The Sweet Spot: Growing Confectionery Trends

Savage Bros has been manufacturing confectionery equipment for over 150 years and has seen trends in candy making that range from the growing popularity of chewing gum to peanut butter candies to the fruit-infused candies of today.

Chocolate Trends

Chocolate

In recent years, we have seen food manufacturers push the boundaries when it comes to their latest creations.  From savory candies to elaborate packaging and everything in between, candy makers are appealing to the public on an entirely new level.

As health initiatives are pushed, consumers are looking towards “healthier” alternatives when it comes to even their candies.  This has led to a push for creation of “better-for-you” candies.  Manufacturers are using healthier ingredients, infusing fruit flavors, adding protein, chia seeds, and whole pieces of fruit.  Updated candy making equipment allows candy makers to accommodate nearly any taste.

Another growing trend you may have noticed this part year is the move toward dessert-inspired candy.  Particularly popular are chocolates with the taste of intricate cakes from red velvet to cheesecake to birthday cake.  Confectionery equipment infuses the flavors of your favorite desserts into a bite sized piece of chocolate that can be enjoyed virtually guilt-free.

A trend that is expected to continue growing in popularity is candies and chocolates aimed at enjoying at a specific time of day or with a particular meal.  Candy is traditionally thought of as a snack or a treat that can be enjoyed at any time of day but researchers are seeing a movement towards products targeted to be enjoyed at traditional meal times.

Are You Ready to Tackle This Season’s Trends in Wedding Cakes?

With wedding season right around the corner, bakers everywhere are gearing up for the onslaught of orders for custom cake creations. And just like the weddings themselves, the trends in cakes are ever changing. So what should you be ready for in the upcoming season? Here, Savage Bros, the premier manufacturer of baking and confectionary equipment for 150 years, makes a list of what’s trending now.

  • Wedding Cake Season - Savage Bros.

    Wedding Cake Season

  • “Naked” Cakes
    • Don’t be surprised to see many cakes without frosting or fondant. Brides looking for a more low-key look for their cake are keeping it simple. Layers of cake are connected by thin buttercream and topped with flowers or fruit.

 

  • Geometrics
    • Perfectly cut pieces of fondant and precise decorating are key elements for geometric cakes. Mix up colors, shapes and sizes for to a truly jaw-dropping creation.

 

  • Hand-Painted
    • Don’t be afraid to get creative and break out the brushes! Many brides are looking for the beauty and unique color that hand-painted floral designs can deliver.

 

  • Monograms & Type
    • Make it personal by adding monogrammed letters or poems, verses or other type to a cake in different styles and colors.

 

  • Metallic Accents
    • The metallic colored tend has taken a new, more demure turn. Pare down the drama by limiting metallic to accents and brushed-on details for a more sophisticated look.

 

Do you have the equipment to keep up with these ever-evolving trends? Make sure you have the latest in bakery icing and fondant processing, lifting and pouring bowls, and everything else you need to make sure your wedding cakes are ready for their ‘big days’! Call Savage Bros today and we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have or to help you select the perfect equipment to meet your unique needs.

Eat More Dark Chocolate—It’s For Your Health!

Chocolate lovers have reasons to celebrate! As more and more scientific research proves, eating dark chocolate has a number of great health benefits. It’s hard to believe that something that tastes so good could also be good for you, but it’s true! Here, the experts at Savage Bros break down a list of 4 great reasons to satisfy your sweet tooth with dark chocolate.

Chocolate

Dark Chocolate

  1. It’s Packed With Nutrients

A 100 gram bar of dark chocolate (with 70-85% cocoa) contains 11 grams of fiber, 67% of your daily amount of Iron, 58% of your daily amount of Magnesium and 89% and 98% of your Copper and Manganese daily amounts, respectively. On top of all that, dark chocolate is also packed with cell protecting antioxidants.

  1. It Can Help Protect Your Skin From Sun Damage

The flavonols in dark chocolate are bioactive compounds can protect against sun-induced damage, improve blood flow to the skin and increase skin density and hydration. Be sure and load up on dark chocolate before your next trip to the beach!

  1. It Helps Lower the Risk for Heart Problems

Dark chocolate can improve several important risk factors for heart disease. In a controlled trial, cocoa powder was found to significantly decrease oxidized LDL cholesterol (aka bad cholesterol). Dark chocolate can also reduce insulin resistance, which is another common risk factor for many ailments like heart disease and diabetes.

  1. It Can Help Improve Brain Function

Certain studies have found that healthy people who consumed high-flavanol cocoa experienced improved blood flow to the brain. In studies with elderly people, cocoa may also significantly improve cognitive function and verbal fluency and several other risk factors for mental impairment and disease.

