Redstone Foods - The Candy Specialists

Now In - Hammonds Candy

2009-04-29T16:05:00.007-05:00

Hammonds Candy is a fantastic line of old fashioned, made in the USA candy. It is fun, colorful, tasty, and something everyone can relate to. We have a nice portion of the line available to our customers. Pictures speak a thousand words, so we've posted some pictures below. Call or email us for more information - get yours today!

HSP02820	Hammond's Chocolate Jewels - Peppermint
HSP03320	Hammond's Chocolate Jewels - Raspberry
HSP22120	Hammond's Chocolate Jewels - Orange
HLA93334	Hammond's Fashion Lollies - Assorted w/Display
HBC93332	Hammond's Fashion Barber Poles - Assorted
HCW04400	Hammond's Vanilla Caramels
HCW15500	Hammond's Chocolate Caramels
HMS13600	Hammond's Mitchell Sweets Caramel & Marshmallow
HCC9310	Hammond's Crystal Cut Fruit Slice Mix (60 PCS/LB)
HDR95018	Hammond's Hard Candy Drop Tin Assortment
HMI95024	Hammond's Iced Tea Sippers - 4 Assorted

When Economy Slows - Candy Sales Rise

2009-03-24T21:45:00.001-05:00

From the New York Times...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/nyregion/24candy.html?_r=1

When Economy Sours, Tootsie Rolls Soothe Souls

Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times

Piper Gray, left, and Amy Lepley at Economy Candy in Manhattan. The owner has increased his orders. “We have been wiping out of inventory,” he said.

By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY

Published: March 23, 2009

Raymond Schneider politely elbowed his way through crowds of customers as he made for the bulk candy bins at Dylan’s Candy Bar across from Bloomingdale’s in Manhattan. Since he was laid off in December, Mr. Schneider, a 33-year-old interior designer, says he has become a “gummy junkie,” stocking up on sweets every time he shops for groceries.

“Sugar is comforting,” he said as he scooped Red Licorice Scottie Dogs into a plastic bag. “There’s nothing more stressful than growing financial insecurity everywhere.”

The recession seems to have a sweet tooth. As unemployment has risen and 401(k)’s have shrunk, Americans, particularly adults, have been consuming growing volumes of candy, from Mary Janes and Tootsie Rolls to Gummy Bears and cheap chocolates, say candy makers, store owners and industry experts.

Theories vary on exactly why. For many, sugar lifts spirits dragged low by the languishing economy. For others, candy also provides a nostalgic reminder of better times. And not insignificantly, it is relatively cheap.

“People may indulge themselves a little bit more when times are tough,” said Jack P. Russo, an analyst with the Edward Jones retail brokerage in St. Louis. “These are low-cost items that people can afford pretty easily.”

At Candyality, a store in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, business has jumped by nearly 80 percent compared with this time last year, and the owner, Terese McDonald, said she was struggling to keep up with the demand for Bit-O-Honeys, Swedish Fish and Sour Balls.

At the Candy Store in San Francisco, the owner, Diane Campbell, has tripled her orders for nostalgic candies like Necco Wafers and Mallo Cups in recent months. Many of her customers tell her that even though they are living on less, they’re setting aside cash for candy.

“They put candy in their actual budget,” she said.

Many big candy makers are reporting rising sales and surprising profits even as manufacturers of other products are struggling to stay afloat. Cadbury reported a 30 percent rise in profits for 2008 while Nestle’s profits grew by 10.9 percent, according to public filings. Hershey, which struggled for much of 2008, saw profits jump by 8.5 percent in the fourth quarter.

Lindt & Sprüngli, which specializes in more expensive products like Lindt and Ghirardelli chocolate, announced that even though it expects to close some of its luxury retail stores this year, it also expects chocolate sales to remain strong through mainstream retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.

“All is well in candy land,” said Jamie Hallman, owner of the Sweetdish candy store in the Marina district of San Francisco.

In Manhattan, at the sweet-smelling confines of Economy Candy on the Lower East Side, the owner, Jerry Cohen, said he increased his orders by 10 percent in January and February to keep up with demand for candies like Sugar Daddies and Sour Razzles. On a recent Sunday, Mr. Cohen had about a dozen workers in the narrow store trying to keep the candy tables and penny candy bins restocked as shoppers — the vast majority of them adults — grabbed candy bars and dug their hands into bins of Tootsie Rolls and Bit-O-Honeys.

“We have been wiping out of inventory,” he said.

Mr. Cohen’s son, Mitchell, 23, who works long hours as a Wall Street investment banker, helps out at the store on some Sundays because, he said, he finds the mood uplifting. He noted that his Wall Street co-workers have also been eating more candy: The 10-pound candy bags he puts on his desk are being devoured in one week instead of the usual two.

“That’s why I like going to the store on Sundays,” Mitchell Cohen said. “Everyone is happy.”

There may be historic precedent to the recessionary strength of the candy business. During the 1930s, candy companies thrived, introducing an array of confections that remain popular today. Snickers started in 1930. Tootsie Pops appeared in 1931. Mars bars with almonds and Three Musketeers bars followed in 1932.

Hershey, the dominant candy brand during the Depression, remained profitable enough through the 1930s for the company to finance its own work program for the unemployed, said Pamela Whitenack, Hershey’s community archives director.

“Candy companies are relatively recession-proof,” said Peter Liebhold, chairman of the Smithsonian Institution’s work and industry division. “During the Great Depression, candy companies stayed in business.”

Candy seems to conjure memories of times before bank collapses and government bailouts. Jackie Hague, vice president of marketing for the New England Confectionery Company in Revere, Mass., which makes Necco wafers and other candies, said the company has received an unusual number of letters, e-mail messages and telephone calls from customers saying their candies had helped them “flash back to childhood.”

Indeed, store owners and manufacturers find that the hottest-selling candies these days are cheaper, old-fashioned ones. In addition to strong sales of Necco Wafers and Mary Janes, the New England Confectionery Company said sales of Sweetheart candies jumped 20 percent at Valentine’s Day. Eastern Sales and Marketing, a major candy representative for manufacturers, has noticed “double digit growth” for Gummy Bears, Violet Gum and Jelly Bellies, according to John Anastasi, the company’s senior vice president of the confectionery business unit.

Not everyone in the industry is benefiting from tighter wallets. Edgar Roesch, a food analyst with Soleil Securities, an investment research firm in New York, predicts that the recession may present more opportunities for more economical, mass-market brands like Hershey than for, say, gourmet truffles.

Until the fourth quarter of last year, he said, “Things like Hershey Kisses were losing out to higher-end brands.” But this year, that trend has reversed.

Increased candy consumption may have already taken a toll on the waistlines of many New Yorkers.

Liz Josefsberg, who runs four Weight Watchers meetings a week in Manhattan, said talk of stress eating involving candy was taking up an increasing percentage of her meetings. “I’m hearing a lot about Skittles and Mary Janes,” she said.

Since Piper Gray, 23, arrived in Manhattan from Memphis in September, she has lived on a tiny salary from a journalism internship and tries to remain optimistic about eventually landing permanent work, even though prospects look discouraging.

Beside two friends at Economy Candy on a recent Sunday afternoon, she sounded cheerful as she munched on mini Smooth ’N Melty nonpareils, joked about her addiction to Creme Eggs and scoffed at the merits of Swedish Fish. Candy has become her affordable escape.

“Apples and oatmeal only go so far,” she wrote later in an e-mail message. “It’s so tempting to pick up an 88-cent pack of Skittles as a little pick-me-up. So I won’t feel so deprived.”

Christmas is Coming (Halloween too)

2009-03-19T13:56:00.003-05:00

We start selling Halloween / Fall / Christmas / Chanukah in mid May. Keep an eye out for more information or call your sales rep or our office for an appointment.

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Redstone Website Back

2009-02-26T13:52:00.003-06:00

The R EDSTONE WEBSITE is back up and running. Stop on by!

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Spicy is HOT

2009-02-26T07:45:00.003-06:00

As you all know, our Redstone bars, particularly the Redstone Red Chili Chipotle (72% dark), Jalapeno with Salted Peanut (milk), and the La Azteca (spicy with Cinnamon) are all doing very well.

What is NEW & HOT is the Lammes Habinero products. They have quite the kick, but are a nice edition to the Lammes line, which continues to grow in popularity. They would also be a nice edition to any candy line up and get great reactions from the hot food foodies. Please give them a try on your next order.

