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SWEETS & TREATS SHOW EXTRA GOURMET NEWS n MAY 2017 n www.gourmetnews.com S T 3 9 & Sugar and Cookies & Cream have gained placement in retailers such as Wegmans and Whole Foods, and continue to gain distribu- tion across the country. The Original Cannoli Chips are sold in 5.1- ounce bags, and the chips contain no artificial ingredients, no trans fats, no preservatives and are nut-free. The product is being sold as a retail snack in supermarkets, delis and in specialty departments coast to coast. Golden Cannoli intends to launch a larger club pack, as well as a smaller convenience pack, in early 2018, as well as seasonal flavors. Golden Cannoli Shells Company, Inc. has been in business since 1970, and has been recognized for impeccable customer service, commitment to quality and on-time deliver- ies. Now, second-generation family owned, the company continues the legacy while breaking into this new category. Visit Golden Cannoli at booth #7041. For more information, email info@golden cannoli.com, call 617.868.2826 or go to www.originalcannolichips.com or www.goldencannoli.com. Golden Cannoli (Cont'd. from p. 1) MS: Abdallah Candies, located in Apple Valley, Minnesota, is a fourth generation, family-owned candy manufacturer. We spe- cialize in creating the finest sweets, and providing a quality confection like no other. We utilize quality ingredients and ex- pert confectioners. We are known for our delicious caramels and toffees, our truffles and creams and our line of sugar free can- dies. GN: What is your goal here at the show? MS: Our goal at every show is to introduce our delicious products to potential cus- tomers, as well as to expand our product va- riety to our existing customers. We offer the opportunity for customers to purchase in small quantities or in truckloads. We have a diverse selection of products for many retail- ers. GN: Who are your target customers? MS: We have always targeted the 'specialty' independent retailers. However, with our company expansion in 2016, and our in- creased manufacturing, we now have the ca- pabilities to serve larger customers with high-end needs. GN: How is Abdallah able to help its retail- ers? MS: We provide quality confections with superior taste, shipped in a timely man- ner – all of which help our retailers have continued success. We take great pride in the freshness and taste of our products. Abdallah's delicious product lines and timely shipping offer our customers a wide variety of items available in small quantities. The concept of freshness is at the forefront of what we do. Our products taste amazing because they are crafted from quality ingredients and sold in small minimums so that the product is al- ways fresh. GN: Are you launching any new products at the show? MS: We are expanding our line of twist- wrapped caramels by adding three additional flavors, each with its own incredible taste. Sea salt, butter almond toffee and coconut in- clusions will make our already delicious twist-wrapped butter caramels even more popular. For more information, visit booth #983 and SFFS booth #2453, go to www.abdallah candies.com or call 800.348.7325. Abdallah Candies (Cont'd. from p. 1) making these and other products at its Texas- based facilities using simple ingredients and heritage recipes since its founding 85 years ago. "Today, we're applying this expertise in craft confections to Caramels by Atkinson, our new line of handcrafted caramels made from simple ingredients," says Eric Atkin- son, President. Available for the fall and holiday seasons, Caramels by Atkinson can be enjoyed in five perennially popular varieties: Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Spice, Vanilla, Gingerbread and Chocolate Peppermint – the perfect fla- vor companions for falling leaves and chill- ing winds. "Our new caramels are a byproduct of many impassioned work sessions. Each recipe was carefully worked and re-worked to achieve an unbeatable balance of flavor, chewiness and a smooth caramely good- ness," says Atkinson. The Caramel Apple (a staff favorite) cap- tures the tart crispness of a green apple freshly dipped in hot caramel. Pumpkin Spice is warm and cozy, just like your fa- vorite latte. Vanilla is a classic for all sea- sons. Gingerbread is reminiscent of holiday cookies, and Chocolate Peppermint has a rich chocolate flavor with actual crushed Mint Twist Peppermint pieces for a minty bite! As a family-owned company focused on the highest quality confections, Atkinson Candy believes that the best candy is still candy that's made with real ingredients by real people for all people. Caramels by Atkinson are a testament to that belief. Atkinson Candy Company has an 85- year history of handcrafting some of the most classic candies still on the market. According to Atkinson, "That's the unique thing about our business; we're a true hy- brid of tradition and innovation. While we stay true to our traditional roots, we're still looking for ways to make sensible updates to our brands and recipes that entice younger consumers to come along on the journey with us." "With a nearly 40,000 square foot fac- tory expansion close to completion, there are