ECRM hosted its annual Candy Planning: Christmas & Halloween session at Bally’s Las Vegas in February.

For those unfamiliar, ECRM programs bring together manufacturers and candy buyers for meetings that resemble speed dating, since they have just 10 or 20 minutes at each appointment.

However, no Christmas & Halloween program would be complete without the Kid’s Choice Awards, sponsored by Candy Industry Magazine and ECRM. Participating candy companies submitted products for young people from the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada to sample. The kids cast ballots for their favorite in each of three categories: Chocolate, Non-Chocolate and Novelty.

Candy Industry extends its congratulations to the winners. A look at the winning companies and products appears below, along with other new products that caught our attention at the show.

Kid’s Choice WINNERS!

Best New non-chocolate

Perfetti Van Melle, Inc. 
Erlanger, Ky. / perfettivanmelle.com
(859) 263-1234
Airheads Gummies

These gummy pieces come in Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Watermelon, Orange, Green Apple and Strawberry flavors. They’re shaped like the signature Airheads balloon, as well as a hat, bow tie, sunglasses and a mustache for interactive and interchangeable flavor combinations.

S.R.P.:  N/A

Best New novelty

Imaginings 3/Flix Candy
Niles, Ill. / flixcandy.com
(847) 647-1370
Mini Selfie Lip Pops

Now in a miniature version, these Lip Pops are perfect for taking selfies. Six pieces in a bag makes them perfect for sharing. Candy lovers can post pictures with the hashtag #lippopselfie.

S.R.P.: $1.99-$2.99

Best New chocolate

DeMet’s Candy Co. /Star Brands North America
Flipz Minis Milk Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Flipz Minis are a sweet and salty, rich and crunchy snack that’s sure to please the youngest — and most discerning — consumers.

S.R.P.: (24 oz.): $9.99

Check out some of our other favorite products below!

Bazooka Candy Brands

New York, N.Y. / topps.com / (212) 376-0300

Baby Bottle Pop Gummy Blast

Packed in a tray, the latest addition to the Baby Bottle Pop line features sweet, bottle-shaped gummies and Strawberry popping powder for dipping. The gummies come in Watermelon, Strawberry, Blue Raspberry and Berry Blast flavors.

S.R.P. (2.1 oz.): $1.79-$1.99

Baby Bottle Pop Candy Canes

Offering a twist on the holiday classic, these Strawberry and Blue Raspberry hard candy canes come with tubes of Strawberry and Blue Raspberry powder for dipping.

S.R.P. (4.6 oz.): $2.29-$2.59

Blue Moose Sweet Shoppe

Bountiful, Utah / bluemoosesweets.com / (801) 292-1339

Great American Fudge Co. Gourmet Fudge Bites

These squares of smooth, rich fudge are individually wrapped for easy sharing. New flavors include Chocolate Walnut and Peanut Butter.

S.R.P. (5 oz.): $4.99

Boston America Corp.

Woburn, Mass. / bostonamerica.com / (781) 933-3535

Rudolph Snow Globe tin

Each tin has a snow globe lid and is filled with 1.5 oz. of stocking-shaped panned dextrose candies. These are packed 12 to a display.

S.R.P.: $2.99

British Wholesale Imports

Westlake Village, Calif. / bwi-imports.com / (818) 991-6644

Violet Crumble

Produced by Australia’s Robern Menz, this candy bar features a crumbly honeycomb center covered in a chocolate coating.

S.R.P. (1.75 oz.): $2.99-$3.99

Mrs. Tilly’s Fudge

Packed in gable boxes, Mrs. Tilly’s fudge is available in four festive flavors. They include: Original, Chocolate, Orange and Rum Raisin. All varieties are gluten free.

S.R.P. (5.3 oz.): N/A

Guinness Mini Pints

Perfect for any Guinness fan, these pint-shaped chocolates have a Guinness-flavored center with a dark chocolate and white chocolate shell. Each package comes with 8 pints.

S.R.P. (2.2 oz.): N/A

Baileys Chocolate Caramels

These chocolate-covered soft caramels are infused with Baileys Irish Cream for a indulgent treat. Each piece is individually wrapped and packed in a unique hexagonal box.

S.R.P.: N/A

Brown & Haley

Tacoma, Wash. / brown-haley.com / (253) 620-3000

Holiday treats

Packed in festive boxes with ruddy snowmen, these holiday treats are sure to please. Available varieties include Milk Chocolate Graham Crackers, Milk Chocolate Peppermint Cremes and Peppermint Bark.

