For confectionery distributors and wholesalers, it’s important to stay up-to-date on current market trends, as the confectionery industry is ever changing and growing. There are new types of candies and sweets invented every day. As a result of the evolving market, it’s important for confectionery distributors and wholesalers, as well as, candy makers to stay up to date on the industry’s latest news and trends.

Whether you’re searching for consumer opinions, a research study or simply the latest news, there are certain places to look. In fact, some websites cater to the business owner in a specific candy industry niche. In confectioneries, this business owner often deals with candy distributors, candy wholesalers, distributors of wholesale nuts and chocolate distributors. Stay in the same informational loop as all of these businesses with the right news and trends resources.

1. Subscribe to blogs and RSS feeds that focus on bulk candy, bulk chocolate and other confectioneries.

2. Read print publications for candy business owners, candy distributors and confectionery wholesale businesses.

3. Join associations and other professional groups that represent candy business owners, confectionery distributors and wholesalers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the best discount candy blogs and RSS feeds for the latest news and trends

While anyone with a computer can blog, the best blogs and RSS feeds in the confectionery business feature individuals that have an informed and educated opinion. In the candy business, these are the people who either work within the candy industry or who stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends, and they pass this information on to the readers of their blog.

I recommend: Candy Addict features reviews and information on new products, as well as, candy and confectionery items that have been around for years. Creative Confectionery is another great place to find news and trends in the industry. This blog also features recipes.

Locate wholesale candy distributors publications for your reading list

Some types of candy and confectionery magazines focus on the consumer, while others seek to attract business owners. These magazines feature the latest confectionery distributors and wholesalers news and trends as well as information about products and other companies in the industry.

I recommend: Candy Industry is a global magazine for candy, chocolate and confectionery business news. For more of a production and marketing spin check out Candy & Snack Business or read its sister magazine, Professional Candy Buyer for more info for retailers available through the current issue or archived issues.

Read candy wholesaler news via the industry's associations

Wholesale candy distributors and candy makers have many professional organizations and associations. Even if you're not a member of one of these organizations, the association's website usually offers news and informational links.

I recommend: Try the American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA), formerly the National Candy Wholesalers Association, which offers news on the candy industry and other wholesale businesses. You may also consider picking up a copy of AWMA’s Distribution Channels (formerly Candy Wholesaler), a magazine dedicated to news and trends concerning distributors of candy and snacks as well as other products. Consider membership in the National Confectionery Sales Association to get news and trends from other confectionery and candy distributors, wholesalers, manufacturers, advertisers, salespersons and promoters.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep current and past copies of confectionery wholesale and candy business industry publications around your office. Your employees will benefit from the information as well.

If you're a small business owner interested in expanding your product offerings, a wide range of online wholesale candy distributors exists. Whether you're interested in popular bulk candy items for your ice cream shop or small, local theater or more complicated confections, many online confectionery distributors and wholesalers are waiting to satisfy your sweet tooth.

When you order confectionery wholesale items online, you have a variety of options:

1. Bulk candy items that are household names.
2. Discount candy and wholesale nuts.
3. Fine chocolates.

By ordering chocolate candies online, you can expand your product offerings without having to invest the time and resources needed for making candy from scratch.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Order bulk candy items from online wholesale candy distributors

It's possible to buy a wide selection of popular bulk candy items from online candy wholesalers, including those classic items that invoke a sense of nostalgia.

I recommend: CandyWarehouse carries a variety of popular bulk candy items including wrapped and unwrapped items. Try CandyFavorites.com for a wide selection of both unwrapped and wrapped bulk candy. Try Tom's Farms for a fun collection of nostalgic candy items. Check out Nuts Online for every nut imaginable.

Order candy suitable for restricted diets from online confectionery distributors and wholesalers

In addition to ordering popular candy items online, you can also find tasty options for diabetics and others with diet restrictions. Order sugar-free items without sacrificing taste or quality.

I recommend: Try DiabeticFriendly.com for sugar-free bulk candy items. Contact We Make it Vegan to order bulk vegan candy for your health conscious consumers. Vegan candy is also a great option for lactose intolerant individuals. Vegan candy won't contain any dairy ingredients or other animal byproducts, and it's every bit as tasty as traditional candy. Candy made with maple sugar is a great option for health-conscious individuals. Maple sugar is a complex sugar and has less impact on insulin levels. Plus, it's surprisingly tasty too. Try Maple Orchard Farms of Canada, Ltd.

Find gourmet chocolate from online chocolate wholesalers

When ordering online, you're not limited to ordinary candy. Many exotic candy selections exist.

I recommend: Take your pick at Lake Champlain Chocolates from a large selection of special event favors, including wedding favors. Wedding planners also should try Recchiuti for gourmet boxed chocolates.

Choose candy packages and boxes

Presentation is just as important as taste. Don't forget to choose decorative candy packaging.

I recommend: Try Nashville Wraps for decorative candy packaging. Aspecialtybox.com offers high-end custom candy packaging that's sure to be a hit.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Order unwrapped bulk candy items if you're reselling. You can repackage items any way you choose.
• •  Don't hesitate to request samples before ordering new candy items.
• •  Always follow manufacturers' instructions for storing chocolates and other candy.

