 | |
| Product type | gummies, chocolate |
|---|---|
| Country | Indiana, United States of America |
| Introduced | 1983 |
| Website | albanesecandy |
Albanese Candy is a candy manufacturer in Hobart, Indiana. Founded in 1983 by Scott Albanese, it specializes in the production of gummies and chocolate-covered confections. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] As of 2022, the company employs roughly 700 workers and ships to 41 countries. [6] [7] It is reputed to be the home of "the world's best gummies." [7] [8] [9]
Scott Albanese was born in Dolton, Illinois. He credits his success to a strong work ethic attributed to "his construction/bricklayer/restaurant/blue-collar upbringing". [7] [10] [11] He opened the business as an entrepreneurial opportunity after buying raw materials of chocolates, candy, and nuts. Despite an adverse business climate in the 1980s, Mr. Albanese weathered the storm and opened the business. He attributed its success to a commitment to consistent high quality and product integrity. [7]
In 2018, the Indiana Small Business Development Center gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award. [12]
In 1995, the Merrillville facility had 10–12 employees. [13]
In 1998, Albanese developed a new technology to allow more intense flavor release from gelatins. [14] The system coats the candy trays with corn starch, a process used by only three candy-makers in the United States. [15] More than 300,000 lb (140,000 kg) of gummy bears are sold every day. [16] Albanese is particularly known for its gummy candy; the Hobart store sells gummy worms, butterflies, and green army soldiers amongst many other shapes and flavors. [17] In 2006, the company introduced 27 in (690 mm) multicolor gummy snakes. [18]
The Albanese company's soldier-shaped gummies were shipped to Iraq and distributed to deployed soldiers in 2003. [7] [19] This effort left the United States Air Force members feeling overlooked, and the company developed a product line featuring military jet aircraft molds: a B-2 Spirit, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-22 Raptor, F-117 Nighthawk, and SR-71 Blackbird. [20]
In late 2004, a factory measuring 350,000 sq ft (33,000 m2) [21] and an outlet store were opened in Hobart, Indiana. [22] The Hobart factory formerly offered self-guided tours; [23] in the entrance hall, there was a 32 ft-tall (9.8 m) chocolate fountain, the largest in the country. [7] [24] [3]
In 2014, gummies graced a large scale stained glass window mural in Tokyo, Japan's Espace Luis Vuitton museum. [7] In 2014 the company also spent $16 million to expand its retail store to 190,000 sq ft (18,000 m2). [13]
In 2017 the company announced that they would be adding 150 employees at the Hobart location. Additionally, they decided to invest $33 million into that location. The city of Hobart gave the company a ten-year tax abatement. The company said they would have 550 employees at the Hobart location. [13]
In 2019 the company's Hobart location had a machinery fire. [25] In 2020 one of the workers at the Hobart factory had to be airlifted to a hospital after being injured in the factory. [26]
The company is continuously experimenting with products for key theme parks, Fannie May, and Marshall Fields, Scott said. [20]
; "Sweet Sensations, continued". The Munster Times. November 9, 2008. p. E4 – via Newspapers.com. ; "Soldiers, continued". The Munster Times. January 3, 2003. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com. ; "Candy, continued". The Munster Times . November 27, 2004. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com. ; Enjoy Indiana Travel Guide. Indiana Department of Commerce, Tourism Development Division. 2010. p. 33.