Candy

Perfetti van Melle Brands OUT PERFORM Others!

October 2019

Are you carrying Perfetti van Melle brands in your c-store? If you aren’t, it’s time to stock up. Perfetti van Melle brands out perform their peer group in total, especially in the gum category!

Perfetti van Melle’s top selling brands are their super popular Mentos gum and the fun candy AirHeads. These are top performing brands year after year in convenience stores! In fact, Perfetti van Melle has consistently grown overall shares over the last 5 years. ALL of their brands are growing in all channels. This past year alone has shown an 11.2% increase for their brands!

2019 has shown some key innovation in their products: their Mentos CleanBreath mints provide customers with 30 minutes of clean, fresh breath. Customers love these hard mints because of their “power mint” mentality. Their strong mint flavors with Green Tea extract have consumers feeling confident. The new AirHeads gummies in their chewy confection category have five fun interactive shapes that kids love to play with! AirHeads are a trusted and loved brand by all ages. Gummies are the fastest growing non-chocolate segment in the candy category, making these playful gummies a must have in your store!

Make sure you’re carrying top selling products in your c-store! Check with your wholesaler for availability and to place an order today!

Ford Gum Enters into Licensing Agreement with Jelly Belly® Candy Company for Line of Sugar-Free Gum!

June 2019

Ford Gum, a leading manufacturer of retail confectionery and gift products, has entered into an agreement with iconic candy company, Jelly Belly®, to produce a line of sugar-free gum based on popular Jelly Belly® jelly bean flavors.

“Jelly Belly is a powerhouse brand recognized around the globe for their fun and unique jelly bean flavors,” said Steve Greene, Sr. Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Ford Gum. “We’re thrilled to expand our product options for consumers of all ages while remaining committed to our other specialty products including Big League Chew®, Carousel gumball machines, and our line of Smarties® bubble gum and candy.”

Ford Gum will premiered the new product line at the 2019 Sweets & Snacks show in Chicago, Illinois held May 21-23. Shipments will begin in the first quarter of 2020. The sugar-free gum line will initially include four of the most popular flavors based on consumer research - Island Punch, Watermelon, Very Cherry, and Berry Blue – and be sold in 12-count blister packs with a suggested retail price of $1.49.

“We’re excited that consumers will be able to experience our amazing flavors in a new way,” said Rob Swaigen, Vice President of Global Marketing at Jelly Belly. “As a leader in the gum industry with manufacturing based in the United States, Ford Gum is an ideal partner to bring the authentic flavors of Jelly Belly beans to this new category.”

“Purchase interest for a Jelly Belly sugar-free gum was very high among both Jelly Belly fans and gum enthusiasts. We’re honored to team up with such a creative and well-respected brand to create a product that candy consumers of all kinds can enjoy,” added Brian Heiser, Director of Marketing at Ford Gum. The bright, bold, and clean package design incorporates the iconic Jelly Belly® logo and Jelly Belly® jelly beans with an emphasis on the gum’s flavor and sugar-free quality.

About Ford Gum & Machine Co.

Ford Gum & Machine Co. is a leading U.S. manufacturer of retail confectionery and gift products, private label gum, and bulk vending confections and toys. Ford Gum specializes in both sugar and sugar-free products including Big League Chew®, Carousel gumball machines, and Smarties® bubble gum and candy. Visit www.FordGum.com for more information and follow along on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Jelly Belly Candy Company

Jelly Belly Candy Company was founded in 1898, and began making Jelly Belly® jelly beans in 1976. Today, Jelly Belly products are sold all over the world and the company remains family owned and operated by the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh generations of the candy-making family. For more information about Jelly Belly and its confections, visit www.jellybelly.com, or consumers can call (800) 522-3267.

Ferrero is the Fastest Growing Confections Company in C-Store

June 2019

Ferrero continues to show massive growth in convenience store. In the last 52 weeks, ending 4-21-2019, Ferrero sales were $124.4M, showing 64.8% growth! The company attributes its growth to speed to market, protecting the core, securing quality merch, winning the seasons, implementing JBP and attaining validator status.

The company will continue to drive growth in U.S. confections by partnering with customers, driving their base business and launching new innovation in 2020. One of the innovation items launching in 2020 is Kinder Bueno. This product will premiumize mainstream chocolate. Shoppers are looking for premium experiences and identify premium products as having high quality ingredients and have superior function or performance. Bueno will deliver on premium expectations and will launch on the front end with regular and sharing sizes.

Another innovation item is Tic-Tac X-Freeze. This product is a strong mint innovation that the category needs. Strong mints make up 28% of the category but sales are declining. Sales have declined 15.8% because of the absence of innovation. This is a huge opportunity as 60% of strong mint buyers purchase the segment exclusively. X-Freeze fits the needs of the strong mint consumer. Each mint is pill size and contains cooling crystals. 87% of consumers report the freshness is strong and 70% report the freshness to last long. X-Freeze will differentiate from existing Tic-Tacs on the shelf because of its unique pill size, different pack type and new pricing corridor.

