Content about Chocolate

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Just Born wants fans of its Peeps, Mike and Ike, and Hot Tamales brands to feel the love this Valentine's Day.

Peeps is getting a Valentine's Day makeover with Peeps chocolate-covered-raspberry-flavored marshmallow hearts, available in single-serve packages.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Hershey is offering fans a new way to enjoy its iconic chocolate candies.

New Hershey's Drops, available in milk chocolate and cookies 'n creme flavors, are delicious bite-sized drops without the candy shell. Chocolate lovers now can enjoy on-the-go snacking without the mess, the company said.

Hershey's Drops will be sold nationwide in 8-oz. resealable, stand-up pouches. Also available are milk chocolate Hershey's Drops in king-size 2.1-oz. packs.

SAN FRANCISCO — Poco Dolce has introduced a vegan line of chocolate bars that marry sweet and salty.

The company's bittersweet chocolate bars are available in six varieties, including olive oil with sea salt, peanut butter, Mayan chile, bittersweet with sea salt, hazelnut and "five spice."

The bars carry a suggested retail price of $6 each.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Peeps is introducing its first chocolate-covered candy with a flavored marshmallow center this holiday season, the candy brand announced last week.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Hero Nutritionals has developed a multivitmain dark chocolate product, which will add to the company's functional chocolate line.

The company on Nov. 5 announced that the Healthy Indulgence product line will launch with four varieties to help achieve daily wellness, bone health, weight loss and stress relief.

All Healthy Indulgence chocolate vitamins come with 28 individually wrapped pieces, each only 39 calories, and carry a suggested retail price of $28.99.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. Mars Chocolate North America is breathing new life into its Dove chocolate brand with new product innovations.

Dove is introducing two new sophisticated and delicious flavor combinations: raspberry and dark chocolate swirl, and white and milk chocolate swirl. Dove's chocolate swirl line will be supported with a new marketing campaign, which includes print and TV advertisements, the company said.

ATLANTA Mars Chocolate North America is set to unveil its newest innovations in chocolate and ice cream.

Mars will unveil several new items this week at this year's National Association of Convenience Stores show in Atlanta:

BETHLEHEM, Pa. Just Born's Peeps brand is offering a limited-edition treat just in time for Halloween.

New Peeps chocolate-covered marshmallow pumpkins are drenched with either milk or dark chocolate on the outside, and feature an orange marshmallow on the inside.

Just Born's complete Halloween lineup includes:

MERIDEN, Conn. Thompson Brands on Wednesday launched its Adora calcium and vitamin D supplement, an all-natural chocolate that is 30 calories per serving.

HERSHEY, Pa. Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker has released a limited edition chocolate bar that has hints of both spices and fruit.

The new Ben Tre chocolate bar is made with cacao beans from the Ben Tre province of Vietnam, the company said. Beginning this month, the Scharffen Berger Ben Tre chocolate bar will be available on the chocolate maker's website and select retail locations nationwide.

NEW YORK Retail sales of chocolate products increased 3% from 2008 to a record $17 billion in 2009, according to a report by market research publisher Packaged Facts titled "Chocolate Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in Premium, Gourmet and Mass Chocolate Products."

The growth was attributed to the 75% of Americans who have purchased chocolate products since 2008 and the increases in manufacturer prices.