Quality Candy strengthens hard candy portfolio
candy business of compatriot Gilliam Candy Brands.
The US-based Quality Candy Company has acquired the Paduke hard candy business of compatriot Gilliam Candy Brands in a deal which will strengthen Quality Candy's position as one of the leading hard candy manufacturers in North America,
Quality Candy Company's chairman, Pierre Redmond, said that the agreement applied to certain assets, including the Gilliam Old Paduke stick product brand name, and the specialised equipment that Gilliam uses to make the old-fashioned stick candies.
According to Gilliam Candy Brands' CEO, Bill Lacy, only the Paducah hard candy business is being sold to Quality Candy. This sale does not include the Sophie Mae Peanut Brittle, Kits, BB Bats Taffy, or Slo Poke Caramel brands.
Gilliam's stick candies, including its popular Old Paduke, Lil Paduke, Baby Paduke and Paduke, Jr. mint sticks, will be incorporated into Quality Candy's already sizable stick candy business that includes nationwide distribution through a variety of store formats.
"Those who know and love Old Paduke stick candies will still find them in their traditional packaging and assortments, but in the future they'll be able to purchase them in more retail outlets," said Quality's president and CEO Al Bono.
Quality Candy is the largest hard candy manufacturer west of the Rocky Mountains, and sells a range of products including King Leo, Original Choco-Starlight and Original Spi-C-Mint. It is one of the leading suppliers of hard candy to the foodservice industry.