S.R.P. (5.6 oz.): $5.49

Brownie Points

Columbus, Ohio / browniepointsinc.com / (614) 860-8470

Brownie Points

These bite-sized pieces of chewy brownie center are coated in chocolate for extra crunch. They’re free of artificial colors, flavors and additives. They’re available in six flavors: Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark Crunch, Milk Chocolate Peppermint Bark Crunch, Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt, Dark Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt, Dark Chocolate Mint and Dark Chocolate Truffle Fudge.

S.R.P. (5 oz.): $4.99-$5.99

Caffarel S.p.A

Luserna San Giovanni, Italy / caffarel.com / 39-0121-958-235

Piemonte line

Caffarel’s Piemonte line features gianduia chocolate and toasted whole hazelnuts in elegant gift boxes. The individually-wrapped pieces are available in Milk, Dark and White Gianduja varieties.

S.R.P.: $7-$12

CandyRific

Louisville, Ky. / candyrific.com / (502) 893-3626

Surprise Candy Pals Christmas Gift Set

This set includes two surprise, scented plush animal toys, along with a collector’s card, a sticker sheet and two 10-gram bags of dextrose candy. There are six different scented plush animal toys to collect: Coco Puppersen (Hot Cocoa), Blitzen Beauregard (Vanilla), Pepper Mintze (Mint), Penny Perkins (Grape), Clarice Deerfield (Mint) and Santa Paws (Candy). 

S.R.P.: $9.99

Candy Treasure

Lebanon, N.J. / candytreasure.com / (201) 830-3600

Santa’s Toy Chest

Filled with 1 oz. of gummy bears and a full-size figurine, Santa’s Toy Chest is a holiday spin on Candy Treasure’s newest nautical creation, Bearied Treasure. They’re perfect as a stocking stuffer.

S.R.P.: $1.50

Christmas Unicorns and Narwhals ChocoTreasure

A milk chocolate shell hides a figurine, either a unicorn or a narwhal, two of the trendiest mythical creatures.

S.R.P. (0.8 oz.): $1.50

Chocmod USA

Fort Lee, N.J. / chocmod.com / (201) 585-8730

Truffettes de France Snacking Chocolate

Featuring a soft truffle center with quinoa and coated with chocolate, these bite-sized pieces offer a permissible indulgence. Flavors include Hazelnut & Quinoa, Cranberries & Quinoa and Coconut & Quinoa.

S.R.P. (6.35 oz.): $5.99

Truffettes de France Chocolate Pearls

These dusted dark chocolate truffles offer a taste of France. Packed in a stylish canister, varieties include Cocoa, dusted with cocoa powder; Matcha, dusted with matcha powder; and Raspberry, dusted with raspberry powder.

S.R.P. (130 grams): $7.99

Truffettes de France Chocolate Flakes

These bite-sized pieces feature a truffle center and are sprinkled with either cocoa nibs, Fleur de Sel salt or salted butter caramel. Each 50-gram package has nine pieces.

S.R.P.: $2.99

Churchill’s Confectionery

Borehamwood, England / churchills-confectionery.co.uk / 44-20-82071234

Rainforest tins

This cylindrical tins, called Birds of Paradise and Tropical Butterflies, feature colorful flora and fauna from the rainforest. They come with biscuits.

S.R.P.: N/A

Balloon tins

These balloon-shaped tins feature either the American flag or Union Jack, along with characters enjoying the ride. These tins are available with 200-grams of jelly beans, toffee or vanilla fudge.

S.R.P.: N/A

Dave’s Sweet Tooth

Harrison Township, Mich. / davessweettooth.com / (586) 948-9243

Dave’s Sweet Tooth will debut all-new pouches packaging for its toffee line. The packaging, reminiscent of the jars the company also uses, will is designed to give consumers a better idea of the product and its ingredients.

S.R.P. (4 oz.): $5.99

EFX Marketing

Brooklyn, N.Y. / happyyummies.com / (718) 645-9249

Happy Gummy Chanukah Mix

This kosher-certified gummy mix comes with seven different flavors. Shapes include gummy bears, six-point stars and dreidels.

S.R.P. (14 oz.): $9.50

Florestal USA

Hollywood, Fla. / florestalusa.net / (305) 779-5224

Cream Swirls

Available in Strawberry, these hard candy pieces are super creamy. They’re also individually wrapped for easy sharing.

S.R.P. (6.5 oz.): $1

Moly Milk

These chewy caramels are available in three flavors: Churro, Cappuccino and Truffle. Each piece is individually wrapped for portion control and easy sharing.

