NEWS ROUNDUP 1995-09-11 (1)

Gum With Crunch Is Launched

Warner-Lambert's American Chicle Group here has launched Fruit*A*Burst, the latest addition to its line of new chewing gum products with crunch flavor crystals.

Fruit*A*Burst will compete in the $2 billion U.S. gum category, and, according to the company, is expected to expand the category by $16 million in the first year.

The new product will be supported by television and radio advertising, beginning in November. It's available in seven-stick single packs, bonus packs of 15 sticks and multiple packs containing eight five-stick packs. The gum is targeted toward teenagers.

Newman's Adds Chocolate Bars

APTOS, Calif. -- Newman's Own Organics here has introduced organic chocolate bars in four varieties: sweet dark chocolate, milk chocolate, milk chocolate with rice crisps and espresso sweet dark chocolate.

The products are available in 3-ounce and 0.3-ounce squares, and are made of organic cacao from the Talamanca region of Costa Rica; organic vanilla from Costa Rica and Veracruz, Mexico; organic sugar from various sources, and organic whole milk powder from Wisconsin's Organic Valley.

Following the tradition of its parent company, Newman's Own, all aftertax profits from the sale of the candy will go to charity.

Bogdon Expands With Sticks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Bogdon Candy Co. here has expanded its candy line with Sweet Sentiments candy sticks.

Entering stores beginning in June, Sweet Sentiments are crisp candy sticks dipped in dark chocolate. The sticks come in an assortment of mint, lemon, cinnamon and orange flavors. Each stick, which can be used to accompany a greeting card or a gift, has a message on its wrapper: It's A Boy!, It's A Girl!, Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah.

Sweet Sentiments are packed in 12-pack floor shippers. The candy has a suggested retail price of about $3.

Winter Clark Is Set for Season

PITTSBURGH -- Clark Bar America here will make its Winter Clark -- a 1.75-ounce peanut crisp bar with a white chocolatey coating -- available for the fourth quarter of 1995 and the first quarter of 1996.

The company plans on doubling production of Winter Clark this year to avoid shortages and order cuts, which, according to the company, took place during the fourth quarter of 1994.

New Jelly Bellies Rolling Out

FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- Herman Goelitz Co. here has created four new Jelly Belly jelly bean flavors for the upcoming holiday season. They are egg nog, hot cider, candy cane and cranberry.

The seasonal flavors are available from September to December only and join the official 40 flavors made by the company.

The egg nog beans are made with cream and topped off with nutmeg; the candy canes are made with oil of peppermint; cranberries, with real puree of cranberries, and the hot cider beans are made with apple juice concentrate and a mix of mulling spices of cinnamon, allspice and clove.