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AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH SWEETS AND SNACKS
Plant-Based Tomato Jerky from Mooney Farms
Holiday Classics Reimagined
Mooney Farms and the Bella Sun Luci brand are founded on using premium ingredients to create a line of goodfor-you, Mediterraneaninspired products. As a women-owned company with more than 35 years of dedication, Mooney Farms has emerged into the plant-based food industry with no less than a satisfying Plant-Based Tomato Jerky. “We believe bringing sun-dried tomatoes to the snack market, in this new and innovative plant-based jerky, meets
In the world of nostalgic hard candy brands, Quality Candy Company is a leading manufacturer and distributor in the marketplace. With over thirty years of experience, this family owned and privately held business has had King Leo and Gilliam under its umbrella of old-fashioned brands for several decades. Quality Candy Company felt fortunate that last year brought the acquisition of both Sevigny Ribbon and Washburn Hard Candy to the organization – two iconic brands that are synonymous with the holidays.
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Darrell Lea Announces Move to 100% Palm Oil Free
Abdallah Candies Announces New Cinnamon Churro Toffee
Darrell Lea has announced that it is now 100 percent palm oil free. The iconic company is the first major licorice brand in the U.S. to achieve this significant milestone. Darrell Lea has been listening to its customers and knows that more ethically sourced ingredients matter. Removing palm oil is just one of the many steps the company is taking to create candy that is better for customers, consumers, and the environment. After extensive testing, Darrell Lea
One hundred and twelve year old, fifth generation, familyowned Abdallah Candy company proudly introduces Cinnamon Churro toffee, a carefully crafted toffee that evokes the feelings of warm cinnamon and sugar with a slight buttery crunch. Manufactured to meet the standards of Abdallah’s amazing butter toffee, the Cinnamon Churro toffee is available in both bulk and prepackaged. The cinnamon-infused toffee is topped with cinnamon sugar and covered with the
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Fannie May Celebrates with New Innovations
By Richard Fossali, Vice President and General Manager, Fannie May Confections Brands, Inc.
For over a century, Fannie May® has made experiences special with handcrafted, high-quality chocolates. We source the finest ingredients to give our loyal and growing new fanbase unparalleled tasting experiences that are meant to make moments memorable. From our home-grown Chicago roots, to unique Continued on Page 20
Delicious New Products from Warrell Creations
By Annette WarrellJones, Marketing Manager, Warrell Creations
New Products from Las Olas
An interview with Lauren DiSanza, Brand Manager, Las Olas Confections and Snacks.
GN: Tell our readers about Las Olas Confections and Snacks.
LD: Las Olas Confections and Snacks is a manufacturer of nationally recognized brands that have been delighting consumers for decades. United with the common goal of driving growth for our customers and bringing joy to the lives of Continued on Page 6
Coffee on the Go from 40 Below Joe
Snacking on nuts as part of a ketofriendly plan is nothing new. However, keto-friendly nuts with a sweet, crackly glaze are! Now, Warrell Creations can produce artisan, fire-roasted nuts that are sugar free and sweetened with monk fruit. The nuts start in a batch process to get coated with a thin, delicious, sweet glaze. Next, they can get flavored and seasoned to create a wide variety of
40 Below Joe features a new approach to coffee with an extraordinary product line that includes coffee lovers’ favorite coffees and dairy-free creamers flash frozen to ensure a delicious, fresh and easy cup of Joe that’s meant to be eaten. The 40 Below Joe process brews the highest quality Arabica beans and cryogenically (quick) freezes the ultra-fresh coffee into little beads using liquid nitrogen at -320 degrees Fahrenheit. Mixing
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REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP Unveils Two New Cauliflower Product Lines
REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP®, Snacks with a Plant-Based Twist, is upping its game in 2021 with the expansion of its cauliflower offerings and entry into new salty snack subcategories. The brand is excited to announce the launch of Cauliflower Chips and Cauliflower Snacking Crackers, which will be available at retailers and online nationwide this year. REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP has been giving classic snacks a plant-based twist since its launch in 2018. The brand won over consumer taste buds with cauliflower-based versions of Crackers, Pretzels, Tortilla Chips and Stalks (puffed snacks), with delicious offerings that have all the flavor without the junk. With a product void in potato chip and snacking cracker categories, REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP quickly developed cauliflower versions for each. Cauliflower Chips are a cauliflower-