However, it is important to not forget the Ferrero base items that truly drive sales and growth. Kinder Joy continues to see significant growth and is “never out”. It is the #1 item in velocity and 50% of dollars are incremental. In addition to Kinder Joy, Tic-Tac remains a strong focus. C-store owners should focus on the core flavors and start swapping out Wintergreen for Frosty Mint.

Keep a look out in 2020 for these new innovation items and ensure you’re carrying the top selling Ferrero items in your store! To find out what those items are, please contact RBG at 888-728-3724.

Perfetti Van Melle Gum is Growing at Double Digits!

April 2019

Perfetti Van Melle’s gum brands continue to see double digit growth year over year! The company continues to exceed total category growth at 7.9% in convenience as well while the total gum/mint/non-chocolate category only grew 2.7%. The total gum category continues to grow slowly. The total gum category in convenience only grew 1.5% in 2018 while Perfetti Van Melle’s gum brands Mentos and AirHeads Gum grew 38.4%.

It is truly impressive that Mentos Gum continues to be on a steady growth path. The brand is thriving in a declining category and is somehow able to continue to captivate consumers as a quality, premium gum that keeps them coming back for more!

One of the reasons the brand continues to grow is their constant innovation. In 2014 with the launch of their Mentos Gum Pocket Bottles the brand saw 17% growth. In 2015 with the launch of their Mentos Gum Big Bottles, the brand saw 27% growth. Lastly, in 2017 with the launch of the new Mentos Velcro Wallet packs, the brand grew 15%. To say the brand will continue to thrive is an understatement.

Are you carrying Mentos Gum in your store? If not, you need to be. Check with your wholesaler for availability and to place an order.

Big League Chew® Adds Softball-Inspired Character to Iconic Bubble Gum Roster

March 2019

Big League Chew® is proud to announce the newest member to its iconic bubble gum roster with the addition of a softball player-inspired shredded bubble gum pouch. The new character will be featured on its top-selling flavor, Outta Here OriginalTM and available online beginning February 1, 2019 - National Bubble Gum Day. Big League Chew is currently accepting pre-order requests at www.BigLeagueChew.com.

“Big League Chew is bubble gum fun for everyone, which is why we are so excited to introduce our newest character to the world,” said Rob Nelson, inventor of Big League Chew. “We often draw inspiration for future products from our dedicated fans and customers. Whether it is fun alternative name suggestions for our bubble gum flavors or new characters to feature, we hear you and we appreciate you. This new pouch is inspired by the girls who play hard and dream big. Welcome to the Big League Chew family.”

The new player was brought to life by Amanda MacFarlane, an accomplished freelance character designer and the daughter of former Major League shortstop Bobby Bonner. A self-taught artist, MacFarlane drew design inspiration for the new character from her softball-playing niece.

“Our plans to feature a softball player on the front of Big League Chew has been in the works for many years. We are thrilled that our customers and retailers are as enthusiastic as we are. We look forward to continuing to grow our team of characters and product line, while engaging with our loyal fans and new customers,” added Steve Greene, Sr. Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Ford Gum.

The Big League Chew softball pouch comes in a 4/12ct open stock case, a 2/12ct clip strip case, and will be featured in 60ct powerwings and 120ct floor displays along with the other top selling Big League Chew flavors. The item has a suggested retail of $1.49.

The complete line-up of Big League Chew shredded bubble gum includes Outta Here OriginalTM, Ground Ball Grape®, Big Rally Blue RaspberryTM, Swingin’ Sour AppleTM, Wild Pitch WatermelonTM, Slammin’ StrawberryTM, and Curveball Cotton CandyTM. Big League Chew products are available in retailers across the country, including DICK’S Sporting Goods, Dollar General, Five Below and more.

Bazooka Continues to Experience Strong Growth!

March 2019

Bazooka Candy Brands, the popular manufacturer of products like Baby Bottle Pop, Jumbo Push Pops and Bazooka Bubble Gum, continues to outpace the candy category! Bazooka is the #2 Non-Chocolate Manufacturer in the U.S. and has grown 3.2% in sales. The company is also outpacing the industry in Non-Chocolate Candy. From 2014-2017 sales have grown 9.8% with top ranked items in that segment. Baby Bottle Pop is the #2 Non-Chocolate item, Juicy Drop Pop is #6 and Jumbo Push Pop is #7.

In addition to their continued growth, the company continues to produce innovative products. This year, the Bazooka launched Ring Pop Gummy Gems. This new addition is inspired by the brand’s signature gem shape, with the new candy including a sweet gummy outside with a drop of sour gel on the inside to create a unique 2-in-1 candy experience using the latest 3D technology.