Redstone Website Down Temporarily

2009-02-26T07:43:00.001-06:00

We have had some gliches this week and our website is down. We hope to have it available as soon as possible - we are currently planning to have everything up and running by the end of the week.

Trends for 2009

2009-02-19T11:59:00.007-06:00

Okay, so we all read the bad news every day. The economy isn't great, people are losing jobs, and everyone's mood is sour. As someone in the candy business, there IS something we can do about it. We can sell our wares and make everyone happy.

Two categories are going to sell well, mark our words.
1) The first is nostalgia. Nostalgia is fun, filled with good memories, and not expensive. People love to think of their childhood - everyone remembers the neighborhood candy store where they grew up. Everyone has a dollar or two to relive a happy memory.
2) The second category is basic bulk items. People cannot afford great vacations or jewelery, but everyone can still afford a great piece of candy. Everything from gummy bears to chocolate almonds are going to do well. A pound or two keeps the kids happy in the mall and is still well within reach of most people.

As a merchant, keep these options available and easy to get to. Something as simple as creating a nostalgic area of your store or prebagging half pound bags (or $3 or $4 bags) of your top 5 bulk items and putting them in a basket near the front of the store will keep things fun and fresh. You will be on-trend in 2009 and you will also see movement.

Good luck! Tell us how it goes. If you would like us to email you a price list, just drop us a line. For contact information visit us at www.redstonefoods.com.

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Redstone Chocolate Bars

2009-01-26T11:31:00.003-06:00

We just wanted to update everyone on the Redstone Chocolate Bars. As I’m sure we’ve mentioned, the Redstone Chocolate Bars are doing quite well with very strong sell-through. Our customers (the retailers) are very happy. People love this bar as an excellent piece of Belgian chocolate and something different. Even in a poor economy, everyone still needs their chocolate fix. We literally get dozens of requests every week for these bars. If you haven’t tried the bars, you should. If they are going well in you store, please consider adding another bar or two to your line-up. The best sellers are the Red Stone’s Red Chili Chipotle and the Red Stone’s Jalapeno with Salted Peanuts.

If you haven’t tried them, give us a call and mention this blog and we will give you a deal.

Peanut Butter Safety

2009-01-21T16:18:00.004-06:00

We wanted to address the recent concerns about peanut butter being tainted with salmonella. First, it is important to know that this concern is only about peanut butter, not peanuts. Second, it is only peanut butter from one company.

To the best of our knowledge, all of our products are safety. While we continue to monitor the situation, we feel confident in the quality checks of our many manufacturers. If you would like to see more on specific products, please click on the link below.

http://www.candyusa.org/Media/Hot/PeanutButter.asp

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Chocolate Holds Steady in Down Economy

2009-01-09T11:27:00.005-06:00

We thought you might like to hear about chocolate - from the perspective of the Wall Street Journal. They believe (as we do) that chocolate will continue to sell in a poor economy. Please read this article and let us know what you think. [Hat Tip - Chris Wright]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123129657237259887.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Premium Chocolate Holds Steady in Tough Economy

More-Selective Consumers Make Each Morsel Count With Emphasis on Ingredient Sourcing and Artisanal Production

By HOLLY HENSCHEN

Even in a recession, frugal consumers shell out cash for popular premium chocolate, but the variety they purchase depends on its value, quality and manufacturer.

Analysts said trendy, pricier premium cocoa varieties promote chocolate consumption growth. Throngs of products from smaller specialty as well as major chocolate manufacturers line store shelves. But consumers are buying the sweets less often and more discriminatively as household incomes contract with the U.S. recession and world economic crisis.

"Chocolate may very well be recession-proof -- it's just a matter of how much consumers want to pay for it," said Krista Faron, senior analyst at Mintel, a market-research company, in Chicago.

Getty Images

Premium chocolate is typically characterized by an emphasis on sourcing and the production process, much like wine. A premium price tag also tends to accompany the pursuit of quality.

"In volume terms, growth in the premium chocolate segment has slowed somewhat in recent months as a result of the global economic crisis. However, in value terms, this category is still growing," said Josiane Kremer, spokeswoman for Switzerland-based Barry Callebaut. The company sells chocolate to industrial food manufacturers, artisans and chefs as well as international chocolate retailers and consumers.

In the year ended Nov. 2, total chocolate candy sales in supermarkets, drugstores and mass merchandise outlets totaled $4.99 billion, a 2.2% increase from the year before, according to data compiled by Information Resources Inc., a Chicago-based research firm. That data excluded Wal-Mart Stores Inc. In the same period, however, average unit sales decreased by about 3.8% and average price per unit increased by nine cents, according to the data. Chocolate makers felt price pressure and many large manufacturers increased prices in 2008 amid multidecade highs in raw cocoa prices.

Large chocolate manufacturers Barry Callebaut and Hershey Co. delved into the premium chocolate realm previously occupied primarily by smaller-scale specialty manufacturers. In 2008, Mars Inc.'s Mars Snackfood US introduced M&Ms Premiums in flavors such as mint chocolate and raspberry almond, as well as dark chocolate varieties.

Consumer familiarity gives some brands an advantage over others amid the glut of premium chocolates on the market as new lines continue to be launched, Mintel's Ms. Faron said.

"The [brands] that have the highest quality and offer superior taste [that] are backed by strong brands already will probably have an advantage," she said.

Smaller specialty premium manufacturers have a better chance at staying afloat during tough economic times because they have less competition than large manufacturers, Ms. Faron said.

"Those [consumers] want to support small and local producers and that's where their loyalties are going to lie," she said.

Two specialty companies are Askinosie Chocolate in Springfield, Mo., and Guittard Chocolate of Burlingame, Calif., which have their own approaches to making and selling chocolate.

Askinosie Chocolate has a hands-on, personalized production method and business model, according to founder Shawn Askinosie. The company purchases approximately 20 tons of cocoa beans annually, just a fraction of a major manufacturer's supplies, Mr. Askinosie said.

The company is a member of Craft Chocolate Makers of America, a group of independent chocolate makers that stresses the importance of small batches and select ingredients to produce quality chocolate.

"We're not trying to appeal to a mass consumer audience," said Mr. Askinosie.

Gary Guittard said his company saw more sales of its chocolate to candy manufacturers as discretionary spending received a nudge higher from easing gas prices. Guittard Chocolate is a member of industry group Chocolate Council of the National Confectioners Association. The council's members represent more than 90% of the chocolate processed in the U.S.

"Everyone has a place in the market," Mr. Guittard said.

Most consumers are unaware of the difference between smaller specialty and larger premium chocolate manufacturers, said Judy Ganes-Chase, president of J Ganes Consulting, in Katonah, N.Y. The firm specializes in agricultural commodities.

"[Major manufacturers' premium varieties are] good enough for the average consumer, and they'll enjoy it and think they have something really special," said Ms. Ganes-Chase.

Though consumption continues, consumers are failing to respond to gimmicks and unessential quality assurance in premium chocolate as budgets feel the squeeze, Ms. Faron said.

The shine of chocolate health claims will soon fade as consumers become desensitized to the fad of value-added superfoods, she said. Additionally, fair trade-certified chocolate is less attractive amid economic uncertainty. Fair-trade products pledge to pay producers a price higher than the typical market rate for commodities such as cocoa and coffee.

"For something like fair trade, which is strictly about the ingredient sourcing, they're not going to see the difference in the quality of the product," Ms. Faron said.

But competition will continue in the premium chocolate arena as private-label premium chocolates may have the advantage. The chocolates, sold under trusted chain-store labels or in retail locations with an exclusive brand, are typically less expensive than the major brands but have the same quality, she said.

Funky Chunky

2008-12-03T14:45:00.002-06:00

Great news about Funky Chunky...

FunkyChunky is in the December issue of Redbook Magazine on page 184.

Please let us know how your customers respond...

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Ritter Sport

2008-11-11T12:57:00.008-06:00

Ritter Sport is a chocolate bar brand. Its from Germany and is of very good quality. The look, shape, and shelf profile are also very different from other chocolate bars. Pictures and product information can be found at our website. Some links are below. Please contact us if you have any questions. We have also attached a short powerpoint with some great information on the line.

