Brazil’s leading confectioners prepare for Sweets and Snacks Expo
Cargill has pledged to accelerate tackling deforestation in Brazil, as well as neighbouring Argentina and Uruguay. Pic: Shutterstock
A group of leading Brazilian confectionery companies have confirmed plans to launch a wide range of new flavours and better-for-you products at Sweets and Snacks Expo 2019.
Plans are fast gearing-up for the event, which takes place in Chicago between May 21-23, with around 18,000 attendees from across the global industry expected to visit the three-day event.
As Abicab, the association representing the Brazilian chocolates, peanuts and candy manufacturers sector, explains, major investments over the past few years have seen the country’s export rates for the sector grow by 35.5% last year alone, totalling $679.9 million for 2018.
The United States is Brazil’s most traditional market in the industry, and companies are presenting innovations developed to attract new generations of consumers in the country and in the Americas..
Ten companies representing the industry are participating in the Brazil Pavilion, booth 1861, with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). The companies include Berbau, Ebare, Emex, Garoto, Grano, Jazam, Marilan, Peccin, Riclan and Simas.
Among the highlights of the Brazilian delegation, the following products will be participating in the Sweets and Snacks 2019 New Product Showcase:
Garoto, the traditional chocolate manufacturer, takes to the New Product Showcase two launches of the Talento line – dark chocolate with a Passionfruit layer 50% cacao, and dark chocolate with raspberry layer (also 50% cacao), in addition to the emblematic Assorted Bonbon Box, one of the best-known Brazilian products in the international market. Garoto is also launching Talento dark chocolate with cocoa nibs (70% cacao) and Talento dark chocolate with salted caramel 50.
For its part, snack manufacturer Marilan is presenting its line of Pit Stop wholegrain cookies in three versions of healthy products made with whole-wheat flour and in versions with chia, quinoa, linseed, oats, and rye. It is also presenting Magic Toast, a unique low-fat, low-calorie cereal-based toast product (only 13 calories per unit) with 6 internal mini-packs that keep the product fresh and crispy.
Meanwhile, Peccin, which manufactures Trento, which is one of the best-known Brazilian chocolates in the wider global market, is launching three new product platforms: Mini-Trento, Trento Nero, Trento Cheesecake. It is also presenting its Trento Bites. The new releases are the result of R$40 million (about $10.6 million) in investments by the company in the development of new products, construction of a new chocolate production plant, and modernisation of the candies plant.
Another highlight of the pavilion will be Simas, one of the most traditional Brazilian exporters to the US. The company is presenting two lollipops: Cherry Pop Energy – a 14g lollipop with raspberry and pineapple-flavored gum filling, not containing and stimulating or energetic compounds; and Tiger Pop – a 11g hard lollipop, in a flat rounded shape, with citrus flavors of strawberry, acerola and orange, and striped blended colours.
Meanwhile, Riclan, will be focusing on its better-for-you products – drops (hard candy with Vitamin C and propolis) and toffee (lactose-free and diet caramels). The company invested about $2 million to increase its production capacity, with a 5,000-square-meter expansion, and reached $18.7 million in exports in 2018.
