Alpine Wins Bankruptcy Court Bid for Fannie May, Fanny Farmer Brands
The $38.9 million bid by Alpine Confections Inc. and North Development
Co. for the Fannie May and Fanny Farmer brands, intellectual property and 31
company-owned retail stores was approved last month by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
for the Northern District of Illinois. The sale was completed April 19, 2004.
“We’re thrilled with the court’s
decision and excited to be able to champion one of the industry’s
finest and most revered brands. Today’s decision means that Fannie
May officially becomes Alpine’s
flagship brand,” read a joint statement issued by Alpine co-founders
Dave Taiclet and Taz Murray.
Salt Lake City, Utah-based Alpine also announced plans
to open 30 to 40 retail stores beginning in early fall 2004. North
Development Co. is Alpine’s real estate partner in that effort.
Alpine also indicated that the Fannie May brand headquarters
and its small staff will be located in Chicago.
Since early March, Alpine has been producing and distributing Fannie May’s most popular products, Pixies and Mint Meltaways, under an interim licensing agreement.
Since early March, Alpine has been producing and distributing Fannie May’s most popular products, Pixies and Mint Meltaways, under an interim licensing agreement.
Alpine manages confectionery brands such as Harry London, Kencraft,
Maxfield’s, Hallmark Chocolatier, and Mrs. Field’s. According to the privately
held, 10-year-old company, its sales are approximately $80 million a year exclusive
of Fannie May and Fanny Farmer. With the addition of these two brands, the company
expects to become one of North America’s top 15 candymakers.
Lincoln Snacks Sold to Willis Stein & Partners
Private investment firm Brynwood Partners has sold
Lincoln Snacks Co. to Willis Stein & Partners, a Chicago-based private
equity investment firm with approximately $3 billion in assets under
management. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Lincoln Snacks manufactures caramelized popcorn and
nut-based snacks under the brand names Poppycock, Poppycock Just the Nuts!,
Fiddle Faddle and Screaming Yellow Zonkers. Stamford, Conn.-based Brynwood
will retain its Flipz candy-coated pretzel and graham business.
Food and beverage industry executive Tim Healy will be Lincoln
Snacks’ chairman and chief executive officer. Healy joined with Willis Stein
to acquire Lincoln Snacks as a platform on which to build a leading snack food
company. Headquarters will be relocated to Chicago.
Just Born Broadens Zours’ Japan Introduction
Just Born Inc.’s recent three-month test
introduction of its Zours brand in the Okinawa prefecture of Japan was so
successful, the company will expand into the country’s Tohoku and
Kyushyu regions this June.
Bethlehem, Pa.-based Just Born worked closely with its
Japanese distributor, Marubeni Corp., to develop a strategy for entering
the mainstream confectionery market in Japan. Among other things, that
involved designing a special Japanese-language version of its 19-gram Zours
pouch. Additionally, the Okinawa test market was supported by a four-week
television advertising campaign featuring a 15-second
Japanese–language commercial created by K&L Inc. of Tokyo. The
formulation of the fruit-flavored, sour, chewy candy remains the same.
Television advertising similar to that broadcast in Okinawa will also support Just Born’s foray into the Tohoku and Kyushu markets.
Television advertising similar to that broadcast in Okinawa will also support Just Born’s foray into the Tohoku and Kyushu markets.
“We hope to continue expanding the regions and be national over
the next 12 months,” says Ed Broczkowski, export development manager for Just
Born.
NACS Show Registration Opens
Convenience store and petroleum-marketing professionals may
register for the industry’s premier event, the National Association of Convenience
Stores (NACS) Show 2004.
The NACS Show, scheduled for Oct. 17 to 20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, will feature Mary Lou Retton as opening speaker. A debate between Newt Gingrich and James Carville will wrap up the show.
The NACS Show, scheduled for Oct. 17 to 20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, will feature Mary Lou Retton as opening speaker. A debate between Newt Gingrich and James Carville will wrap up the show.
NACS members can register and secure housing online at
www.nacsshow.com. Early registrants can obtain discounted rates,
receive badges and show materials before the convention and ensure that
their names are printed in the NACS Show 2004
Program Directory. The site will be
continually updated with information on exhibitors, new products, speakers,
educational workshops and networking events.
The show will offer 13 tracks of workshop sessions, each chaired
by a NACS retail member. Approximately three-dozen individual workshops will
focus on the issues, concerns and business-development opportunities that NACS
members indicated were of most interest to retailers in a recent member survey,
according to Jane Berzan, NACS senior vice president of events, marketing and
supplier relations.
Last year’s show in Chicago attracted 1,400
exhibitors and 22,165 attendees, including 6,931 retailers, wholesalers and
distributors. It was one of the 50-largest annual trade shows in the United
States, according to Tradeshow Week. The 2004 show floor will be segmented into six key
areas: Candy and Snacks, Facility Development and Store Operations, Food
Equipment and Foodservice, Merchandise, PEI/NACS Petroleum Equipment and
Technology.
NACS continues its strategic alliances with both the Petroleum
Marketers Association of America (PMAA) and the Petroleum Equipment Institute
(PEI) for the show.
People in the News
The Vienna, Va.-based National Confectioners Association recently
welcomed Dave Klabunde as its director of trade relations. Klabunde spent 15
years with the Fairfield, Calif.-based Jelly Belly Candy Co., most recently
as vice president of sales: national market division. Klabunde’s responsibilities
include assisting NCA vice president of trade relations Jim Corcoran with the
strategic planning and creation of NCA’s new All Candy Marketplace, a venue
for candy buyers and manufacturers to meet and plan seasonal merchandising events.
Klabunde will also manage customer and industry educational programs and research
projects, buyer relations and planning buyer recruitment for the All Candy Expo.
Maggie Parish joins ERCM, Warrensville Heights, Ohio, as director
of communication and training. Parish spent 20 years with Target Stores, most
recently as a senior buyer in cosmetics. Terry Green is named ECRM’s vice president
of category development, John Allen joins as sales executive and Ann-Laure Border
is named manager of customer business development.
Mark McLaughlin has
joined Just Born Inc., Bethlehem, Pa., as vice president of human resources
and community affairs. He will report to chief operating officer Sam
Torrence. McLaughlin has more than 25 years experience in human resources,
and most recently was senior vice president of human resources for Volvo
Truck North America. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial
management from the University of Akron and has served on the board of
directors of the Allentown Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.