Corporations restricting your candy choices in stores

[Wascally Wabbit]

Did you know that large companies are restricting your candy choices in stores? I just found out about this when I read the book Candy Freak. I reviewed the book and you can see the review at:

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=53085

According to the book, candy manufacturers have to pay a $20,000 "slotting fee" to "place" a new candy on chain store shelves. I found that to be unamerican. Even if people want a particular candy, the stores won't sell it. Family run companies can't afford to pay this fee and end up getting shut out. Large candy manufacturers also play games with prices and supplies of must-have products to get stores to edge out small competitors in their favor. I find this offensive. If someone remembers a nostalgic candy from their childhood and can't get it because the company can't afford a $20,000 bribe, something is rotten in America.

The large corporations are, as usual, not doing anything good with their hegemony. Have you noticed the king-sizing that is going on? Have you noticed the weird products they are foisting on us? Black and white M&Ms? Hershey bar packages that have to be opened with tools? According to the book, large candy manufacturers are also buying up small competitors and discontinuing beloved candies just to eliminate competition or simply because they are idiots. I can't find Hershey's kisses anymore unless I go to the supermarket and buy a large package. Candies aren't good for you, but at least you should be able to blow your diet on the candy you really wanted, in a package no bigger than you intended, with a wrapper that doesn't fight with you, in the colors and flavors you expected it to be.

Corporate control of the food supply is getting worse. I think that we should talk about it and try to do something about it if we can.

What do you think? Have you noticed anything?

[banondraig]

i'm more worried about the massive doses of hormones and antibiotics fed to livestock than weird candy packages myself. not to mention pesticides on produce.

[Wascally Wabbit]

Today, 05:27 PM
SHANTI

I only care about our food supply not our junk food supply so I dont care what corps do in reguards to junk food. I personally think we have way to much of that stuff out there already. The corps make money and the dentist.---Shanti
__________________

This is a post by Shanti. I moved it here because I did two of the same thread by mistake and I'm trying to close one.-- Wascally Wabbit

[Fianna]

One half of me is saying - "darn right - ban them all - help me fit into a tight pair of jeans - get rid of this butt - stop teasing us with high fat - sugary delights"

The other half is reaching for the brown pages (my alphabetised list of choccie jar contents)

[Phoenix Blue]

:rolleyes: It's called capitalism, and it is very much American. If you don't like the candy on store shelves, find some recipes and make your own!

Frankly, the whole story smells peculiar. Really, a conspiracy theory about candy?!

[Fianna]

I live in the Netherlands - the candy here is very different - they eat a lot of licquorice which they call "drop" yeuch.

ALthough most of the shops stock UK chocolate I love the idea of making my own - any recipes for low fat stuff - only kidding - I will let you guys know how I get on - If I can still fit in this chair.

Oh and if it really is - I would write to my local government official - seriously - people write to them for all sorts - they get taxes from candy don't they - might think you are nuts - but at least it would be chocolate covered nuts lol and you never know - you might get a reply.

I once complained about my favourite crisps - er I think you guys call them potato chips - anyway they stopped seeling them - I complained and they send me 4 boxes because they weren't going to make them anymore.

All the kids in the neighbourhood thought it was great - although their parents didn't.

[Flaire-FireStar]

*shrugs* I don't eat much of the stuff anyway. (Yes, I'm a person who isn't that in tune with the sugary-tooth.) It's no biggie to me - Canada has Aeros...that's all I need.

[Pan]

Here's what I say: GOOD! Let them restrict it! Restrict away! XD

Know why... ? Because I stock candy at work. A lot of candy. People around my town eat WAY too much CANDY! *die*

[Emerald Oak]

Thank God my favorite candies come from Hershey's. They're never gonna die out, even from our rotten government.

Mmmm.... Reeses....

[Autumn]

It has nothing to do with the government...

I suggest you buy from small confectioners if it really upsets you...there are a number of them producing amazing stuff...