Ring Pop is a pop culture icon and favorite among lollipop consumers in the U.S. With the release of its latest product, the brand shows no signs of slowing down. Check with your wholesaler for availability!

The Candy Brand That Has Stood the Test of Time!

March 2019

Annabelle Candy Company has been around since 1950. A family owned and operated candy manufacturer that has with stood the test of time, and continues to manufacture West coast favorites; Rocky Road, Big Hunk, Abba Zaba, Look! and U-NO.

Big Hunk

Big Hunk is a chewy, honey-sweetened nougat bar with whole roasted peanuts.

Rocky Road

Rocky Road Handmade marshmallow, coated with milk chocolate sprinkled with roasted cashew nuts.

Abba-Zaba

Abba-Zaba is a chewy taffy bar with a creamy peanut butter center.

LOOK!

LOOK! is a chewy nougat bar with whole roasted peanuts coated in chocolate.

U-NO

U-NO is a smooth rich milk chocolate bar with a truffle-like center covered in milk chocolate and ground almonds.

Provide your customers with this nostalgic candy brand. Check with your wholesaler for availability and to place an order.

Perfetti Van Melle® Has a Portfolio of Thriving Brands

February 2019

We all know and love Perfetti Van Melles® confection brands. From AirHeads® to Mentos®, the company’s brands continue to thrive. In fact, their portfolio of brands outpaces the total category by 7 TIMES! These brands continue to demonstrate strong growth in a weak and declining category with total confection down 3.9% and Perfetti Van Melle® UP 1.4%. One of their biggest successes is in the gum category. Gum continues to be a declining category, but AirHeads® and Mentos® Gum have demonstrated astounding growth in the category. Total gum only grew 1.5% in 2018, while Perfetti Van Melle’s® gum brands grew 38.4%!

Perfetti Van Melle® has a variety of pack types for their mint brands. Stand-up bags currently represent a small share of the category but see all the growth. In fact, in the total mint’s category, stand-up bags share grew 4.3% while dollar sales grew 12.2%. Be on the look out for more mints to be popping up in stand-up bag pack sizes in the future.

Now where do mints sell the most in the store? Over 60% of mints sold in the food channel are purchased from the checklane. In fact, over 90% of convenience channel mint sales come from the checklane. Mentos® is the 4th largest mint brand in the country and is the 3rd largest mint brand in convenience. Make sure you are stocking Mentos® in your checklane in order to maximize sales on this top selling brand. It is recommended to place the following Mentos® Rolls in there: Mint, Fruit, Strawberry, Rainbow, Cinnamon and Spearmint. Fruit and Mint Mentos® Rolls are the top sellers, so those are a must have. Two other products you should stock in your checklane are the NEW Mentos® CleanBreath Mints. These new mints are available in Peppermint and Wintergreen.

Kinder Joy is the Fastest Selling Chocolate in America!

February 2019

Kinder Joy is a product that continues to grow every year. The brand saw more than $63 million in sales in 22 weeks and is the #1 brand in velocity. Kinder Joy delivers incrementality beyond category benchmarks and 50% of the brands dollars are incremental. In fact, 9% are new to the category, 41% spend more, and 50% are switchers!

Mainstream chocolate continues to lose parents’ interest. The category continues to struggle because there is no offer that truly captures parents’ interest. Unit sales per buyer continue to decline across all households, but more steeply across households with kids. Closing the parents’ chocolate opportunity gap is worth $1 Billon. The opportunity of this cap for capturing parents’ can be satisfied with Kinder Joy! Households with kids are one third of the US population but spent 38% of the dollars in edible.

Kinder Joy is the appropriate brand to capture parents’ interest and reinvigorate the chocolate category. Parents need trust that the products they are giving their kids are a quality product in reasonable portions. They also want to please and treat their kids while also bonding with them. On the other hand, kids need enjoyment. They look for delicious taste and fun/excitement. Kinder Joy provides this unique bonding experience between parents and kids.

Mints are Growing in Convenience Stores

January 2019

Mints are growing total breath fresheners in c-stores. This growth is driven by the Tic Tac brand. Total mints grew 6.4%, which Tic Tac grew 6.8% in 2016. Mints are the most profitable checkout category. Mint gum and candy bring the most margin, but mints bring the truest profit. Tic Tac is most efficient mint brand, bringing more share of profit than its share of space. As a c-store retailer, offering the right might to meet shopper needs is extremely important. Mint is the most popular flavor category with 63% share and $528MM in sales. Fruit comes in second at 33% with $276MM in sales. Cinnamon comes in third with 4% and $37MM in sales. Fruit flavors are the fastest growing growth segment and appeals to Millennials and Hispanics.