S.R.P. (15 oz.): $2

Gerrit J. Verburg Co.

Fenton, Mich. / gerritjverburg.com / (810) 750-9779

Black Jack, Beemans, Clove gum tins

Following the successful reintroduction of Black Jack, Clove and Beemans gum, the products will be available in tins featuring original artwork.

S.R.P.: N/A

Gerrit’s Bakery stroopwafels

Available the first week of March, these Dutch delights are sure to please any sweet tooth. A layer of caramel is spread between two thin waffles. They’re best served warm.

S.R.P.: N/A

Fort Knox Trio Medallions

These milk chocolate coins are wrapped in silver, gold and bronze foil, giving them the appearance of a U.S. quarter, a John F. Kennedy half dollar and a U.S. penny.

S.R.P. (6.1 oz.): N/A

Fort Knox Cool Llama Coins

These milk chocolate coins are wrapped in colorful foil and feature collectible llama stickers.

S.R.P. (26.4 oz.): N/A

Godiva Chocolatier

New York, N.Y. / godiva.com / (203) 912-0766

Masterpieces flower boxes

The tops of these boxes open like flower petals, revealing individually-wrapped Godiva Masterpieces inside. They’re available with Dark Chocolate Mint Medallions, Milk Chocolate Bliss (milk chocolate with milk chocolate ganache) and an assortment of pieces.

S.R.P.: 4.3 oz., $4.99; 7.5 oz., $7.99

House of Dorchester

Dorchester, England / hodchoc.com / 44-1305-755-771

Mini Topped Chocolate Bars

Featuring five miniature chocolate bars, this 4.4-oz. box has a holiday flavor for everyone. Varieties include Salted Toffee Pecan, Raspberry & Coconut, Christmas Pudding, Peppermint Bark, and Orange & Cranberry.

S.R.P.: $11.99

Imaginings 3 - Flix Candy

Niles, Ill. / flixcandy.com / (847) 647-1370

Day of The Dead Pop Ups Singles

Celebrate the Day of the Dead with these colorful sugar skull Pop Ups. When the button is pressed a Chupa Chup lollipop appears.

S.R.P.: $1.50-$1.99

Day of The Dead Pop Ups Blister Cards

These Pop Ups feature sugar skulls in four different colors and come with three Chupa Chup lollipops.

S.R.P.: $2.99-$3.99

Spooky Lip Pops

These Lip Pops are sure to scare up some fun. Packaged in a gusseted window bag, they’re available in Zombie and Sugar Skull varieties.

S.R.P.: $1.50-$1.99

Mickey/Minnie Christmas Pop Ups Blister Cards

These Pop Ups illustrate that Mickey and Minnie are in the holiday spirit. The blister packs come with three Chupa Chup lollipops.

S.R.P.: $2.99-$3.99

Xmas Oh Poop!

This seasonal Oh Poop! dispenser has a red Rudolph nose and antlers.  Fill him up, wind him up and watch him walk and dispense candy.

S.R.P.: $3.99-$4.99

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mini Canes

With Yuletide’s most famous reindeer on the box and wrappers, these individually-wrapped miniature candy canes will be a hit at any holiday party. They’re available in Blue Raspberry and Cherry flavors.

S.R.P. (24-ct.): $1.79-$1.99

Impact Confections

Janesville, Wis. / impactconfections.com / (608) 208-1100

Warheads Scrambler Tree

Inside this tree-shaped gift box are three types of Warheads candy: Extreme Sour Hard Candy, Super Sour Candy Spray and Chewy Cubes.

S.R.P. (4.23 oz.): $3.49

Jelina Chocolatier

Montreal, Quebec, Canada / jelinachocolatier.com / (514) 331-8460

Assorted Chocolates Box

This festive tin is packed with 24 assorted chocolate pieces. Varieties include Pure Dark Chocolate Medallion, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Milk Chocolate Cappuccino, Dark Chocolate Caramel, Milk Chocolate Praline with Crisped Rice, Milk Chocolate Cinnamon Crisp, Dark Chocolate Maple Syrup Cream and Milk Chocolate Gianduja (Hazelnut).

S.R.P. (10.5 oz.): $19.99

Holiday Chocolate Bars

Packed in boxes with a festive pattern and a tree- or bell-shaped window, these bars are perfect for any stocking. They’re available in Milk Chocolate with Honey Nougat and Almonds and Dark Chocolate Almonds.