Whether you work with candy distributors or candy wholesalers, a great industry overview is sure to help you gain a solid understanding of the companies you work with and the products you sell. It may seem as if there are countless options when it comes to confectioneries; however, a great industry overview can help you narrow down your choices of wholesale candy distributors.

As a business owner, when you look for a candy distributor or candy wholesaler it’s best to check out the industry leaders and associations first. These confectionery associations and industry leaders are the perfect starting point to finding the best candy distributors and makers for your business. Stocking the best products helps ensure greater success in an industry filled with competition. Consider the following when gathering a confectionery distributors and wholesalers industry overview:

1. The best discount candy and wholesale nuts are sold by reliable distributors and wholesalers that offer pricing to help your business realize better profits.

2. Confectionery distributors and wholesalers associations and professional groups offer a plethora of information about the industry and an overview of the best makers, wholesalers and distributors in the business.

3. The government regulates the confectionery industry. Everyone from chocolate wholesalers to candy distributors have to follow these industry rules.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out wholesale candy distributors of all sizes for a better overview of industry offerings

Both large and small wholesalers and distributors sell confectionery wholesale items. Thus, it's important to research both the industry leaders as well as the small players in order to get a complete industry overview. You can find both large and small distributors as Internet based and/or warehouse based businesses.

I recommend: Visit CandyFavorites.com, the online candy store from candy wholesaler McKeesport Candy. Located in Pennsylvania, its large in-house inventory is located in a temperature controlled warehouse ready for immediate shipment. For a smaller distributor, visit BW Clifford’s CandyXpress, an online wholesale candy store. It’s a family owned operation with a candy warehouse in New Jersey.

Include candy wholesalers associations in your research links

Confectionery wholesalers associations and professional groups offer extensive member lists of high quality industry professionals. These websites are also the ideal places learn more about the confectionery industry as a whole.

I recommend: The National Confectioners Association (NCA) offers annual industry reviews, sales data to learn how the industry is performing and with a paid membership, answers to frequently asked questions concerning regulatory issues affecting the industry. Consider attending the All Candy Expo, which the NCA sponsors and is the largest tradeshow dedicated to the candy and confectionery industry that attracts industry leaders from around the globe. Check out the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Confectioners’ Association (PMCA) for training, information and industry news to get a better picture of the industry as a whole.

Learn about regulations affecting confectionery distributors and wholesalers

Every food industry is regulated by one or more government agency. You may want to check out the rules and regulations posted on certain government based websites that deals with issues affecting the confectionery industry.

I recommend: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers information about safety in the candy industry, including food and color additives. Check out the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition for information on required food labeling standards that meet FDA requirments. It's a great resource for retailers, as well as, candy distributors and wholesalers. The World Cocoa Foundation based in Washington, DC promotes responsible and sustainable cocoa growing within the industry. For those confectioners who deal in chocolate, keeping up with the certification process this group is helping to implement allows them to buy cocoa that comes from farms with fair labor practices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use caution when purchasing discount candy and bulk candy for your business, check for recalls with the appropriate government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration or your state health department.

There is wide selection of candy, chocolates and other treats available in bulk from confectionery distributors and wholesalers. These items can bring in sweet profits for many types of businesses, including variety stores, gift shops, coffee shops and even vending machine operators. Understanding some of the terminology of the confectionery trade will help to narrow down your product line.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Gourmet chocolate

Gourmet chocolate can be sold in any type of upscale or specialty store and makes a popular gift item. Unlike the usual chocolate, gourmet chocolate is made by hand. The most premium type of gourmet chocolate is Belgian chocolate.

I recommend: Check out information about Belgian chocolate from WiseGeek to find out the difference between regular and gourmet chocolate.

Novelty candy

Novelty candy is popular for parties and holidays. It includes candy that is based on current trends, specialty shapes and characters for holidays, gummy shapes, and sports and hobby related items.

I recommend: Sugar Stand offers suggestions for purchasing and using holiday candy. Check out more novelty candy items at Candy Addict.

Nostalgic candy

Nostalgic or retro candy is candy that was offered in previous generations and not generally available for sale now, like candy cigarettes, Clark bars, and Necco wafers. It includes selections from the 1930s through the 1980s. Many online bulk retailers offer nostalgic candy.

I recommend: A wide variety of old time candy is available from Nostalgic Candy. See old candy advertisements at McKeesport Candy to get ideas of available retro candy.

Sugar-free candy

Sugar-free candy is candy made with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. It's popular for anyone trying to cut back on sugar, but most often consumed by diabetics.

I recommend: See Christianet for information about diabetic and sugar-free candy.

Vegan candy

Many types of candy include animal byproducts found in gelatin and coloring. Vegan candy is usually sold by specialty suppliers, but some mainstream candy manufacturers offer vegan selections.

I recommend: PETA Kids explains some of the animal ingredients used in candy and lists candies that are vegan.

Packaging

Part of the fun of buying candy is the packaging. Bright colors and interesting shaped boxes make the product even more attractive. The type of packaging used depends on the type of candy sold. Bulk unwrapped candy is usually offered in clear tubs and placed in plastic bags when sold. Other types of candy can be packaged in plastic, paper or cardboard.

I recommend: See AllBusiness for an article on candy packaging innovations and ideas.