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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 30 November 2006 |
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Erin Hooley | For NEXTnc
Andrea Kennedy cuts peanut brittle at her candy shop in Fort Collins. Kennedy owns American Country Candies. Left: Is your mouth watering yet? This is a piece of ribbon candy from American Country Candies.
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Andrea Kennedy has one of the sweetest jobs around. But after 28 years as the owner of American Country Candies, Kennedy is ready for a change.
“It’s been an extremely marvelous business for a family,” Kennedy said. “I wanted to be an at-home mom, yet provide supplement income.”
She started toying with the idea of selling the wholesale candy company about a year ago. She hasn’t had any takers but hopes someone will be interested. “A lot of great things came out of this business,” she said.
 Many memories have been made among the butter-free peanut brittle, caramels and fruit drops. On nights when homework was done, instead of hitting the roller rink, her three children and their friends would gather in the shop to make candy canes. Kennedy would make sloppy joes.
As her children got older, they would go to the candy factory whenever they were in a financial bind.
“If they ever got in trouble all they had to do was make candy,” she said.
Kennedy, now 65, bought the business from Tony Skoulas, a Greek candy maker in Loveland. Skoulas passed down a lifetime of loving practice and perfected formulas of sugary goodness. After Skoulas died, the name was changed from Tony’s Sweetheart Candies to American Country Candies.
The 30 different hard candies, four kinds of flavored popcorn, four kinds of caramel and English toffee are still made by hand. Most impressive, though, is the striped ribbon candy.
“How we do it with all the unique stripes blows peoples minds,” Kennedy said.
For now, Kennedy doesn’t have much time to think about the future. Inside the modest factory off of Mulberry Street, Kennedy’s staff of five are hard at work. The business, which was once open year round, now focuses on the holidays only, which means they are racing to get all the orders completed before Christmas.
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VITAL STATS
Name: Andrea Kennedy, 65, of Fort Collins
Company: American Country Candies
Title: Owner and master candy maker
How long have you worked there? 28 years
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IN HER WORDS
What’s challenging about your job?
The heat. It doesn’t bother me so much because I’m used to it but my employees say it’s so hot in here.
What impresses you?
Hard workers. I really like to work with young people. It’s an absolute delight. You really get to know everybody and the wonderful work they do.
What doesn’t?
Lazy people. People who are here not to work but here just to receive a paycheck. They usually don’t work out. I’m very strict in regard to consistency of the color and flavor of the candy.
Did you ever think you’d work here?
I had no idea. My sister bought The Sugar Shack in 1977. A year later a Greek candy maker approached her store selling peanut brittle. She was amazed by his candy. He later asked her if she might be interested in buying his business. She told him no, but said I might be interested.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
I would be in New Zealand backpacking. I’ve had a very rewarding life. I don’t know what I’ll do with my next 30 years, but I’d like to go back to New Zealand.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
In the candy industry, you never make mistakes, just invent new products.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
I used to take my red wagon up and down the alley pulling out coke bottles and ginger ale bottles. I would cross a busy street to get a couple of Hershey bars. I was highly allergic to chocolate, so I would eat them in the garage.
Pets?
I have a little white Maltese named Isobel.
Family?
I have three children Brad, 43; Colleen, 38; and Christine, 37. I have two twin grandsons in Lincoln and a 17-year-old grandson here.
Favorite TV shows. Movies. Books.
I don’t know. I don’t get to watch much TV, especially during the candy season. I like football. I like sports. I like the Olympics.
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
I don’t even have time.
Where do you play?
I love walks. I love walking.
Go out to eat?
The Rio with my friends.
Favorite spot?
Christchurch, New Zealand.
How do young/new employees get ahead?
Hard work.
Makes you get out of bed in the morning?
The idea of all the orders that have to be filled and I’m just not happy until it all gets done.
Smartest?
Strictly being a wholesaler, not a retailer. I can come in at 2 a.m. and go home at 8 a.m. if I want.
Any interesting anecdotes?
Pay attention. I don’t want to burn you and I don’t want you to burn me.
What’s the one thing you wish you could do on the job that you can’t right now?
I wish I could get all my orders done. It’s catch-up. I guess I would make chocolate because it is very fun very interesting.
What do you do during your breaks?
I don’t think we have breaks. We work continually. We work nonstop. If everything is going really smooth we sometimes sit outside. All the employees get together in the evenings. They have dinner together and go out together.
What’s one thing about your job you would do, even if you weren’t paid to do it?
I have no idea. I enjoy all the different formulas. I enjoy the packaging. I enjoy all the paperwork, doing the pricing and looking through the catalogs.
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
A sense of humor and a sense of follow through.
Are you the boss? Do you think you should be?
Yes, I can be very motherly and I can be very stern. I don’t want anybody to get hurt. I have a sense of humor and become really attached to my employees.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
Meet with friend and eat out. I get together with family and my grandson. I like doing different things with candy when I don’t have to. I like coming up with other products.
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
When the season is over. Come Dec. 22, we are exhausted from all the hoopla and everything that goes on. We really take care of each other. There’s a lot kids who need parenting. | Only registered users can write comments.
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