based version of the classic potato chip, available in four timeless flavors: Sea Salt, Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion, and Buffalo. Suggested retail price is $3.99 for a 3.5-ounce bag. The Cauliflower Snacking Cracker is what your charcuterie board has been missing. These tasty crackers are available in Sea Salt and Everything flavors. Suggested retail price is $3.99 for a 3.5-ounce stand-up pouch. “We see cauliflower as our lead vegetable base and will keep innovating until there is a plant-based, cauliflower offering for each salty snack subcategory,” said Deb Holt, CMO of REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP. “That said, we’re really excited about dipping into the potato chip category with a cauliflower-based version, as America’s favorite chip needed an update. And our new Cauliflower Snacking Cracker is a two-three bite cracker that makes the perfect vehicle for your favorite pairings and
Mooney Farms Bella Sun Luci Named Progressive Grocer’s 2020 Editors’ Picks Best New Product Winner
Mooney Farms Bella Sun Luci Plant-Based Tomato Jerky was awarded Progressive Grocer’s 2020 Editors’ Picks Best New Product Winner. The first of its kind plantbased tomato jerky seamlessly found its way though over hundreds of products. There is no doubt why, with it holding fiber and protein content of 6 grams per serving. It is handcrafted, non-GMO, Certified Kosher, and vegan. Fancy Food magazines have also recognized the flavorful snack on the list of “Top Ten Trends” of 2020. The plant-based snack allows for mindful snacking with zero cholesterol and zero fat, making it a healthy addition to any lifestyle. It is gluten free and only 80 calories per serv-
ing. With the travel seeker in mind, each snack pack has a resealable zipper pouch that allows for the tomato jerky to be enjoyed anywhere. From the golf course, to a hike, or enjoyed as a quick snack at work, this plant-based jerky is perfect for everyone. “As a result of the many accolades we have received since launching the tomato jerky less than a year ago, we have begun focusing our product development into a variety of products that appeals to a wide range of diversified markets. We want to provide all communities an assortment of goods to shop from,” explains Mooney Farms President and Chief Executive Officer, Mary
Navigating Explosive Growth During a Pandemic
By Ed Stockton, President, Country Fresh Food & Confections, Inc.
Looking back at just a year ago, experiencing growth for 2021 would have seemed like a pipe dream. But fast forward to 2nd quarter of this year and that’s exactly where Country Fresh Food & Confections, Inc. finds itself today. The challenges have been many. The first challenge has been trying to get enough people hired and trained. We have used multiple employment agencies as well as the traditional hiring methods such as ads and personal recruiting, and yet we still find ourselves short of having enough people to do everything we want to do, especially when it comes to new projects. Another challenge has been dealing
with supply issues. Our suppliers find themselves in the same boat as us when it comes to employees. They simply cannot hire enough people to make the products needed. Items that we use, such as Isomalt, which is needed to produce our very popular, keto-friendly, Sugar-free Fudge, is imported from Europe. The orders of Isomalt are being held on ships for weeks waiting to be unloaded as the ports are jammed up. Often, when supplies are available, there are shipping delays due to the truck driver shortage. For example, we use to keep 10 or 12 pallets of sugar on hand. We now keep over two truckloads in stock in order to not run short. We do everything in our power to keep from letting our customers down as we know how important every sale is to them right now.
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entertaining,” she continued. Holt went on to say, “We’re proud to say that both natural and conventional retailers, regionally and nationally are expanding product facings of each day. Consumers see snacking as an important source of comfort, connection and community, especially during the past year. We will continue to be the leader in connection and plant-based snacks through product offerings both on retail shelves and online.” REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP snacks are always made with real veggies, which are at the top of the ingredient lists, and never include artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. All products are also certified vegan, certified gluten-free and Non-GMO Project Verified, so you can feel good about what you are snacking on. For more information, call 888.989.9055 or go to www.fromthegroundupsnacks.com.
