Hard to believe that one of the largest confectionery mergers in the United States this year came about from a chance airport meeting. But as Sal Ferrara, chairman and ceo of the newly formed Ferrara Candy Co. (Ferrara Pan Candy Co. and Farley’s & Sathers merged June 18, 2012), told Candy Industry, he just happen to run into Liam Killeen at the Bentonville, Ark. airport.
Killeen, ceo of Farley’s & Sathers, and Ferrara were both booked on a United flight back to Chicago in the summer of 2011. Longtime friends, the two executives started chatting about what they were going to do with the rest of their lives.