Item No	Description	Package	Barcode
0436	RITTER SPORT BARS 9 CT MINI CELLO WRAPPED	24/5.3oz	0-50255-04430-4
0209	RITTER SPORT BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE	12/3.5oz	0-50255-02000-1
0259	RITTER SPORT BSW CHOC W/MARZIPAN FILLING	12/3.5oz	0-50255-02500-6
02549	RITTER SPORT DARK CHOC W/CHOC MOUSSE	12/3.5oz	0-50255-25400-0
2249	RITTER SPORT DARK CHOC W/WHOLE HAZELNUT	10/3.5oz	0-50255-22400-3
02609	RITTER SPORT EXTRA FINE 71% DARK CHOC	11/3.5oz	0-50255-26000-1
2309	RITTER SPORT MILK CAPPUCCINO	12/3.5oz	0-50255-23000-4
0269	RITTER SPORT MILK CHOC W/PRALINE FILLING	13/3.5oz	0-50255-02600-3
0229	RITTER SPORT MILK CHOC W/RAISINS & HAZELNUTS	12/3.5oz	0-50255-02200-5
0239	RITTER SPORT MILK CHOC W/WHOLE ALMONDS	11/3.5oz	0-50255-02300-2
0199	RITTER SPORT MILK CHOC W/WHOLE HAZELNUT	10/3.5oz	0-50255-01900-5
0279	RITTER SPORT MILK CHOC W/YOGURT FILLING	12/3.5oz	0-50255-02700-0
0189	RITTER SPORT MILK CHOCOLATE	12/3.5oz	0-50255-01800-8
0119R	RITTER SPORT MILK CORNFLAKE	10/3.5oz	0-50255-01100-9
2149	RITTER SPORT MILK W/ BUTTER BISCUIT	11/3.5oz	0-50255-21400-4
0139	RITTER SPORT WHITE CHOC W/HAZELNUTS	10/3.5oz	0-50255-01300-3

Redstone and Wild West Products ALL Domestic

2008-11-04T07:57:00.002-06:00

We have all been reading and watching a lot about bad or dangerous products from Asia.

We are proud to say that all of the Wild West Items and Redstone Foods items are made in the USA. In some cases packaging is made in China, but the food itself is domestic.

The only exception to this is our Lollipops. Our lollipops are made in a Chinese factory that exports all of its products to the US and Europe. They make literally thousands of shipping containers a year, all bound for the west. The factory is as clean as any you would find in the West and the ingredients are also required to meet the highest Western standards.

If you have any questions about this, feel free to contact us at cs@redstonefoods.com.

Wild West Taffy in the Dallas Morning News

2008-09-08T09:18:00.004-05:00

We were featured for an article in the Food Section of the paper. It was a small, cute article about Wild West Taffy and a bit about our company. Something fun. It is also proof that our product is gaining traction.

See the article here.

Email us if you want us to email you the text of the article.

Have a great week and grab some taffy - its perfect for anytime!

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Bulk Candy Display Tip

2008-08-11T09:12:00.003-05:00

We discovered a tip to displaying bulk candy we couldn't wait to share with you.

Alternate lighter and darker colors. A rainbow colored display (with each color just slightly different than the next) leaves the darker colors together and they fade away and are harder to distinguish. This discourages sales. By alternating light and dark colors, the colors "pop" more, and sales of both the lighter and darker colors increase.

Please give it a shot and let us know how it works for you.

Don't thank us...we're givers.

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Top Selling Dagoba Items

2008-07-31T16:33:00.003-05:00

Dagoba recently published a ranking of its 2oz. bars. Below in order...

001140 DAGOBA BAR-XOCOLATL74% W/CHILI,NIBS,& VANILLA
001133 DAGOBA BAR-ECLIPSE 87% DARK
001096 DAGOBA BAR-NEW MOON 74% DARK
001102 DAGOBA BAR-LAVENDER & BLUEBERRIES - 59% DARK
001027 DAGOBA BAR-DARK 59%
001270 DAGOBA BAR-SUPER FRUIT 74%
001157 DAGOBA BAR-CONACADO 73% DK-FAIR TRADE CERT
001287 DAGOBA BAR-SEEDS 68%
001072 DAGOBA BAR-MON CHERRI 72% DARK
001065 DAGOBA BAR-ROSEBERRY 59% DARK
001010DA DAGOBA BAR-MILK 37%
001294 DAGOBA BAR-LEMON GINGER 68%
001263 DAGOBA BAR-NIBS 68%
001188 DAGOBA-LOS RIOS 68% ECUADOR ARRIBA-VAR
001201 DAGOBA-MILAGROS 68%FTC PERUVIAN AMAZONIA-VAR
001171 DAGOBA-PACUARE 68% COSTA RICAN CRU-VAR

These are the bars in order. These bars a great tasting, small (2oz.), and organic. Why not give them a shot?

Redstone Chocolate Bars Rock On...

2008-07-29T10:57:00.005-05:00

Sales of our Redstone Chocolate bars continue to do well. So well that we launched a new bar - La Azteca. This is a throwback to how chocolate was originally made by the Aztecs. It is a 72% dark Belgian chocolate bar with crushed cocoa nibs, a little chili, and cinnamon. Stan, our President, dreams up all of the Redstone Chocolate Bar formulations. This is truely his best.

Give it a try - descriptions of all of our Red Stone's bars below.

55101 RED STONE'S MARGARITA CHOCOLATE BAR 24/2.25z
55102 RED STONE'S RED CHILI CHIPOTLE CHOCOLATE BAR 12/3oz
55103 RED STONE'S RED CHILI & CURRY CHOCOLATE BAR 12/3oz
55104 RED STONE'S JALAPENO & SALTED PEANUT BAR-MILK 12/3oz
55105 RED STONE'S OLD NEW ORLEANS CHOCOLATE BAR 12/3oz
55106 RED STONE'S CRANBERRY CHOCOLATE BAR 12/3oz
55107 RED STONE'S LA AZTECA 12/3oz

Also, I wanted to include an email from a huge fan. We get these every day... If you haven't tried our bars, give them a shot.

Hello there. I was recently in Dallas on business and stumbled across your Red Chili with CURRY Dark Chocolate Bar. AMAZING! May be the best candy bar I have had in years. I was glad I brought three of them back to Chicago with me but sadly they disappeared quite quickly. I've now been searching gourmet candy sections at World Market, Wholefoods etc and have yet to find your brand which is far superior then many of the others I have tried. Do you have distribuition in the Chicago area - or is there an online source for purchase? Thank you and I hope to hear from you.

Candy Sales Remain Strong

2008-07-21T21:25:00.002-05:00

With the economy hitting a rough patch, many people are asking about the candy business. The candy business is still strong has has done well in economic downturns. One of the founders of Redstone, Helen Rothstein, often commented that she sold candy bars during the Great Depression. She quipped, "People couldn't afford their mortgage, but they could still spare a nickel for a Hershey bar." Don't worry folks, the year will turn out fine. Gas will go up, but who is going to cut back on an occasional affordable luxury. We aren't asking our customers to spend $10,000 on a luxury vacation, just $10-$20 for some candy.

Not surprisingly, the NCA (confectioner's association) agrees...

Candy remains an affordable luxury
Candy sales hit $29.1 billion in 2007 and are expected to increase up to 3% this year, said Susan Fussell, spokeswoman for NCA. "Historically during either recessions or economic downturns, people continue to buy candy in part because it's an affordable luxury," she said. Austin American-Statesman (Texas) (free registration) (7/21)

Wild West Lollipops Update

2008-07-16T09:57:00.001-05:00

Just a brief update on the Wild West Lollipops.

They are going FANTASTIC. We are selling the fool out of them and so are our customers. Sell through is very strong and we are excited. We have just ordered another huge batch to arrive early fall and are working on some new items and some improvements for the beginning of the year. Give them a try, you’ll be glad you did.

Schokinag - About the Flavors

2008-07-14T20:16:00.004-05:00

Now for more on the outstanding Schokinag – European Drinking Chocolate

Triple Chocolate: A rich treat made with tiny morsels of real dark and milk chocolate with a dusting of pure cocoa powder.

Chocolate Mint: The classic combination of rich dark and milk chocolate and refreshing mint now makes a smooth, comforting beverage. Perfect for the holidays, or for every day, this is chocolate mint like you have never experienced.

Chocolate Mocha: One of the best-loved flavor combinations the world over – chocolate and coffee – is taken to new heights with out chocolate lover’s version of the traditional chocolate mocha made with milk chocolate, white chocolate, and real Columbian coffee.

Dulce De Leche: Inspired by the creamy caramel and milk confection popular in South America, our Dulce de Leche drinking chocolate is made only with real bits of white chocolate and natural caramel.