Mooney. The new PlantBased Tomato Jerky Line is available in three different flavors, including Sriracha, Teriyaki and Cracked Pepper, and Hickory Smoked. Each exceptional flavor is so delicious that one is not enough. This original Tomato Jerky appeals to the health-conscious and ethical consumer without having to sacrifice flavor. The snack is spicy and sweet minus the meat. Bella Sun Luci is a line of premium Mediterranean-inspired products created from authentic family recipes. The line includes a variety of deliciously sweet sundried tomatoes in olive oil, sun-dried tomato chipotle sauce, pasta sauces, bruschetta spreads, estate-grown premium olive oil, risotto, marinades, and new vegan jerky. Trying to complete a new facility during a pandemic has caused many delays. It seems we’ve had one issue after another that has taken an inordinate amount of time to resolve. Once an issue has been fixed, and we can move on to the next step, we find ourselves further delayed because the next contractor doesn’t have enough help. Layouts of the building have also been revised on the fly because of the triple digit growth. Although the new facility has approximately 25,000 square feet, expansion plans are already being formulated. While both bulk fudge and fudge mix have had significant growth, sales of packaged fudge have grown tremendously because retailers are wanting contactless packaging and are also having a hard time finding help. Private
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AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH SWEETS & SNACKS Publisher Kimberly Oser Vice President of Sales Anthony Socci Production Manager/Art Director Yasmine Brown Associate Editor Jeanie Catron Account Manager Alisha Dicochea Director of Operations Tara Neal Customer Service Manager Susan Stein Show Logistics & Distribution Hannah Stefanovich European Sales Enrico Cecchi Sweets & Treats Show Extra is published by Oser Communications Group ©2021 All rights reserved. Publishing office: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300 Subscriber services: Gourmet News P.O. Box 30520 Tucson, AZ 85751 www.gourmetnews.com Founder Lee M. Oser
Bella Sun Luci is produced by Mooney Farms, a third generation, family-owned company that is based in Chico, California, and rooted in quality, integrity, and family values. Mooney Farms is the premier producer of sundried tomatoes in the United States, and a proud member of the WBENC, California Olive Oil Council, and the Mediterranean Foods Alliance.
Visit Mooney Farms at booth #20103. For more information, go to www.bella sunluci.com. Follow the company on social media at @BellaSunLuci on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
labeled packages often solve those issues for them. More new equipment has been bought and ordered to handle packaged items, but equipment manufacturers are experiencing 90-to-120-day lead times because of employee shortages. While 2020 certainly did not come with an instruction manual, there have been many valuable lessons learned. We are extremely thankful for the problems that have come with the growth as it will make us a better company, but more importantly, a better partner for our many customers. Visit Country Fresh Food & Confections, Inc. at booth #21255. For more information, email info@countryfreshfood.com.
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Annabelle’s Introduces Almond Big Hunk
Annabelle Candy Company is launching an Almond Big Hunk nougat bar. The new treat lives up to the “big hunk” name by delighting consumers with sizeable almond pieces engulfed in the brand’s signature sweet nougat. Annabelle Candy Company President, Victor Moreno, describes the Almond Big Hunk bar as “a new way to enjoy the bold taste of whole dark roasted almonds with the chewy texture of honey-based nougat. It is a perfect flavor combination for anyone who
enjoys a sweet and nutty flavor profile.” Consumer demand remains high for products containing almonds because they pair well with a variety of ingredients, both sweet and savory. Moreno adds, “the Almond Big Hunk will be a great addition to our ever-popular Big Hunk product line. We are excited to introduce a time-tested proven flavor combination that everyone will enjoy.” The Almond Big Hunk bar rounds out the Big Hunk brand
J&M Foods Introduces Organic Wafers and Cookies
Food equals love. That’s the straightforward equation that compelled Jamie Parham to enlist the help of her two daughters, Janis & Melanie, and start J&M Foods in her kitchen, thirty years ago. The foundation: obsess over simple ingredients with consistent quality across every batch. No cutting corners with colors, artificial flavors or trans fats. Baking the way Jamie’s Grandmother taught her. Never ones to rest on their laurels, Janis & Melanie are constantly
testing, tasting and tinkering with new recipes. Most recently, they’ve created a captivating line of organic wafers and cookies sure to gain attention from even the most discerning eaters. It sounds simple enough, but those who eat organic demand a lot from food. They don’t care for synthetic or bioengineered ingredients. They like to keep it simple, and they like their food to taste great. Janis & Melanie organics does just that. Made with simple ingredients like rich chocolates, caramel, sea salt, lemon,
MarDona: Quality Products with Quality Ingredients
MarDona, Wild Forest and La Truffe are all about great taste, great prices, convenience and consistency. They import the finest olive oil and truffle essence from Italy to create highly regarded and sought after truffle products. Italian olive oil blended with truffle essence from Italy creates the signature Black & White Truffle Olive Oils. Using this same essence along with truffle pieces, MarDona creates greattasting and aromatic Truffle Honey made Las Olas (Cont’d. from p. 1)
consumers, our portfolio of brands (including Anastasia Confections, Coconut Island, Money on Honey, Williams & Bennett and Hoffman’s Chocolates and IT’SUGAR) provides a diverse offering to the specialty and mass confectionery market. Las Olas is committed to growing our great brands and developing ‘waves’ of innovative new products, like our 2017 sofi™ Product of Year and 2017 MINPA award-winning Coconut Cashew Crunch – Chocolate Drizzle and our 2016 & 2018 sofi award winning Money on Honey Dark Chocolate French Sea Salt and Toasted Coconut Almond Varieties. GN: What are some of your most popular products?