Traditional mint flavors represent 80% of the category and appeal to your core baby boomer shopper.

It is also imperative that you carry the right flavors within each type from the right brands. Traditional mint flavors include wintergreen, spearmint and peppermint. Emerging flavors include citrus, berry, and fruit mixes. Other flavors emerging in the category are cinnamon and sour/beverages. You can also build on the success with mixers’ exciting and unique flavor pipeline. Tic Tac Mixers come in two different flavors: Pina Colada and Strawberry Banana. Pina Colada is currently outpacing Freshmint velocity by 25%. Coconut was the 2016 flavor of the year. Continue to look for Pina Colada on impulse displays. Strawberry Banana is the biggest fruit flavor in total gum and mints. This flavor is expected to perform in-line with Cherry Cola based on testing. These two flavors have the highest appeal to Hispanics.

Tic Tac Mixers turn as fast as the top 10 and bring new buyers to the category. Incremental growth is seen with fruit flavors, with approximately 70% of buyers new to the category. In addition, 2 flavors of Mixers bring variety to a shopper that wants options. You should renovate flavors every 18-24 months.

Make sure you’re carrying Tic Tac gum in your store. Check with your wholesaler for availability and to place an order.

The Candy Brand That Has Stood the Test of Time!

November 2018

Annabelle Candy Company has been around since 1950. A family owned and operated candy manufacturer that has with stood the test of time, and continues to manufacture West coast favorites; Rocky Road, Big Hunk, Abba Zaba, Look! and U-NO.

Big Hunk

Big Hunk is a chewy, honey-sweetened nougat bar with whole roasted peanuts.

Rocky Road

Rocky Road Handmade marshmallow, coated with milk chocolate sprinkled with roasted cashew nuts.

Abba-Zaba

Abba-Zaba is a chewy taffy bar with a creamy peanut butter center.

LOOK!

LOOK! is a chewy nougat bar with whole roasted peanuts coated in chocolate.

U-NO

U-NO is a smooth rich milk chocolate bar with a truffle-like center covered in milk chocolate and ground almonds.

Provide your customers with this nostalgic candy brand. Check with your wholesaler for availability and to place an order.

Mentos is Asking You to PAY IT FORWARD

October 2018

This year, Mentos will help make FRESH CONNECTIONS with Big Brothers Big Sisters during the 2018 Back to School season. In 2018, Mentos is giving you the hance to PAY IT FORWARD by sharing a discount on mentos products you love with friends and also enabling fresh connections through a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America®. This promotion started on August 1st and will run through October 31, 2018.

Mentos will introduce the Limited Edition “Say Hello” roll as a flow-through for Mint and Fruit 14pc during the promotion. Each piece will have 1 of 34 greetings printed! This promotions works by texting “connections” to a number and receiving a coupon for a discounted Mentos Say Hello Roll. Shoppers are then encourages to share the coupon with a friend, classmate etc. For every coupon redeemed, Mentos will make a donate to the Big Brother Big Sisters organization to help make life-long connections.

There will be dedicated marketing for this promotion to drive awareness including dedicated digital campaign to support and reach shoppers near point of impulse. In addition, these campaings will be optimized based on learnings from 2017. But what is in it for a retailer? This promotion coupons will push customers back to the store ad well as create excitement at the store. Dedicated displays are available for each promotion as well as external media support. Shoppers will love the chance to give back to Big Brothers Big Sisters with every Mentos purchase.

HI-CHEW™ Tropical Mix

August 2018

The HI-CHEW™ Tropical Mix provides a refreshing assortment of exotic flavors, including fan-favorite Mango, and two exciting new additions, Kiwi and Pineapple. Each flavor is individually wrapped and complements a tropical experience. Mango, a classic favorite amongst HI-CHEW™ fans, tastes like you’re enjoying the actual stone fruit. Kiwi offers a refreshing flavor with real chia seeds to mimic the texture of a ripe kiwi. Pineapple, which is new to the national HI-CHEW™ flavor portfolio, delivers a bright and juicy taste with a balanced blend of sweet and tart. With three delicious flavors to choose from, the Tropical Mix will transport you to paradise with every bite.

MSRP: $2.39 (price varies per market)

Introducing Two NEW HI-CHEW™ Products!