Winner NASFT Outstanding Beverage 2004!

Extreme DarkTM: The ultimate dark chocolate lover’s drinking chocolate. Made with morsels of our Extreme DarkTM chocolate and a dusting of cocoa powder, it has a cocoa content of 79%. This is the richest darkest drinking chocolate available.

Winner NASFT Outstanding Beverage 2004!

German Chocolate Cake Flavor: Milk chocolate, caramel and coconut milk powder blend to create a beverage with the real flavor of a freshly baked German chocolate cake.

Winner NASFT Outstanding New Product 2004!

Moroccan Spice: Our most exotic Drinking Chocolate yet, this blend of aromatic spices with dark and milk chocolate will transport you to the dazzling, romantic bazaars of Morocco. Experience the mystique of a rich civilization unchanged by centuries.

Strawberries and White Chocolate: Our NEW Strawberries and White Chocolate is a smooth blend of natural strawberries and our finest white chocolate. With a fine dusting of a white chocolate powder, it completes the first of many fruit inspired beverages to come. This lovely drink is perfect to accompany a pastry, dessert, or just alone as a special indulgence. Served hot or cold, it is truly a decadent treat! It also makes a wonderful sauce, fondue, or ganache!

New for the fall is the Organic Extreme Dark. With all of the wonderful flavors and aromas of the Extreme Dark, now completely organic!

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Drinking Chocolates - Schokinag

2008-07-11T14:16:00.000-05:00

The idea behind drinking chocolates is this - its like drinking a chocolate bar. It is rich, think, and delightful. Its not the kind of thing you would drink a huge mug of in front of the TV or at a coffee bar. It is far to rich for that. To prepare it, you warm milk and put the drinking chocolate in the milk. Drinking chocolate is essentially a shaved chocolate bar and therefore it is heat sensitive in the same way that a chocolate bar is.

In a word, drinking chocolate is much closer to a fine chocolate bar, than to cocoa that you would use in chocolate milk.

Schokinag drinking chocolate is one of our strongest sellers. Though we do well with drinking chocolate from Santander (available in the fall), the E. Guittard, Dagoba, Scharffenberger, and others, Schokinag is the fastest mover and the one with the most flavors. Just so you know, Schokinag is one of the worlds top chocolate manufacturers, in the states, they do not have a retail presence, but in Europe they are huge.

A bit about the drinking chocolate, from their sales material...
Our European Drinking Chocolate line was created in the style of traditional European chocolate drinks of the 17th century. Made with tiny bits of real chocolate and prepared with milk rather than water, your customers will wonder why they ever drank instant hot chocolate.

This line sells best for us from September through February, but it is available year round. Later, I will post a bit about each of the flavors.

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Gufstaf's Licorice

2008-07-09T17:11:00.002-05:00

By now, many of you have seen our newest licorice brand - Gustaf's. Below are some pictures and a description of what is special about each of the 3 items.

However, we wanted to let you in on a secret...licorice lovers are CRAZY. They are very loyal and will drive across town to find what they are looking for. While maybe only 10-20% of your customers are serious licorice lovers, they are loyal and willing to pay for the good stuff. So, while licorice may not be a huge mover for you, it is an important part of attracting and keeping great customers.

Below is some "romance text" from the company. We thought this would help explain the product.

31400 Gustaf's Duet 12 x 7oz
A composition for two. Our Chef has toiled endlessly in our kitchen to compose this delectable harmony to tempt your taste buds. Premium ingredients releases the intense licorice flavors. Bon Appetit!

31401 Touch of Italy 12 x 7oz.
Italia: Is it the place, the people, or the food? One taste and you're there. As distinct as the region it hails from, Touch of Italy entices the palate with a hint of bay leave extract. Premium gum arabic releases the intense licorice flavor. Buon appetito!

31402 Royal Rounds 12 x 7oz.
Befitting a soverign, these magnificant, Royal Rounds will please the most distinguished taste. Rich flavors of licorice are enticed by the highest quality gum arabic. So rare these days, but with royalty, no expense is spared. Enjoy!

Flavored Candy Corn

2008-07-07T14:02:00.001-05:00

The newest and host rage in the Mellowcream world, is flavored candy corn. For those of you unfamiliar with Mellowcream or Mellowcreme as some spell it, Mellowcream is a distinct type of candy. Most people are familiar with it as candy corn, though it can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

This year, the color/flavor combinations are stepped up a bit. We have lots of flavors for our customers and the colors to match. This product is from Zachary and the price is right. Click below for pictures and call us for more information.

For Halloween
05021 ZACHARY CARAMEL APPLE CANDY CORN
05027 ZACHARY CARAMEL CANDY CORN

For Christmas
05869 ZACHARY CANDY CORN - CANDY CANE
05871 ZACHARY CANDY CORN – EGGNOG
05870 ZACHARY CANDY CORN – GINGERBREAD

Give it a shot, its something new and exciting!

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Its Summertime, Enjoy a Margarita

2008-06-23T16:53:00.001-05:00

We heard the weatherman talking about a cooling trend dropping the highs into the low 90's. Its must be summer.

Now that summer is here, its hot. What is better than a nice, cool, refreshing margarita? A quick search for the word Margarita, yielded the following results...

55101 RED STONE'S MARGARITA CHOCOLATE BAR 24/2.25z

55112 RED STONE'S MARGARITA TAFFY BOX 24/8oz

55165 RED STONE'S MARGARITA RIM TRIM 6/4.5oz

55200 RED STONE'S MARGARITA DROPS 6/7oz

55400 RED STONE'S MINI MARGARITA COOKIES 11/9oz

8140 RED STONE'S MARGARITA SOURS 12/10oz

52968 JELLY BELLY MARGARITA 10/LB

0075 HOTLIX MARGARITA POPS W/SALT SUGARFREE 36/1 oz

As always, click on the item number to see a picture. Happy drinking - er, hunting.

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Great New Snack - Pogos

2008-06-18T15:52:00.001-05:00

We are always on the lookout for a great snack item that isn't usually available in the mass market - now we've got it. Its pogos. Check out the description below. Sounds cool huh? Give it a try - sales are brisk and customers are responding very well to them...

"You have never tasted a potato cheese stick like it! When you open the bag, the aroma of cheese tells you - it’s the real thing! Tons of crunchy, cheesy taste and none of the messy orange stuff left on your hands. Our unique baking process allows us to create a more wholesome product using only all-natural, non-GMO ingredients. Better-for-you has never tasted so good.

00221	POGO'S HICKORY SMOKED POTATO CHEESE STICKS	24/2oz
00251	POGO'S HICKORY SMOKED POTATO CHEESE STICKS	12/5oz
00222	POGO'S JALAPENO POTATO CHEESE STICKS	24/2oz
00252	POGO'S JALAPENO POTATO CHEESE STICKS	12/5oz
00220	POGO'S WHITE CHEDDAR POTATO CHEESE STICKS	24/2oz
00250	POGO'S WHITE CHEDDAR POTATO CHEESE STICKS	12/5oz

Fantastic Lollipops Now In

2008-06-17T12:51:00.001-05:00

We just received a shipment of some new, fantastic lollipops. These are high quality, in displays, and at a better price that what has previously been available. Come and get 'em!

Item # Case Unit Description

59711	24	2.1oz	Western Pops w/Display
59712	24	2.1oz	Texas Pops w/Display
59713	24	2.1oz	Cow Pops w/Display
59714	24	2.1oz	Train Pops w/Display
59721	48	1oz	Twisty Pops w/Display
59722	48	1.5oz	Twisty Pops w/Display
59723	24	2.5oz	Twisty Pops w/Display
59731	48	1.5oz	Swirl Suckers w/Display
59732	24	3oz	Swirl Suckers w/Display
59733	36	6oz	Swirl Suckers
59734	24	10oz	Swirl Suckers

Click on the item number to see a picture of the item!

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Christmas is Here and Other News

2008-06-16T17:41:00.001-05:00

Some administrative stuff this post and then we are back - with a vengeance. Tons of new items and lots of other great programs.

But first, Halloween and Christmas are here!

Okay, don't scream, I know its just starting to get really hot, but we are on the road now, selling Halloween and Christmas.

We'd like Halloween orders in by July 14th and they can begin shipping mid-September.

We'd like Christmas orders in by September 1 and they can begin shipping mid-to-late October.

Of course, the earlier, the better. We start placing orders shortly and in some cases have already done so.