LD: By far, our most popular product is our Anastasia Confections Coconut
with Acacia Honey. By combining the best sea salt from Sicily with truffle pieces and flavor, MarDona creates its highly preferred Black and White Truffle Sea Salts. One of MarDona’s goals is to bring truffles into an every day dining experience, and it is constantly adding new products to the line. Some recent additions include the new Truffle Rub and Porcini Salt, as well as new Truffle Tapenade and Truffle Carpaccio.
Patties, a moist open-faced coconut confection. We have been manufacturing this Florida staple for over 30 years, and it has developed a cult-like following. A close tie for second would be our Original Coconut Island Coconut Cashew Crunch, a tropical, thin twist on a classic brittle, filled with cashews and coconut, and Money on Honey Dark Chocolate French Sea Salt, a unique clean caramel made with wildflower honey instead of corn syrup. GN: What other products do you manufacture?
LD: Currently we produce salt water taffy, molded chocolate, chocolate enrobed classic snacks (like Oreo® cookies, pretzels, and grahams), caramel, toffee, brittle, bark, truffles, and fudge. In addition to supporting our own brands, we offer private label manufacturing as
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line-up that currently includes an original honey-sweetened nougat bar with whole roasted peanuts and a chocolate-covered version of the original bar. Annabelle Candy Company is known for sweet nostalgia and delicious new innovation. Annabelle’s has a mouth-watering roster of legendary candy bars, including Abba-Zaba ®, Rocky Road®, Big Hunk®, U-NO®, and Look!®. Annabelle’s is a third-generation family owned and operated candy manufacturer whose heritage candy bars deliver sweet nostalgia to longginger and vanilla, Janis & Melanie have married indulgent and organic together into a line of simply great tasting wafers and cookies. J&M Foods enjoys being flexible enough to handle all its customers’ needs. Located in a 32,000 square foot facility residing on 21 acres, the company has room to grow along with its customers. Centrally located and nationally recognized, J&M Foods is an award-winning market leader within the specialty foods
MarDona has received high praise for its imported Balsamic Condimenti from Modena. The company proudly imports its Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Apulia. This is an exquisite olive oil, great for cooking and especially as a finishing olive oil. For the porcini lovers, MarDona has a wonderful Porcini Olive Oil. Then there is the Garlic Infused pure Italian Olive Oil, a perfect blend of garlic and pure olive oil. MarDona is proud to say that its garlic oil is very strong and bold and tastes like garlic. well as co-packing.
GN: Are you introducing any new products this year?
LD: We are launching several new products across our brands this year. From Anastasia, we are introducing our Florida Collection Chocolate Box featuring the Art of Guy Harvey. This new chocolate box includes our World-Famous Coconut Patties, sea salt caramels, buttercreams, meltaways, and signature Guy Harvey chocolate pieces. A portion of the proceeds from each box sold will benefit the marine conservation research and education work of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. From Hoffman’s Chocolates, we are launching Milk and Dark Chocolate Gourmet Double Dipped Pretzels, as well as Milk and Dark Chocolate Gourmet Pretzel Bites. These decadent treats have kept Hoffman’s fans flocking to our chocolate shops for
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time customers while unique flavor innovations attract new generations of candy lovers. The 1.8ounce Almond Big Hunk bar will launch this Spring. It joins Annabelle’s list of recent innovation which includes the Abba-Zaba Mystery Flavor taffy bar and the newly formulated “s’morsier” Rocky Road S’Mores candy bar.
more information, email For info@annabellecandy.com, go to www.annabellecandy.com or call 510.783.2900.
industry. For more information about the new line of Janis & Melanie organic wafers and cookies, call 800.264.2278. J&M Foods will be happy to send you sample packs of the new products and let you be the judge. J&M Foods is also available to discuss any private label needs and welcomes additional questions you may have about J&M Foods or the Janis & Melanie line of products.
For more information, call 800.264.2278 or email sales@jm-foods.com.
MarDona believes in making a quality product with quality ingredients. Its mission is to bring to the American people the best in quality truffle and non-truffle products at the most reasonable prices possible. You can find its products in some of the finest gourmet shops, as well as quality restaurants.
For more information, go to www .mardonaspecialtyfoods.com.
decades. From Coconut Island, we are introducing Coco Bites Bare, a line of bite-sized coconut treats made with the same time-tested recipe as our Coconut Patties, perfect for snacking on all year long. GN: What is your favorite Las Olas Confections and Snacks product?
