Slowly but steadily the Main Dining Room at Chicago’s prestigious Union League Club began to fill up on Tuesday evening, May 24. As is typical for exhibitors and attendees on the first day of the Sweets & Snacks Expo, it can be difficult to leave the floor come day’s end. There are still friends to greet and a cocktail to consume before one makes his or her way to the buses waiting to whisk people away to Candy Industry’s 71st Kettle Award Reception.
But given that each year the Kettle Committee puts together a slate of industry giants as nominees, it’s hard to stay away from the industry’s “Oscar night.” Consider the candidates in 2016: Mike Koch, v.p. of Morley’s Candy Co.; Marty Palmer, president and ceo of Palmer Candy Co.; Rick Ross, president and ceo of Galerie; and Dave Taiclet, president of the Gourmet Food Group of 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc.