Summer Fancy Food Show 2016
European invasion: The candy and snacks coming to the US in 2016
European Confections was founded 10 years ago by Uri and Yaniv Zohar. The company now mainly works with confectioners from six European countries, including Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Poland.
“We sell products that basically belong to two categories: indulgence chocolate and healthy snacks, such as organic and gluten-free,” the company’s president, Uri Zohar, told ConfectioneryNews at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City.
The products European Confections brings to the US this year include rice milk chocolate, veggie bar, and a new line of raw chocolate from Netherlands, as well as a range of cheese-filled crapes from Switzerland.
So Pure, a Netherlands-based raw chocolate company, is introducing a bar line to the US in September, including Goji berry-added bar that contains 88% cocoa. The company hopes the US market can drive an extra 10% growth to its business.
Germany-based organic quinoa manufacturer, Engel Food Solutions, eyes the convenience trend in the US snack market by introducing its instant cake mixes.
“Our products have all the trends in one box: organic, gluten-free and vegan. German food is especially famous for being organic,” said Engle’s account manager, Caroline Muhlenhoff. “We’re very keen to the US because it’s a big market for us.”
Engle has grown 15% in revenue over the past decade, and it generated €40m ($44m) during the last fiscal year. “Our business is expected to be €44m ($49m) this year,” Muhlenhoff added. “We still believe our products are quite niche to the US, so hopefully the market will drive at least 5% increase to our business.”
As Brexit has caused Sterling hit its 31-year low against the US dollar on Monday, analysts said the Euro also remained weak. “For the short term, Euro is going down, so it helps my business,” Zohar said.
Zohar said European Confections has generated $15m from its import business so far this year. The company is targeting a 35% growth, and expected to generate $20m next year.
