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☆ Walgreens has a cult ‘peelable’ candy, courtesy of a Tik Tok craze
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For the beleaguered drugstore chain, the odd “Gummy Mango” candy is a much-needed win. Walgreens said it didn’t work with any paid influencer to hype up its mango gummies but that it took off organically. Walgreens is quickly following up on the success of its mango gummy with a new peelable banana gummy candy. As Esarte and his team rushed to restock the mango gummies last last year, a bigger challenge emerged. After weeks of scrambling and rushing, Walgreens is better prepared to make a bigger splash with the mango gummies.

Persons: It’s, Keonhee Kim, TikToker @Trinhdoesthings, ”, Marty Esarte, Esarte, we’ve, ” Esarte, Anthony Behar, Gen Z, China grinds, “ We’ve, Kim, Tim Wentworth, Tim, ” Kim Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walgreens, CNN, National Confectioners Association, Food Institute, Millennial, Morningstar Locations: New York, Asia, China

☆ Passover dessert recipes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“We always were the family who invited everyone and anyone to our Passover Seder.”Siva became a vegetarian at age 12 and now creates many plant-based recipes. Here’s how to make all three recipes for your loved ones this Passover or anytime. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, then use aluminum foil and/or parchment paper to line a large rimmed baking sheet. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and sea salt.

Persons: Micah Siva, ”, Siva, “, it’s, ” Siva, Hannah Lozano, Siva doesn’t, Cook, brownie Organizations: CNN, pecans Locations: Calgary , Alberta, Northern California, Bronx

☆ A 6-month Chinese-food festival is bringing authentic and flavor-packed cuisine to New York City's masses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Xintian Tina Wang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

At New York's Dragon Festival, authentic Chinese brands and restaurants excite locals' taste buds. Its founder shared some of her favorite vendors of soup dumplings and candies at the opening event. "This doesn't taste like home," said Xu, a 31-year-old entrepreneur and the creator of New York City's Dragon Festival, the biggest Chinese-food festival in the metropolitan area. Jessie YuChen for BIChen said that confectioners in her home province of Fujian, China, caught her attention when she was younger. In 2006, inspired by the soup dumplings made popular by Shanghai's Nanxiang district, Ma opened his first New York City storefront.

Persons: —, Xu, Jessie YuChen, she's, Mila, Tang Hulu, I'm, Bu Tong, Ivy Chen, Dragon Lulu, Chen, Vivian Cao, confectioners, Emperor Guangzong, Michael Ma, Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Ma, Nan, bartenders, Coco, Xibei Yang Organizations: Service, Park, Dragon, Prospect, lollipop, Michelin, Chi Forest, Haidilao, BI Locations: New York, SoHo, Chinatown, Flushing, York City, Koreatown, Union, Chelsea, Washington, Kwa, Henan, Queens, Prospect Park , Brooklyn, Beijing, Fujian, China, Shanghai, York, Nanxiang, New York City, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Chi, Thai, Bangkok, Sichuan, Manhattan

☆ Cocoa prices are soaring to record levels. What it means for consumers and why 'the worst is still yet to come'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A farmers holds cocoa beans while he is drying them at a village in Sinfra, Ivory Coast, on April 29, 2023. Consumers could start to see the effect of surging cocoa prices as the world faces the worst supply deficit in decades, with farmers in West Africa struggling against bad weather, disease and failing trees. The world is facing the largest cocoa supply deficit in more than 60 years and consumers could start to see the effect at the end of this year or early 2025, Joules said. The International Cocoa Organization has forecast a supply deficit of 374,000 tons for the 2023-24 season, a 405% increase from a deficit of 74,000 tons in the previous season. Cocoa prices will likely remain elevated for some time because there are no easy fixes to the systemic issues facing the market, he said.

Persons: Michele Buck, Paul Organizations: Hershey, CNBC, National Confectioners Association, Rabobank, International Cocoa Organization Locations: Sinfra, Ivory Coast, West Africa, Cocoa

☆ Inside Smashmallow, Silicon Valley's Failed Marshmallow Startup
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

"We wanted a marshmallow to have a little bite to it, not just be a foamy air," he says. Jon Sebastiani, Smashmallow founderSmashmallow had a killer brand — but the product was still basically being made one batch at a time, on kitchen counters. If Smashmallow couldn't produce enough marshmallows, Tanis wouldn't get its dough. The thing is, even though Smashmallow failed, Sebastiani didn't. "In that industry, a snackable marshmallow is a Smashmallow, like a copy machine is a Xerox," says Kwasniewski.

