It's that time of year again. Birds are chirping, trees are budding, and bulbs are flowering. Small children are excited about spring break, egg hunts, and dec...
It’s that time of year again. Birds are chirping, trees are budding, and bulbs are flowering.
Small children are excited about spring break, egg hunts, and decorated Easter baskets.
And Big Candy is busy complaining on Capitol Hill even though they are selling more product than ever – more than $2.2 billion worth of candy this Easter alone.
If you are a Hill staffer or reporter who has had an otherwise peaceful week interrupted by never-ending complaints from candy lobbyists about U.S. sugar policy, consider some of the recent good news they aren’t sharing with you.
“The Ferrara Candy Co. is expanding two plants in the Chicago area. The plants are located in Bellwood and Bolingbrook, Ill.”
Food Business News**
3-30-15**
“Nearly 90 percent of shoppers in a National Retail Federation survey said they will buy candy, spending more than $2.2 billion [this Easter].”
Baltimore Sun**
3-23-15**
“Clif Bar & Co. broke ground Thursday, March 12, for the Clif Bar Baking Co. in Twin Falls, Idaho… The new $90 million, 270,000-square-foot bakery will help the company meet growing demand worldwide and bring more than 200 jobs when it opens in the spring of 2016, company officials said.”
Capital Press**
3-13-15**
“Kansas City-based Russell Stover Inc. fetched a sweet price — about $1.6 billion — when the company’s sale to a Swiss buyer closed last September.”
Kansas City Star**
3-10-15**
“Lindt profit boosted by U.S. demand.”
Wall Street Journal**
3-10-15**
“Hamtramck’s [Mich.] most popular chocolate shop is expanding… Alexandra Clark, owner of Bon Bon Bon in Hamtramck, Friday confirmed that she’s expanding.”
MLive Media, Detroit**
3-6-15**
“St. Croix Chocolate Co. buys building, plans expansion [in Minn.].”
Country Messenger**
2-17-15**
Since confectioners and other sugar-using industries rarely share their success with lawmakers – choosing instead to poormouth about the distress caused them by sugar farmers – the American Sugar Alliance built a home for Big Candy’s big news.
That site tells tales of rapid expansion, record profits, sales strength, and recession resistance. It has posted nearly 100 entries in the past year alone, and it should provide some good reading material when you’re enjoying delicious sweet treats this weekend.
Happy Easter.