World's largest candy cane maker reaches soldiers in Iraq

<p>Bobs Candies, which bills itself as the world's largest candy cane maker, gets regular feedback from customers who relish the sweet taste of its candies at Christmas and the rest of the year.</p><p>But company officials were surprised when they received a letter from a combat soldier who said America's traditional holiday candy is also a big hit with U.S. soldiers and the children of Iraq.</p><p>Mary Helen Dykes, secretary-treasurer of the privately held company, said she didn't know how the soldiers got their first batch of Bobs' candy canes, but after receiving the letter the company sent 3,000 more to the soldiers in Iraq.</p><p>"He told us how they enjoyed them and said they were great to pass out to the kids," she said.</p><p>To show their appreciation, some of the children provided the soldiers with information on "bad guys," she said.</p><p>Bobs, which was on the verge of bankruptcy only two years ago, has surged back with 300 different types of candies, such as pina colada, blueberry, strawberry and hot cinnamon candy canes. The company is currently conducting secret trials on two new products that may be released next year, officials said.</p><p>At one times, peppermint candy canes accounted for the bulk of the Bobs' business. But with the addition of new products, canes now account for about half of the company's sales and its year-around candies make up the rest.</p><p>The diversification helped the company boost sales by 15 percent this year, President Greg McCormack said.</p><p>Like other U.S. candy companies, Bobs has faced increased competition from sweets made in China and South America.</p><p>"They're cheaper, but we know we have better quality and taste," said Julie Roth, Bobs vice president.</p><p>A mainstay of the Albany economy for 85 years, Bobs shocked the community in 2002 when it announced plans to shut down its Albany plant because it was teetering near bankruptcy.</p><p>But with the support of officials including then-Gov. Roy Barnes and Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, an Albany native, the company was able to secure the financing it needed to save 550 jobs _ 250 in Albany and 300 at Bobs' plant in Reynosa, Mexico.</p><p>McCormack said the financial crisis helped forge Bobs into a leaner, stronger and more innovative company.</p><p>McCormack, Dykes and Roth are the three grandchildren of the company's founder, Bob McCormack, who began producing assorted candies in Albany in 1919 and decided to specialize in candy canes in the 1950s after the process was automated.</p><p>Bobs is among several candy makers that have opened plants in Canada or Mexico, where sugar is cheaper.</p><p>Candy canes symbolize the crook ancient shepherds used to herd sheep. According to the Bible, shepherds were the first to worship Christ.</p><p>Historians trace candy canes to the 1600s, when a German choirmaster handed out sugar sticks to keep young singers quiet during long services. The first American candy canes are believed to have been made in 1847 by a German-Swedish immigrant in Wooster, Ohio, who decorated a small Christmas tree with paper ornaments and candy canes.</p><p>"It's something everyone can enjoy," Roth said. "Now it's one of the only edible ornaments left on the tree."</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x2864f04)</p>

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