For all current customers, we have an interactive Halloween and Christmas price list we can email you with prices and pictures. Send us an email or give us a call and we'll send it your way.

Come back every few days for some great new products.

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Halloween / Christmas is Coming...

2008-05-02T15:40:00.001-05:00

In other news – we will have our complete Halloween and Christmas lines ready to go on May 19^th. Please call your Rep or our office at 972-446-1155 to schedule an appointment. We can come to you or you can come visit our world famous showroom.

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Great Organic Snack Bars

2008-05-01T15:35:00.002-05:00

Great news on the organic front…

We just got in a great new line of organic snack bars. Organic is a strong trend and consumers clearly express a preference for organic, particularly if it is not more expensive than a comparable item. [If you were in the grocery and had the choice to buy organic milk, or oranges, or riceThe brand is OSKRI. Its vegan, made with all natural sugars (like beet and date syrup), organic, and tastes great. It has lots of whole grains and fiber. Its not only a great tasting snack, but you’ll feel great too. They come in 18-20 count displays and are priced well. A product list is below. Please give them a try and let us know what you think.

01832 OSKRI ORGANIC COCONUT BAR-ORIGINAL 18/1.9oz Picture
01833 OSKRI ORGANIC COCONUT BAR-PINEAPPLE 18/1.9oz Picture
55574 OSKRI ORGANIC HONEY BAR W/CASHEW 20/1.5oz Picture
55573 OSKRI ORGANIC HONEY BAR W/DESERT DATES 20/1.5oz Picture
55575 OSKRI ORGANIC HONEY BAR W/MIXED NUTS 20/1.5oz Picture
11810 OSKRI ORGANIC QUINOA BAR 18/1.9oz Picture
44400 OSKRI ORGANIC SESAME BAR W/DATE SYRUP 18/1.9oz Picture
44410 OSKRI ORGANIC SESAME BAR W/MOLASSES 18/1.9oz Picture

Great Organic Snack Bars

2008-05-01T15:35:00.001-05:00

Great news on the organic front…

The brand is OSKRI. Its vegan, made with all natural sugars (like beet and date syrup), organic, and tastes great. It has lots of whole grains and fiber. Its not only a great tasting snack, but you’ll feel great too. They come in 18-20 count displays and are priced well. A product list is below. Please give them a try and let us know what you think.

01832 OSKRI ORGANIC COCONUT BAR-ORIGINAL 18/1.9oz Picture
01833 OSKRI ORGANIC COCONUT BAR-PINEAPPLE 18/1.9oz Picture
55574 OSKRI ORGANIC HONEY BAR W/CASHEW 20/1.5oz Picture
55573 OSKRI ORGANIC HONEY BAR W/DESERT DATES 20/1.5oz Picture
55575 OSKRI ORGANIC HONEY BAR W/MIXED NUTS 20/1.5oz Picture
11810 OSKRI ORGANIC QUINOA BAR
18/1.9oz Picture
44400 OSKRI ORGANIC SESAME BAR W/DATE SYRUP 18/1.9oz Picture
44410 OSKRI ORGANIC SESAME BAR W/MOLASSES 18/1.9oz Picture

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Design 100 - Time THEO CHOCOLATES

2008-04-10T12:44:00.000-05:00

Great news: One of the great new chocolate bars we carry, Theo, just won an award. Theo was named to be in the Design 100.

A little information about the company (borrowed from the website):

Theo Chocolate Joseph Whinney's Seattle-based company, Theo Chocolate, is the first roaster of organic fair-trade cacao in the U.S. The company highlights regional flavors with products like its 65% Madagascar bar and combines chocolate with delicacies like toasted French bread.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1727737_1727675_1727251,00.html

Stay tuned for more information on some fantastic new products.

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Bali's Best

2008-03-17T15:41:00.001-05:00

We just got a new line in - called Bali's best. It is hanging bags of Coffee and Tea flavored items. It comes from Indonesia where Coffee and Tea are grown. The hard candies are all individually wrapped, 42 pieces inside of a bag. The coffee flavors are in a shiny bag and the teas in a matte finish bag. The price is very attractive and we have racks to display the product, if you like. This product is perfect for summer and right in-line with the trend of American interest in higher end Coffees and Teas. The flavors are strong and true - give them a try today.

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Great Publicity for New Tree - Oprah!

2008-03-14T12:11:00.000-05:00

I think we can all agree that when Oprah talks, people listen. When a book goes on her bookclub, its an instant success. When she recommends a product, service, or even a person, she can move mountains. Dr. Phil got his start on her show and he has been on air for 10 years (our favorite quote, "Hows that workin' out for 'ya?" Her magazine is incredible and next year she is launching her own network.

Her magazine just put New Tree Chocolates on "THE 'O' LIST". Folks, it doesn't get better than that. In all seriousness, we expect to see a spike in sales and an increase in name recognition. This is really going to help the brand long term as well.

We should also remember to thank New Tree. We did a blog on "How to Taste Chocolate" and we stole most of the content from Oprah.

Please let us know what reaction, if any, you see to the increased publicity in the next month or two.

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Redstone Chocolate Bars

2008-03-03T16:37:00.001-06:00

Lately we have gotten a ton of emails - that can only be described as fan mail. They all concern our Redstone Chocolate Bars. I won't go into too much detail about the chocolate bars except to say that they rock, we are adding more every few months, and you can see more information here:
http://redstonefoods.blogspot.com/2008/02/chili-in-chocolate.html. We recently added a Cranberry bar as well, also in 72% fantastic Belgian chocolate.

Below are the raves (just for this week):

Email 1:

Your Chipotle dark chocolate bar is one of the best chocolates I’ve ever had! What a delicious combination.

My problem is that I’m running out of the bar my friend bought for me when she visited XXXX and I have no clue where to find some locally up here in the XXXX area.

Can you help me find it? Otherwise I will want to order some directly from you. [Ed – we do not sell direct to the public.]

Help! I’m addicted.

Email 2:

I'm just writing to let you know how much I enjoy your spicy chocolate bars. I recently purchased two different varieties of Redstone chocolate bars: the jalepeno and salted peanut bar, and the chipotle pepper bar, at Central Market in Dallas TX. I enjoyed the mix of flavors and textures in the jalepeno bar, and the chipotle bar was a perfect balance of spicy and sweet. As someone who enjoys both spicy food and dark chocolate, it was perfect. I've tried several different kinds of peppery chocolates and truffles, and your brand was the best. My only complaint is that I actually live in XXXX, and haven't seen your brand for sale in my area, so I will have to wait until my next trip to enjoy it again.

Thanks so much for your work, and I look forward to you expanding all across the country!

Email 3:

My wife and I just experienced the wonderful sensation of your red chili chipotle dark chocolate bar. I purchased one at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport yesterday and we both fell in love with the decadent and exotic taste of your product. We would very much like to purchase a box of them. Please let us know how we can do so and how much they would be.

We look forward to your reply. Our sincere congratulations on your delightful product!

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Single Origin Chocolate - What's the Deal?

2008-02-27T14:15:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I’m sure you are all asking, what’s the big deal about Single Origin chocolates. I have some information below, mostly from the NYT article http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/08/dining/08choc.html. The article is worth the read if you are really into wine or the finer points of chocolate. If not, a quick and dirty summary is below:

Single origin chocolates are made from cocoa beans from a particular region or area.
In the example of Santander (from the article below), the beans are all grown in Columbia.
Estate or single varietal chocolates are a take on the single origin, only they are from an even smaller geographic area or plantation.

Many other things effect the taste of the chocolate including how the cocoa beans are dried and roasted, how much cocoa butter is added, the amount and quantities of everything else going into the chocolate such as sugar, vanilla, cocoa butter, and inclusions.

Happy Eating!

Chocolate Santander

2008-02-25T10:14:00.000-06:00

Always on the hunt for the best and most saleable chocolate we can find, we found another hot one - Santander. Santander is a chocolate company based in Columbia. All of the chocolate they produce is single origin. Below are some highlights and our product list. I have stolen the wording and information liberally from their website.

