Candy Industry traces its roots back to the Combining Confectioners Journal, founded in 1874. Then, in 1944, Don Gussow founded Candy Industry as a business-to-business publication. 

And in 1983, Candy Industry published a hardcover 100-year retrospective on the confectionery industry as a whole, in celebration of the National Confectioners Association’s centennial. 

At the time, Gussow commented on how quickly the confectionery sector seems to evolve, writing:

“One thing is certain: the future will be vastly different from the past and present. Changes always take place, and at times they do so at an unexpected pace. While adjusting to changes may not be easy, it becomes absolutely necessary. So, instead of resisting change, it is best to make the most of it.”

Gussow passed away in 1992 at 84 years old, but his words still resonate today, especially in 2021. 

The entire world, including the confectionery industry, seems to have changed dramatically since the start of 2020 — advances in eCommerce, masks, virtual industry events, travel bans, working from home, canceled shows, logistical issues, supply chain problems, ingredient shortages. 

It’s a lot.

Here at Candy Industry, we have worked hard to cover it all. Honestly, we are relieved to have gone through it all with you. And we hope that we have offered you the guidance and analysis you seek as we all endure these tumultuous times. 

Now, we would love to hear from you. We want to know how our content has helped you navigate the last two years. 

How does Candy Industry help you in your work? Which areas of our coverage do you like and why? Where can we do better? Please take a minute to send me a note at lindellc@bnpmedia.com. 

We’d also love to hear your thoughts on where we are as an industry — and where we’re headed. 

Thank you so much. We look forward to connecting soon. And until then, I’ll leave you with a few more words from Gussow, published in 1983: 

“Looking ahead to the future, with the compounding of sophisticated technological and marketing approaches, the one element that will never be replaced is the human being... Creativity will survive the most sophisticated technology. Interestingly enough, the human being has a way of adjusting to changes of all kinds and some do it better and with greater éclat than others. So be it.”

 Indeed, Don Gussow. Indeed.

-Crystal Lindell
Editor, Candy Industry