Blommer, Capol LLC make personnel moves

Jan O’Brien joins Blommer Chocolate; Dennis Donofrio signs on with Capol.

Left, Jan O'Brien of Blommer Chocolate. Right, Dennis Donofrio of Capol LLC.

Long-time confectionery veteran Jan O’Brien has returned to the chocolate industry as she takes on new responsibilities as a signature line chocolate brand manager for Blommer Chocolate.

In her new role, O’Brien’s primary focus will be to lead the company’s strategy to grow North American premium and retail confectionery chocolate segments as well as be the primary contact with key customers.

A seasoned sales professional, O’Brien has more than 25 years in the chocolate industry with experience at Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate with the Wilbur and Peter’s brands. During her tenure, she has served on the Candy Industry Kettle Committee and the Retail Confectioners International Board of Directors. She has also been involved with industry associations such as NCA, PMCA, RCAP and FCIA.

Separately, Deerfield, Ill.-based Capol LLC announced it has appointed Dennis Donofrio as Midwest sales manager.

Donofrio joins Capol from Gelnex North America (In3gredients Inc.), where he was an account manager to the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, pet food and confectionery industries.

As Katherine Clark, Capol’s v.p. of sales says, “Dennis further strengthens our sales force effectiveness and focuses greater attention to the needs of our customers.”

Capol LLC’s parent company, Capol GmbH, which was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Elmshorn, Germany, has more than 250 customized products that are sold in more than 75 countries around the world.

With more than 30 years experience in B-to-B reporting, writing and editing — the bulk of which was dedicated to covering the bakery, confectionery and snack industries — Pacyniak has chronicled changes within the food industry since the early 1980s. A Boston University journalism degree graduate, he worked for a variety of publications before joining BNP Media in 1994 as editor of Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery magazine. In 2001, he took over as editor-in-chief of Candy Industry until 2018.