LD: We manufacture so many great products and I love each in its own way. I’m a bit omnivorous when it comes to confections. Thankfully, we produce such a diversified set of products so I can indulge all my candy cravings, from fruity chewy taffy to buttery-rich, crunchy toffee, and of course, an occasional Coconut Patty.
Visit Las Olas Confections and Snacks at booth #11430. For more information, go to www.lasolasbrands.com or call 800.329.7100.
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Divine Chocolate Unveils Crispy Thins
Divine Chocolate, the only Fairtrade chocolate company in the world coowned by cocoa farmers, has unveiled new Crispy Thins – a surprisingly light, irresistibly crispy, and truly snackable treat. Crispy Thins are made with an exquisite blend of rich, silky Fairtrade chocolate and air-popped rice which is then expertly crafted into a thin, waferlike chip. At less than 20 calories per Thin, the Crispy Thins offer a lighter snacking alternative to any other offering in the chocolate aisle with their unique shape and texture. The line is made with
Divine’s best selling flavors – Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate with Mint, Milk Chocolate, and Milk Chocolate with Caramel and Sea Salt. Crispy Thins are made with all natural ingredients and pure cocoa butter with all flavors certified Fairtrade and dark chocolate versions suitable for vegans. “We are elated about this new addition to our product mix,” said Morgan McKenna, Senior Marketing Manager at Divine Chocolate. “The Crispy Thins have the decadence and quality consistent with all Divine products, but what makes this product unique is the light-
REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP Adds Purple Carrot Crackers
REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP®, Snacks with a Plant-Based Twist, is upping its game just in time for spring, with the launch of a new vegetable base and cracker innovation. Purple Carrot Crackers will be available at retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market and online at FromTheGroundUpSnacks.com and on Amazon this May. Purple Carrot is the newest veggie to the REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP crew and one that has been growing roots for a while. Just as
crunchy and tasty as the orange version, but made with real purple carrot – it’s the No. 1 ingredient. Purple is the new orange! These crackers are certified vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten-free. The perfectly purple squares are baked into light and crispy crackers that you can feel good about eating, so go ahead, have a handful (or two) – a serving size is 50 crackers. Flavors include Sea Salt and Ranch. Suggested retail price is $3.99 for a 4-ounce box. “We’re excited about Purple Carrot
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ness and texture. Each Thin packs a tasty experience that engages the senses in a new way.” Divine Chocolate is driven by a social mission: to bring people together using the amazing power of chocolate to delight and engage, creating dignified trading relations that empower both producers and consumers. All Divine products carry the Fairtrade Mark. Divine Chocolate is also a Certified B Corporation. B Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency joining Cauliflower and Butternut Squash vegetable bases for our growing snack brand,” said Deb Holt, CMO of REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP. “We love being able to offer plantbased versions of classic snacks and our Purple Carrot Crackers, a nod to the original orange squares, are as good as they look!” REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP has been giving classic snacks a plant-based twist since its launch in 2018. The brand won over consumer taste buds with cauliflower-based versions of Crackers, Pretzels, Tortilla
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and legal accountability, and aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems. Inspire the timeless enjoyment of premium quality chocolate with a crunch with Crispy Thins. Crispy Thins are perfect for casual gifting, enjoying on your own, or sharing with friends.The suggested retail price for the 2.8-ounce package of Crispy Thins is $3.50.
For more information, sales@divinechocolateusa.com.
Chips, Stalks (puffed snacks), and most recently with Chips and Snacking Crackers. The company branched out in 2019 with the launch of Butternut Squash-based Crackers, Pretzels, Tortilla Chips and Stalks. Now with Purple Carrot taking root, there is a veggie variety and format for every snack lover with more flavor, more crunch, and more bites per serving.
For more information on REAL FOOD FROM THE GROUND UP, call 888.989.9055 or visit www.from thegroundupsnacks.com.
Once Again Nut Butter Cashew Butter with Sea Salt Caramel
Decadently rich and beautifully buttery, this premium product is crafted from carefully selected, organically grown cashews that are dry roasted for color and flavor and milled creamy with natural caramel flavor, high-quality sea salt and organic sunflower oil. The U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic product features 5 grams of plant-based protein per serving and is
free of sodium, preservatives, cholesterol and trans-fat. It’s also Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free certified, vegan, paleo-friendly, keto, kosher, and part of the brand’s Honest in Trade program. It’s made in a dedicated, peanutfree facility with no sugar added.
For more information, call 888.800.8075 or go to www.onceagainnutbutter.com.
