Nca

Sarah Atkinson. Pic: NCA

Appointments

Sarah Atkinson joins NCA executive team

By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced that Sarah Atkinson will join the organisation as vice president of membership & business development.

Pic: GettyImages

Seasonal

Love me do: Americans want sweet treats for Valentine’s Day

By Anthony Myers

Chocolate and candy's role as a social currency has been reinforced during the Valentine’s Day season in the US, with 92% of Americans claiming they plan to share confectionery with friends, family, and loved ones.

Career path: Pic: GettyImages

Mentorship

NCA announces its 2024 Future Leaders class

By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the eight confectionery industry professionals selected for its 2024 Future Leadership Programme.

Pic: GettyImages

Seasonal

Oh! Oh! Oh! Is there a right way to eat a candy cane?

By Anthony Myers

There’s no more evident sign that the winter holidays are here than the emergence of candy canes on store shelves in the US – but what is the “right” way to eat them? It’s a fun question that always gets American consumers in a twist, so here goes …

Cocoa trees naturally absorb cadmium from soils via their roots and deposit it in the nibs (centre) of cocoa beans. Pic: As You Sow

Special report

Chocolate companies respond to latest claims of excessive cadmium in cocoa

By Anthony Myers

Consumer Reports (CR), a US independent, non-profit member organisation, has doubled down on its campaign against lead and cadmium in chocolate and urges changes after a new survey finds a third of products contain ‘concerning’ levels of heavy metals.

US consumers will still have plenty of candy treats on hand this Halloween. Pic: Getty Images

Seasonal

Reality bites? US Halloween candy sales unspooked by inflation

By Anthony Myers

Scary monsters (and super creeps) with false teeth may not be the only ones to bite this Halloween as inflation is also hitting households across the United States, forcing many families to keep tight control of the purse strings.

The Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024 will be held in Indiana. Pic: NCA

Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024

NCA puts call-out for speakers for 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo

By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) Sweets & Snacks Expo is accepting education curriculum proposals for its 2024 event, which takes place at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 13 to 16 May.

Pic: GettyImages

Commodities

US Fair Sugar coalition pushes for reform in 2023 Farm Bill

By Anthony Myers

The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP), a broad-based coalition advocating to modernise the outdated US sugar programme established by Congress more than 80 years ago, hosted a recent panel discussion on opportunities to reform the legislation in the...

Pic: NCA

Online

NCA’s Always A Treat picks up top award for impact campaign

By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) Always A Treat campaign has been recognised for its innovative ways of promoting the benefits of the American candy industry, taking first place in the 2023 PRNews Social Impact Awards Cause Branding Campaign...

Anton Vincent receives his Distinguished Service Award from NCA President and CEO, John Downs. Pic: NCA

SOTIC 2023

Mars’ Anton Vincent and Ross Born recognised by NCA at SOTIC

By Anthony Myers

Anton Vincent, president of Mars Wrigley North America, was honoured with a Distinguished Service Award by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) and Ross Born picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award at its 2023 State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC).

Pic: GettyImages

SOTIC 2023

NCA announces 2023 Confectionery Leadership Awards

By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) announced that Target’s Tiffany Trombley, director of seasonal candy and snacks, and Sam’s Club’s Todd Budzinski, senior director of merchandising, candy & commercial bread, are the recipients of the 2023...

Just Born's Bethlehem factory after the move from Brooklyn in the 1930s. Pic: Just Born

Heritage

Just Born celebrates a century of candy perfection

By Anthony Myers

With less than one percent of all family-owned companies in the United States reaching 100 years in business, Just Born will also be celebrating the milestone by honouring and thanking its associates, stakeholders as well as the local community at it...