SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- Select Safeway, Vons and Albertson's stores reportedly are taking part in a candy promotion that helps the Save the Children charity.
The stores have agreed to feature special merchandising units for La Casa and Rade-maker candy boxes and bars, according to Liberty Richter here, the importer/manufacturer of the candy.
For each item purchased, 10% of the manufacturer's wholesale price is donated to Save the Children, a nonprofit relief and development organization that helps needy children and their families.
"These candies help bring customers into supermarkets. Selling them is a good way for supermarkets to show they care," said Debbi Cagney, vendor liaison at Liberty Richter.
Other retailers selling the candy are Food Emporium, Raley/Bel Aire, Hughes, Ralphs in Los Angeles, and Carr Gottstein, according to Cagney.
Most of the participating retailers are putting shippers in high-traffic areas. They consist of La Casa chocolate "fun" bars and/or Rademaker Dutch milk or mint chocolate candies. The "fun" bars and candy boxes sell at a suggested retail of $1.79 and $2.99 each, respectively.
La Casa "fun" bars are available in shippers in 48-, 72- and 96-counts. The Rademaker candies come in shippers that hold 48 boxes, 24 of which are milk chocolate and 24 mint chocolate.
Liberty Richter officials said the candies fit in perfectly with the supermarkets because many consumers are interested in purchasing products that will benefit a good cause.
"We wanted the giver to let the recipient know that they're caring people," said Bill Skura, senior vice president of marketing. "There's a need for companies to be socially responsible. Large companies need to show that they are sensitive, too."