Chocolate Santander, a single origin chocolate produced in Colombia, takes its name from the State of Santander, Eastern Colombia. The privileged terrains of the Andean mountains of Yariguies, yields Colombia’s best cacao known by its exquisite and delicate flavor.
Peasants in the Santander municipalities of San Vicente de Chucurí, El Carmen, Rionegro and Landázuri have been growing cacao for more than two centuries in medium-size and small farms that sustain over 12,000 families. Cacao pods, in colorful yellows and reds, oranges and violets, are hand harvested with scissors and forks, split-opened with short machetes, sorted, fermented in wooden boxes, and then dried in the sun on wooden boards, all according to a centuries-old tradition that brings out the outstanding organoleptic attributes of Chocolate Santander.
The special features of Chocolate Santander, the mix of Trinitario and Criollo cacao, rural tradition, and modern processing and quality-control technology are the pride of Compañía Nacional de Chocolates. Remarkable of this exceptional family of exclusive single-origin chocolates are the outstanding flavor, the richness of its floral and fruity aromas, and the distinctive nutty hues, attributes that will doubtlessly please the palates of the most demanding chocolate experts.
For over half a century this company has been promoting good cultivation practices among growers like the use of organic fertilizers, species improvement and soil protection through adequate shading in planted forests that protect water sources and mountain slopes. For over half a century since the 1950’s, Compañía Nacional de Chocolates has been working side by side with cocoa growers. Its policy has been that of building an equitable and fair model that benefits producers and consumers alike and contributes to the country’s development.

Aware of its responsibility, the Company abides by its corporate principles, namely:
Fair prices and cash payments to growers.
Permanent attention to maintaining good working conditions for all our personnel.
Contribution to the wellbeing of workers and their families.
Support to research and new technological developments at the Company’s agriculture farm.
Promotion of sustainable and friendly agricultural practices.
Establishment of a new farm with other sector members.
Strengthening of cooperatives and growers associations.
Improvements to growers’ competitiveness and returns, emphasizing sustainable environmental management of crops.
Active participation in the Cocoa National Council, the Sector’s Policy Committee and the Technical Committees that direct and determine the sector’s future.
Sponsorship of educational programs in cooperation with the Presidency of the Republic.
Execution of the educational program “Nacional de Chocolates loves children” in existence for more than ten years.

Now its time to give this a try. My mouth is watering.

The product is inexpensive compared to other premium bars and is sold in 10 counts. Another neat thing is the range of cocoa contents as well as the interesting inclusions. Let us know what you think!

Click on the item number to see a picture.

40042	SANTANDER 36%COLUMBIAN S/O COCOA BAR	10/2.5oz
40041	SANTANDER 53%COLUMBIAN S/O COCOA BAR	10/2.5oz
40040N	SANTANDER 65%COLUMBIAN S/O COCOA BAR	10/2.5oz
40043	SANTANDER 70%COLUMBIAN S/O BAR W/COFFEE BITS	10/2.5oz
40044	SANTANDER 70%COLUMBIAN S/O BAR W/EXPRESSO	10/2.5oz
40252	SANTANDER 70%COLUMBIAN S/O BAR W/NIBS	10/2.5oz
40122	SANTANDER 70%COLUMBIAN S/O BAR W/PASSION FRUT	10/2.5oz
40123	SANTANDER 70%COLUMBIAN S/O BAR W/PINEAPPLE	10/2.5oz
40039	SANTANDER 70%COLUMBIAN S/O COCOA BAR	10/2.5oz

MARGARITAVILLE

2008-02-11T19:30:00.000-06:00

Margarita is a great flavor - heck its a great drink. In fact, we believe it is the favorite drink in the Southwest. We'd like to talk about the margarita items that we carry. They are in 2 categories - Redstone Branded Items and Non-Redstone Items.

Redstone Branded Items
55101 RED STONE'S MARGARITA CHOCOLATE BAR 24/2.25z
55200 RED STONE'S MARGARITA DROPS 6/7oz
55165 RED STONE'S MARGARITA RIM TRIM 6/4.5oz
8140 RED STONE'S MARGARITA SOURS 12/10oz
55400 RED STONE'S MINI MARGARITA COOKIES 11/9oz
55300 RED STONE'S JELLY – MARGARITA 12/12oz

These are all fantastic tasting, nothing is compromised in taste just to say Margarita.
They do well all year, but particularly well in the Spring and Summer time.
You will not have competition on price for these item from national accounts. You will not find these in any of the "Marts" or Wal-Greens, etc. We design these items with the specialty retailer, and the typical margins, in mind.
These are all small case packs with displays where appropriate. All have an easy way to merchandise them and have solid turns to keep product on the shelf fresh.
Special deal on Rim Trim - we have a buy 2, get 1 offer, while supplies last.

Non-Redstone Items
001269 COCKTAIL CANDY TWIST – MARGARITA 12/1.26z
0075 HOTLIX MARGARITA POPS W/SALT SUGARFREE 36/1oz.
52968 JELLY BELLY MARGARITA 10/LB
351 STRAWBERRY MARGARITA WRAPPED HARD CANDY 30/LB

These are not generally available in the mass market.
They can be part of a seasonal section in your store, but can be sold off the shelf as well.
Merchandising is fun with these items! The first two do really well by the cash register, the final two FLY off the shelf when merchandised inside of an oversized cup or margarita glass.

Please give these a shot and let us know how it goes!

Sconza - Fantastic Products

2008-02-05T12:20:00.000-06:00

Sconza is a great company with some fantastic items. They are family owned by some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. On top of that,

Anyhow, they have 3 outstanding items that I'd like to mention.
they have some really terrific items. Did you know that they are the largest producer of Jordan Almond's in the country? Pretty cool heh?

1. Chocolate Toffee Almonds: Four scrumptious layers of quality confectionary goodness: toasted almond, layer of buttery toffee, drenched in rich milk chocolate and dusted in delicate powdered sugar

· Made with premium California almonds

· Real premium grade Milk Chocolate

· Real Butter in Toffee

· Dusted in special confectioners powdered sugar

2. Chocolate Toffee Pistachios: Four scrumptious layers of quality confectionary goodness: toasted pistachio, a layer of crunchy buttery toffee, drenched in rich milk chocolate and dusted in delicate powdered sugar.

· Made with premium California pistachios

· Real premium grade Milk Chocolate

· Real butter in Toffee

· Dusted in special confections powdered sugar

3. Dark Chocolate Walnuts:

Oversized toasted Walnut pieces drenched in dark smokey chocolate.

· Made with premium grade walnuts

· 52% Cacao Chocolate

SCONZA CANDY GENERAL INFORMATION:

· Sconza family started making and selling candy in the San Francisco

Bay Area in 1939.

· Today, the third generation of the Sconza family continues the candy making tradition.

· Signature confections are chocolate covered fruits and nuts.

· Quality ingredients are part of the family legacy.

February Deals

2008-02-04T11:10:00.000-06:00

Gang - We have some hot deals for February. These are items that we think needed a boost or product that is still fresh, but did not meet our expectations and we are clearing it out. If you'd like to see the list and are a current customer, please email our Customer Service.

cs at red stone foods dot com - this is all one word. We have to type it this way so that we don't get spammed like crazy. If you don't understand how to type this, just call us at our regular number.

THANKS!

Chili in Chocolate ???

2008-02-03T13:55:00.000-06:00

You bet! When Redstone launched the
Redstone Red Chili Chipotle bar (72%
Belgian chocolate with Chipotle pepper),
people thought we were crazy. Less
than 3 years later, it is a top selling
bar. We now have a line of bars - see
below. The Christian Science Monitor
has an interesting story about spices in
chocolate.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/
1205/p13s01-lifo.html

55101RED STONE'S MARGARITA CHOCOLATE BAR

55102RED STONE'S RED CHILI CHIPOTLE CHOCOLATE BAR

55103RED STONE'S RED CHILI AND CURRY CHOC BAR

55104RED STONE'S JALAPENO & SALTED PEANUT - MILK

55105RED STONE'S OLD NEW ORLEANS CHOC BAR

Something Exciting - Ghirardelli Pecan Pie

2008-01-23T11:38:00.000-06:00

Pecan Pie - a southern favorite, is coming to a candy bar near you. This is insider news, don't tell anyone who told you (okay, you can link the blog if you insist). Ghirardelli is coming out with a milk chocolate bar that tastes like Pecan Pie. No kidding. It is truely amazing. If you LOVE Chocolate Pecan Pie, like your blogger here, you are gonna go ape for this bar. You get the flavor, pecan pieces, and a mouth feel of a crust, all in a chocolate bar. Coming soon to a candy distributor near you. More details to follow, but probably not until summer time.

In other news, we will soon have the Ghirardelli 3 oz. stand up bars (with display) available very soon. These are not new items. The packaging has been updated and the bars now stand upright.

