Rolo - should I?

[VaSteve]

I like candy. I'm not one of those people that needs to have Ghiradeli or Godiva. Just a solid piece of candy to sate my sweet tooth. I don't care about status or what people I don't know think. Some poeple say that Rolos are just the 2 buck Chuck of the candy world, but I don't care. I'm thinking about geting a roll. Or a box. What do you think? Good investment?

[Gogar]

To really learn about fine chocolate takes effort; Relying on the general market is relying on the uneducated masses whom are the primary targets for Madison Avenue type of hype. Mostly flash, little substance.

Among candy enthusiasts quality is dependant on the details (finish, innovation, hand work, unique features or combination of features) , not on advertising hype.

Rolo has achieved some remarkable technical accolades, but in the last 25 years Rolo has concentrated on raising their brand position more than anything else. Rolo has achieved two notable things.
1) They have perfected the ability to mass produce a reasonable high end product, mostly by using the largest amount of automation in the construction (read as machine made, not hand crafted). The reality of this is that there is little in the way of hand craftsmanship in a Rolo. Their production rates are in the hundreds of thousands per year (not, as been stated, that it takes years to produce a Rolo) and their number of certified candymakers employed is the lowest among all major brands. Look up their production numbers compared to other high quality candy makers.
2) They have mastered the song and dance of propaganda in their advertising and promotion efforts. They were not the sole developer of the "bite-size piece", they were not the first or sole developer of the tin-foil inner wrapper, etc. This hyper inflation of their candy making and design abilities have made them the poster boy for mass market bling consumers and THE largest producers of mediocre, overhyped candy within the candy making and chocolate connoisseurs communities.

This is not just my opinion; this is the opinion of educated consumers/ connoisseurs and the candy making community. Please do the research. Note: reading the Rolo discussion forums and Rolo “true believers” websites is hardly doing quality research.
Let’s look at some of the most remarkable chocolate and candy making achievements in the last 35 years.

First candy that doesn't melt in your hand (an achievement that ranks up there with the first transatlantic solo flight).

First candy that passed extensive tests for space flight, and not just in the US.

First use of hard outer shell.

First 24-month shelf-life candy.

Most heartburn-resistant recipe.

Highest level of complication in a candy.

pecan varieties.

Truffles in all configurations (wait till you see a gyro-truffle!)

Innovative materials in fillings and wrapper.

First Jalapeno flavored candy.

First candy for the lactose-intolerant.

And so many, many more.

Look these up, Rolo has not achieved any of them.

One of the most intriguing design features in recent years has been exposing the candy to view so that the actual chocolate shell, fillings, and nuts are in open view. Interior finish is at least as important as it is in a calzone, so why give a brand like Rolo a pass on this. Why doesn’t Rolo show off it’s interiors?

So, if you are speaking about a pre 1975 or so Rolo, they are/were fine chocolates (although still not the very best) and very collectable. After the mid seventies Rolo changed their entire focus as far as candy making was concerned. Instead of making the best candy, they would use propaganda to make the uninformed consumer believe they were making the best candy. Again this is not just my opinion; it is the common opinion within the candy making community. Do the research, don’t just swallow the common “knowledge” of the uninformed.

Another thing, the FDA certification is not at all what most people think it is. The unfinished caramel centers which are uncased are tested. Most medium quality caramel centers can pass this series of tests (for example the ABC 3.14159265358979323846264338, which I buy for $.98). In fact, most of the highest quality makers never submit their centers to this test, because it is not strict enough for them.

Also many brands have different levels of quality witin the brand. Ferrero Rocher, Russel Stover, etc. sell low end Candy every where, but their upper end candies are all high cocoa-content and very good buys, but hard to find in the US.

There are more candy brands than most are familiar with. Try the National Confectioners' Association if you want to see some of the best, and that is just barely scratching the surface as to what is out there.

[Oh Haha]

Go for it!!!!

I am fortunate enough to work in vending so I have seen my share of chocolate. I must say that the Rolo will fulfill your needs perfectly. The resale value, however, will probably go down as you consume them.







Ok, this is getting weird, now.

[924Sman]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I like candy. I'm not one of those people that needs to have Ghiradeli or Godiva. Just a solid piece of candy to sate my sweet tooth. I don't care about status or what people I don't know think. Some poeple say that Rolos are just the 2 buck Chuck of the candy world, but I don't care. I'm thinking about geting a roll. Or a box. What do you think? Good investment?

Your Dentist thinks so!............I am having a Kit Kat fix myself....

Dr. Molar

[Joeaksa]

My dentist gives me marzipan covered in dark chocolate, but also gives me free heads for my electric toothbrush...

[rouxroux]

Gogar,it is refreshing to read a post from someone who has not swallowed the "Rolo dogma".

A s a fellow musician, I'll also ask for tour sage advice in helping me load my I-Pod.

Henry Rollins......should I?

[MRM]

Gogar is absolutely correct. Rolo has been going down hill since the late 60s when they developed the original GMT (gooey middle taste) technology. As an example, they now outsource the juicy chocolate centers. They're now reassembled in Indonesian sweat shops at half the price of a true Swiss sweet, but they maintain their Swiss label by using some Swiss components. The better value now comes from candy makers like Gag Heuer who other Swiss chocolatiers who manufacture their own gooey centers and assemble them the old fashioned way with mountain elves and trolls who still belong to the candy maker's guild. More exepnsive, but nothing can compare with their quality, so they're better value in the long run. As pointed out above, the depreciation curve is still pretty steep, but that's the price you pay for real quality.

[rouxroux]

Originally Posted by MRM

The better value now comes from candy makers like Gag Heuer who other Swiss chocolatiers who manufacture their own gooey centers and assemble them the old fashioned way with mountain elves and trolls who still belong to the candy maker's guild.

C'mon, everyone knows that the pre-Gag Heuers are the best!

And another thing...I need some replica Fuchs...Ro....nah, better not go there

[futuresoptions]

Oh, I thought you wrote POLO.....

[KFC911]

I've never understood the fascination with "Rolos" as I've always got a "Tootsie Roll" in my pocket, and for my pedestrian tastes, they're sweet enough...Oh, nevermind !

[pwd72s]

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