Hard times? Not for those willing to adapt


Suzanne Callander takes a look at the hard candy sector – its production methods and potential new market sectors for those wanting to take advantage of consumer trends


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A variety of sources point to the fact that many traditional hard candy outlets – such as hotels, conference venues, and restaurants – were hard- hit by the Covid-19 pandemic as lockdowns were imposed across the globe through 2020 and 2021 and that is said to have had an adverse effect on the hard candy sector. So, speaking with Keith Graham, Business Development Manager at Baker Perkins, I ask if the pandemic had affected producers of hard candy? “Yes,” he says. “Consumers were struggling with uncertainty and, in many cases, reduced income.”


To counter this, Keith points out that the use of modern, automated processes can provide a more cost-effective hard candy production solution, in addition to opening up new product opportunities.


Step-by-step


The first step in the hard candy production process is to dissolve and concentrate the chosen syrup in a batch or continuous cooker until the residual moisture is reduced to between 1% and 3%.


Baker Perkins starch-free hard candy depositor


12 Kennedy’s Confection April 2022


KennedysConfection.com


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