Candy Maker Recognized for Growth, Innovation and Social Responsibility
McCrea’s Candies has been named the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce (NVCC) 2018 Small Business of the Year. The award, bestowed annually, is given to the member company that best demonstrates outstanding achievement in general management, employee relations, business growth, product innovation, and community and social responsibility.
The award will be presented to McCrea’s Candies founders, Kate and Jason McCrea, on January 31at the NVCC Annual Awards Meeting, taking place at the Four Points Sheraton in Norwood, Mass.
“The selection committee was impressed by McCrea’s Candies continued growth and innovation,” said Thomas J. O’Rourke, CCE, president and CEO of the Chamber. “In addition to being an inventive and growing manufacturing business, McCrea’s has made a strong commitment to local community involvement. Not only with the Chamber, but with several other area organizations. They are a great example of a company doing well by doing good.”
McCrea’s Candies has spent the last several years transforming itself from small neighborhood company into growing national brand, achieving numerous milestones along the way. In 2018, McCrea’s produced over 32 tons of caramel, increased its staff to 15 full-time employees and expanded into more than 1,300 retail outlets throughout North America, more than double the number of stores that carried its products two years ago. Additionally, the candy maker solidified deals with a number of well-known retailers, including The Grommet, Eataly, NewsLink, and Hudson News.
“We are honored to have been selected the Neponset Valley’s Small Business of the Year,” said Jason McCrea. “2018 was a pivotal year for our company. The nomination is a testament to the people that make up the McCrea’s team, their passion, hard work and dedication, and showcases how, working together, a small business like ours can achieve great things.”
According to Kate McCrea, the McCrea’s team brings that same passion and commitment to McCrea’s role of responsible corporate citizen. “We employ a ‘buy local’ policy whenever possible and have consciously created a product line fully made up of biodegradable packaging manufactured right here in the United States,” she said. “Additionally, we are dedicated to volunteerism, supporting initiatives with the Neponset River Watershed Association, the Friends of the Westwood Library, and more.”