Tillamook Creamery Collection Yogurts Tillamook County Creamery Association, the 112-year-old farmerowned dairy co-op, is expanding its offering of high-quality snacks to now include Tillamook® Creamery Collection yogurt. The innovative new line includes six unique side-by-side flavor combinations served in a reusable cup – a first-of-its-kind offering for the cultured category – and is ideal for breakfast or a satisfying snack any time of day. With flavors that range between 13-14 grams of protein and 9-10 grams of sugar, as well as no artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives,
Tillamook Creamery Collection is made with high-quality ingredients. Each Creamery Collection Yogurt cup contains two side-by-side flavors that can be enjoyed one by one or swirled together. Flavor combinations include: Oregon Strawberry paired with Plain, Northwest Raspberry paired with Blackberry, Oregon Blueberry paired with Vanilla, California Peach paired with Plain, Dark Cherry paired with Plain and Vanilla Bean paired with Plain.
For more information, go to www .tillamook.com/creamery-collection.
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Growing with the Plant-Based Future
Mooney Farms and the Bella Sun Luci brand, which pioneered the sun-dried tomato category over 35 years ago, have once again brought innovation to the category. The new line-up of plant-based jerky appeals to today’s consumer looking for healthier, more diverse options. Bella Sun Luci products align with the plant-based food movement and the company values food that is made with real, simple ingredients. All of the jerky flavors are not only plant-based but vegan. In addition to the delicious taste of this new product, the Plant-Based Tomato Jerky has the healthy goodness of a tomato. There is zero cholesterol, zero fat, 6 grams of protein, 6 grams of
fiber, and in two of the flavors there are no added sugars. Sun-dried tomatoes are also great sources of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Mary Mooney, owner of Mooney Farms, stated, “As with all of our products, we’re only using the highest quality ingredients to create a snack that customers will crave without any guilt,” and at only 80 calories per serving, these bite-sized morsels truly are the perfect guilt-free snack. According to Mooney, “The vegan population is growing and with it, we are bringing forward-thinking foods that appeal to both vegans and non-vegans alike. We believe bringing sun-dried tomatoes to the snack market in this new
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and innovative plantbased jerky marks the start of a health trend that’s here to stay.” Bella Sun Luci is a line of premium Mediterranean-inspired products created from authentic family recipes. The line includes a variety of deliciously sweet sundried tomatoes in olive oil, sun-dried tomato chipotle sauce, pasta sauces, bruschetta spreads, estate-grown premium olive oil, risotto, marinades and new vegan jerky. Bella Sun Luci is produced by Mooney Farms, a third generation, fami-
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ly-owned company that is based in Chico, California, and rooted in quality, integrity, and family values. Mooney Farms is the premier producer of sundried tomatoes in the United States, and a proud member of the WBENC, Olive Oil California Council, and the Mediterranean Foods Alliance.
Visit Mooney Farms at booth #20103. For more information, go to www.bella sunluci.com. Follow the company on social media at @BellaSunLuci on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Mel’s Toffee in New Packaging
Mel’s Toffee’s array of flavors is like a rainbow, with some of the flavors brighter and more vibrant than others. This fall, the company is introducing new, show-stopping packaging in vibrant colors reminiscent of a rainbow when they’re lined up on the shelves.
For more information, michelle@melstoffee.com or www.melstoffee.com.
email go to
Darrell Lea (Cont’d. from p. 1)
landed on sunflower oil as a preferred replacement. It is the best choice from an environmental, health-related and manufacturing perspective. Tim Stanford, Global Marketing Director, said, “The mammoth task has taken the business two years to complete, with more than 200 individual ingredients reviewed and 100 products changed in the process.” All products departing Australia from September 2020 onwards will be 100 percent palm oil free. Darrell Lea will also redesign packaging with a stand-out new Palm Oil Free logo and clear ingredient listing. For more information, www.dlmakesitbetter.com.au.
go
to
40 Below Joe (Cont’d. from p. 1)
the coffee beads with 40 Below Joe nondairy creamer beads makes for a fun, unique, caffeinated treat that is gluten free, dairy free and vegan. Wholesalers can now offer this innovative treat to their consumers with the 40 Below Joe retail program, which includes prepackaged, 75g grab-and-go cups. 40 Below will provide the wrapped freezer and marketing materials at no cost; the only thing you pay for is the product. Flavors include French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Mocha and House Blend.