July 2018

HI-CHEW™ Plus Fruit

Double the fruit, double the vibrant flavor! HI-CHEW™ Plus Fruit blends bits of real fruit into each piece of the chewy, fruit candy. Launching in two tasty flavor combinations, Mango & Pineapple and Cranberry & Grape, each piece features a splash of two flavors and a burst of real-fruit texture in every bite. Mango & Pineapple includes bits of real mango and pineapple, and Cranberry & Grape is blended with real grapes and cranberries. MSRP: $2.79 (price varies per market)

HI-CHEW™ Açaí

HI-CHEW™ Açaí brings a bright burst of sweetness and real chia seeds in each vibrant chew. The candy derives its rich purple color and real-fruit flavor from the açaí berry, which is high in antioxidants and known for its superfood properties. With its fresh juiciness and can’t-get-enough chewy texture, Açaí will invigorate your taste buds. Each Açaí stick includes 10 individually wrapped chews, giving fans a new way to enjoy this popular and trending flavor. MSRP: $1.39 (price varies per market)

Introducing Airheads® Brand Packaging Refresh

June 2018

Perfetti Van Melle has just announced a packaging refresh for their Airheads brand. In order to better unify their brands and elevate their positioning, the brand has developed brand new packaging.

The new packaging delivers meaningful improvements in stop/hold/close measures. The new packaging grabs consumers attention with a 42% increase in unaided brand recall. It also helps consumers navigate items and their benefits quickly. With the new packaging, there is a significant increase in speed to final product consumers are looking for, about 12-30% faster. Lastly, it gets the product in the cart with price appeal. This increase the franchise share by 20%.

The new packaging performs higher on key equity attributes:

• Is good for the whole family 68% to 72%

• Is a brand I love 73% to 77%

• Graphics make it easier to tell difference between versions 76% to 78%

• Is a high-quality product 77% to 82%

• Packaging brings to life the Airheads brand 79% to 84%

• Brand provides playful fun experience 82% to 84%

• Has a visually appealing package 82% to 87%

Below is a list of the products that have received the packaging refresh:

• 9oz Soft Filled Bites

• 9oz Xtremes Sourfuls

• 30oz Xtremes Bites

• 5ct Check Stand Pack

• 5ct Check Stand Counter Unit

• 9ct Check Stand Pack

• 60ct & 90ct Gravity Feed Box

• Fruit Bites 2oz

• Soft Filled Bites 6oz

• Xtremes Rainbow Berry Belt 2oz

• Xtremes Rainbow Berry Bites 2oz

• Xtremes Rainbow Berry Bites 6oz

NEW MatchEms™ Gummies Candy!

May 2018

Explore the flavor possibilities with Bazooka’s NEW MatchEms™ Gummies Candy! Bazooka Candy Brands is the leader in kid’s candy. Their brands Baby Bottle Pop, Juicy Drop, Push Pop and Ring Pop are all top 20 sellers1. The company also continues to outpace the total confections category2 and is a Top 3 NCC Confections Manufacturer3. Gummies continue to be a powerful and innovative segment. This sub-category is the fastest growing NCC segment with an 11% five year annual growth rate4. In addition, gummies count good sales were up 32% in 20165!

Kids love to customize their eating experience. Major innovation opportunity exists as there is a lack of gummy products that allow kids to build their own flavor. Candy customization is a proven success: Bazooka’s powerhouse Baby Bottle Pop and Juicy Drop brands empower kids to customize their flavor experience. With the New MatchEms™ Gummies, your kid customers can build their own flavors!

MatchEms™ capitalizes on kids’ desire for both gummies and flavor customization. This product features new 3-D gummy technology where kids can interlock 2 flavors to create a third. It also features more flavors per bag than other gummy candies with each pack containing 8 flavors allowing kids to create up to 28 unique and delicious combinations. Creating flavors and interlocking gummies are a hit! Kids love MatchEms™6 with 91% saying they would buy the product and 97% say the product is fun to each. This product is supported by national tv advertising that started at the beginning of the year.

1Source: IRI MULO+C L52 WE 4.16.17 for non-chocolate count goods

2Source: IRI MULO+C Total Confections L52 WE 4.16.17

3Source: IRI MULO+C L52 WE 4.16.17 FE CT GOODS where Base size < 4.3oz, Base price < $2.00, and ACV Dist > 10%

4Source: IRI MULO+C 2011-2016

5Source: IRI MULO+C CY2016

6Topps Product Concept Test, Building Blocks Research 2016

Airheads Exceeds Category Growth Year-Over-Year

Airheads & Xtremes Growth is Currently Over 4 Times Category Growth

April 2018

The Airheads brand is one of the fastest leading brands in the non-chocolate candy segment. The well-known, popular brand has a 4% share in the non-chocolate candy segment and sales grew 6.9% in 2017! Perfetti Van Melle non-chocolate brands are consistently exceeding category growth with Airheads and Xtremes growth that is currently FOUR TIMES category growth. In addition, sour is a huge trend in confection. Sour is growing faster than non-chocolate and makes up a large portion of growth dollars. Sour items are also up 8.4% compared to total non-chocolate of 3.1%. This trend is still growing in ALL channels.

