Sara's Soiree: Sara Clair captures 72nd Kettle Award

Confectionery leaders hobknob at premier industry event.

Kettle Awards — An opportune time for a selfi e: Sara Clair shares the Kettle Award with son Pierson IV (far left), husband Pierson (behind Sara), Kettle Committee Member Bill Copeland (white dinner jacket) and daughter Elizabeth.

The rain was coming down hard. Traffic was horrific. And it was hard to find the buses. But they came. Candy Industry’s 72nd Kettle Awards reception continued to be the premiere event of the U.S. confectionery industry and a powerful draw.

Besides, what are a few raindrops and traffic angst — most urban dwellers should be familiar with that experience — when compared to seeing the who’s who in the sweetest of industries? As always, the Main Dining Room at the Union League Club once again impressed all with its stately grandeur.

And then there were the nominees: Shawn Askinosie, founder and ceo of Askinosie Chocolate; Sara Clair, director of product development from Brown & Haley; Steve Genzoli, v.p of quality assurance and research and develeopment from Ghirardelli Chocolate Co.; and Kirk Vashaw, ceo from Spangler Candy Co. Each one of them epitomized what leadership and service stand for in the industry.

As Robert Dono, confectionery manager for Bosch and this year’s Kettle Committee chairman, explained, “Each of our nominees can be proud of their distinguished service and track records of success. However, only one will be chosen as this year’s award recipient.”

And so it was. A hush came over the crowd as Kettle Committee Secretary, Dave Madison from Carle & Montanari/OPM, brought the suitcase carrying the envelope to Chairman Dono.

“This year’s recipient is…Sara Clair,” he announced. Clair’s face glowed with delight, surprise and amazement, almost matching the color of her red dress. It was a momentous occasion in the annals of the Kettle Awards, since this marks only the second time that a husband-and-wife team has captured the prize. It’s also the third time a woman has been selected.

Clair’s glow now matched that of the actual kettle.

With more than 30 years experience in B-to-B reporting, writing and editing — the bulk of which was dedicated to covering the bakery, confectionery and snack industries — Pacyniak has chronicled changes within the food industry since the early 1980s. A Boston University journalism degree graduate, he worked for a variety of publications before joining BNP Media in 1994 as editor of Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery magazine. In 2001, he took over as editor-in-chief of Candy Industry until 2018.