Trends for 2009

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

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.

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Funky Chunky

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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Schokinag - About the Flavors

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great Organic Snack Bars

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

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 rice and the quality and price was similar - how many of us would buy the non-organic? That is the choice here.]

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

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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Redstone Chocolate Bars

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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Chocolate Santander

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

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MARGARITAVILLE

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!

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Chili in Chocolate ???

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

How To Taste Chocolate

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

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

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.