keeps growing and growing." Recipes for dessert pizzas with toppings ranging from fresh fruit to chocolate chips are showing up on websites such as foodnetwork.com and bettycrocker.com. Some even have crusts made from a vari- ety of different products, including tradi- tional pizza dough and popcorn. Sensational Sweets has been a con- tributor in the category of dessert pizzas uniqueness that attracts so many people," she says, "Once retailers taste it and real- ize how great it actually is, they become quick to change their minds." Dessert pizzas are becoming even more of a consumer favorite, as demand grows for gluten-free options. Many manufacturers are creating crusts for their lines that are entirely gluten-free. Sensational Sweets is one of these, of- fering an entire line of gluten-free dessert pizzas, a step Feitner felt was only natu- ral. "There is such a high demand for gluten-free products, and many of our other lines already had gluten-free alter- natives, so it just seemed fitting." GN for almost three years and offers an ex- tensive line, including Original, Oreo, Decorated and Combo. The Original Pizza has a popcorn lace crust topped with pretzels and white chocolate. Aside from being amusing and healthy, dessert pizzas offer a quick and easy way to enjoy a gourmet sweet. They simply re- quire the unwrapping— or, in the case of Sensational Sweets, the unboxing—of the product, and they are ready to enjoy. Sensational Sweets' line of dessert piz- zas has caught the attention of consumers since its creation. Feitner attributes this to the entertainment factor these treats pro- vide. "Our dessert pizzas not only taste good, but they are fun and make great gifts." The long shelf lives and large array of choices in Sensational Sweets' product line have caught the interest of retail- ers looking for gift options, and, according to Feitner, many gift and tourist shops now offer them. Sensational Sweets recently added a line of mini dessert pizzas, avail- able in a 6-inch size rather than the com- pany's traditional 10-inch size. The mini dessert pizzas are appealing to children of all ages. Further sweetening the surprise inside, Sensational Sweets packages its dessert pizzas in decorative boxes that mimic ac- tual pizza boxes. "The boxes are just won- derful because it makes the experience more engaging," Feitner says. "Yes, it's humorous and silly, but that is how candy should be." Feitner admits that occasionally retailers are skeptical about such an uncommon product as pizza for dessert. "It's the Torie & Howard Introduces New Halloween Packaging Torie & Howard recently introduced a new 10-ounce Halloween-themed package of its USDA organic, non-GMO, kosher cer- tified hard candy as a healthier option for trick-or-treaters. The new package in- cludes an assortment of four flavors and features a colorful header with a head- stone and a scary spider keeping com- pany with Torie & Howard's usual nature-themed packaging motifs of bees, hummingbirds and dragonflies. The candy assortment is individually wrapped and packaged in a 10-ounce lie-flat bag with a suggested retail price of $7.99 to $8.99. The new Halloween-themed packages of organic hard candy feature four flavors, i n c l u d - ing Cal- i f o r n i a p o m e - granate and sweet freestone nectarine, Italian Tarocco blood orange & wildflower honey, D'Anjou pear & Ceylon cinnamon and pink grapefruit & tupelo honey. Torie & Howard candy contains no preservatives, artificial dyes, casein, soy or gluten. In addition to the Halloween pack- aging, the candy is also available in 2-ounce recyclable steel tins, as well as in a handbag gift package. More information is available by calling 888.826.9554 or vis- iting www.torieandhoward.com. TruJoy Sweets Introduces First Chocolate Treat TruSweets, owner of leading organic and natural candy brands Surf Sweets and TruJoy Sweets, recently introduced a new tasty chocolate candy treat. Unlike many conventional compa- nies that make candies with the use of artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners, TruSweets makes deli- cious tasting treats using all-natural, pure ingredients. New TruJoy Sweets Organic Choco Chews are bite-sized choco- late-infused candies, the perfect bal- ance of chocolate and chew. TruJoy Sweets candy is certified USDA or- ganic, as well as verified by the Non GMO Project. The confections are also gluten-free, kosher and vegan. "With non-chocolate candy sales show- ing double digit growth in the natural food channel, we know con- sumers are anxious to find better-for-you sweet treats," said Bert Cohen, President and Founder of TruSweets. It is the com- pany's belief that naturally sweetened, organic candy can taste even bet- ter than the chemical- laden originals. For more information on TruSweets products, in- cluding the new TruJoy Sweets Organic Choco Chews, visit www.trujoysweets.com. Dessert Pizzas on the Rise Among Sweets Loving Snackers The Lovely Candy Company Treats Gluten-Free Eaters to a Sweet Surprise The Lovely Candy Company recently launched its first line of premium, certified gluten-free candies, including licorice, caramels and fruit chews. The company was founded in 2013 in Chicago by entre- preneur Mike Nakamura and his wife Jackie. Its products are already available at several national retailers, including Tar- get, Hallmark and HomeGoods. "We started this company to make life more lovely for people like my wife who want delicious candies that also happen to be gluten- and GMO-free, as well as certified kosher," said Nakamura. "We are committed to using the highest quality ingredients to create a … candy that everyone can enjoy, not just those with dietary restrictions." The Lovely Candy Company's product line is free of artificial flavors and colors and contains no high fructose corn syrup or soy. The caramels, which contain dairy, are rBST-free, and the fruit chews are vegan. For more information, go to www.lovelycandyco.com or connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ TheLovelyCandyCompany. Hammond's Brings a Favorite Childhood Treat, Cotton Candy, to Retail Stores All of the fluff without the circus! Ham- mond's Candies recently launched a line of fun and delicious Cotton Candy. Hand-spun in Colorado in small batches and made with the finest sugar, this treat is a great addition to the Hammond's Candies product line. Cases of Hammond's Cotton Candy contain 12 3-ounce bags in a festive, display-ready box. Retailers are urged to keep an eye out for holiday-themed flavors and packaging in the future. Founded in 1920, Hammond's is one of the nation's premier, classic candy brands, renowned for its stunning, hand-pulled candy canes and lollipops. Its diverse line of delicious milk and dark chocolate bars was launched in 2012 and carries on the Hammond's tradition of respect for candy's very special appeal. For more information, visit www.hammondscandies.com, or call 888.CANDY.99. Visit the company's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ hammondscandies.

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