To promote the launch, the company has created the Hi-Chew Getaway Mix Layover, an immersive pop-up experience, for Spring break travelers at the Miami International Airport. From March 21st through March 31st from 9am ET to 9pm ET, travelers arriving or departing from Terminal D will be able to sample the new flavors, meet the brand’s new mascot, Chewbie, take part in interactive moments, and bring home limited-edition Hi-Chew giveaways.

The company describes the flavors as follows:

Mango Chamoy — a balance of sweet, tart notes of ripened mango with a hint of spice.

Mai Tai — a mocktail-inspired flavor that blends tropical fruits and is reminiscent of the classic vacation beverage.

Yuzu Lime — a combination of tangy notes of Japanese yuzu citrus with vibrant and zesty lime sweetness.

As part of the pop-up experience, travelers will step into the hot air balloon basket photo experience, where they can pick a virtual background featuring their dream vacation to create a digital postcard.

“Hi-Chew Getaway Mix will take consumers around the world with its internationally-inspired flavors,” says Teruhiro Kawabe (Terry), chief representative for the USA & president, CEO of Morinaga America. “As we bring the mix to life at the Hi-Chew Getaway Mix Layover within the Miami International Airport, we’re excited to have consumers connect their upcoming trip with these new flavors and add some sweetness to their travel experience.”

Hi-Chew Getaway Mix is available in three-, 6.9-, and 11.65-ounce packs. According to the company the product is made with concentrated fruit juices, both natural and artificial flavors, and contains no colors from synthetic sources.

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The annual donation campaign, running through March, marks 20 years of partnership between Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Feeding America, with approximately $271 million in donations including more than $177 million from the company and the Walmart Foundation and nearly $95 million from customers and members. Walmart and Sam’s Club have also donated more than 9 billion pounds of food to the Feeding America network of local food banks and partner agencies since 2006.  

“Our extraordinary partnership is grounded in a shared belief that ending hunger in America is possible,” says Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Feeding America’s CEO. “For two decades, Walmart and Sam’s Club have brought bold, impactful ideas to the table, and executed them consistently and with purpose. We are grateful for all they’ve done and all that’s to come.”

The campaign runs online and in stores with shoppers having three ways to support people facing hunger:

For every participating product purchased in store or online at Walmart.com or SamsClub.com, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America partner food bank at Walmart and five meals ($0.50) at Sam’s Club, up to applicable limits. See specially marked packages for full details.

Donate at check-out in stores or clubs or online at Walmart.com and the Walmart app.

Donate at Feeding America’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign site at either www.FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart or www.FeedingAmerica.org/SamsClub. 

According to the company, all donations stay local. Sales-activated supplier donations and register donations are directed to a local Feeding America partner food bank located within a store or club’s community. Since its inception in 2014, the campaign has helped to secure nearly 2 billion meals for people facing hunger.

“For the past 20 years, Feeding America, Walmart and Sam’s Club have collaborated to help people live better in the communities we serve. Together, we have supported the charitable meal system’s ability to recover more food donations from retailers and use tech-powered solutions that help food banks and agencies serve more people,” says Julie Gehrki, president of the Walmart Foundation and senior vice president at Walmart. “The Fight Hunger Spark Change. campaign is another way we build support for the fight against hunger by engaging our suppliers, customers and members to join us in giving to local food banks across the U.S.”

The 24 participating suppliers for this year’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change campaign for Walmart include: B&G Foods, Inc., Ben’s Original, Bush Brothers & Company, Celsius, The Coca-Cola Company, Conagra Foods, Dole Packaged Foods, LLC, Ferrero USA, General Mills, Hershey Salty Snacks, Hidden Valley Original Ranch, Kellanova, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Kodiak, Kraft Heinz, Lipton Tea, Materne, Mondelez International, Olipop, Pepsi-Cola Advertising & Marketing, Inc., The Hain Celestial Group, WK Kellogg Co, Unilever and Utz Quality Foods.

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Consumers who try the potato chip and ketchup combo are encouraged to share their feedback on social media using #HeinzChipDipChallenge. The limited-edition Chip Dip will serve as a test-and-learn as the brand considers making this a permanent addition to its portfolio.

The Chip Dip includes a Heinz ketchup bottle, a wide-mouthed glass jar designed for dipping, and a bag of chips.

The dip kits are available at Walmart stores while supplies last.

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With sizes for kids and adults, the clogs feature an embossed sole with Goldbears details and Haribo-branded heel straps. Exclusive Goldbears Jibbitz are available in two styles: oversized Goldbears and a Goldbears package. The kid-size Crocs come with permanent Goldbears Jibbitz.