[Fyre_Nymph]

I know where you're comming from.I cant find the 'COOKIES AND CREAM'Hersheys bars anymore,and I loved those things! :sadeyes: :sadeyes: :sadeyes:

[Pan]

Wal-Mart sells the Cookies and Cream Nuggets. :) They're just miniature C&C Hershey bars, but thicker and tastier. They're about ... oh ... $2.50 for a bag at this Wal-Mart. Believe me ... I've stocked them enough. XD

I know just about every candy that Wal-Mart sells. If you wanna know, just ask! X_x

[Wascally Wabbit]

I don't think that people understand that there will still be as much candy around as before, just fewer choices and worse choices. More corporate brands, fewer small business-made and more king-sized packages. I also don't think that they understand that this is about anti-competive and monopolistic trade practices, hence the need for government involvement. There's plenty of sweet-loving people and chocoholics on this site but somehow, the ten who never eat sweets came on here. Well, it's a free country. Have a genetically-engineered broccoli spear.

[asamananara]

This is quite possibly the silliest thread I've ever read
through.

[Wascally Wabbit]

This is quite possibly the silliest thread I've ever read
through.

Don't feel obligated to read or comment on other people's threads if you think they are silly. That is offensive.

[asamananara]

Don't feel obligated to read or comment on other people's threads if you think they are silly. That is offensive.
I'm not here to make people feel good about themselves.
Don't feel obligated to read or comment on my posts if you
fear they may offend you.

[banondraig]

I don't think that people understand that there will still be as much candy around as before, just fewer choices and worse choices. More corporate brands, fewer small business-made and more king-sized packages. I also don't think that they understand that this is about anti-competive and monopolistic trade practices, hence the need for government involvement. There's plenty of sweet-loving people and chocoholics on this site but somehow, the ten who never eat sweets came on here. Well, it's a free country. Have a genetically-engineered broccoli spear.

my point earlier is that this is happening with everything, not just candy, and i prefer to save my energies for something else, such as the aggregation of the media. fox news network sounds like a commercial for the bush administration anymore, and cnn is not too far behind. yeah, the candy thing sux, but i don't think the (american, i presume?)government will fix it. look at the way they screw everything else up.

then again, i live in germany, and i can just run across the street to wal-mart and get a lindt 70% cocoa bar pretty much anytime i want. :bigredgri

[Desdemona]

I don't think that people understand that there will still be as much candy around as before, just fewer choices and worse choices. More corporate brands, fewer small business-made and more king-sized packages. I also don't think that they understand that this is about anti-competive and monopolistic trade practices, hence the need for government involvement. There's plenty of sweet-loving people and chocoholics on this site but somehow, the ten who never eat sweets came on here. Well, it's a free country. Have a genetically-engineered broccoli spear. It's an interesting topic, Wascally. It does illustrate the way we do business.

I don't post in Just Talk anymore, because people just love their pithy comments. *shrug* That's my pithy comment of the day.

[Lilith79]

Now I'm craving Good N Plenty's just from reading this. I hope you're happy, making a hypoglycemic crave candy!!! :lol: :ahhhh: :crazyman:

[Pan]

They've recently come out with a white chocolate w/almonds hershey bar. :)

Even though they may be restricting candy, there are worse things to restrict. After all... is candy so important?

Yes, this very well could lead to restricting other things, but we could tackle those as they come. Candy isn't vital to survival... that's why they tax it, and not food like milk.

[banondraig]

the $20,000 dollars is basically a non-refundable deposit against the chain stores not being able to sell the candy. after all, they are taking a risk if they put new candy on the shelves. also, a few people wanting the candy in question is not enough. there have to be enough people who buy the candy on a regular basis to justify replacing whatever sells there now.

it's not the store manager or whoever's job to make you happy. their job is to make money for their employer. it kind of sucks but it's not likely to change any time soon, nor do i know of a plausible alternative.

[Pan]

Very well said, banondraig. Very well said. I know from experience in retail and food sales that management does what's best for the store... not the customer.