Bulk Candies In Supermarket Bulk Bins

One of my biggest fears as a Candy Critic are the strange bulk bins you find in grocery and foreign food stores. It's a fear that I often have to face, but every time I purchase a treat from one of these bulk bins I have little to no idea what I'm getting myself into. There are really three ways this kind of treat can go. It can be a great new discovery, something tasty and unique. It can be something horrible, so bad that I can't understand why people even sell such a treat. Finally it can be really, really boring, and this is actually the most common problem. With something great or something horrible there's plenty to write about, but with something boring, like an average fruity hard candy, I have a hard time filling up space when I write the review. Most of the time I end up filling the review full of explanations about how hard that particular review was to write.

Fortunately this treat was a a little more interesting than usual, not sure I loved it though.

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see some of the other treats I've recently discovered.

If you like reading about treats and snacks, make sure to pick up my comic called Snack Facts.

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Costco Cookies

 I have a problem with buying treats at Costco, and it can all be explained using their cookies as an example.

You can see all my videos if you follow me on YouTube.

Also be sure to keep up with all my shenanigans on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

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Tom's Look At The Visual Side Of Snacks And Candy - Broken Nut Roll (AKA Oh Henry Bars)

Hey all!

If you’ve been following these posts the past couple of weeks, I hope you’ve enjoyed the informal look at some candy packaging. This entry goes against the format perhaps, but also talks about packaging from a different angle.

If you take a look at the photo accompanying today’s post, you’ll see a close-up of Oh! Henry chocolate bars that are on display for bulk purchase. That’s right: there is no package at all! The bar sells itself on visual appeal alone. Granted, the name recognition helps customers who are already familiar with the well-known candy bar. However, the way the candy bars are displayed is intriguing. The bold-type name on the bin describes the item as “Broken Nut Roll” with the name brand “Oh! Henry” in smaller text. The fact that some bars are BROKEN is played as a virtue rather than a problem. Indeed, the way in which the caramel oozes from the center where the break occurs, revealing peanuts and the slightly darker core of chocolate can be downright irresistible. The appeal is enhanced once the bin lid is lifted and the heady aroma of those three elements grasps the olfactory senses.

Anyone else need a pause to collect and compose?

Yes.

So, as much as a package serves basic functions of protection and presentation in most circumstances, in this setting it is barely missed. In another part of the store where the above photograph was taken, the Oh! Henry 4:25 bar is available in a more conventional wrapper and marketed in it’s own point-of-sale cardboard display. Package designers need not fear their obsolescence! This seemed a good opportunity to showcase another approach to marketing that evokes the past and may serve as a model for the future in a world that needs to be concerned with waste management.

Tom

Make sure to follow Tom on Instagram, and don't forget to check out one of his exclusive Candy Critic t-shits.

Candy Critic Chris By Tom Yeo T-Shirt
by candycritic

New Review Easter Eddition - Bunny Ears

We're starting our Easter reviews with what can only be described as one of the most grim candies I've ever seen for this holiday. Sure, some of you might see these as being cute little chocolate treats, but all I see is a bunch of cute little bunnies with no ears.

Click here to read about severed chocolate bunny parts.

Also make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to keep up with what we're up to right now.

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Candy In The Media - Sesame Street, Penny Candy Man

This Sesame Street video not only makes me feel nostalgic for Sesame Street, but it also reminds  me of a time when penny candy used to exist.  Although I'm not old enough to remember when any of the penny candy actually cost a penny.

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My Candy/Junk Food Chrsitmas Wishlist - Bulk Kit Kats

Sometimes you just want a whole lot of something you love (Kit Kat bars).

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Candy In The Media - Eating a Lot Of Cookies And Milk

Now that's a lot of cookies.

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We've Finally Reviewed Jelly Beans

Why did it take us so long to get around to reviewing jelly beans? Frankly we're not really sure, but here we are with many years of writing candy reviews below our belt and only now have we done this review.

Click here to find out why it was so hard, and what we think about these bean shaped candies.

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This Week In Candy

I've decided to go on a bulk buying extravaganza.  I came across 20 dollars in our candycritic.org budget, and I've decided to spend it on bulk candy.  There's a chain of bulk food stores in Canada called Bulk Barn (I know it's a silly name, but it's really an amazing place), and I've decided that I'm going to spend the money there.  I love buying bulk candy because it allows me to buy a huge variety of treats without having to buy a huge quantity.  When you buy in bulk there's often no minimum, so you can go into a store, put one gummy bear in a bag, and pay for it. It reminds me of the old days of penny candy, which as far as I can tell no longer exists anywhere.  So I've got a few bucks to spend at a bulk store, what do you recommend I get? Let me know in the comments, on Twitter, or Facebook.

This week we're also posting some great new content, including a new episode of our podcast Junk Fud On The Road.  Junk Fud On The Road is all about the places and foods Allison and I have discovered all over the world.  This episode is about one of our favourite foodie places, the UK. I know it's not really a country, but a collection of countries attached to an island, we just couldn't help ourselves.

