RCI announces winner of inaugural Grand Collection

Caramel Macchiato with Espresso Sea Salt is this year's winner.

Tina and Edward Lerch with Chocolates by Tina Marie, pictured with Jeffery Smith, RCI president of the board of directors, the inaugural Grand Confection Award winner. Courtesy of RCI

Retail Confectioners International (RCI) announced three finalists and one winner of the inaugural Grand Confection Award, a celebration of creativity and craftsmanship in the confectionery industry.

During RCI’s Annual Convention & Industry Expo in Buffalo, New York, a panel of judges anonymously taste-tested 30 entries from candy makers across the U.S. and Canada based on an excellence criteria. This year’s panel of judges included Rebecca Craig of Marie’s Candies, Randy Hofberger of R&D Candy Consultants, Mike Koch (retired from Morley Candy Makers/Sanders), and Jeffery Smith of Peterbrooke Chocolatier.

After careful deliberation and evaluation, the following finalists were selected:

Sea Salt Caramel by Bomboy’s Home Made Candy, Havre de Grace, MD
Sea Salt Caramel by Fascia’s Chocolates, Waterbury, CT
Caramel-Nougat Fratello by Romolo Chocolates, Erie, PA

Chocolates by Tina Marie was awarded the 2024 Grand Confection for its Caramel Macchiato with Espresso Sea Salt, featuring caramel enhanced with instant espresso coffee, dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with espresso salt.

“As a trade association for retail confectioners, RCI believes in celebrating the art and science of crafting delicious confections and this award does just that,” shares RCI Executive Director Angie Burlison. “We are thrilled to introduce the Grand Confection Award as new platform for our members to gain the recognition they deserve for their craft.”

All 30 participants had the opportunity to highlight their submitted pieces, which were on display during RCI’s Annual Convention & Industry Expo and published in a special feature of RCI’s Convention Magazine. Download a complete list of participants and their entries.

Highlighting caramel as the Confection of the Year, RCI will continue to provide content and education focused on all things caramel. Including RCI’s Fall Regional Conference September 16-18 in the Baltimore area, which will also highlight caramel-related education, with registration being open soon.

Liz Parker Kuhn is the senior editor of Candy Industry and Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, and has worked at BNP Media since 2012. She has written for CBS Detroit as well as for her own blogs. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan. Liz can be contacted at (248) 839-7156 or at parkere@bnpmedia.com.