GOING KOSHER MAKES A DIFFERENCE

FROM KOSHER TODAY FEB. 28, 2011

Tootsie Roll’s Expansion into Kosher is Proof of Strength of Kosher

New York…Fans of Tootsie Roll were elated that the company has now added kosher certification by the Orthodox Union (OU) to its Junior Mints, Blow Pops, Tootsie Roll Pops, Caramel Apple Pops, Charms, Sugar Daddy and Sugar Babies products. But to kosher industry officials, the news has much deeper meaning. Line extension by a company like Tootsie Roll means that the company has received good feedback from the original certification of some of its products. In the fall of 2009 Tootsie Roll announced that Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Fruit Rolls, Frooties and DOTS would recieve kosher certification. Charleston Chew, Cella’s chocolate covered cherries, Andes, Razzles, Fluffy Stuff, Dubble Bubble, and Nik-L-Nip have already been certified for many years. Said one kashrus official, “Many of these companies have done their homework and are certainly taken by the hype about kosher certification, but all that pales when presented with actual data indicating stronger sales.” He added, “You might say that when a company adds products (to become kosher), sometimes at the expense of changing ingredients, it is the proof in the pudding that kosher pays for itself.” Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. is one of the country’s largest candy companies, headquartered in Chicago with operations in Massachusetts, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Toronto and Mexico. In its 115th year, the company produces more than sixty-four million Tootsie Rolls per day and is considered the world’s largest lollipop maker.