Candy NPD at ISM: Chocolate knives for Xmas, chewies with tattoos and date-sweetened chocolate

Over 1,600 exhibitors will be touting their wares at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, for the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM) from January 28 to 31, 2018.

We have scoured ISM’s new product database to find the whacky and wonderful entrants to the market.

Victorinox Chocolate Knife Festive Season Edition - Gysi​

Gysi AG Chocolatier Suisse will launch a seasonal version of its Victorinox Chocolate Knife designed for Christmas and Chinese New Year.

The family-owned company from Berne has created Swiss chocolate with a hazelnut praline filling wrapped in packaging to resemble the original Swiss Army Knife.

The B2B gift box has a shelf-life of 120 days.

Hall 4.2, stand M010       ​

Chocolate coated frozen fruits – Daflee Foods​

Germany company Daflee Foods has launched a range of handpicked fruits, which it has frozen and coated in chocolate. The Feel Fruity collection includes strawberries with milk chocolate, strawberries with mango and white chocolate, sour cherries with coconut and white chocolate and raspberries with orange and dark chocolate. The company claims the fruit snacks – which use Fairtrade Cocoa Program cocoa - provide a distinctive crunchy texture.

Hall 10.2, stand H066​

‘Drinks time for the gentlemen or cocktail hour for the ladies’ - Anthon Berg​

Tom Confectionery Group will introduce what it calls a ‘his and hers’ gift box containing chocolate liqueurs and chocolate cocktails under its Anthon Berg brand.

The company started producing chocolate liqueur bottles in 1922 and introduced a cocktail line in 2006. At ISM, it will showcase ‘Anthon Berg - Golden sleeve’, which combines the two ranges in one box. The 374 g product contains 12 chocolate liqueurs and 12 chocolate cocktails and will enter retail stores from March 19, 2018.

Hall 11.2, stand G020     ​

Chocolate sweetened with dates – Kaakao Chocolate​

UK startup Kaakao Chocolate is set to enter the market this year with ‘plant-powered’ chocolate sweetened with dates. Each 40 g bar contains just 10 g of naturally occurring sugar (fructose). Its vegan and dairy-free brand contains 56% cocoa and uses only four ingredients: single origin Ecuadorian cocoa beans, cocoa butter, dates and coconut milk. It has also developed a strawberry and vanilla bar using freeze-dried strawberries and Madagascan vanilla.

Hall 4.2, stand G027  ​

Milk-free Easter egg – Moo Free Chocolates​

UK startup Moo Free Chocolates has created a lactose-free chocolate Easter egg that uses rice milk. The organic hollow egg also contains dairy-free chocolate buttons (Choccy Drops). Husband and wife team Mike and Andrea Jessop have developed a range of lactose-free confections since founding Moo Free in 2010, including organic chocolate snack bars Mini Moos and a milk chocolate cruncy banana bar.

Hall 4.2, stand H017        ​

High-cocoa milk chocolate - Divine Chocolate​

UK premium chocolatier Divine Chocolate will exhibit a milk chocolate containing 45% cocoa at its ISM stand. The company - 44% owned by Ghanaian cocoa cooperative Kuapa Kokoo – began producing ‘Divine Deliciously Rich Milk Chocolate 45%’​ in December 2017 and will showcase the tablet to international buyers this month. The Fairtrade chocolate company will also launch hazelnut-based dark chocolate block ‘Deliciously Dark Smooth Hazelnut’​, featuring packaging highlighting its support for female cocoa farmers.

Hall 4.2, stand L041        ​

Tea chocolate - Chocolat Stella Bernrain​

Swiss firm Chocolat Stella Bernrain has created three tea-flavored chocolates in 70 g tablets. The range includes Earl Grey with white chocolate, Morinaga peppermint tea with dark chocolate, as well as Chai tea with milk chocolate. The premium chocolate company will also launch a 100 g dark chocolate tablet with turmeric & black pepper.

Hall 4.2, stand L011​

Belgian chocolate from Tanzanian cocoa - Kim's Chocolates​

Kim’s Chocolate’s has developed an organic chocolate brand named Cachet, which uses Rainforest Alliance cocoa beans from Tanzania. The range of dark and milk chocolates uses rare beans from the Kyela, Busokelo and Rungwe districts of Mbeya. Belgian firm Kim’s runs a runs a school project called ‘Cocoa for schools’ in Kyela and says some proceeds from Cachet sales will help support the project.

Hall 4.2, stand P010        ​

Strawberry candies with tattoos - Hitschler’s​

German firm Hitschler will introduce fruity chewing candies under its Softibar range in strawberry and raspberry flavors, which contain stick–on tattoos in the pack. The brand contains no artificial colors and flavors, and the temporary tattoos can be applied to skin without water.

Hall 10.2, stand F049      ​

Humble Natural Chewing Gum - The Humble Co.​

Swedish firm The Humble Co. will showcase its xylitol-sweetened gum brand at the fair. The biodegradable product has a chicle gum base from the sapodilla tree and contains just five non-GMO ingredients. The range is available in lemon, fresh mint, tropical fruits and salty licorice.
Hall 11.2, stand A041​