“The Haribo Classic Clog is a fun collaboration that lets fans show off their love of Goldbears in a whole new way,” says Seth Klugherz, vice-president of marketing at Haribo of America. “This collection captures the childlike happiness and nostalgia of everyone’s favorite gummi bears.”

“At Crocs, we’re all about embracing the unexpected,” says Matias Infante, vice-president of global marketing at Crocs. “Our collaboration with Haribo is the perfect example of that—melding comfort, fashion, and self-expression with a dash of joy. It’s everything our fans love and more!”

The post Limited-Edition Haribo x Crocs Collab appeared first on NCA.

Taffet is a marketing executive with 20 years of leadership experience, including 15 years in consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and a PepsiCo career spanning multiple brand portfolios — most recently as senior vice president of beverage portfolio strategy and marketing.

Throughout her tenure, she has driven business growth, leading large teams, and managing multi-billion-dollar brands across beverages and snacks, including marketing transformations for brands like Pepsi and bubly. Her expertise spans brand management, digital marketing, innovation strategy and comprehensive commercial planning, with a proven track record of delivering sustainable growth.

“We are thrilled to welcome Stacy to Hershey’s executive team. With deep expertise in brand strategy, innovation and commercial growth, Stacy brings strategic capabilities to accelerate our vision to become a leading snacking powerhouse,” says Michele Buck, Hershey president and CEO. “With a proven track record of driving sustainable growth across complex business landscapes, I’m confident that her leadership will help us unlock new growth opportunities, elevate our iconic brands and continue to delight consumers around the world.”

Taffet will spearhead Hershey’s enterprise strategy and key growth capabilities encompassing media and creative investments, marketing innovation, research and development, commercial and consumer intelligence, and brand reputation management.

“I am deeply honored to join Hershey and help shape its next chapter of growth. Throughout my career, I’ve admired Hershey not only for its iconic brands that have created meaningful moments for generations, but also for its exceptional talent and profound commitment to community impact,” says Taffet. “I’m excited to contribute to this remarkable legacy while working alongside the team to advance our ambitious vision for the future.”

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“Norb is a proven leader with a strong track record of innovation, a deep passion for meeting consumers’ evolving snacking needs and a clear commitment to mentoring the next generation of R&D talent,” says Van de Put. “I’m confident that he will lead our worldwide R&D organization in strengthening its partnership with our commercial businesses, driving consumer centricity and category growth, and accelerating productivity.”

Chaclin most recently served as the senior vice-president, R&D, global biscuits and regional R&D partner for North America. Under his leadership, Mondelēz rolled out innovations and renovations across some of its iconic biscuit and baked snack brands, including Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, LU, Ritz, Club Social, belVita and Clif Bar. Earlier, he led R&D for the company’s global gum and candy business.

Before joining Mondelēz, Chaclin spent 18 years with PepsiCo in a series of progressively responsible roles spanning Frito-Lay North America, PepsiCo International, Global Beverages and Joint Ventures — ultimately leading R&D for PepsiCo North America Beverages and the Pepsi/Starbucks joint venture.

“I’m honored to assume leadership for the outstanding Mondelēz R&D team and look forward to advancing our technical capabilities, accelerating our competitive advantage, and most importantly, creating delicious new snacks for our consumers and customers,” says Chaclin.

An amateur chef and native of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, Chaclin brings to the role a passion for culinary arts and traditions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University. He serves on the Board of Torr FoodTech and on the Board of Trustees for IAFNS – Advancing Food and Nutrition Sciences.

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According to the company, she has 30 years of sales and CPG experience, including 15 years in confection. Menyhart will lead Hershey’s U.S. Confection sales team, joining the company from Kraft Heinz.

“Tiffany’s visionary leadership, extensive experience across confection and snacking categories, and focus on the customer will guide our commercial organization’s next growth phase to meet the evolving needs of our retail partners and consumers,” says Andrew Archambault, president, U.S. Confection. “She brings enthusiasm and a fresh outlook, driving us towards our 2025 goals and beyond.”

Menyhart holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University. Recognized as a Woman of Influence in the Food Industry, Menyhart is known for building strong teams, leading through change and promoting career development. She currently serves on the FMI Foundation Board.

“For more than two decades, I’ve admired Hershey’s best-in-class commercial team and its pioneering leadership in category excellence,” says Menyhart. “I’m excited to return to confection, represent iconic brands with a talented team and lead category growth while delivering exceptional experiences for our customers and consumers.”

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The company claims conventional encapsulation methods can mute flavors, require higher ingredient usage, and complicate labeling.

