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30 Sugar Producer MAY 2014 For years, it's been difficult for lawmakers to learn about confectioners' eco- nomic success. That's because candy lobbyists are too busy telling Congress that sugar policy has caused them financial harm. Now Capitol Hill has a place to go to read Big Candy's Big News. The American Sugar Alliance released a new website this spring at www.sugaralliance.org that will keep track of the financial news and stories of expan- sions and job growth coming out of the candy business. Here's just a sampling of the good news you'll see there. y The long-standing chocolate company [Bissinger's] is in the midst of spending $15 million renovating a 223,000-square- foot building that will serve as its new headquarters in downtown St. Louis employing 100 people. CandyIndustry.com, 3-12-14 y Lindt & Spruengli reported 24 percent net profit in 2013 and predicts 2014 growth to be in the 6 to 8 percent range. ... The 8.6 percent sales gain in 2013 was driven largely by double-digit growth in North America. The Economic Times, 3-11-14 y Construction of a new candy factory near Mebane [N.C.] will begin in a few weeks, Orange County's economic development officer says. Chapel Hill News, 3-11-14 y A spokesman for Albanese Confectionery revealed plans Wednesday to double, maybe even triple, the number of produc- tion lines at the candy maker's facility. … the business is looking to expand its building [in Indiana] by 122,000 to 190,000 square feet. Post-Tribune, 3-5-14 y The confectionery industry has seen 10 straight years of growth despite troubled economic times. The Gourmet Retailer, 3-4-14 y Snack maker Leclerc Foods USA has snapped up a building in Arizona and plans to invest $50 million to expand its operations. Food Production Daily, 2-17-14 Of course, there's a lot more than just Big Candy news at the new site. Visitors can access an interactive map that displays how important sugar production is to states across the country. People can learn the nuts and bolts of sugar policy and the impact subsidized foreign sugar is having on our mar- ket. Access industry presentations and market analysis in the site's "charts and testimony" section. And yes, all the latest information about the sugar industry's pending antidump- ing and countervailing duty filing against Mexico will be available. Be sure to check the site often as new con- tent is always being added. And if you want to make sure that you're always alerted to the latest news, remember to sign up for the American Sugar Alliance's regular newsletter, "The Sugar Beat," while you're checking out the new site. n ASA Unveils New Website Check it out at www.sugaralliance.org FROM THE ASA By Phillip Hayes w w w . s a f e - t - p u l l . n e t Dealers Wanted Pulling Trucks? 32838SafTPu13h 1 4/7/14 1:56 PM