President
Atkinson Candy Co.
Lufkin, Texas

For the past 30 years, Eric Atkinson has combined East Texas ingenuity and individual chutzpah to propel Atkinson Candy Co. from a small regional manufacturer into a world-class supplier of candies.

After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in economics, Atkinson joined Atkinson Candy in 1979 and became national sales manager in 1982. In 1991, he was appointed vice president of sales, which made him responsible for implementing customer-specific promotions, program selling and market development programs, in addition to calling on national accounts. Atkinson also worked to strengthen the company’s broker network and establish relationships with international distributors, becoming a regular supporter of national trade shows and other industry events.

In 2000, Atkinson became president of the company, ushering in a new era as a third-generation family member to take on the leadership role. Since then, he has revitalized Atkinson Candy Co., making both internal changes and brand acquisitions.

From overhauling its business accounting practices to gaining kosher certification for nearly all the company’s products, Atkinson has embraced continuous improvement. He has been the driving force behind plant expansion, production additions and numerous upgrades at its Lufkin, Texas, facility, which includes establishment of a dedicated quality assurance laboratory.

The production capacity increases have been achieved by both process re-engineering and machinery purchases, some of which were installed to introduce new product lines. For example, Atkinson spearheaded the purchase of key equipment from Peerless Confection Co., allowing the company to move into the production of premium hard candies. As a result, Atkinson Candy Co. introduced its Gemstones line of regular and sugar-free hard candies, which won a NCSA New Product Award this year.

Atkinson also led the purchase of the regional Coconut Long Boys brand, revitalizing the line and expanding it to include Long Boys Juniors and Chocolate Long Boys varieties, as well as taking long-established Atkinson brands into the sugar-free arena. He also has been influential in building co-operative systems with sister company Judson-Atkinson Candies, based in San Antonio, Texas.

Looking wider afield, Atkinson has been working with the Guatemalan sugar industry to assist other U.S. manufacturers in gaining access to sugar at world prices. Believing it’s important to give back to the industry, Atkinson served on the National Confectioners Association (NCA) board of directors for three years and actively participated on the NCA's Strategic Planning and Sweets & Snacks Expo committees. He also served on the American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) board for more than 10 years.

Named Candy Man of the Year by the Southern Tobacco and Candy Association in 1990, Atkinson also received Dean of the Confectionery Industry Award from the AWMA in 1998 and the Doc Reed Silver Dish Award from the NCA in 2008.

Sarah Atkinson, Atkinson’s daughter, now is part of Atkinson Candy Co.’s fourth generation of family candy makers. In addition, he is training another member of the clan, his nephew Jeremy, on the production side of the business.