With so many positive reasons to be eating dark chocolate, there’s no reason not to indulge! For all of your candy-making needs, trust the experts at Savage Bros.! For more than 150 years, Savage Bros. has continuously manufactured candy and chocolate making equipment that is recognized worldwide for its quality and reliability. Let our pouring bowls, chocolate melters, packers and more help you streamline your chocolate-making business. Call us today to learn more!

Smells Like Spring!

Spring is officially here—and so are all the bright, clean, floral and fruity fragrances that we always associate with warmer weather. Whether you’re drawn to the crisp, fresh scents of cotton, spearmint or eucalyptus; the mouth-watering aromas of orange, lemon and berries; or the soft, subtle scents of roses, lilacs and peonies, you’ll find a perfect spring candle no matter what you’re into!

Spring Scented Candles

Spring Candles

In addition to the plethora of scents you can choose from, candles also come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and packaging options. Because of their beauty (and functionality!), candles can also serve as a great addition to your home décor. Pair several large candles on a table for a bold conversation piece; place smaller candles in an accent color around the room to tie everything together; or use the soft light in a candle-lit lantern to create a cozy, intimate ambiance. Because of their many uses and functions, candles are an extremely popular and affordable way for consumers to quickly spruce up their homes for spring.

 

If you’re looking to kick-start your own candle business and keep up with this growing demand, make sure you have the equipment to be able to make all your top fragrances, quickly and easily. For more than 150 years, the team at Savage Bros. has been manufacturing top-of-the-line candle making equipment; from melters and candle bakers to cooling tables, packers and mixers, Savage Bros. has everything you need!

To streamline your candle-making business, call one of our friendly, knowledgeable experts to learn more about all the high-quality products we have to offer today!

4 Simple Ingredients, Unlimited Chocolate Possibilities

Whether you love to nibble on fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies, add some milk chocolate to a s’more or enjoy decadent dark chocolate candies, it’s hard to pick a favorite chocolate treat. With so many options, types and tastes, there’s definitely something for everyone!

No matter what flavor is your favorite, all types of chocolate start with chocolate liquor (which actually does not contain any alcohol, despite its name), which is formed by grinding cacao beans into a smooth, liquid paste.

Types of Different Chocolate

Different Types of Chocolate

Once the chocolate liquor has been allowed to cool and harden, you have “unsweetened chocolate”, also known as baking, pure or bitter chocolate. If you like things a little sweeter, adding cocoa butter and sugar in varying amounts to the chocolate liquor creates semisweet chocolate (the perfect addition to cookies), or traditional sweet chocolate, depending on the amounts of sugar and cocoa butter added.

Milk chocolate, as you might have guessed, combines 10% chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sugar and milk, of course. And while white chocolate is not technically categorized as a type of chocolate because it doesn’t contain any chocolate liquor, it is also made of at least 20% cocoa butter and 14% milk and varying amounts of sugar.

So, with just a few simple ingredients, you can make virtually any type of chocolate you want, but having the right equipment to get the job done is just as important. The experts at Savage Bros have been perfecting the art of chocolate making with high-quality, innovative chocolate-making equipment and confectionary supplies since 1855.

We’ve been helping restaurants, hotels and large businesses get the very best mixers, melters and industrial equipment needed to make large-scale chocolate and candy making a breeze!

Call one of our knowledgeable experts today for more details about our extensive list of products we offer. We’ll help provide you with the tools to make your job easier, so you can focus on what’s most important—chocolate!

4 Reasons Why Candles Are Flying Off the Shelves

The candle market has taken off.  What was once used for emergencies or lighting is now used for many reasons.

Now is a great time to get into the candle industry. People are buying them for all times of the year and for any occasion. Candle equipment retailer, Savage Bros, have noticed this increase.  There are several reasons for the jump in popularity.

CandlesRelaxation- Candles are a great way for people to relax.  More and more people are using candles to help wind down at the end of the day.

Set the Mood- People are using candles for special occasions to set the mood and to create a certain ambiance. They are great for romantic and whimsical evenings or even a chic soiree.

Scent- Many people are using candles to make their room smell a certain way.  They often buy candles according to the season.  For instance, warm vanillas are great for the fall and winter while flowery scents are perfect for spring and summer.

Gifts- Candles have become a great gift item for friends and family members.  They are particularly nice for a house warming present.  Many people enjoy drowning the residual paint odor with a nice candle.

Candles are being used for many reasons today.  As their popularity grows, so will sales.  Savage Bros has the equipment you need to kick start your candle business. We have a wide variety of tools that you will need to keep up with the demand.  Call or visit our website for more information!

