Albanese Candy

Initially a retail candy store in Merrillville, Indiana, the company later began manufacturing and selling their own roasted and coated nuts, eventually expanding the operation for local distribution. By 1995, the facility had 10–12 employees.{{cite news |last1=Caffarina |first1=Karen |title=Candy company announces $33M expansion in Hobart |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-albanese-expansion-st-1224-20171223-story.html |accessdate=8 June 2020 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=21 December 2017}}{{Cite web |last=Iain |date=2023-08-03 |title=Albanese Confectionery Group |url=https://foodchainmagazine.com/albanese-confectionery-group-has-been-sweetening-our-lives-for-40-years/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=FoodChain Magazine |language=en-GB}}

In the mid-1990s, Scott Albanese began searching for a way to develop gummy bears with stronger and more specific fruit flavors; the company began manufacturing gummy candies upon the completion of this endeavour in 1998.{{Cite web |url=https://www.albanesecandy.com/about/ |title=About Albanese Confectionery |access-date=13 November 2019 |website=albanesecandy.com}}; {{Cite web |url=https://visitindiana.com/blog/index.php/2014/10/29/indianas-sweet-spot-albanese-candy-factory/ |title=Indiana's Sweet Spot: Albanese Candy Factory | date= 29 October 2014 |access-date=13 November 2019 |website=visitindiana.com}} The system coats the candy trays with corn starch, a process used by only three candy-makers in the United States.{{cite news |last1=Franklin |first1=Lu Ann |title=Sweet sensations: Candy manufacturer thrives with region confections |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52341395/the-times/ |newspaper=The Munster Times |date=November 9, 2008 |page=E1|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}; {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55076926/the-times/|title=Sweet Sensations, continued|work=The Munster Times |date=November 9, 2008 |page=E4|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} 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.{{cite news |title=Gummi bears put Hobart on the map for candy fans worldwide |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55077012/the-times/ |work=The Munster Times |date=July 15, 2014 |page=A9|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} In 2006, the company introduced {{cvt|27|in|adj=on}} multicolor gummy snakes.{{cite news |last1=Rodovich |first1=Carrie |title=Snakes have Albanese candy on a higher plane |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55077066/the-times/ |work=The Munster Times |date=November 26, 2006 |page=A8|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} More than {{cvt|300000|lb}} of gummy bears are sold every day.{{Cite web |last=Laverty |first=Deborah |date=15 September 2016 |title=Albanese talks up a sweet business |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/albanese-talks-up-a-sweet-business/article_f2a6657a-db9e-5c4e-a687-00427c34c414.html |access-date=13 November 2019 |publisher=nwitimes.com |newspaper=The Times of Northwest Indiana}}

The Albanese company's soldier-shaped gummies were shipped to Iraq and distributed to deployed soldiers in 2003.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55077113/the-times/ |title=Candy Soldiers Called to Active Duty |newspaper=The Munster Times |date=January 3, 2003 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}; {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55077157/the-times/|title=Soldiers, continued|newspaper=The Munster Times|date=January 3, 2003 |page=7|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} The company later 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.{{cite news |last1=McHugh |first1=Paula |date=November 17, 2005T |title=Sweet Excursion to Albanese Candyland |url=http://www.thebeacher.com/pdf/2005/BeacherNov17.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200606191302/http://www.thebeacher.com/pdf/2005/BeacherNov17.pdf |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |accessdate=June 7, 2020 |newspaper=The Beacher |pages=1–5 |volume=21 |number=45}}

In late 2004, a factory measuring {{cvt|350000|sqft}}{{Cite web |url=http://edayleaders.com/popup-112 |title=Albanese Confectionery: Northwest Indiana born and bred |access-date=13 November 2019 |website=edayleaders.com}} and an outlet store were opened in Hobart, Indiana.{{cite news |last1=Laverty |first1=Deborah |title=Candy land: Newly opened Hobart retail store offers 2,000 types of confectionaries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55077241/the-times/|newspaper=The Munster Times |date=November 27, 2004 |page=B1|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}; {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55077303/the-times/|title=Candy, continued|newspaper=The Munster Times |date=November 27, 2004 |page=B2|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} The Hobart factory formerly offered self-guided tours;{{cite news |last1=Steinweg |first1=Carrie |title=Staycation itinerary: You don't have to travel far for family fun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55077368/the-times/ |work=The Munster Times |date=March 4, 2016 |page=C1|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} in the entrance hall, there was a {{cvt|32|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} chocolate fountain, the largest in the country. {{cite news |title=10 things to do for spring break |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55077414/chicago-tribune/ |newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 25, 2016 |page=4|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}; {{cite book |title=Enjoy Indiana Travel Guide|page=33 |year=2010|publisher=Indiana Department of Commerce, Tourism Development Division}}{{sfn|Thomas|2012|page=98}}