New to the Airheads brand is the Xtremes Bites 30.4oz, Airheads Soft Filled Bites Stand Up Bags and Airheads Sourfuls Stand Up Bars. The new Xtremes Bites have a zipper closure which ensures freshness, is easy to open, reach in or pour out and is a great value with almost 2lbs of product! This product stands-up, won’t spill and has a high profile so it is easy to find in the pantry. The new Airheads Soft-Filled Bites and Sourfuls Stand Up Bags are designed with sharing in mind. They each have a zipper closure so they are resealable for freshness, are easy to dispense and are pantry friendly.

Expanding a brand portfolio with stand-up bags is incremental. They are also brining in NEW households. Those that were already buying, are buying more. 3.5% of stand-up bag dollar sales were from households new to the category and 64% were from households who expanded their spend to buy more stand up bags. That is 67.5% in total incrementality. In addition, all of Perfetti Van Melle’s leading peg bags will be available in stand-up bags in May. All four of their peg sku’s are top half ranking in the total US. These include Airheads Bites, Airheads Soft-Filled Bites, Airheads Xtremes Bites and Airheads Xtremes Sourfuls.

Another new addition to the line is Airheads Bites White Mystery. This new product inspires fun and intrigue in the aisle with five fun mystery flavors inside! The Mystery Flavor Category growth is 27% and Airheads White Mystery Bars are up 8%.

Make sure you’re stocked up on these new products now! Check with your wholesaler for availability.

Announcing the Big League Chew/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Contest!

March 2018

Iconic bubble gum brand Big League Chew and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum are giving fans a chance to be a part of history. In 108 words or less (the number of stitches on a baseball), these baseball institutions want to know about fans' "Best Baseball Day Ever" for a chance to win a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York where the Hall of Fame's Class of 2018 will be formally inducted on Sunday, July 29, 2018.

The chosen finalist and up to three guests will receive round trip airfare and accommodations in Cooperstown from Friday, July 27 through Monday, July 30 as well as an Induction Weekend VIP Package which includes tickets to all public events. The winner will also receive a one-year Hall of Fame Benefactor Membership and a $250 gift certificate to the Baseball Hall of Fame store, terms and conditions apply.

Fans can enter the contest online at www.bigleaguechew.com/essaycontest. Entries open on Thursday, Jan. 18 and close on Friday, May 1, 2018.

The contest is promoted on pouches of Big League Chew Original, Grape and Sour Apple as well as on Big League Chew shippers and powerwings. This special packaging began shipping at the beginning of the month and will ship through March 2018. We will also be heavily promoting the contest on our social media channels.

The "Best Baseball Day Ever" contest is a part of a multi-year licensing and sponsorship deal between the two legendary brands, including Big League Chew products branded as "The Hall of Fame Bubble Gum," as well as fan interactions through the Hall of Fame's Youth Discovery Tours and various signature events, like the Hall of Fame Classic legends baseball game held each Memorial Day Weekend in Cooperstown, New York.

Perfetti Van Melle Continues to Grow in Convenience

The manufacturer of top brands like Mentos & Airheads continues to rock sales!

February 2018

Perfetti Van Melle is one of those candy companies that continues to innovate and grow year after year. The manufacturer of top brands like Mentos, Airheads, Mentos Gum and more continues to out-perform their peer group over 9 times in total, as well as in each sub-category. The company was up 10.5% in dollar performance in total convenience candy in the last 52-week period ending December 31, 2017.

While the gum category continues to decline, Mentos Gum continues to grow! In the last 52 weeks, Mentos Gum was up 30.8% while the rest of the category was down 3%. Non-chocolate is another category that continues to grow. Perfetti Van Melle's non-chocolate products was up 10.3% while the rest of the category was up only 5%.

The candy company's continued growth is attributed to their ability to innovate and desire to always improve their products processes and products to meet their customers satisfaction. Their focus on constant improvement and focus on the future is what makes them so successful, and what will continue to make them successful in years to come. C-store retailers need to make sure they are carrying Perfetti Van Melle products. Your customers are looking for them, so make sure you're providing them!

Source: IRI National Convenience - 52 week period ending December 31, 2017 DOLLAR PERFORMANCE* Composite of Gum, Mints and Non-Chocolate

Introducing a Brand New Partnership with Ford Gum!

Members of RBG now have access to Big League Chew® Bubblegum!

January 2018

RBG Club Services is very excited to announce our brand-new partnership with Ford Gum & Machine Company! We are very excited about being able to offer the classic favorite, Big League Chew® Bubblegum to our members.

Ford Gum has been around for over 100 years. They are a leader in the manufacture and distribution of gum balls and gum ball machine banks as well as private label manufacturer of assorted confections and health-related products for leading American brands.

