Why is Editor-in-Chief Bernie Pacyniak going down this memory lane? Pacyniak, who served Candy Industry Magazine for 17 years, is retiring June 29.

Editor-in-Chief Bernie Pacyniak recently learned about the efforts of Hope Ranch International, a faith-based organization serving needy and impoverished families, while having lunch with Patrick Murnane of Murnane Cos. A visit to the Montana-based ranch quickly followed.

Those of us who work in and with the industry sometimes forget that the outside world doesn’t necessarily know what we know, particularly when it comes to chocolate.

So you enjoy working in the confectionery industry, right? But tell me this, are you producing snacks, or are they treats? Hey, I realized the words are often used interchangeably. Nevertheless, there is a difference.

Colian Group's ongoing investments and targeted acquisitions had caught the eye of the European Candy Kettle Club — our Candy Industry Kettle Committee equivalent across the pond — who, in turn, nominated Jan Kolański, president of the Colian Group, for the coveted ECKC award in 2017.

Mint, which some of us have grown in our gardens, just doesn’t immediately come to mind when it comes to sustainability issues. And yet, it’s one of the critical ingredients in Mars Wrigley’s mint and gum products.

When I read the headline in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune that Mars Wrigley Confectionery was going to base its U.S. headquarters in Hackettstown and Newark, N.J., I was — to put it mildly — devastated.

All of us would probably want more time to read books. Those of you who sleep only four or five hours a night may have found that your regimen allows you to get through your “Must Read” list. 

I admit it; it’s been a while since I had the opportunity to attend a Retail Confectioners International Regional Conference. As often is the case, I have plenty of excuses, beginning with budget restraints, scheduling conflicts and never-ending deadlines.

On July 1, consumers living in Cook County, a good chunk of Chicagoland, were greeted with a new tax, one that slapped a penny surcharge on every ounce of sweetened beverage, which included items such as soda, sports drinks, flavored water, energy drinks, pre-made sweetened coffee and tea with less than 50 percent milk content, among others.