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Theo Gets Fantastic Press - HOT HOT HOT!!!

2008-01-22T12:02:00.000-06:00

We wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you about Theo -- and some of the great press they are getting. Theo is an all Fair Trade cocoa bean company. They are an artisanal, domestic chocolate maker with great products, a catchy look, and some really neat add-ins. Two bar lines are available (see below). The larger bars are made from all Fair Traded, single origin cocoa beans. The smaller bars are made from all Fair Traded cocoa beans and are also certified organic.

They are really gaining steam and are now getting some fantastic press, including an Oprah favorite (left). We have the full bar line in stock. ORDER NOW, now when your customers are looking for something new, fun, trendy, and feel good!

Theo - Fair Traded, Single Origin Chocolate (12 / 3 oz. bars)

31213	THEO ORIGIN BAR- 91% VENEZUELA
31211	THEO ORIGIN BAR-65% MADAGASCAR
31210	THEO ORIGIN BAR-74% IVORY COAST
31212	THEO ORIGIN BAR-75% ECU/GHA/PAN
31209	THEO ORIGIN BAR-84% GHANA

3400 Phinney Organic Bars (12 / 2 oz. bars)

44407	3400 PHINNEY ORGANIC BAR-BREAD CHOC
44406	3400 PHINNEY ORGANIC BAR-COFFEE DARK
44408	3400 PHINNEY ORGANIC BAR-NIB BRITTLE
44403	3400 PHINNEY ORGANIC BAR-VANILLA MILK

Fun Items for New Year

2008-01-07T11:13:00.000-06:00

We have some neat items for the New Year, we wanted you to know about. They all come in point-of-purchase displays. The first group is licorice in various drink flavors. This is a fantastic counter item that is going to be big in 2008.

001245 COCKTAIL CANDY TWIST – DAIQUIRI 12ct.
001269 COCKTAIL CANDY TWIST – MARGARITA 12ct.
001283 COCKTAIL CANDY TWIST - PINA COLADA 12ct.

For kids, and kids at heart, we have the Sour Dipper Licker. This is similar to the lick’em with the stick that you put into the powder. It is inexpensive and a ton of fun!

009035 SOUR DIPPER LICKER – BLUEBERRY 36ct.
009034 SOUR DIPPER LICKER – CHERRY 36ct.
009044 SOUR DIPPER LICKER - GREEN APPLE 36ct.
009040 SOUR DIPPER LICKER – STRAWBERRY 36ct.

Fair Traded Chocolate from Divine

2008-01-03T12:03:00.000-06:00

Fair traded chocolate is chocolate where the manufacturer makes an agreement with a farmer or a farm cooperative to buy the cocoa beans at a price above the lowest available price. In exchange, the farmers agree to pay their workers above market wages and treat them better than is the norm. The agreement may also include other provisions, but the core is about treating the workers better.

We just started carrying a new line - Divine Chocolates. Divine's product offering is below. They have a very strong and loyal fan base and are getting some very nice trade press.

http://www.confectionerynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=81922-divine-icco-ghana

Read a brief statement about the company here. The unique thing about Divine is that they are "beyond" fair trade in that they not only buy the cocoa beans for a fair price, but the growers themselves own a piece of the company.

Divine Chocolate, the world's first farmer-owned Fair Trade chocolate brand, is based on the idea that cocoa farmers deserve more of the value of their product than they get by being suppliers of raw materials. Founded in the UK in the 1997, smallholder cocoa farmers benefit from ownership in the brand itself.

Divine Chocolate is owned in part by Kuapa Kokoo, a cocoa farmers' cooperative in Ghana. As owners of the company, they have two Board seats, a share of the profits, a say in the company, and a voice in the global marketplace.

1009	DIVINE CHOC SNACK BAR- 70% DARK	30/1.5oz	8-98596-00100-2
1016	DIVINE CHOC SNACK BAR- MILK	30/1.5oz	8-98596-00101-9
1085	DIVINE CHOCOLATE BAR- 65% DARK W/FRUIT &NUTS	10/3.5oz	8-98596-00108-8
1023	DIVINE CHOCOLATE BAR- 70% DARK	10/3.5oz	8-98596-00102-6
1030	DIVINE CHOCOLATE BAR- 70% DARK W/MINT	10/3.5oz	8-98596-00103-3
1047	DIVINE CHOCOLATE BAR- MILK	10/3.5oz	8-98596-00104-0
1054D	DIVINE CHOCOLATE BAR- MILK W/HAZELNUTS	10/3.5oz	8-98596-00105-7
1061	DIVINE CHOCOLATE BAR- WHITE	10/3.5oz	8-98596-00106-4

Great Ideas for 2008

2007-12-27T09:16:00.000-06:00

Howdy folks! Sorry it has been so long since we posted last. Our New Year’s resolution is do post more. We hope this blog can be a valuable resource to you. What follows in the next few weeks will be some new and hot ideas for 2008. We have previously posted about some neat gummy and mallow items. We just got some additional items in recently that were too fun to miss out on for the blog. They are bulk items. Details are below. If you want to see a picture, click on the item number.

1013487 Gummi Chickenfeet / 5lb.
1015494 Gummi Filled Strawberries /2.2lb.
1019045 Gummi Filled Turtles /2.2lb.
1006608 Gummi Watermelon Slices /5lb.

Of coruse, we cannot forget to mention the chocolate covered gummi bears, always a best seller.

K164 Kopper’s Choc Covered Gummi Bears /8lb.
K457 Kopper’s Choc Covered Gummi Polar Bears White /8lbs.

The China Question

2007-11-14T07:58:00.000-06:00

Sorry we were gone for so long. We're back!

Many of our customers have been asking about candy products from China. Below are some facts I thought you'd like to know.

-There have been no known problems with Candy from China.

-Factories that our suppliers use are larger and more modern than many of the factories where the problems in other industries have occurred.

-The factories our suppliers use are in business for the long term. They would not likely do something (like adding an unapproved filler) because they know that awareness is up and if they were caught they would be out of business forever.

-Many of the factories are HAACP certified. This is a certification level set by the US Government that identifies potential problems and seeks to avoid or correct them. This is very common in other industries such as juice or canned food, but not candy. Many Chinese factories meet these standards - many US companies do not.

-Labor rates are much less in China than in the US or even Mexico.

-Sugar costs more in the US than anywhere else in the world due to price supports. This makes it less expensive to make the exact same item with the same equipment and same labor costs in Mexico than in the US. Thus, if you were to make a candy that requires lots of hand work/labor and lots of sugar, it will be cheaper in China than in the US.

-Our customers and end consumers require that cost is moderate and thus we see more pressure to manufacture outside the US. This is especially true this year when price increase have been at record levels.

NOW FOR THE BUSINESS NOTES: We cannot accept a return because something is made in China. If you'd like to know ahead of time what is made in China, we can let you know. However, once a product is shipped, it is yours.

By the way, it is not possible in today's world to avoid products from China. Go to any supermarket, grocery store, Wal-Mart, or Target and pick an aisle (not in clothing) and count the number of items from China. Chinese made goods are a fact of life. This is true in food, but it is also true in the cookware aisles and utensils that interact with food as well as the rest of the store.

Of course, we continue to have a huge number of items not made in Asia and can help you work through these concerns.

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Everyday Christmas Ideas, Part 2

2007-10-29T10:08:00.001-05:00

Lets talk a bit more about some every day items that go particularly well for Christmas, the Fall Season, and Gifting. Today, we will talk about 3 separate categories...

1) Van Lys
Van Lys is a belgian truffle, dusted in cocoa powder. This is a fantastic item. The price is very good and the markup that most of our customers get is among the best of any gift item. There are 5 flavors:

08209	VAN LYS TRUFFLE BALLOTIN-COFFEE	20/7oz
08310	VAN LYS TRUFFLE BALLOTIN-COGNAC	20/7oz
08109	VAN LYS TRUFFLE BALLOTIN-HAZELNUT	20/7oz
08009	VAN LYS TRUFFLE BALLOTIN-NATURE ORIG	20/7oz
08409	VAN LYS TRUFFLE BALLOTIN-ORANGE	20/7oz

2) Make Your Own Mix
Some of our customers make their own mixes of everyday product to be a holiday product. This works with the colors of any holiday. Favorite candies to mix into holiday colors are Jelly Belly, M&M Colorworks, Ghiradelli Squares, and Lindor Balls.

