Bulk confectionery is a method of commercially dispensing multiple small units of confectionery, either in manufactured bags with a fixed number of units per container, or by the amount of mass placed in a bag. The former is typically used in vending machines, while the latter is more common in retailers that specialize in selling confectionery. Some shops allow the customer to mix multiple types of bulk confectionery in the same bag, then purchase the mixture based on the total weight.
In the United States, some of these confections are called penny candy, and are sold by the piece in candy, soda fountain, and five and dime stores. In Britain, this type of candy is also referred to as pick 'n' mix. It is also known as loose candy.
Loose candy is typically sold at kiosks, grocery stores and candy stores in the way that the customer picks up whatever kind, and how much, of candy he/she wants (typically with a scoop) into a bag by him/herself. The price of the candy depends on its weight, and the weighing can be either done by the customer or the seller.
Sweden is the largest importer of candy in the world. The largest vendor of loose candy in the Nordic Countries is Candy King.
Loose candy first came to kiosks and cafés in the late 1970s. It was sold by units instead of by weight - in the time of the Finnish markka, even candy costing 1 penni (0.01 markka) per unit was available. The candy was put into the bag by the seller, not by the customer. They were often on display in glass jars in front of the window; the seller would take candy with a spoon at the customer's request, for example "five of those" or "a markka's worth of those".
Regulations for selling loose candy state that the products must be hygienically placed, different kinds of candy must be placed in separate jars, and that candy may only be picked up by utensils, such as pliers, spoons or scoops.
The first loose candy was fruit-flavoured gummy bears, salty liquorice flavoured "pirate coins" and powder-filled "bombs" that were available in both salty liquorice and fruit flavours. Loose candy varieties also included salty liquorice flavoured Mermaids, which were slightly larger than most loose candy sold by units.
Read more about Bulk Confectionery: History, Advantages and Disadvantages, Consumption and Sales, Health Effects, List of Bulk Confectionery
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