This week we'll also be posting a few new additions to the Doughnut Project, this is where I attempt to sample as many different Tim Horton's doughnuts as I can.  Since it's Rrrrroll Up The Rim To Win time, I find myself going to Tim Horton's fairly often no a days. For those that don't understand Rrrrrroll Up The Rim To Win, it's an annual contest at Tim Horton's where you have to roll the rim of your cup up to find out what you've won.  It's a contest that's so popular in Canada that it makes the news every year. As of this morning I've only one a free coffee, but I'm hoping my luck changes. Make sure to check out the Doughnut Project on our Instagram feed.

This week's new candy review comes from our latest episode of Chris, Why Would You Eat That?!! The candy was a gift from some friends that went on vacation in Cambodia, and they picked me up some rather strange treats. This one had the most unique packaging ever, but I'm not sure how it affected the candy itself.  Click here to check out the latest review.

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This Week In Candy

This week I came across what seems like a new candy trend (at least to me) and that's snack mixes.  The snack mixes I'm talking about are like Chexmix, mixed nuts or trail mix, but instead of being anything even remotely healthy these mixes are mostly candy.  My local bulk store (Bulk Barn, yeah you Americans will laugh but it's a Canadian institution) had a whole bunch of these crazy mixes, filled with many treats I'd never really thought of putting together.  The one pictured above has the "clever" name of "Should Be A Food Group".  The thing that worries me about these mixes is their origins.  Are they carefully created through trial and error to get the perfect balance of flavours, or are they simply what was left at the bottom of several bins at the end of the day?  Should Be A Food Group was OK, but not a breakthrough in candy mix-ology. Do you have a favourite mix, do you make it yourself?  Let me know.

This week I also thought I would announce that I'm heading back south again, this time New York city.  I have lots of things to check out while I'm there, and likely lots to re-discover considering I haven't been there in over 10 years.  There are a few bakeries and candy stores I know I want to check out, but New York always had a lot of fun surprises around every corner as well.  When I go, you'll be able to keep up with all the fun places I visit on Facebook and Twitter.

On the podcast front, we're working on getting the October edition of Junk Fud News online tomorrow.  We're also working on a few special interview/collaboration episodes of Junk Fud online later this winter.  We're also doing a special collaborative episode  of Chris, Why Would You Eat That?!! which we hope to get out in either December of January.

This week's new review was a really big surprise for me.  It surprised me that a candy with an apple flavour could work so well.  There were other flavours in this bag of Skittles "Orchard", but not all of them seemed to fit the theme perfectly, or as well as the apple.  Click here to find out why.

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Just Red

Pixelated Red Gummy Bear T-shirt by candycritic
Browse other Gummy T-Shirts

Today I'm kind of craving a red gummy bear.  It's strange, while you can buy single coloured gummy bears in bulk on the Internet, you can't really buy them anywhere else.  Sometimes a bag of just red gummy bears, or maybe yellow gummy bears would hit the spot, but I have to sort through a mixed bag of gummy bears discarding all the other colours.

You can find more candy themed t-shirts here.

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Friday Candy Video

I got an e-mail from the folks that designed a really great candy machine.  This might be the first time I've seen a machine that can sell bulk candy really well.  First of all you're not limited to one type of candy, you can mix and match all you like.  Secondly they make mixing the candy fun and interactive.  This thing is like combining a coffee machine with a Roald Dahl book.  The only problem I see with this machine is keeping the candy fresh.  One would hope that whomever runs this machine would change and update the candy regularly.  I've seen on many occasions bulk candy machines with very stale candy.

(Just as a note, this is not an advertisement, I really think this is a cool idea)

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Our Asian Review-a-Thon Continues

I get the feeling that many Candy/Asian food fans are going to give me grief about today's review.  I'm sure most people will tell me that there's no way that this treat is "candy".  You might be right, depending on what you define as candy.  Some might argue that today's review is more of a snack food than a candy.  I guess my definition of candy is a little broader than some.

Click here to read today's entry in the Asian review-a-thon.

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Theater Security

I went to a theater this weekend, and I was shocked when I saw the entrance to the bulk section.  It was more secure than any other part of the entire theater.  I would have had an easier time sneaking into a movie than sneaking away with a hand full of gummy bears, not that I condone stealing.  In fact I imagine they wouldn't have built this candy stronghold unless many people were stealing candy.  It's pretty shocking.

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Old Candy Critic Articles - Bulk Store Tips and Tricks

As I mentioned last week and on Monday, I've decided to take down several old articles from the candycritic.org and re-post them here on the Candy Critic blog.  This week I'm posting an article I wrote when I decided to explore some of the stranger treats available at my local bulk food store:

So you find yourself at your local bulk shop, and you're not sure what you want  to get. The choice can be overwhelming, and frankly a little creepy. I decided that I would help out and give you some advice that I learned on my last trip to the bulk food shop. This could save your life, or at the very least your taste buds.

Tip 1 – With gum drops, size matters.