Key benefits of MantroShield include:

• Enhanced Flavor Intensity: The absence of fats and oils allows for a sharper, more pronounced sour flavor.
• Lower Usage Rates: The formulation enables producers to achieve desired flavor profiles with less acid.
• Extended Shelf Life: Improved stability to maintain freshness and flavor for a longer duration.
• Cleaner Labeling: Eliminate added fats to aligns with trend for cleaner ingredient labels.

The post Mantrose-Hauser Adds Fat-Free Encapsulated Acids For Gummies appeared first on NCA.

“Pat’s industry-leading commitment to advocacy is the gold standard for how companies and individuals can engage on these important issues,” says John Downs, NCA president and CEO. “His proactive approach — building relationships with elected officials, tackling complex policy issues head-on, and rallying industry support — has elevated NCA’s advocacy efforts in a way that benefits the entire industry. We are thrilled to recognize him with this well-deserved honor.”

As a longtime political insider who previously worked for two Oregon governors and was influential in state politics, Egan knows how critical showing up in policy debates can be. From supporting the CandyPAC and attending the Washington Forum to being a champion for grassroots advocacy, Egan plays a key role in amplifying the industry’s voice.

One of his most impactful contributions came when NCA sought member companies willing to collaborate with labor unions to support U.S. sugar program reform. Egan volunteered to work with three separate local California unions, strengthening NCA’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento. His ability to navigate complex policy landscapes and build coalitions has proven invaluable to advancing the confectionery industry’s interests.

“I’m incredibly honored to represent this great industry and play a role in advocating for its continued success,” Egan says. “Supporting both See’s Candies and the broader confectionery community is something I’m deeply passionate about, and I’m especially pleased that our unions stepped forward to stand with us on key issues. I’m always impressed by the professionalism and organization of the NCA team — their dedication and expertise make all the difference in empowering us as citizens and business advocates.”

Egan has led See’s Candies as president since 2018 and became CEO in 2019, bringing extensive experience in public policy, business leadership, and advocacy. Before joining See’s, he held executive roles at NV Energy and Pacific Power, where he developed expertise in regulatory affairs and government relations. An attorney with a background in public policy, Pat held many positions in both the legislative and executive branches in Oregon, including working as Chief of Staff to Governor Ted Kulongoski. His experience in both business and politics has made him a key advocate for the confectionery industry, ensuring its voice is heard in meaningful policy discussions.

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“We’re excited to collaborate with Google on this initiative further to equip our retailers with the tools necessary for success,” says Ari B. Korman, SVP of ecommerce at NRS. “The integration drives more store traffic and provides retailers an entirely automated and hassle-free online presence.”

NRS says retailers can leverage Google to attract local shoppers who are actively searching for their products. When customers search for a product near them on Google, they can see which local retailers have it in stock and are directed to their storefront to complete the purchase.

NRS retailers with a verified Google Business Profile can use this integration. Their business profile helps Google link products to the correct store location.

The integration with Google eliminates manual updates and product uploads, providing retailers with an automated solution at no cost.

“At NRS, we’re committed to providing our independent retailers with the tools and technology they need to thrive and compete with larger chains,” says Elie Y. Katz, president and CEO. “Our new integration with Google represents a powerful partnership, which allows our retailers to effortlessly connect with local shoppers and grow their businesses like never before.”

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Before joining the Bitzel’s last year, Henderson worked in the luxury country club space in various sales roles, most recently working for the PGA Tour as director of sales and marketing for TPC Sugarloaf.

“Lisa has been instrumental in developing some of our most important accounts,” says Founder Ray Bitzel. “In her new role, one of her top goals will be to focus on growing beyond Georgia and the Southeast, developing the strategy and the resources to help us grow at a scalable pace. It’s a challenge for any young company, but Lisa has proven she has the knowledge and the skills to help us get there.”

“We’ve been in business for a full year, building relationships and awareness in the Atlanta area and steadily increasing the business locally, regionally and nationally,” says Henderson. “Now we want to expand our reach and the scope of what we do, not just in Gwinnett County or the state of Georgia but nationwide and beyond.

“The goal is to have Bitzel’s Chocolate sold in amusement parks and sporting venues across America, Mexico and Canada,” she says. “We’re partnering with teams here locally in Atlanta but would love to expand that reach further. Customization is our specialty, and sports teams have really fun mascots and logos to feature! I also plan to focus on the hospitality and travel spaces – hotel groups, cruise lines, first class cabins and sky lounges. Bitzel’s chocolate would be a perfect addition to luxury amenities offered throughout these spaces.

“Honestly, the product speaks for itself. It’s a luxury product all around, from the way the chocolate looks, the taste, the texture, the packaging — everything is done so incredibly well, and it’s sustainable and locally sourced on top of that,” she says. “This is a product I can stand behind and be proud and excited to sell.”

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