January, 2007
Organic Confections
It’s not just chocolate that’s sweetening the pot. Last year, non-chocolate organic candy showed a 14.7 percent growth, according to Naples, FL-based ProductScan Online.
But it’s the use of natural colors and flavors that make organic chocolate and confections appealing to so many people, especially parents. In an age when childhood obesity has become epidemic, parents are looking for healthier alternatives to mass-market candies and sugar-heavy treats.
“Most candies are manufactured with a lot of dyes and pesticides,” said Luna Roth, president of Toronto, Ontario’s Pure Fun Confections. “When you’re dealing with children who are growing, that all gets absorbed into their bodies,” she said. The average Pure Fun Confections product lists three to five ingredients and the new organic line includes flavors such as goji berry, ginger, raspberry, green apple and Canadian maple. “Candy is candy,” she said. “It’s definitely an indulgence food, but we provide a healthier choice.”
Sweet Sales
How can retailers boost their sales of organic chocolates and confections? There are a number of strategies that can work, according to the manufacturers, and most agree that placement is key. “If you put the product on the back shelf, it’s not going to work,”
This January, Pure Fun Confections will be launching its full hard candy line with pinwheels and fruit flavors, and in March, will introduce its chewy line.