Gum drops are a tasty little treat, but you don't need little treats, that's for kids. What you need is a "Giant Gum Drop" capable of feeding a really tiny family.

Many bulk candy choice are available in regular size, as well as their giant companions, so make sure you choose wisely. You wouldn't want to go hungry would you?

Tip 2 - Cookie dough mix it's a lot of work.

The idea of going to the bulk store and buying some cookie dough mix for home made cookies sounds like good idea, but think about all the water you have to add, then you have to stir, then you have to wait for them to cook in the oven. I'm sure you have better things to do with your time then watch cookies bake. I think it's a bad idea and you shouldn't waste your....

Wait a minute this stuff taste pretty good on it's own. Actually it taste really good. Man what was I thinking. A bag of dry cookie dough mix and a glass of chocolate milk is the perfect combination.

Tip 3 – Candy in trail mix not really healthy.

You'll find raisins and nuts in many trail mixes, but don't kid yourself, some trail mixes are just a bag of chocolate treats with a few nutritious looking items hiding inside. Don't be fooled, and don't settle for watered down candy. Pick out all the nuts and raisins and give them to the local wildlife, this way you have only the good stuff left for yourself.


Tip 4 - Fun looking cookies may not be so fun to eat.

Look at these yummy little cookies, think I'll take a bite and try them out. Why does this cookie taste like liver? And why is it really hard and dry? Holly cow I just at a dog treat!

Be sure you pay attention to the section where you purchase your treats. If you see bird seed and dog bones in the same area, you'll probably be disappointed with what you purchase.


Tip 6 - Cookies in bulk are great.

Some cookies may be a little broken up at your local bulk store, but the variety you can get is awesome. Why be stuck with a whole box if just one type of cookie when you can get a few of each variety. The variety of cookies you find can be great, and you never see fortune cookies around that often so this could be your only chance, without buying a bowl of wontons.

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Candy Store Tips - Pain In The Ass Bulk Bins

For many years now I've been lucky enough to explore candy stores all over the world.  I've seen the worst and I've seen the best.  Now, each week, I'm going to give you a tip that will help you know instantly how good any candy store you walk into might be.  This is also useful if you happen to own a candy store as well, follow these tips and customers will notice.

I can't tell you how many times I've been trying to dig some tasty morsel out of a bulk bin and had the stupid bin door slam in my face.  I'm not saying at this point that you shouldn't shop at a candy store because their bulk bins keep slamming down when you're trying to get your candy, but I am saying this drives me nuts.  I guess this tip is more of a plea to the candy store owners (in particular the new ones that are designing their stores right now).  Please, make sure your bins are easy to dig candy out of.  Also, make sure the bins are easy for your employees to clean.  I've been to a few candy stores with functional bins to take the candy out, but then notice the employees struggling to try and clean them out.  Employees could get frustrated with this and stop cleaning out the bins regularly.  This leads to some pretty gross bins and candy that I don't want to buy.

I'd like to thank the beautiful Snyder's Candy for providing photos for this article.

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Candy Store Tips - Testing The Freshness of Bulk

For many years now I've been lucky enough to explore candy stores all over the world.  I've seen the worst and I've seen the best.  Now, each week, I'm going to give you a tip that will help you know instantly how good any candy store might be.  This is useful if you happen to own a candy store as well, follow these tips and customers will notice.

Almost every candy store I've ever walked into (with the exception of fine chocolate shops) has a bulk section. Bulk candy can be really fun, it lets you mix and match and experiment with new treats in small doses.  The problem is since bulk treats are not packaged they tend to go bad really quickly.  The bigger problem is that many inexperienced candy store owners don't realize this fact and let bulk candy sit for way too long.  The best way to make sure you're getting good treats is to head to the first gummy (I recommend gummy bears or worms) container you find, take one of the scoops and give it a good push.  If the candy isn't squishy then they're probably stale.  You can also tell by the colour of gummies if they're old as well.  Most fresh gummies are nice and translucent and even a little oily looking.  Check a few bins, if you notice re-occurring problems then chances are they don't take care of their bins and most of the candy is probably not fresh.

I'd like to thank the beautiful Snyder's Candy for providing photos for this article.

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Stuff I Want To Try

Farts Candy - Made by: Leaf - Why: Seriously do I have to explain why a candy called "Farts" isn't worth tasting? - Click here to learn more about this treat.

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The Best Part Of Breakfast

There's not doubt in my mind that the best part of breakfast has to be the cereal.  It's even better if the cereal contains either chocolate, marshmallow, or better yet both.  But you know what would be perfect?  How about a bowl of just cereal marshmallows?  If this appeals to you, then I have a site you should check out.

Click here and place an order.

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Useful Pail?!!

What happened to the days when pails where useful.  For some reason I see all kinds of treats and snacks that come in pails, but frankly they're just not that useful anymore.  I've eaten so many pails of popcorn, only to let my pail sit in the basement for years and eventually sold it at a garage sale for a dime.  What was so different back in the old days that would make a pail useful?

Ad found on Vintage Ad Browser.

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