In 2014, the company spent $16 million to expand its retail store to {{cvt|190000|sqft}}. From January to April of that year, the Espace Louis Vuitton in Tokyo, Japan exhibited a mural constructed out of the company's gummy bears.{{Cite web |last=Correspondent |first=Carrie Rodovich Times |date=2014-04-10 |title=Albanese gummy bears make international art debut |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hobart/article_0c5d6027-fcb1-583b-b2a7-e628df301dd6.html |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=nwitimes.com |language=en}}

In 2017, the company announced a $33 million expansion of their Hobart location, including the hiring of 150 additional employees, for which they received a ten-year tax abatement from the local government.

In 2019, the company's Hobart location suffered a machinery fire.{{cite news |last1=Ortiz |first1=Anna |title=Albanese Candy Factory evacuated after machinery fire breaks out |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hobart/albanese-candy-factory-evacuated-after-machinery-fire-breaks-out/article_f1e42cdc-622d-5152-a3c6-a3f59a515c8b.html |accessdate=8 June 2020 |newspaper=The Times of Northwest Indiana|publisher=nwitimes.com |date=11 September 2019}} In 2020, one of the workers at the Hobart factory had to be airlifted to a hospital following an on-the-job injury.{{cite news |last1=Ortiz |first1=Anna |title=Albanese Candy Factory worker airlifted after suffering traumatic injury, firefighters say |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/news/albanese-candy-factory-worker-airlifted-after-suffering-traumatic-injury-firefighters-say/article_bceb224a-4ec8-59c6-b9d9-95c28378ca20.html |accessdate=8 June 2020 |publisher=NWI Times |date=17 March 2020}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}

• Indiana Department of Commerce, Enjoy Indiana Travel Guide. Indiana Department of Commerce, Tourism Development Division. 2010. p. 33.
• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXR-LLshI6EC&q=albanese+candy&dq=albanese+candy&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiDivbVwe6MAxWHFmIAHQZUEqQQ6AF6BAgEEAM |page=86 |title=Treasures of Indiana |first1=Damon |last1=Neal |first2=Gillian |last2=Steele |publisher=Morgan & Chase Publishing, Incorporated |year=2008 |type=Paperback}}
• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RUMBEAAAQBAJ&pg=PP24 |isbn=9781681062693 |title=100 Things to Do in Gary and Northwest Indiana Before You Die (100 Things to Do Before You Die) |first1=Joseph S. |last1=Pete |chapter=5 Munch on Gummy Bears at Albanese Candy Factory|publisher=Reedy Press |page=24|date=September 15, 2020 |type=Paperback}}
• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GPM47o5xdKoC&pg=PA98 |page=98 |series=Off the Beaten Path |title=Indiana: A Guide to Unique Places, Edition 10|first1=Phyllis |last1=Thomas|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield, Globe Pequot |location=Guilford, Connecticut|date=June 19, 2012 |isbn=9780762786053 |type=Paperback}}
• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tyIEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 |title=100 Things to Do in Indiana Before You Die |page=7

|series=100 Things (67 books) |first1=Jamie |last1=Ward |publisher=Reedy Press LLC |date=September 1, 2022|isbn=9781681063867}}

• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3YvpEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT151 |page=151 |title=50 States, 1,000 Eats: Where to Go, When to Go, What to Eat, What to Drink |first1=Joe |last1=Yogerst |type=Paperback |isbn=9781426224225 |date=March 29, 2024 |author2=National Geographic |author2-link=National Geographic}}

{{refend}}

• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KjpqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT151|title=Heartbreaker |first1=Katie |last1=McCoy |date=August 2018 |publisher=Rascals Book |type=Paperback}}

• {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6RbPzgmSI4 |title=Albanese Candy Factory: Too much sugar? Promotional video|via=YouTube |date=August 1, 2019 |publisher=Santos Chronicles|format=Video}}

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Category:Confectionery companies of the United States

Category:1983 establishments in Indiana