Candy and philanthropy come together in a new venture that teams Bethlehem, Pa.-based Just Born Inc. with the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Just Born has announced that it will contribute a minimum of $100,000 annually to the foundation, which is dedicated to finding cures for childhood cancer. The foundation grew from a young cancer patient’s front-yard lemonade stand to a nationwide fundraising initiative, and has raised more than $16 million to date.

Alexandra “Alex” Scott was four years old and undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer when she decided to set up a lemonade stand to raise money to help other children with the disease. Her selfless spirit and unique vision ultimately led to thousands of lemonade stands and other fundraising events across the country. By the time of her death at the age of eight in 2004, Alex had been featured on “The Oprah Show,” and her objective of raising $1 million for cancer research was in sight.

Just Born celebrated its partnership with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation with a reception held in Chicago during the week of the All Candy Expo. At the reception, Alex’s father, Jay Scott, shared the story of his daughter’s life, battle with cancer, and commitment to helping others.

For Just Born, a key part of the campaign will be the launch of its limited edition Mike and Ike Lemonade Blends, a tasty combo of five lemonade-inspired flavors. Specifically, the flavors are lemonade, strawberry lemonade, raspberry lemonade, tangerine lemonade and lime lemonade.

Packaging for Mike and Ike Lemonade Blends, which will be available for summer 2008, will be flagged with the Alex’s Lemonade Stand logo.

More information on the foundation is available at www.alexslemonade.org.

Galerie, Hebron, Ky., a marketer of distinctive candy gift items, has signed a master licensing and co-manufacturing contract with the The Hershey Company.

As a result, Galerie will partner with Hershey to provide innovative confectionery gifts featuring Hershey brands. The first items will be available early next year.

Lufkin, Texas-based Atkinson Candy Co., a proud producer of American-made candy, is venturing into new territory with the rollout of a line of premium hard candy.

The company debuted the double twist-wrapped candies at the All Candy Expo in September, and Eric Atkinson, company president, says he was pleased with the interest the rollout generated.

“We took orders [at the show],” says Atkinson. “Right now, it’s available in bulk, but if a customer wants it in packaged form, we’re ready to do that.”

Company staffers dedicated themselves to coming up with top-notch formulations for the candy over the course of the summer months, Atkinson reports.

The premium hard candy initially will be offered in 24 varieties including sugar and sugar-free versions of anise squares, butterscotch buttons, lemon ovals and slices, cinnamon balls and Atkinson’s signature Honeycombed Peanuts.

Atkinson notes that with the closing of Chicago-based hard candy maker, Peerless Confections, earlier this year, he saw an opportunity in the marketplace, given his company’s expertise in this arena.

“It wasn’t a stretch at all for us to start doing this kind of candy,” he says.

The key to success with such a premium product, he emphasizes, is maintaining product quality over the long haul.

The mood was festive, lighthearted, and a bit emotional at times earlier this fall when members of the candy industry gathered to recognize one of their own — Jorge Farber, president of Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Queens, N.Y., with the 63rd annual Kettle Award.

The award, which acknowledges outstanding service to the confectionery industry, was presented at a reception sponsored by Candy Industry and Confectioner magazines and held in Chicago in September during the week of the All Candy Expo.

Also honored at the event were this year’s other award nominees: The Hershey Company staff scientist, Judy Cooley, and Charles Flavelle, chairman of R.C. Purdy Chocolates, Vancouver, British Columbia.

The criteria for Kettle Award selection include outstanding confectionery industry contributions in areas that range from sales and marketing and education to quality advancement and research and product development.

Farber’s career at premium chocolate maker Madelaine began in 1984 when he joined the company as plant manager. He moved on to roles as vice president and chief operating officer and company president in rapid succession.

Under Farber’s leadership, Madelaine has tripled sales, expanded and upgraded production facilities and substantially broadened its product line.

In addition to his successful leadership of Madelaine Chocolates, Farber maintains a high profile within the industry. He is active in the National Confectioners Association and the Retail Confectioners Association. Most recently, he spearheaded the creation of All Candy Expo’s Gourmet Marketplace.

Farber also finds time for local community involvement. He has served as chairman of the local school board and been an active participant in various religious and civic organizations.

GumRunners LLC, Hackensack, N.J., is keeping its Jolt energy gum brand fresh with a new racing team gum promotion that runs this fall and winter. As part of the promo, the company offers limited edition gum packaging that features a series of different race car drivers as well as the company-sponsored Jolt race car. Purchasers enter a code online to find out if they’ve won a prize. Top prizes include a weekend at racing school and the chance to join a Daytona 500 pit crew.

Just Born’s Matt Petronio has been promoted to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. Petronio has been with Just Born for five years, most recently as vice president of customer and brand development.

Petronio is a graduate of the Wharton Business School. Before coming to Just Born, he served in various management positions at Procter and Gamble, M&M/Mars and Farmland Dairies.

Ross Born, co-CEO of Just Born, commented, “Matt and his team have significantly improved our brand’s performance in the market and strengthened our relationship with our customers and consumers. We are confident he will build upon the momentum already achieved.”

Just Born’s current president and chief operating officer, Samuel Torrence, announced his plan to retire in June 2008, after nearly six years at the helm of Just Born. Torrence will retain the position of president until his retirement.

Simply Goodies, the company formed recently with the merger of Blueberry Hill Foods and Warner Candy, has created a new position, director of national accounts. Filling the position is Allison Quinn, who has been employed by Simply Goodies/Blueberry Hill since November 2005 as director of the Eastern Region.

Goetze’s Candy Co., Baltimore, Md., presented its 2006 President’s Awards to top-performing brokers at an event held in September.

To qualify, the broker must have improved in areas such as overall sales, distribution, program execution, deduction management, and administrative evaluations.

Brokers that met the criteria include: Burdette-Beckman, Clawson-Hewett Brokerage, Eisman-Gleit Four Star Brokerage, Fairley & Company, Geraci & Associates, Golick Martins, Hoffmann-Vogler Company, Howard J. Eddy & Associates, H-V Mid-State Sales Corp., J. Carroll & Associates, Key Sales Group, Kondas & Wood, Mancini Sales & Marketing, Mitchell & Company, MSI LLC, Ross Upstate Sales & Marketing, Singer Lee & Associates, Stockdale, Reagan & Cain, and Wiltsie & Company.

Each of the honored brokers was presented with a custom-made, low-back, Windsor arm chair with the Goetze’s Candy Co. logo lasered into the front, and the broker’s name engraved into a plaque and mounted to the back of the chair.