There’s No Such Thing as Too Much Chocolate

At Savage Bros, we’ve been on the forefront of chocolate-making equipment since 1855, when our founder, Philip Savage set out to create chocolate that was more delicious – plain and simple.

It’s been over 150 years since then, and the professionals at Savage Bros are still working each and every day to perfect the science of chocolate.

It’s a sensual process — one that requires love, believe it or not. Making chocolate, especially on a mass scale, can be a very difficult and grueling process. And if you don’t have the right equipment behind you… forget it.

That’s where Savage Bros comes in. We’ve been helping restaurants, hotels and large corporations perfect their recipes and put a smile on their customer’s face for as long as we can remember.

Our lifting and pouring bowls are huge and well-engineered – so are our bakery icing and fondant processing tanks – perfect for your high-volume establishment.

Call us today for a no-obligation consultation and free quote with one of our chocolate-making equipment experts. We can’t wait to impress you with the details. Call now or go to our homepage to submit a request and sign up for our newsletter – we’ll get back to you with some valuable info!

Be Prepared During the Season of Chocolate

The winter months may be cold and dark, but there’s a bright side to the gloom – it’s the season of chocolate! While you love eating chocolate throughout the year, from December to February it’s even harder to resist. You’ve probably received more candy than you know what to do with from holiday parties, get-togethers, and gifts from friends and family.

The holidays simply wouldn’t be the same without truffles, candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies. With Valentine’s Day coming up next month, you have an even wider selection of candy to choose from. Have you ever wondered how companies are able to produce so much perfect chocolate so quickly?

Perhaps they use the best chocolate making equipment! Savage Bros. has been in business since 1855 and has helped lead the candy and baking industries into the future. We sell the most premium, state-of-the-art equipment that guarantees flawless chocolate production. Some of our popular products include:

  • Carousel One-Person Packer: This small one-person packer streamlines the chocolate boxing process, while allowing for the storage of 36 bulk boxes at the same time!
  • Chocolate Melters & Conditioners: Our wide array of melters and conditioners will help ensure the highest-quality production of chocolate, icing, and fondants.
  • Cooling & Heating Tables: Cool or heat your product consistently on one of our easy-to-use tables. You can cut your candy or baked goods on the table with no problems!

Don’t let the season of chocolate pass you by. Savage Bros. has the advanced chocolate making equipment that will help you produce your best batches yet. Contact us today for more information!

Savage Bros at the 2013 IBIE!

This October, your top manufacturers of confectionary machinery at Savage Bros. attended the 2013 International Baking Industry Exposition. From October 6-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, our candy making experts participated in this essential non-profit event designed for suppliers in the grain-based foods industry. The IBIE is a necessary event for any manufacturer that wants to stay up-to-date and informed in the industry, and at Savage Bros., competitive, innovative products are our specialty!

All profits from the IBIE are invested back into the grain-based foods industry, with the aim of supporting consumer marketing campaigns and legislative advocacy for grain-based products.  The 2013 IBIE boasted over 500,000 square feet of exhibit space and 20,000 baking professionals, including your candy manufacturing experts at Savage Bros!

This year, we highlighted our new bowl and kettle lifters in addition to our regular chocolate and candy processing equipment. Our premium assortment of baking equipment includes electric and gas stoves, chocolate melters and temperers, icing depositors, and so much more! Even if you didn’t attend the IBIE, you’re not missing out on our wide array of products! If you don’t want to wait until the next IBIE in 2016 to learn more about our state-of-the-art baking equipment, call us today!

Confectionery Trends of 2013

What is your favorite confectionery treat?  From truffles to fudge, several different types of candy probably come to mind when that question is asked.  There are a few new trends this year being seen in the confectionery industry, which includes chocolate and candy and gum.  For over 150 Savage Bros. has been creating the machinery that creates all of your favorite treats, including many of these new flavors and trends.

One of the largest trends that has been seen this past year in candy is that consumers can’t get enough of spicy flavors in their candy.  Flavors including chipotle, Tabasco sauce and jalapeño are becoming more and more popular.

Another popular trend that has not only been seen this past year but over the past couple of years is that of bite-sized pieces.  Perfect for a small cheat during your diet or when you just can’t do without your favorite candy, a large variety of candy’s arrived on the market this year.

Consumers are also eating up old favorites that are being reintroduced with a new twist.  Creativity is abounding in the confectionery industry this year.  Interesting flavors continually hit the market including pear and cinnamon, pickle popcorn and even organic candy. So at Savage Bros, we are sure to stay up with trends and satisfy all your candy making equipment needs.