For more information, www.40belowjoe.com.
go
to
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Mooney Farms (Cont’d. from p. 1)
the consumer desire for diversity,” said Mary Mooney, the Owner of Mooney Farms. “As with all of our products, we are only using the highest quality ingredients to create a snack that our consumers will crave without any guilt.” This on-the-go chewy bite includes bold and savory flavors to satisfy. It is handcrafted, non-GMO, Certified Kosher, and vegan, and in addition to providing 6 grams of protein and fiber, there is also zero cholesterol and zero fat, making it a healthy addition to any lifestyle. It is gluten free and at only 80 Fannie May (Cont’d. from p. 1)
flavor profiles and even the visual appeal of our packaging – every aspect of the brand showcases deep commitment to tradition, quality and community. While we’re proud of our storied heritage, everything we do is only possible through the work of our dedicated team members and the support of our loyal customers. We’d like to thank everyone for their boundless love, care and generosity. We’re proud to be celebrating over a century together, and we look forward to hundreds more! Every company is known for its classics. Fannie May fans are already familiar with ours: refreshing Mint Meltaways®, caramel pecan Pixies®, and deliciously creamy peanut butter Buckeyes. While these premium chocolate offerings will always be Fannie May Abdallah Candies (Cont’d. from p. 1)
smoothest white confection. The bulk pieces are available in two sizes: a large 3-inch by 3-inch size and a smaller 1inch by 2-inch size. The prepackaged options include a 7.5-ounce bag, a 3ounce Retreat (bite-sized, resealable) and an individually wrapped single-serve Holiday Classics (Cont’d. from p. 1)
Following the acquisition, Eric Holler, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, who also leads new product development within the organization knew, “that to capture value – you need to create value,” and tasked his team to develop “new items from ideation to commercialization for 2021 around both brands. No small task but one I knew my team was capable of and ready to tackle.” Leila Kaufman, Director of Sales and New Business Development, shared that, “at the start – we needed to ask ourselves – how do we continue to honor the iconic nature of these two brands that are so intimately tied together as we reimagine Warrell Creations (Cont’d. from p. 1)
flavor profiles. Limitations are defined only by the imagination. These nuts can be sweet, spicy, fruity or savory depending on the combination of inclusions, flavorings and seasonings. Warrell offers sugar-free, glazed, fire-roasted peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, seeds and more. Contact Warrell Creations to create your custom combination. Warrell is also introducing sugar-
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calories per serving, these bite-sized morsels truly are the perfect guilt-free snack. Be sure to try all three irresistible flavors: Hickory Smoked, Sriracha, and Teriyaki and Cracked Pepper. According to market research group, The Nielsen Company, just 6 percent of Americans eat vegetarian and only 3 percent eat vegan, but almost 40 percent now make an effort to eat more plantbased foods. A growing reason why consumers choose to eat plant-based foods are the health benefits. With the goal in mind to live life more tastefully, the new line of Bella Sun Luci Tomato Jerky appeals to the health-
conscious and ethical consumer without having to sacrifice flavor. With the rate of consumers introducing or entirely replacing their diets with plant-based options, Mooney Farms saw the desire for a product that focuses on health and wellness, ethics, and diversity in protein sourcing. Bella Sun Luci is a line of premium Mediterranean-inspired products created from authentic family recipes. The line includes a variety of deliciously sweet sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, sun-dried tomato chipotle sauce, pasta sauces, bruschetta spreads, estate-grown premium olive oil, risotto, marinades and new vegan jerky.
staples, our vision is a future filled with new innovations, and we’re excited to share how we’ll continue to surprise and delight chocolate lovers to come.
takes enjoying s’mores to a whole new level. We’ve also recently introduced a delicious Peanut Butter Pretzel Snack Mix. This sweet and savory combination features crunchy peanut-butter filled pretzels coated in premium milk chocolate. Looking ahead, this holiday season we will be debuting a brand-new Dark Chocolate Peppermint S’mores Snack Mix, which puts a holiday twist on our indulgent original S’mores Snack Mix. This festive offering features crunchy grahams and fluffy pink peppermint marshmallows coated in rich dark chocolate and is sprinkled with peppermint candy bits. From road trips to watching movies or study breaks, our premium snack mixes can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere! S’mores Snack Mix and Peanut Butter Pretzel Snack Mix are available in
Premium Snack Mixes When our Master Chocolatier ideates new products in the test kitchen, they’re made with you in mind. That is why we’re excited to share more about our snack mixes that launched over the past year, and were inspired by a desire for sophisticated snacking, and feature original recipes that evoke happy and familiar connections. Our S’mores Snack Mix is a premium twist on an American classic that will immediately transport you back to carefree days spent snacking around the campfire. Featuring crunchy graham cereal and fluffy marshmallows coated in milk chocolate, this delicious recipe
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Bella Sun Luci is produced by Mooney Farms, a third generation, family-owned company that is based in Chico, California, and rooted in quality, integrity, and family values. Mooney Farms is the premier producer of sundried tomatoes in the United States, and a proud member of the WBENC, California Olive Oil Council, and the Mediterranean Foods Alliance.
