March 30, 2011
Amidst Sales Growth and Diversification, Wolfgang Candy Company Board Gives Nod To Benjamin McGlaughlin for Another Term as President/CEO
Wolfgang Candy Company, Inc.
Press Contact: Mike Schmid
Managing Partner - Marketing & CMO
Phone: 717.324.6296 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 717.324.6296 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
E-mail: [email protected]
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/schmidmike
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amidst Sales Growth and Diversification, Wolfgang Candy Company Board Gives Nod to Benjamin McGlaughlin for Another Term as President/CEO
York, Pennsylvania - (March 30, 2011) Wolfgang Candy Company, Inc., announces the appointment of Benjamin A. McGlaughlin to the post of President & CEO for another term.
�As a board, we have a lot of faith in Benjamin�, says William L. Schmid, Chairman. �He�s directed the company through a period characterized by rapid growth in some sales channels that have historically been unfamiliar to Wolfgang. What�s rather telling is that he fostered this sales growth at a time when our country was experiencing one of the worst recessionary periods in the post World War II era.�
�I believe the future for Wolfgang Candy Company is extremely bright�, adds McGlaughlin. �While chocolate fundraising sales have been the focus of Wolfgang for most of 90 years, it�s a segment that is growing more challenging given the country�s emphasis on childhood nutrition and wellness programs. Make no mistake; however, we�re certainly up for this challenge. We have recently renewed our focus and sales strength in chocolate/candy fundraising. Sales are trending up in this market segment, and that bodes well for Wolfgang as we continue to pursue a strategy of channel diversification and growth�, says McGlaughlin.
McGlaughlin continues, �Our ability to successfully navigate churning waters in one fundamental area of our business is in fact the result of an exploration and appreciation of our core competencies, which Wolfgang customers understand is the creation of really good chocolates.� �We�ve managed to leverage these competencies by successfully penetrating both the retail and contract manufacturing marketplaces. I�m extremely proud to say that Wolfgang is now a national player in retail snack and confectionery, and its store-brand portfolio touches nearly the entire geography of the United States�, says McGlaughlin.
Throughout Benjamin�s tenure, the company expanded regionally into grocery chains from Pennsylvania to northern Virginia, where both independent and major grocers carry an impressive array of Wolfgang products. Additionally, Wolfgang launched a few new product lines targeting a national consumer audience. Its EVES� (www.wolfgangcandy-eves.com) brand of truffle cookies can be found throughout the entire Ahold (www.ahold.com) network of grocery stores (Boston to Richmond), while the Ingles� chain (www.ingles-markets.com) in the Carolinas also sells these decadent cookies. Jungle Jacks� (milk chocolate covered animal crackers) were introduced nationally by Walgreens� (www.walgreens.com) late this past year, and the company continues to enjoy distribution by Whole Foods Market� (www.wholefoodsmarket.com) for its all-natural, dark chocolate dipped berry products.
Wolfgang�s most significant source of sales growth is in store brands. The company produces several chocolate products for two national drug chains, with more unique selections coming on-line this year. Recently, Wolfgang collaborated with a major northeast grocery chain to develop and launch the Farmer�s Fair� brand of milk chocolate pretzels, which presented in an upscale craft-style bag, are an example of a quasi private-label product jointly created through solid manufacturer-to-retailer cooperation.
Perhaps the finest example of product development and introduction in the private-label confectionery space is Wolfgang�s partnership with Giant Eagle� (www.gianteagle.com), a 250-store grocery chain headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. �The grocer has served as somewhat of a springboard with respect to product innovation�, says Mike Schmid, Wolfgang Managing Partner & CMO. �While we produce a majority of Giant Eagle�s� store brand chocolates, under both the Market District� and Giant Eagle� labels, nearly every season we find ourselves challenged by the grocer to introduce more unique and enticing chocolates complete with clever packaging and merchandising options.�
�I�m happy to learn that Benjamin will remain at the helm of Wolfgang�, says Tim Tackett, Category Manager � Giant Eagle�. �We value our relationship with Wolfgang, and look forward to a future that leads to our mutual growth and more insightful innovation in our own-brand chocolates portfolio.�
�It�s no secret that Giant Eagle� is on the cutting edge with respect to promoting and driving a successful private-label confectionery venture�, says Schmid. �I�m glad we�re a part of their private-label vision, because I think it helps to set the tone for our position as a flexible and creative manufacturer in the store-brand confectionery space � a sector that is growing at nearly 10% per year, and one that will continue to be strategically important to Wolfgang.�
�Wolfgang is a company with a proud history in confectionery manufacturing, and I�d like to congratulate the firm�s board for its vision in selecting Benjamin to continue in the top executive role�, says Larry Graham, President � National Confectioners� Association (www.candyusa.org). �I�ve enjoyed watching the company grow and innovate, and I continue to be impressed by the leadership its management team has demonstrated both within our industry and our trade association.�
About Wolfgang Candy Company, Inc.
Founded in 1921, Wolfgang is one of the oldest family-owned and managed confectionery manufacturers in the United States. From peanut brittle to hollow chocolates, Wolfgang offers one of the most extensive arrays of high-quality chocolates and non-chocolate confections available in the marketplace. In addition to the all-natural dark chocolate dipped Raspberries, Blueberries and Cranberries, some of the company�s most popular products include the new Wolfgang EVESTM brand of chocolate topped truffle cookies, a wide assortment of solid and hollow molded chocolates � bunnies at Easter and Santa at Christmas, and fine boxed chocolates � chocolate-covered pretzels and animal crackers, chocolate-covered peanut butter marshmallow treats (marshmallow and peanut butter covered in milk or dark chocolate), hand-dipped raisin and peanut clusters, and other assorted milk and dark chocolates.
Wolfgang markets and distributes its products through retail, wholesale (private labeling and contract manufacturing), and fundraising sectors. The company is a market leader in the fundraising industry and a trusted name enabling organizations of any size to achieve their financial goals. With a sole focus on and commitment to its customers, Wolfgang demands unparalleled quality in its products, providing its customers with a truly enchanting experience in taste.
# # #