F&F FOODS CREATES SWEET LINE OF NUTRACEUTICALS

RICHARD TURCSIK

CHICAGO -- F&F Foods here has introduced a line of Happy Health Candies that are actually nutritious.

The hard candy is being billed as a nutraceutical and has three stockkeeping units: Fruitrients -- fruit drops in tangerine, lemon and strawberry flavors featuring antioxidants, fiber and nutrition found in fruit; Greenies -- fruit drops in grape, raspberry and lime flavors that are made with vegetable juice and feature the antioxidants and nutrients found in green vegetables; and Combatz -- orange, grape and cherry-flavored drops containing echinacea and antioxidants.

Dave Daneliak, director of marketing at F&F, said Happy Health Candies is the first line of candies to include more than a "token" amount of nutrition. Depending on the variety, a serving size of four pieces contains the equivalent nutrition of a serving of fruit or vegetables.

"Happy Health Candies satisfies people's sweet cravings as well as providing nutritional benefits," Daneliak said.

"Nutritionists recommend eating a diet with a minimum of five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. But really less than 20% of all Americans eat the recommended '5 a day' servings," he explained.

"Our mission is to promote good health by increasing the consumption of essential nutrition," he added. "With that lack of nutrition in the diet combined with the fact that the average American eats over 25 pounds of candy per year, what better way to get that nutrition than through candy?"

F&F began shipping Happy Healthy Candies this month, and they are expected to be on store shelves sometime in July. A 3.7-ounce peg bag has a suggested retail price of $1.99.

"We recommend it be sold in the candy department," Daneliak said.