Think red and green lindor balls for Christmas or Orange and Black M&Ms for Halloween, Ghiradelli Squares mint and dark (green and red) for Christmas, Green, Yellow, and Purple Jelly Bellies for Mardi Gras, etc. You get the idea.

3) Bags and Containers
Redstone has lots of different containers and bags for each season and for every day. Where we use customer orders to purchase candy, we usually buy way ahead for bags and containers so that we can meet last minute needs. The idea is to take a cute bag or container and fill it with nice, but inexpensive product to make it a nice gift. For example, a clear bag with gold stripes filled with Red and Green Jordan Almonds is a nice Christmas gift. As is a Green and Red bag filled with white chocolate pretzel balls. I could go on and on, but if you use your imagination, your options are limitless.

Another hint - if you use every day product or product you already have, you can try a small number of different bags to see how customers react. For gift baskets, customer reaction is sometimes secondary to price or look and you can also play around with several options.

Good luck with this and please tell us what you tried and how it went.

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Great Everyday Christmas Ideas

2007-10-24T10:16:00.000-05:00

Certain items are seasonal, like Christmas Wreaths and Turkeys, Pumpkins and Red Hearts. However, some items sell very well, but aren't obvious Christmas items. These are all strong sellers, but volume really spikes during the Christmas holiday season. Some examples are below. I hope to do a few more posts later that will give additional examples. Please comment about what works for you and your stores.

Great Christmas Bulk Ideas
Marich Bing Cherries 956M
Marich Ice Creams 748M
Redstone Pecans - Milk 1010C
Redstone Pecans - Dark 1010D

Of course, any chocolate covered nut works fantastic for the holidays, as well.

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What We Are Up To Now

2007-10-12T11:08:00.001-05:00

I wanted to drop a quick note to let you know what is going on here. We are all but finished with Halloween. If you have any last minute needs, do let us know. Christmas product is mostly here in our warehouse and getting ready for the shipping. Our folks will be working 50 and 60 hour weeks starting next week to get all of the orders ready - and some will work more than that.

As far as Valentine and Easter (Passover too), we are busy selling that product. If you haven't made an appointment to look at our products, please let us know. We will need orders in house before you know it.

Good luck with all your holiday sales. Let us know what works and what doesn't so we can continue to grow on the winners.

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How To Taste Chocolate

2007-10-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

NOTE: The content of this blog has been graciously provided by New Tree Chocolate. We carry a full line of New Tree. Check them out today.

Forget the notion that chocolate is just for your mouth. Getting the most out of gourmet chocolate is a treat for all the senses.

1) Start Fresh
The best results are obtained with a clean palate. To get the true sense of the taste, sip or rinse with water or lemon juice before you indulge. Start with the milk chocolates and then move on to the dark chocolates.

2) Too Hot, Too Cold, Just Right
Store chocolate in a cool, dry place, no need to refrigerate. Savoring chocolate at the right tempature heightens the taste experience. Before your first bite allow the chocolate to come to room temperature to ensure a perfectly balanced release of the cocoa and sugar flavors.

3) Its Got the Look
The chocolate surface should be glossy and smooth with no visible blemishes. Dark chocolate typically has a deliciously deep brown hue, while milk chocolate boasts shades of light brown with golden tones.

4)Music to the Ears
When fine quality chocolate is broken, you should hear a crisp, definitive snap. The chocolate should not crumble or bend.

5) The Nose Knows
The smell of gourmet chocolate can be as rich as the taste. Fresh chocolate smells sweet and well, chocolaty. Close your eyes, breath, and take in its tempting characteristics – flowery lavender scent, fruity blackcurrant aromas…

6)The Right Touch
Higher-end chocolate feels silky smooth to the touch. Chocolate melts at body temperature so it will begin to soften immediately.

7) Savor the Best for Last
The smell of gourmet chocolate can be as rich as the taste. Fresh chocolate smells sweet and well, chocolaty. Place a thumbnail size piece of chocolate Close your eyes, breathe, and take in its tempting characteristics.

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Trends: Gummy & Mallow

2007-10-07T20:05:00.000-05:00

We carry new products every day that are made of gummy or marshmallow. Traditional shapes such as animals and coke bottles are just the tip of the iceberg. Many of them are shaped like other products such as:

Gummi Salamander - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/181T.jpg
Body is made of mallow and the tail, gummi.

Gummi Lunch Bags - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/229.jpg
Bag of various gummi items. Is this what you took to work or school today?

Gummi Pizza - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/507.jpg

Gummi Sea Critters - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/515.jpg

Chocolate Covered Gummi Bears - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/K164.jpg
One of Redstone’s more popular gummi items. Give it a try today!

Hello Kitty Marshmallow - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/121.jpg

Mallow Icecream Cone - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/165.jpg

Mallow Burger - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/129.jpg

Mallow Hot Dog - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/143.jpg

Mallow French Fries with Candy Ketchup - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/149.jpg

Mallow Pizza - http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/152.jpg
YUM YUM!!!

We have these in stock today! They are moving fast – don’t miss this opportunity.

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Trends: Chocolate is Good for You

2007-10-01T09:08:00.000-05:00

Trends: Dark Chocolate is Good For You

There has been much of current research showing the chocolate is good for you.

See some great articles (below) from reputable news sources.

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/12/20/health.chocolate/index.html

CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/20/earlyshow/saturday/main2710675.shtml

MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7339594/

WEBMD: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate

The message in all of these articles is the same. Dark chocolate, in moderation, is good for your heart and cardiovascular system. We carry more than 30 brands of dark chocolate, both in packaged items such as bars and boxes of chocolate and bulk, such as chocolate covered fruits, nuts, and with chocolates with fillings such as caramel or truffles.

Call our customer service, visit our website, or email us at info aht redstone foods dott com to get additional recommendations.

[Note: We spell our email address in this way to avoid getting spam. If this causes confusion, just give us a call.]

I did see something about needing 40 calories of chocolate per day to get the full benefit. 40 calories - HA! At that point, your favorite blogger here is just getting warmed up. Oh well, at least the first few bites I'm doing for my health.

Redstone has been selling chocolate for over 40 years now. Never before have we sold so much dark chocolate as a percentage of total chocolate sales. This is especially true for higher end product. For example, if we add a new high end, gourmet chocolate bar line that has 10 items, 6 dark and 4 milk, 80-90% of what we sell will be dark. This is less true for chocolate covered nuts and clusters, but the trend continues there as well.

How does this work for your stores? Do you see this trend as well? Let us know in the comments.

Why We Are Doing a Blog?

2007-09-30T10:56:00.000-05:00

We want to connect with our customers in a meaningful way.
Our customers are busy and may have downtime in early mornings or evenings and this is a way we can keep the lines of communication open 24x7.
Our website is very information dense, but it can be challenging to find information on new items or trends and this is a way to bring important information to your attention.
The blog will serve as a fantastic reference to look back on.
Our suppliers want to provide information to our customers and this is an effective way to do that. For example, you will see a blog about how to properly taste chocolate and the blog is a fantastic way to get that information out.
The blog will be updated every week – we hope to have frequent updates and will respond to comments of a general nature as quickly as possible. Specific questions about your account or order should be addressed either over email or by phone. Click HERE for the Redstone Foods main web page and you can get our email address and phone numbers.

Who is Redstone Foods?

2007-09-25T11:03:00.000-05:00

Redstone Foods is a family owned specialty food distributor, focusing primarily on Confections and Snack items. We define “specialty food” as food not normally seen in traditional grocery and convenience stores. We are looking for upscale, unique products to offer to our customers. While we do carry products with wide brand recognition, such as Lindt, Ghiradelli, and M&M, we focus on those companies who have a higher end focus and less mass market focus. Even within large companies, we tend to focus on specialty items. For example, we sell more Licorice Altoids (http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/76451.jpg) than Original Altoids (http://www.redstonefoods.com/pictures/6991.jpg).

Our customers vary in size from very small gift basket makers and Mom & Pop stores to divisions of multi-billion dollar companies. They have retail stores, gift stores, specialty grocery stores, are florists, hospital gift shops, gift basket makers, and party planners – just to name a few. Our relationships are very long term. We have had many customers for over 25 years and our average sales person has been with us almost 20 years and our average customer service person almost 10. We do business almost exclusively on credit terms (meaning we ship product and customers pay us later) – we do not take credit cards and don’t require a pre-payment once credit is established.

Welcome!

2007-08-27T21:20:00.000-05:00

This is the new blog for Redstone Foods. Keep up to date on news and products at the company.