Visit Mooney Farms at booth #20103. For more information, go to www.bella sunluci.com. Follow the company on social media at @BellaSunLuci on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
5-ounce sharing size bags, and 2-ounce single serve pouches for portion control or on-the-go indulgent snacking moments. Larger sized bags are also available at Fannie May retail stores, Club and eComm channels (S’mores 18oz/PB Pretzel 22oz.). Likewise, Dark Chocolate Peppermint S’mores Snack Mix will be available in 5-ounce as well as 18-ounce sizes. In answer to consumer demand for more transparent ingredients, each snack mix is made with zero artificial preservatives and zero artificial flavors.
Visit Fannie May at booth #11706. For more information, go to www .fanniemay.com or call 330.494.0833. Follow on social media @fanniemay chocolates on Instagram, @Fannie MayChocolates on Facebook or @fmchocolate on Twitter.
sized piece. Abdallah Candies has been manufacturing traditional chocolates and candies in Minnesota since 1909. This new Cinnamon Churro is now a standard and ranks among the very best in the 300-plus varieties of Abdallah confections. The new Cinnamon Churro has been embraced as not only being on trend, but
as simple and nostalgic enough to become an age-old favorite for generations to come. Stop by Abdallah Candies booth #20217 at the Sweets & Snacks Expo for a delicious sample of the Cinnamon Churro toffee, and to explore the many offerings available. Also sample the famous traditional milk chocolate, dark
chocolate and white almond toffee, cashew toffee and English toffee. Abdallah Candies has a rich history and tradition of creating the very best chocolates, toffees, and caramels, and welcomes the opportunity to partner with you to increase your daily sales.
them on a premium level for new consumers?” For Quality Candy, the answers resided in a variety of areas that helped the company develop a line that is all about inspired gift giving for the holidays and year-round. Quality Candy Company focused on elevated packaging, an elegant color palette, flavor development and innovation, and premium ingredients as it reimagined the collection. Quality Candy has a strong production team of skilled candy makers and a state-of-the-art test kitchen at its facility that allows the company to be nimble and quick to market as it walks through product ideation. The artisanal small batch approach Quality Candy took to its Premium Collection of both Sevigny and
Washburn candy resulted in an inspired, unique and beautiful collection of candy gifting opportunities. “Gift giving is often about how you want people to feel. Giving and opening a beautiful box of Sevigny’s handcrafted delicately thin ribbon candy is nothing less than decadent. Our 14 ounce holiday celebration box is filled with pieces of Pink Prosecco with a hint of raspberry, Champagne with rich strawberries and a Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffle,” said Leila Kaufman. The premium Washburn collection received the same attention to detail as Quality Candy looked to create a new experience for consumers with flavor and filling. The filled hard candy collections
include three 15.5 ounce giftable canisters to include a Citrus, Raspberry and a Holiday Mix. Each candy piece is filled with delicate Belgian chocolate and inspired flavors like Pink Grapefruit, Blood Orange Hibiscus, Kiwi Lime, Black Raspberry and a Crème Raspberry. Vice President Eric Holler is “excited that Quality Candy will be bringing premium gift giving to retailers and consumers this holiday season with both Sevigny Ribbon and Washburn Belgian Filled Candy. 2021 will be a year to embrace and celebrate the holidays with beloved holiday classics that have an added twist.”
free chocolate, sweetened with monk fruit, into our cold panning process for covering nuts, pretzel rounds, protein puffs, fruits, seeds and grains. Inclusions such as cocoa, probiotics, chia, quinoa and protein powders can be mixed into the chocolate, too. If desired, we can also polish and glaze the chocolate for a traditional shiny, more protective coating. This offering meets consumers’ needs for low- or zero-added sugar snacks.
These new processing capabilities add great excitement to our traditional offerings and complement our breadth of classic strengths: enrobing, cold panning, fire roasting, nut clusters and brittles. With 55 years of experience producing high quality candies and snacks for some of the most famous brands in the world, Warrell Creations has earned its right to call itself, “Your Partner of Choice®” for private label
Visit Abdallah Candies at booth #20217.
For more information, go to www .qcandy.com.
and contract manufacturing solutions. A competitively advantaged Quality Management System, a breadth of manufacturing capabilities, a team of R&D professionals and dedicated project managers invite brands of all sizes to experience how, “We Innovate for You®.” For more information, go to www.warrell corp.com, email sales@warrellcorp.com or call 717.761.5440.