S.R.P. (2.8 oz.): $3.99

Chocolate Wreath

This milk chocolate wreath is drizzled with dark chocolate and packed in a box with a wreath-shaped cutout and a festive pattern.

S.R.P. (5.3 oz.): $6.99

Holiday FairTrade items

Jelina Chocolatier also offers holiday items made with FairTrade chocolate. They include the 100-gram Dark and White Chocolate Candy Cane Bar (S.R.P. $5.99); 80-gram Milk and Dark Chocolate Gingerbread Man Bars (S.R.P.: $5.99); and Caramel-Filled Milk and Dark Chocolate Snowmen.

S.R.P. (5-ct. snowmen): $6.99

Just Born, Inc.

Bethlehem, Pa. / justborn.com / (610) 867-7568

Mike and Ike Merry Mix

These chewy candies come in seasonal colors with fruity flavors such as Holiday Punch, Cherry and Lime.

S.R.P. (5 oz.): $1.50

Giant Gingerbread Peeps

These gingerbread-flavored marshmallow treats are fun to eat and large enough to share. They’re available in 1-ct. packages (S.R.P.: $1) and in 3-ct. share sizes.

S.R.P. (3-ct.): $1.49-$1.79

Kathy Kaye Foods

Logan, Utah / caramelcob.com / (435) 563-0204

Candy Cane Popcorn

This crunchy, festive popcorn is peppermint flavored. It’s packed in a holiday bag featuring candy canes and elves.

S.R.P. (2 oz.): $1-$1.25

Maud Borup

Plymouth, Minn. / maudborup.com / (866) 678-6283

Organic Cotton Candy

Maud Borup’s cotton organic candy is made without artificial colors and flavors. It comes in a mix of whimsical flavors including: Cookies & Cream, Want S’more, Magic Dragon (mango flavor) and Unicorn Dream (raspberry flavor).

S.R.P. (1 oz.): $4-$5

Original Gourmet Food Co.

Salem, N.H. / ofgc.net / (603) 894-5400

Gourmet Lollipop Christmas Tree Floor Display

Filled with 1,920 assorted gourmet lollipops, this festive fixture is 2-ft. wide, creating a small footprint but maximizing product sales. The 31-gram pops are available in six flavors: Cotton Candy, Bubble Gum, Wild Cherry, and holiday limited-edition flavors Sugar Cookie, Peppermint Bark and Candy Cane.

S.R.P. (31-gram pop): 2 for $1

Thomas Kinkade LED Musical Tins

Create a memorable experience with Thomas Kinkade-licensed LED musical tins, with lights that dance to classic Christmas music. Inside each tin, featuring Christmas and winter scenes, are 12 oz. of assorted holiday-shaped sugar cookies.

S.R.P.: $14.99-$29.99

PEZ Candy

Orange, Conn. / pez.com / (203) 795-0531

PEZ Halloween Party Bag

The PEZ Halloween Party Bag features a clear window to display all-new Halloween-themed dispensers. Each bag includes a mix of Bats, Cats, Spiders, Ghosts, Pumpkins and Owl designs on mini dispensers. Individually wrapped, each dispenser includes one roll of Candy Corn-flavored PEZ.

S.R.P. (14 oz.): $9.99

12 Days of Christmas Gift Set

This gift set features 12 mini PEZ dispensers, each with a design from the classic Christmas carol. Packaged in a giftable box, it also includes 12 Sugar Cookie-flavor refills. The mini dispensers are perfect for decorating as each dispenser includes a loop for trimming the tree.

S.R.P. (15.5 oz.): $12.99-$14.99

Quality Candy Co.

Henderson, Nev. / qcandy.com / (702) 565-4711

Sonic Peppermint Pop

This red-and-white ball pop will be available in a blue Christmas-themed counter top box containing 30 pops.

S.R.P. (1-oz. pop): 2 for $1

Radz Brands

Des Moines, Iowa / radzworld.com / (503) 227-2226

Radz Winter Dispensers

Spread holiday cheer with Radz Winter Dispenser collection. These festive, collectible toy candy dispensers are fun and easy to use. To operate, pull the character’s top back and the tongue pops out with candy. The holiday collection has four holiday-related characters: Freeze the Snowman, Toddy the Elf, Jingles the Reindeer, and (New for 2019) Berry the Polar Bear.

S.R.P.: $2.99 - $3.49

Foamz Winter Dispensers

Foamz toy dispensers are easy to squish and come with a tasty treat! This collection has four holiday characters: Santa Clause, Snowy the Snowman, Rudy the Reindeer. and Doug the Christmas Tree. Each Radz Foamz character comes with a pack of Radz candy and a coloring poster with a collector’s guide on the back.

