Nestle Adds New Items
- Nestle USA here is introducing several new items to its candy lineup, including Nestle Treasures, which debut on July 6. Nestle Treasures are individually-wrapped bite-size pieces of Nestle Crunch, Nestle Butterfinger and Peanut Butter Miniatures. All three varieties will come in 12-ounce and 7.4-ounce bags. The Butterfinger Treasures will also be available in 30-ounce bags.
Tapper Goes Interactive
CLEVELAND -- Tapper Candies here has signed agreements with several parties to develop proprietary interactive candy products.
Herman Goelitz Candy Co., Fairfield, Calif., has signed a licensing agreement with Tapper for Jelly Belly Juggler. Jelly Belly Juggler features a clear plastic mold of the familiar jelly Belly character. When kids press a button, a single Jelly Belly is dispensed into its left hand and tossed over its head, through clear plastic tubing, into his right hand, where children can retrieve it and eat it. It is scheduled to ship in the fourth quarter and has a suggested retail price of $9.99.
Tapper is also working with Bethlehem, Pa.-based Just Born on an interactive marshmallow Peep candy item. The product is currently under development. It will ship Jan. 1, 1999 and have a suggested retail of $4.99.
Concord Gobbles Gum Co.
TORONTO -- Concord Confections here, the world's largest gumball manufacturer, has acquired the Fleer Confections division from Marvel Entertainment, New York. Among the brands acquired is Dubble Bubble.
Concord is expected to invest new marketing and manufacturing funds to revitalize the popular gum brand. The transaction includes manufacturing facilities in Byhalia, Miss.; Waldorf, Germany; and Barcelona, Spain.
Pearson Buys Trademark
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Pearson Candy Co. here has acquired the Bun trademark from Clark Bar America, Pittsburgh. Pearson plans to introduce the Pearson Bun Bar in early summer in maple and vanilla flavors, and plans to revitalize the brand. Pearson's other products include Nut Rolls, Mint Patties, Butter Cremes, Nut Goodies and Chocolate Nut Rolls.
Hershey Strikes Sponsorship
HERSHEY, Pa. -- Hershey Chocolate USA here has reached an agreement with Strike Ten Entertainment, Shelton, Conn., and Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) to serve as a presenting sponsor of the 1998 BPAA National Family Tournament.
Strike Ten officials expect the Hershey brand name to help drive interest in family bowling. The National Family Tournament is the only national bowling tournament that offers a national championship and scholarship prizes for family teams. The other presenting sponsor is Qubica USA, a manufacturer of automatic scoring systems.