Persons: Jon Sebastiani, Sebastiani, Krave, jonesing, marshmallows, Liam Eisenberg, aerated, Cook, Jens Hoj, Hoj, Smashmallow, he'd, It's, Theranos, wasn't, Elizabeth Holmes, Tanis, Wolfgang Confectioners, Smashmallow Smashmallow, Wolfgang, Tanis wouldn't, Smashmallow couldn't, Richard Hartel, Sebastiani didn't, David Kwasniewski, Kwasniewski, Smashmallows, it's, Adam Rogers Organizations: Hershey, Michelin, BI, Kraft, Target, Walmart, Doumak, Workers, University of Wisconsin, Area, Xerox, marshmallows, Business Locations: Paris, California, Sonoma, Hershey, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Hobart, Chicago, Las Vegas, Netherlands, Tanis, Pennsylvania, America, Sonoma Capital, Smashmallow, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Colorado, North America

☆ Why the hottest commodity of 2024 could be in for a rude awakening
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Cocoa prices rose to a red-hot sizzle this Valentine's Day — but they could soon be due for a reckoning, according to Citi. Cocoa futures finished 25.5% higher in February, cinching their biggest monthly gain since November 2001, when they rose 31.66%. Cocoa supply might increase on one side of the equation, but Doshi cautioned that demand might also be weighed down by consumption risks. Even against this backdrop, Doshi highlighted that it might take some time before cocoa prices completely retreat off their record highs. "Our base case remains that cocoa terminal prices will enter a bear market by end-2024, off a historically rich nominal price area."

Persons: Aakash, Doshi, haven't, Chocolate, Hershey, — CNBC's Michael Bloom, Gina Francolla Organizations: Citi, Wall Street, Nestle Locations: …

☆ Valentine's Day chocolate prices highest in years amid cocoa shortage
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But lovers may experience sticker shock this year due to higher cocoa and sugar prices. "Chocolate prices are the highest we've seen in years," said a representative of NielsenIQ. He noted that in spite of higher prices, the chocolate market is robust in mature markets like Europe and North America. Now, chocolate and Valentine's Day are synonymous, even if critics say the affiliation is perpetuated by marketing gimmicks. That being said, chocolates are not the only Valentines' Day treats that will dent the wallet this year.

Persons: Scott Olson, Sergey Chetvertakov, David Branch, there's, Kim, Mintec, It's, Andrew Francis Wallace Organizations: Valentine's, Getty, P, El Nino, Food Institute, Branch, CNBC, Bloomberg, National Confectioners Association, Toronto Star Locations: Chicago , Illinois, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Wells, Asia, India, Africa, Azaguie, Europe, North America, Western Europe, Singapore, Toronto

☆ With a low cocoa supply, this Valentine’s Day chocolate prices are up
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( John Towfighi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Rising cocoa prices aren’t the only concern for customers this Valentine's Day. Last Thursday, Hershey Co. said it would cut 5% of its workforce after historic cocoa prices and inflation-weary consumers dampened fourth quarter earnings. “And it looks like it’s not necessarily going to subside anytime soon.”The Supreme Valentine’s Day SweetRoughly 92% of Americans say they plan to share chocolate and candy for Valentine’s Day this year, according to the National Confectioners Association. In 2023, Valentine’s Day chocolate and candy sales exceeded $4 billion, the NCA says. Issaka said that while high demand and low supply raise prices, cocoa farmers are getting squeezed.

Persons: ”, Michele Buck, Billy Roberts, ” Roberts, Lindsey Nicholson, Marnie Ives, Ives, ” Ives, “ It’s, Karl Schneider, Roberts’s, Issifu, Issaka, ” Issaka, “ I’m, Cote, Will Kletter, Sabi Ibarra Guerrero, Uwe Gneiting, Gneiting, Joke Aerts, Aerts, ” Aerts, Sia Kambou, Price, Tony’s, “, they’ve, CNN’s Eva Rothenberg Organizations: CNN, Hershey Co, National Confectioners Association, NCA, Cocoa, Oxfam America, Getty, Fairtrade, Cote d’Ivoire, “ Locations: West Africa, North America, Manhattan, Queens , New York, Neck, NY, Bloomfield , NJ, Ghana, North Region, Cote d’Ivoire, Silicon, Africa, Accra, Cote, Hermankono, AFP

☆ Consumer Reports finds more lead, cadmium in chocolate, urges change at Hershey
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hershey's chocolates are pictured for sale on a store shelf in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. July 19, 2017. The magazine said 16 of the 48 chocolate products from various makers that its scientists tested recently in seven categories - dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and mixes for brownies, chocolate cake and hot chocolate - contained potentially harmful levels of lead, cadmium or both. The Consumer Reports testing followed its findings last December that 23 of 28 tested dark chocolate bars contained excessive lead or cadmium, including Hershey products sold under its own brand and the Lily's and Scharffen Berger brands. The magazine is again petitioning Hershey to reduce heavy metals in its chocolate. Consumer Reports food policy director Brian Ronholm said Hershey, as a "leading and popular brand," should commit to eliminating "dangerous levels" of heavy metals from its chocolate products, making them safer for consumers.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Joe's, Scharffen Berger, Hershey, Brian Ronholm, Steve Voskuil, Voskuil, Christopher Gindlesperger, Jonathan Stempel, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hershey Co, Nestle, Starbucks, YORK, Hershey, Consumer, Walmart, Target, National Confectioners Association, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, New York

☆ Why is movie candy sold in boxes?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

That last part feels wrong, probably, because at the movies, candy comes in a box. Movie theaters are not the only place to buy boxed candy — you can get boxes of chocolate or candy at some drug stores or online — but even then they’re called theater box candy, a label that undeniably links the package with the movies. A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley, maker of M&M’s and Skittles, made a similar point, noting that candy sold in “boxes in movie theaters is easier to pour and share, compared to traditional packaging, and boxes offer the ability to re-close.” That means less spilling in between seats. The principle is the same for movie theater candy. “Theater boxes take their name from being available in movie theaters or other retail establishments that might have shelving,” he said.

