Bernie Pacyniak

Gabi and Lisette: Virtual duo delivers decadence

A marketing and design group showcases the importance of storytelling in selling decadent products.

January 5, 2015

Just imagine a chocolate company inspired by the story of two unlikely friends, Gabi and Lisette, who met while studying abroad in Sicily.

Click And Purchase: What's the internet's role in the future of candy sales?

Many confectionery companies are still grappling with maximizing the internet’s use as a sales driver.

Bernie Pacyniak

January 5, 2015

As we bid adieu to 2014, it would be worth our time to reassess confectionery sales on the internet; seems like there’s work to be done in that area.

Machine of the month: Engineering better snacks

Known for its expertise and engineering innovation in wafer processing lines, Hebenstreit is now offering manufacturers another option: extruded snacks.

Bernie Pacyniak

January 4, 2015

Using its past know-how as well as emerging technologies, Hebenstreit developed a series of complete state-of-the-art extrusion lines for the manufacturing of savory and sweet snacks.

The year in passing

2014 brought acquisitions, sustainability and the rebirth of the chocolate renaissance.

Bernie Pacyniak

December 22, 2014

One needs to only take a look at this year’s Global Top 100 in our January issue — our annual listing of confectionery companies freezing events in time — to get a snapshot of what happened.

Sal Ferrara

Salve ad aeternam, Sal: Farewell forever Salvatore Ferrara

Chicago and the confectionery industry bid adieu to its most famous Lemonhead, Salvatore Ferrara II.

Bernie Pacyniak

December 3, 2014

If you’re in any way involved in the confectionery industry, it would be hard not to know Sal.

Sal Ferrara passes away at 63

Iconic candy man leaves a lasting impression in the industry.

Crystal Lindell

Bernie Pacyniak

December 1, 2014

Salvatore “Sal” Ferrara II was the kind of man who loved ones describe as “larger than life,” the “epitome of leadership,” and “a very special person that could light up any room.”

Wine and Chocolate

A Thanksgiving Tandem: Lindt USA Excellence Pineapple & J.Lohnr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay

Lindt USA, Stratham, N.H.

Bernie Pacyniak

November 26, 2014

EXCELLENCE Pineapple is the first bar exclusively created by the Lindt Master Chocolatiers to complement Chardonnay.

Recchuiti Confections: Still driving (flavors) hard

Candy Industry Magazine revisits this heralded San Francisco-based confectioner after a 10-year hiatus to discover evolutionary changes, all revolving around a singular commitment to excellence.

Bernie Pacyniak

November 25, 2014

“I never settle, which drives people crazy,” Recchuiti asserts. “I have a difficult time being comfortable, so I throw myself into uncomfortable situations.”

Raaka Chocolates: Raw flavor powers growth

Brooklyn-based bean-to-bar operation finds following for its minimally processed chocolates that emphasize maximizing cocoa bean flavors.

Bernie Pacyniak

November 25, 2014

Meet Nate Hodge, a political speech major and onetime songwriter and vocalist for the alternative folk/ rock band, Tall Stranger. These days, however, he’s writing lyrics for a different life chapter, one that involves overseeing development and production of “virgin” chocolate products at Raaka Chocolate in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dandelion Chocolate: On a mission

Former Silicon Valley entrepreneurs embrace bean-to-bar chocolate making, and find themselves delightfully overseeing a growth engine called Dandelion Chocolate.

Bernie Pacyniak

November 25, 2014

One of the first things a newcomer stepping into Dandelion Chocolate’s café and production area on Valencia St. in San Francisco experiences — besides the obvious hipster din and energy — is the large welcoming chalkboard.