The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the winners of three industry awards ahead of the 2022 Sweets & Snacks Expo, set for May 23-26 in Chicago’s McCormick Place.
The 2022 Golden Candy Dish Award will be awarded to Kathy Corcoran, vice president at Premier Specialty. The Golden Candy Dish Award is presented to a broker industry member who has performed above and beyond the call of business to promote and grow the confectionery industry.
With more than 30 years of experience in the confectionery industry, Corcoran has built a reputation as a knowledgeable and passionate leader that uses her immense experience for the good of others. As a member of the NCA Broker Advisory Board, an active member of NCA’s Women’s Leadership Group and a recent inductee to the Candy Hall of Fame, her dedication to the confectionery industry – and mentoring rising talent within it – has made her an omnipresent stalwart in the industry.
The 2022 Silver Candy Dish Award will be awarded to Lois Anthony, director of sales at PEZ. The Silver Candy Dish Award is presented to a leader in sales, marketing, management or another key role in confectionery manufacturing who has made significant contributions to growing the confectionery category and in support of the broker community.
Known for her ability to solve any problem with a smile, Anthony represents the creativity and collaboration of the confectionery industry and is a favorite among her confectionery broker partners for her ability to adapt and elevate PEZ’s merchandising and in-store presence. An active member of the National Confectioners Association and its Women’s Leadership Group, Lois has served as a mentor aspiring to uplift the confectionery industry and its standards for excellence.
The 2022 Woman of Influence Award will be awarded to Emily Edmondson, sales director at Galerie. Presented by NCA’s Women’s Leadership Group, the Woman of Influence Award honors a woman who has demonstrated superior leadership and industry mentorship and has a proven record of growth, success and influence of women in the confectionery industry and beyond.
As the second recipient of the Woman of Influence Award, Edmondson exemplifies the mentorship, leadership and empowerment NCA’s Women’s Leadership Group seeks to foster. A former chairwoman for NCA’s State of the Industry and active member of NCA’s Women’s Leadership Group, Edmondson uses her role to collaborate with partners across the industry in support of rising female talent within the confectionery industry.
“Each of these three women has had an incredible impact on the confectionery industry, bolstering the category at large and serving as mentors and role models for many in our industry,” said John Downs, NCA president and CEO. “I look forward to celebrating each of their monumental achievements at the Sweets & Snacks Expo.”
The Golden & Silver Candy Dish Awards and Woman of Influence Award, along with the Most Innovative New Product Awards and the Ruby Award for Supplier Innovation, will be presented at the Sweets & Snacks Expo Award Ceremony, which takes place on Monday, May 23, at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. A reception takes place immediately preceding the ceremony at 5:15 p.m.