Persons: ”, Keith Domalewski, Mike, Ike, Mars Wrigley, Patti McConville, you’re, Chris Gindlesperger, “, Gindlesperger, ” Gindlesperger, Matthew Staver, Marcia Mogelonsky, It’s, ” Mogelonsky Organizations: New, New York CNN, Mars, National Confectioners Association, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: New York

☆ Make homemade pierogies for National Pierogi Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Casey Barber | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

It’s National Pierogi Day, so you have a marketing-mandated opportunity to indulge in a pile of pillowy dumplings. Making pierogi doughJust as there are many ways to refer to these dumplings, there are a wide range of recipes for pierogi dough. If you’re afraid of making any homemade dough, try my pierogi dough as your gateway recipe. Casey Barber, author of the cookbook “Pierogi Love: New Takes on an Old-World Comfort Food,” says pierogies are ideal to eat year-round. Apart from the 60 recipes in “Pierogi Love,” you can try “Everything Bagel” pierogies or pierogies with egg, cheese and Taylor ham for breakfast, or Ethiopian destaye-inspired dessert pierogies.

Persons: that’s, It’s, ”, Casey Barber, I’ve, Cook Organizations: CNN Locations: Turkey, Pittsburgh, Yukon

☆ Cocoa prices are soaring. Here’s what that means for your chocolate
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —If you have a sweet tooth, take note: Cocoa prices have been soaring — and that could drive chocolate prices higher. Because of that, there is an “outsize impact of the region’s weather patterns on world cocoa prices and supplies,” according to Gro Intelligence’s post. Tony's Chocolonely welcomes higher cocoa prices. Petra Figueroa/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images“We are very happy that cocoa prices are rising,” said Pascal Baltussen, chief of impact and operations at Tony’s. “Cocoa prices have been way too low for West African cocoa farmers to earn a living income.”Cocoa futures are used to determine the prices paid to farmers for cocoa in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Persons: El, Paul, Christophe Gateau, Niño, ”, Intelligence’s, Tony's Chocolonely, Petra Figueroa, Pascal Baltussen, Alex Assanvo, Côte, “ Price, Tony’s, Baltussen, Steven Voskuil, Hershey, “, we’ll, —, Laura Paddison, Rachel Ramirez Organizations: New, New York CNN, Rabobank, International Cocoa, Getty, Cocoa Organization, Gro Intelligence, Hershey Locations: New York, Europe, Asia, Agboville, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Amsterdam, Tony’s, NIQ

☆ Hershey launches vegan Reese’s
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Vegan Reese’s are happening. Hershey, which makes Reese’s along with Hershey bars, Kisses and other chocolates and candies, announced two new dairy-free products on Tuesday: Reese’s plant-based peanut butter cups, and a vegan chocolate Hershey bar with almonds and sea salt, each made with oats instead of dairy and designed to taste like milk chocolate. The new Reese’s variety will be available nationally this month, and the new Hershey bar is arriving in April. The company is the latest to introduce a vegan chocolate in hopes that it will attract more customers. Mondelez (MDLZ) acquired Hu, a company which makes vegan chocolate, that year, as well.

Trader Joe's is accused in a lawsuit of misleading and endangering shoppers by selling dark chocolate that contains harmful levels of lead and cadmium. Both suits follow a December study by Consumer Reports that tested popular dark chocolate bars for heavy metal content. Using California’s maximum allowable dose level (MADL) as a benchmark, the publication said just five popular dark chocolate bars contained acceptable levels of lead and/or cadmium, while nearly two dozen did not. Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao was found to contain high levels of lead, and its The Dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate 85% Cacao product was high in lead and cadmium, according to Consumer Reports' testing. The NCA also pointed to a 2018 settlement it reached with an advocacy group, As You Sow, that established concentration levels for both lead and cadmium that supersede the California maximum allowable dose levels.

☆ Candy maker Ferrero to buy Halo Top owner, expanding North American business
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Candy maker Ferrero is buying Wells Enterprises, the ice cream giant that owns Blue Bunny, Blue Ribbon Classics and Halo Top. Comfort food staples like ice cream and candy saw their sales soar during the pandemic as consumers looked for ways to treat themselves. For its part, Ferrero reported global consolidated revenue of 12.7 billion euros ($13.3 billion) in its fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2021. Wells Enterprises was founded in 1913 and has grown to be the second-largest ice cream company in the U.S., trailing only Ben & Jerry's owner Unilever . Wells makes more than 200 million gallons of ice cream annually and has more than 4,000 employees.

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