S.R.P.: $2.99 - $3.49

Radz Hatchimals Dispensers

Radz will launch a dispenser collection for Christmas 2019 based off of the popular toy line Hatchimals CollEGGtibles. The Radz Hatchimals toy candy dispensers are made up of the most popular characters in the toy line: Cheetree, Puppit, Penguala and Draggle. Each character comes with a pack of Hatchimals exclusive candy and a mini character poster featuring colorful graphics. To operate, pull the character’s hair back and the tongue pops out with candy.

S.R.P.: $3.99 - $4.99

Richardson Brands

Canajoharie, N.Y. / richardsonbrands.com / (518) 673-3553

Giant Rock Candy

Measuring 12-inches long, Giant Rock Candy takes the classic rock candy audiences know and love to larger-than-life proportions. It’s available in a variety of flavors and assortments, including holiday-themed collections.

S.R.P. (1.94 oz.): $4.99

Gummy Candy

Richardson Brands has launched a collection of gummy candy, featuring bulk mixes of gummy bears, sour gummy bears and rings. The gummy bear mixes come with six colors and flavors, while the rings are available in Strawberry and Berry flavors.

S.R.P.: N/A

S Zitner Co.

Philadelphia, Pa. / zitners.com / (215) 229-4990

Zitner’s Toffee Pretzels

These large pretzels are covered in milk chocolate and sprinkled with toffee pieces. Each 14-oz. box comes with 12 pretzels.

S.R.P.: $10-$12

Scripture Candy

Birmingham, Ala. / scripturecandy.com / (205) 798-0701

Cream Hard Candy

These naturally-flavored hard candy pieces are available in two flavors: Orange & Cream and Strawberry & Cream. Each piece is individually wrapped with scripture.

S.R.P. (5.5 oz.): $2.79

God and Country Star Pop

This star-shaped lollipop comes with a bookmark and a patriotic coloring page.

S.R.P.: $1.49

Splendid Chocolates

Montreal, Quebec, Canada / splendidchocolates.com / (514) 737-1105

Poop emoji pops

These 40-gram milk chocolate pops feature the poop emoji in Original and Unicorn varieties.

S.R.P.: $2.49-$2.99

Unicorn poop

This colorful, 100-gram milk chocolate poop emoji is hollow and packed in whimsical box that’s sure to delight fans of all things unicorn.

S.R.P.: $4.99

Taste of Nature, Inc.

Santa Monica, Calif. / candyasap.com / (310) 396-4433

DoughLish cookie dough

Building on the popularity of unbaked cookie dough as a treat, Doughlish is raw, shelf-stable and made without eggs. Packaged in a 4.5-oz. container with a spoon in the lid, Doughlish cookie dough has a nine-month shelf life and doesn’t require refrigeration. It’s also available in 2.25-oz. Snickerdoodle variety.

S.R.P.: $1.99-$3.99

Tortuga Rum Cake Co.

Miami, Fla. / tortugarumcakes.com / (786) 817-6880

Rum Cake 3-pack

Each rum cake is hand glazed with special 5-year-old, oak barrel aged Tortuga Gold Rum, topped with imported walnuts and then vacuum sealed to lock in freshness.

S.R.P. (12 oz.): $14.99

Rum Cake Bites

Indulge in a bite-sized version of the Tortuga Golden Original Rum Cake, capturing an authentic taste of the Caribbean in every bite. Ten individually-wrapped 0.5-oz rum cake bites are inside a giftable box.

S.R.P. (5 oz.): $7.99

Mexican Vanilla Rum Cake

Offering a taste of Mexico, this rum cake is flavored with Mexican vanilla. They’re available in 4-oz. and 16-oz. packages.

S.R.P. (4 oz.): $4.99

Trawigo, LLC

Provo, Utah / trawigo.com / (385) 268-8057

Wiebold European Chocolate Truffles

This assortment of sugar-coated truffles has something for everyone. Flavors include White Vanilla, Mousse au Chocolat, Sea Salt Caramel and Raspberry Cream.

S.R.P. (5.29 oz.): $5.99

Wiebold Chocolate Truffle Stars

These star-shaped chocolate truffles will give any chocolate lover the holiday spirit. Flavors include Sea Salt Caramel, Snickerdoodle, Pumpkin Spice and Hazelnut Cream.

S.R.P. (5.29 oz.): $5.99