It’s not every day that this humble editor has lunch prepared and served to him by a corporate executive chef.

Last fall, Mars Chocolate North America launched the 3 Musketeers “#ThrowShine” campaign, designed to give young people a chance to spread positivity and good will. That’s opposed to “throwing shade,” a slang phrase for publicly criticizing someone on the Internet or otherwise. 

Sometimes things just fall right into your lap. Here I was, mulling what I was going to pen for today’s column, when I get this email. Nowadays, of course, emails dictate the direction of our minutes and hours more often than not.

It’s been 10 months since I joined Candy Industry, but it wasn’t until a week ago that I had a chance to partake in an event hosted by the Retail Confectioners International (RCI). I didn’t realize it, but I was in for a treat.

In attending the Welcome Reception on Monday evening and then touring the Expo the next day, I suddenly realized how quickly time can fly in the confectionery industry. 

June is also National Candy Month. While it’s a great excuse to savor some of our favorite treats, it also offers an opportunity to reflect on some of the positive trends and developments in our industry.