One of Ford Gum's signature products is Big League Chew®, the iconic shredded bubble gum brand. It is the #1 shredded bubble gum brand in the world, with over 800 million pouches sold. They also manufacture Smarties® licensed confections and Carousel® gumball machines. Members of RBG can earn a special rebate program for purchasing Ford Gum product.

Make sure you stock up today!

New Velcro Wallet from Mentos Gum

December 2017

Perfetti Van Melle has recently expanded their Mentos Gum into a Velcro Wallet pack. This is a smart move as 6 of 10 gum shoppers ONLY shop wallets!

Mentos Pure Fresh Velcro Gum is the strongest performing tier 1 gum concept. This concept was originally tested with consumers in early 2016 as part of a packaging research initiative. The updated Mentos Pure Fresh Velcro Wallet Gum is the most appealing concept to Gum Users. The re-closable Velcro packaging as well as variety of mint and watermelon flavors drives affinity for this winning concept.

This concept is only seen as different to other gum products by approximately half of Gum Users. 80% of consumers really want this product. Priced at $1.09, Mentos Pure Fresh Velcro Gum is the best value compared to almost all other tested gum concepts. This winning concept also earns the highest flavor and taste perceptions. Make sure you’re adding the Velcro Wallet pack to your set in 2018.

Annabelle Candy Launches a New Marketing Campaign Called “Unusuals”

Encouraging Consumers to Look Beyond the Mass-Produced Mega Brands

November 2017

Annabelle Candy is one of the largest family owned candy companies in the US. They manufacture some of the most iconic candy bars in our history including Rocky Road, Big Hunk, Abba-Zaba, U-No and Look! Bars. The company has recently partnered with a local digital ad agency Alaniz Marketing in order to undertake a rebranding effort and social media campaign of their iconic brands.

“We are excited about introducing our wholesome, hand-crafted candies to a new generation of consumers using digital media outlets,” said Andrea Luna, vice president of marketing for Annabelle. “These products, originally sold by our founder Sam Altshuler in a push cart outside movie theaters, have stood the test of time for decades, and we know that new consumers will embrace these classic brands through digital channels.”

With the launch of this new campaign, the company has a brand new website as well as a rebranding of its social media with a consumer-focused campaign “Look for the Unusuals,” which encourages consumers to look beyond the mass-produced megabrands. The company is using geo-targeting, billboards and social engagement to reach Millennials, known to crave unique, authentic experiences.

Annabelle Candy and Alaniz Marketing’s joint effort is focused on growing Annabelle’s consumer base and continued growth with their retailers.

“Annabelle’s remains true to its craft with its artisanal handmade candies. We are excited to help build awareness around such nostalgic brands that many of us grew up with and still love to this day,” said Roxanne Alaniz, president and founder of Alaniz Marketing.

RBG is a proud supporter and partner of Annabelle Candy and are excited for their new campaign. Check out their website www.annabellecandy.com for information on the #LookForTheUnusuals campaign.

Perfetti Van Melle Brands Continue to Out Perform

Mentos Gum & Mentos Mints Continue to Grow

September 2017

Perfetti Van Melle continues to have brands in the convenience store segment that out performs peer group brands by nearly 23 times in total as well as in each sub category. In addition, Perfetti Van Melle brands are also delivering strong performance in dollar changes in the last 52 weeks. Two of Perfetti’s top selling brands are Mentos Gum and Mentos Rolls. Both brands grew in total dollar performance in the last 52 weeks with Mentos Gum growing 21.9% and Mentos Rolls growing 5.3%!

Mentos Gum offers long tasting freshness in convenience on the go packaging in a variety of different flavor variations. They come in either packages of 15 count, 45 count or 50 count. Available flavors include: Pure Fresh Fresh Mint, Pure Fresh Spearmint, Pure Fresh Wintergreen, Pure White Sweet Mint, Pure Fresh Bubble Fresh, Red Fruit Lime, Tropical, Ice Flurry and Bubble Fresh Cotton Candy.

Mentos Chewy Mints are offered in several refreshing flavor varieties. Mentos Mins provides the benefit of a mint with an enjoyable chew! Available flavors include: Mentos Mint, Mentos Fruit, Mentos Spearmint, Mentos Strawberry, Mentos Cinnamon, Mentos Rainbow, Mentos Green Apple, Mentos Caramel & Chocolate, and Mentos Caramel & Mint Dark Chocolate.

Make sure you’re stocked up on these two brands that are sure to be top sellers in your store(s).

New Airheads Gum

Brand New Product from Perfetti Van Melle!

May 2017

Gum sales have been in decline for several years, however we saw an uptick in 2015 as innovative items were introduced. Mentos and Ice Breakers continue to grow the gum category. Mentos had a $28M growth and Ice Breaks had a $40M growth. Which other innovation generated over $100M (Starburst Gum, Extra and Sour Patch Gum).

