Candy Fanatic

I found an article online last Thursday about Green & Black’s chocolate going to Fairtrade completely by the end of 2011. I was pretty impressed by the move and even added it to our Amplify feed. “Wow,” I thought. “Good for them.” Then I read further and saw a statistic that said the Fairtrade market has grown from £22 million in 1999 to £635 million last year. It’s a staggering growth for any business, especially when your stock and trade is helping small businesses. That’s apparently a very lucrative business to be in!

Personally, I think of Fairtrade products in the same light as organic products, since it is the same type of store that carries the most variety of each, at least in my area. However, organic products have taken a hit in the current economy while Fairtrade products are seeing growth in sales. I attribute this to the differing reasons people buy and don’t buy each. People buy organic products for a rational reason: they have the perception of better nutrition and safety. We are talking perception here. They are also more expensive than the non-organic alternatives. And when you are buying produce, for example, and the organic apples are smaller than or identical to the non-organic alternative and you have less money in your pocket, it becomes easy to choose a non-organic product. In other words, the choice comes down to price. Fairtrade products are often different in nature. People buy these for emotional reasons. They feel the need to help people and buying Fairtrade appears to be a more ethical decision. Emotion often outweighs logic when the two come into the same equation. In addition, the Fairtrade mark is usually on a branded product. People also have emotional attachments to brands, especially in food products. They like a particular brand of coffee, chocolate, tea, etc. Ask any marketer and they will tell you that a brand is everything. Combine brand loyalty with the perception of an ethical choice and you have a winning combination.Read more at www.candyusa.com

Omega Ingredients claims that pilot production phase application of its China sourced monk fruit juice concentrate indicates that it effectively masks the bitter notes in dark chocolate products.

He said the ingredient, which he stressed is not the pure version of the fruit, has a slow onset of sweetness and a long tail off, and has good synergistic properties when used with sugar or aspartame.

“Our European client base, which consists of chocolate confectionery, cereal and beverage manufacturers, were seeking a commerical supply of the juice concentrate.

They have been trialling it in low percentages in their products over the past few months as an alternative to apple or grape juice concentrates, and the feedback we have received has been very positive,” reports Pearce.

He notes that it has a low moisture content and a Brix level of 66 and works in chocolate bars or sweets as well as in chocolate flavours, baked goods, drinks and nutritional bars. Read more at www.confectionerynews.com

A STUNNED mum nearly choked on her favourite chocs – after she found one shaped like a WILLY.

Elizabeth McClure, 38, was tucking into a packet of Cadbury’s Nibbles when she picked out the saucy sweet.

But furious Elizabeth failed to see the funny side – and has now demanded an apology from the confectionary giant.

She is convinced that the three-inch treat was deliberately fashioned by workers. Read more at www.thescottishsun.co.uk

YEREVAN, Armenia — Anyone looking for huge amounts of free chocolate should book a flight to Armenia’s capital next month. That’s when the world’s largest chocolate bar will be up for grabs in Yerevan’s main square. The Guinness Book of World Records certified the 9,702-pound (4,410-kilogram) chocolate bar at a ceremony Saturday. Read more at www.huffingtonpost.com