Mike Bianco Candy Industry’s 69th Kettle Recipient
Emotional Bianco, who several times had to recompose himself, first thanked his wife, Linda, telling the audience that “I love her.”
Kettle Award Winner Mike Bianco, Senior V.P. of Global Operations & Distribution, Jelly Belly Candy Co., stands in the center of nominee Steve Hegedus, President, CEO & Owner, Abdallah Candies Corp., (left) and Joseph Dutra, President/CEO Kimmie Candy Co. Photo by Vito Paimisano.
Traffic from Chicago’s McCormick Place, home of this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo, to the Union League Club (ULC) was brutal. As a result, the typical “early birds” to Candy Industry’s 69th Kettle Awards reception didn’t get there till after 6 p.m. Nonetheless, by the time the program was set to start, the ULC’s Main Dining Room was full of guests from the confectionery industry anxious to see the nominees and find out who the recipient would be.