a lot of new things happening at Atkin- son Candy. We're leaning in to our future and preparing for the next 85 years," says Atkinson. Visit Atkinson Candy Company at booth #1823. Atkinson (Cont'd. from p. 1) CD: Loacker, founded in 1925, is an Italian confectioner known for our wafer cookies. Our mission is to make people happy with our pure and wholesome natural goodness, everywhere in the world. GN: Tell our readers a bit more. Where's it located? What makes it unique? CD: We were founded in Bolzano, Italy. Our headquarters is in Unterinn, Italy, and we have an additional production facility in He- infels, Austria. We're located in the beautiful South Tyrol region, the heart of the Alps. Not many other confectioners can boast that. We're also Italy's No. 1 wafer cookie, which definitely makes us unique. GN: Any new product launches this year? What makes those products stand out? CD: This year we're launching our new 55g Chocolate Bars in both Classic (solid with wafer) and Specialty (crème filled with wafer). This packet sized format features the signature crispy Loacker wafer that consumers have grown to love, housed inside of delicate white, smooth milk or rich dark chocolate. Our crème filled options include Milk Creme, Cremkakao Crème (milk chocolate), Dark Chocolate Crème, White Chocolate Crème, Hazelnut Crème and our brand new Raspberry Yogurt Crème. We also offer the 55g Chocolate bar in a 216-count floor display. GN: How has Loacker achieved success for 92 years running? CD: Loacker has remained true to the tradi- tion and values of our founder, Alfons Loacker, since 1925. We are uncompromising in ingredient selection and production tech- nologies, we respect the pristine environment which surrounds our facilities and we treat not only our employees, but also our customers and consumers as if they are also a member of the Loacker family – with respect and care. GN: The last 92 years considered, what's the future look like? What's next? CD: Expansive growth in the United States. On the trade side, we're bracing ourselves for broader distribution and deeper penetration within our target chan- nels. On the consumer side, using unique and creative touch points to allow individ- uals to connect and experience our brand on a personal level to develop preference, and ultimately, loyalty. GN: Looking ahead, what's the greatest challenge for Loacker and the team? CD: Ensuring that our domestic organiza- tion/operations scales in unison with our dis- tribution growth. Visit Loacker at booth #277. For more informa- tion, call 212.742.8510, email marketing@ loackerusa.com or go to www.loackerusa.com. Loacker (Cont'd. from p. 1) chocolate fountain, but today produces hun- dreds of easy-to-use chocolate inspired ap- pliances, dessert decorations and specially formulated melting candy and dipping chocolates. With great packaging, Choco- Maker is a fresh alternative for baking and party sections, and each product is devel- oped to make everyday entertaining effort- less, yet exciting. Using consumer focus groups along with its Buffalo-based innovation lab allows the busy ChocoMaker product team, made up of pastry chefs and product engineers, to ex- plore the many ways in which people can work and celebrate with chocolate. Meanwhile, a trained sensory evaluation team ensures that every product tastes great and meets high quality standards. Many of the top selling ChocoMaker items are pro- duced in the Buffalo-based manufacturing facility, which makes everything from spe- cialty chocolate wafers to chocolate dessert cups using Belgian 64 percent cocoa content couverture. This year, the company is launching ChocoMaker Natural. The products are produced using only natural chocolate in- gredients. Beginning with the finest co- coas, ChocoMaker Natural is formulated with real vanilla and pure cane sugars. The baking line features easy-to-use ChocoBlock, 1-pound bars sourced from the birthplace of cacao, a fertile growing region in South America that produces among the finest cocoa beans in the world. ChocoBlock, along with great gourmet chocolate decorations and ready-to-use chocolate cups, are designed to help dessert makers become artisans. Through consumer research, the Choco- Maker team discovered that there is a mod- ern customer who demands the ability to work with chocolate at home but who wants to step up from common candy blocks and melts. This consumer is willing to pay for a clean label and responds to modern packag- ing making their pantry feel like an artisan gourmet market. "ChocoMaker products offer our con- sumers a unique opportunity to work with chocolate and coatings in their own kitchens. Now we help them celebrate with great tast- ing and performing natural products," says Brian Donaghy, Chocolate Program and In- novation Manager. Donaghy, a 10-year vet- eran with the company, has also worked with sister companies Make'n Mold ® and Tomric Systems. ChocoMaker products are on display at the Sweets & Snacks Expo and available in grocery stores, party and craft stores, and select national and international retail- ers. Visit ChocoMaker at booth #1464. For more information, go to www.chocomaker.com. ChocoMaker (Cont'd. from p. 1)