All Candy Expo, Chicago, IL

I recently watched a show on the Foot Network about a candy convention. Although it would be so much fun to attend a candy convention, this one is not open to the public – you have to be a candy professional to get a glimpse of the sweet treats in store for this year. How unfair of them to tease us like that! It looked like Candy Land but in reality this is serious business. Host George Duran explored the latest and greatest in candy from chocolate to gummy bears, chili powder lollipops to extreme sour gum drops.

There were lots of delicious candies and confections previewed on the show and it featured the newest crazes in the world of candy. Here are some of my favorites:

Vero Candies or Dulces Vero

Dulces Vero makes a wide variety of products: lollipops, hard candies, marshmallows, gummies, soft candies (jellies, pulps and syrups), peanuts and snacks. Constantly innovating in different candy textures (soft, hard and powders), various candy fillings (liquid, soft and powder) and coatings (chocolate, chili, powders and sprinkles) and many times incorporating a couple of these into one product.

Featured on the show were lollipops and other candies made with chili powder and chocolate.

Color-A-Cookie

You start with a delicious cookie that contains an image or picture, along with food coloring markers and your traditional cookie now has quite a fun twist! Color-A-Cookie encourages creativity through activity. According to the website, you can find these at various retailers including, but limited to the following: Target, H-E-B, Party City, Bed Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus and Toy-R-Us.

PEZ

PEZ Candy and Dispensers feature the latest popular licensed characters, seasonal dispensers featuring traditional motifs and candy, and assorted fruit and sour candy. Also available are Fisherman’s Friend cough and cold lozenges in all natural Original Extra Strong, plus Sugar-Free Mint, Low Sugar Cherry, and Sugar-Free Apple/Cinnamon. Lozenges are also Kosher approved.

I didn’t even know that I wanted a PEZ dispenser until I saw how many cute ones there are! Just what I need – another collection!

Country Fresh Foods & Confections

Country Fresh manufacturers of over 90 flavors of both regular and sugar free fudge all with no trans fat. They are now offering our spirit brands in the fudge by the pound section. These brands are fully licensed and contain no alcohol. These brands include Jim Beam, Kahlua, Malibu Rum, Sauza Tequilla, Courvoisier Cognac, and Tia Maria. Available in bulk, retail sizes ranging from two ounce individual pieces to ten ounce gift boxes, and gift basket packages in five sizes and eight colors. Private label and custom formulation available.

The most interesting sounding fudge featured was Scorned Woman Jalapeno Fudge. Despite looking on the website for this flavor, I was unable to find it to learn more about it. Hopefully, I’ll find it somewhere because I want to order some and see what it tastes like.

The Kahl’ua Mudslide fudge made from fine Belgium chocolate and Dutch cocoa also sounded yummy. The Kahl'ua Mudslide fudge perks up your palate with its Kahl'ua coffee liquor flavoring but it contains no alcohol or trans fats.

Bubble Chocolate

Since their standout debut at the Candy Expo in Chicago, Bubble Chocolate bars are fast becoming the new taste sensation spanning both coasts. These delightfully tempting bars appeared on a Today Show segment in NYC in July, and are being prominently featured in celebrity gift bags across Los Angeles.

Most noteworthy, the bars were selected as the Sweet History Timeline’s 2006 benchmark in the premiere issue of Hallmark Magazine. Described as "an inventive new candy bar featuring tiny bubbles covered in chocolate," the confection's intriguing texture heightens flavor. Two taste sensations are created - once upon first bite, and then again, as the chocolate melts across your tongue.

These looked light, airy and totally delish!!

Custom Candy Concepts

Chocolography is a patented system that enables the reproduction of full-color pictures, images and personal messages directly onto the surface of chocolate and other confectionery items. Printed products are perfect for wedding favors, birthdays, anniversaries, holiday gifts, births, graduations, Bar Mitzvahs, fund raisers, corporate promotions, and many other events and occasions.

The show features edible chocolate lollipops with pictures printed on them using a special printer. How fun would that be at your next party!

GKI Foods – Home of Granola Kitchens

GKI is a manufacturer of panned and enrobed chocolates as well as granola and mixes. They specialize in private label and co-packing, offering milk chocolate, sugar free chocolate, yogurt and carob coated items. They offer items such as chocolate raisins and malted milk balls along with fancy chocolates such as toffees and truffles. They package in bulk, tubs and bags. They also produce baked products (granolas) along with a complete line of trail mix.

Chicago Importing Company

Chicago Importing Co. is an importer of fine foods and confectionery specialties. What struck my fancy by this company was the Fondue au Chocolate (France) that goes in the microwave. Yum!! It comes in stone tumblers and comes in a variety of chocolates.

Merci and Toffifay

Merci is a brand of German chocolates manufactured by the German company August Storck KG. The chocolates are manufactured as bars of differently flavored chocolate from Europe packaged in a white box. You can buy Merci chocolates at numerous retailers, including but not limited to, Kmart, Kroger, Safeway, Target, Walgreens and Walmart.

In 1973, Storck combined the four most popular confectionery ingredients in the world and the unique result was Toffifay. Toffifay is a chewy caramel cup filled with a crunchy hazelnut, smooth chocolaty filling and a drop of rich chocolate on top.

Inside Out Junior Mints

Tootsie Roll Industries acquired Junior Mints from the Warner-Lambert Company in 1993. The product was developed by James Welch and launched into the market in 1949. Welch named the candy specifically after his favorite Broadway stage performance, Junior Miss. Junior Mints with its chocolate covered, creamy mint, center, are a popular item in theaters and at home. Tootsie Roll Industries produces over 15 million Junior Mints a day.

There is a new, limited edition of Junior Mints: Junior Mints Inside Outs! A cool classic takes a dip in a smooth refreshing white topping! Enjoy dark mint centers dipped in a smooth white coating for a real Junior Mint "Inside Out" experience. The best of both worlds!

Sour candies

There were lots and lots of sour candies featured on the program. This is a fast growing trend in candy and there are a lot of companies and stores that sell the sour treats. One store that was featured for its sour candy was hi, Sweetie located in Chicago, IL

On the show, a spokesperson from the National Confectioners Association discussed fortified candy. Fortified candy is candy that offers something else other than the sheer pleasure of candy like the following: Kick Butt Candy (amped energy balls), Jolt Caffeine Energy Gum (chew more, do more) and Nutra-Trim Gum (allegedly helps curb your appetite).

There are lots of companies, sweets, confections, etc. that I didn’t mention so, for reference, please click on the link for a list of the exhibitors from the 2006 All Candy Expo.

The 2007 All Candy Expo is in September – who knows what the candy industry will come up with next!