Right now, there are so many opportunities in fruit flavored, slab gum. Non-mint flavored gum represents 34% of the gum category and fruit flavors account for only 12% of slab gum dollar sales. Perfetti Van Melle has introduced Airheads Gum! This gum launched on May 1st and is made with Xylitol and is sugar free. It comes in three different flavors: Watermelon, Blue Raspberry and Cherry. Each slab of gum has micro candies (Airheads flavored bits) and a candy strip layer which is also Airhead flavored.

These new items offer a mix of classic and innovative fruit flavors that will appeal to a wide range of consumers. Watermelon is the #1 fruit flavor in the gum category and is ranked #3 of Airheads bar flavor. A hero sku of line-up gives Airheads Gum a strong foundational flavor of gum. Blue Raspberry ranks #1 of Airheads bar flavor and has a unique flavor Airheads is known for. Lastly, Cherry ranks #2 of Airheads bar flavor and is a universally loved flavor, but underdeveloped in the gum category.

The launch of this new product is a winning idea. Airheads has been growing at a faster rate than the category due to innovation over the last 5 years. Airheads and Xtremes 2016 growth is over six-times category growth. In addition, Perfetti tested Airheads Gum against the top fruit skus in the category and outperforms and is the #1 and #3 fruit skus in the category.

This product should be merchandised next to other fruit gum slabs with Trident Layers/Fruit or Extra Fruit on either side of it. Make sure you’re stocking up on this delicious new product today!

Bazooka Candy Brands Continues Grow

Company Shows Impressive Year Over Year Growth

January 2017

In 2016, Bazooka Candy Brands grew 13.6%, up from 9.6% in 2015. The company is outpacing the category in 2016 consumption performance. In the Non-Chocolate Category, Bazooka is outpacing the industry and is top ranked among kids with Juicy Drop Pop, Baby Bottle Pop, Jumbo Push Pop and Juicy Drop Gummies. Juicy Drop Pop is the #1 ranked non-chocolate kid’s brand. They account for their access because of innovation, distribution, merchandising and the new 360 media campaigns. In order for C-stores to find success with Bazooka Candy Brands, stocking up on innovation and carrying the right SKU’s is key. Bazooka has many exciting new products that are perfect for c-stores and have provided the recommended mix of their products to include in your candy set.

Innovation

Juicy Drop Gummies

Bazooka has provided breakthrough innovation in the Gummies Segment with Juicy Drop Gummies. No other candy offers the interactive 2-in-1 intense flavor experience that Juicy Drop does. If you’re not familiar with this candy, you squeeze the gel into the sour-sanded gummies drop zone and pop it in your mouth. It allows for you to enjoy the uniquely sweet & sour experience. This product is perfect for kids because they can control their own flavor intensity.

Crunchkins

Crunchkins are dessert flavored poppers with a creamy coating and a light crunchy center. Each 3 ounce share pack contains exciting and delectable dessert-inspired flavors: birthday cake, fudge brownie, and glazed donut. The primary customer target for this product are kids, aged 6-12. This product creates an all-new, sweet snacking category which is on trend and highly incremental to the set.

Juicy Drop Gum

The new Juicy Drop Gum will change kids bubble gum. Kids love Juicy Drop Gum! Purchase interest more than doubled after trial. It combines the perfect mix of sweet bubble gum and sour gel for a long-lasting and mind-blowing 2-in-1 flavor experience. Each pack includes 8 bubble gum chunks and a patent-pending sour gel dropper to boost and extend the awesome flavor. An assortment of the 4 top-selling Juicy Drop flavors in each 16 count box: Knock-Out Punch, Blue Rebel, Apple Attack and Watermelon Blast. Dynamic graphics call out the innovative flavor boosting technology.

Ring Pop Gummies

Ring Pop Gummies is the biggest back-of-store launch for Bazooka Candy Brands. Wearable, customizable gummies are unique to the category. Ring Pop Gummies Chains come in a 5oz peg bag and contains 3 chains and 18 charms per bag. They have 8 emoji-themed charm designs and 6 kid-favorite flavors: strawberry, blue raspberry, watermelon, cherry, orange, and grape. Ring Pop Gummies Rings come in a 5oz peg bag and contains 24 rings per bag. They come in 4 kid-favorite flavors: strawberry, blue raspberry, cherry and watermelon.

Sugar Free Bazooka To Go Cup

The iconic Bazooka flavor now in Sugar Free provides an incremental all-family opportunity. 80% of parents surveyed said they would buy the Bazooka To Go Cup for themselves or their kids. The New Sugar Free Bazooka To Go Cup instantly brings incremental revenue to a flat category and are key to category growth. Bazooka is the only bubble gum in this pack type, adding differentiation to the set!