Washington — Kathy Corcoran, Lois Anthony and Emily Edmondson will each be honored for their contributions to the confectionery industry during the NCA’s 2022 Sweets & Snacks Expo, May 23 to 26, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
The 2022 Golden Candy Dish Award will be presented to Corcoran, vice-president at brokerage Premier Specialty. The Golden Candy Dish Award is presented to a broker member who has performed above and beyond the call of business to promote and grow the confectionery industry.
With more than 30 years of experience in the confectionery industry, Corcoran has built a reputation as a knowledgeable and passionate leader that uses her experience for the good of others. As a member of the NCA Broker Advisory Board, an active member of NCA’s Women’s Leadership Group and a recent inductee to the Candy Hall of Fame, her dedication to the confectionery industry has made her an omnipresent stalwart in the industry, the Association says.
The 2022 Silver Candy Dish Award recipient is Anthony, director of sales at Pez Candy, Inc. The Silver Candy Dish Award is presented to a leader in sales, marketing, management or another key role in confectionery manufacturing who has made significant contributions to growing the category and in support of the broker community.
Anthony represents the creativity and collaboration of the confectionery industry and is a favorite amongst her confectionery broker partners for her ability to adapt and elevate Pez’s merchandising and in-store presence. An active member of the NCA and its Women’s Leadership Group, the Association points out that Anthony has served as a mentor for many and an inspiration for all aspiring to uplift the confectionery industry and its standards for excellence.
Edmondson, sales director at Galerie, is being recognized with the 2022 Woman of Influence Award. Presented by NCA’s Women’s Leadership Group (WLG), the Woman of Influence Award honors a woman who has demonstrated superior leadership and industry mentorship and has a proven record of growth, success and influence in the confectionery industry and beyond.
As the second recipient of the Woman of Influence Award, Edmondson exemplifies the mentorship, leadership and empowerment NCA’s Women’s Leadership Group seeks to foster. A former chairwoman for NCA’s State of the Industry conference and active in the Association’s Women’s Leadership Group, Edmondson serves as a leading voice within NCA and across the confectionery industry and uses her role to collaborate with partners across the industry in support of rising female talent within the confectionery industry.
“Each of these three women has had an incredible impact on the confectionery industry, bolstering the category at large and serving as mentors and role models for many in our industry,” says John Downs, president and CEO of NCA. “I look forward to celebrating each of their monumental achievements at the Sweets & Snacks Expo in just a few weeks’ time.”
The Golden & Silver Candy Dish Awards and Woman of Influence Award, along with the Most Innovative New Product Awards and the Ruby Award for Supplier Innovation, will be presented during the Sweets & Snacks Expo Award Ceremony, which takes place on Monday, May 23, at 6 p.m. CT at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. A reception immediately precedes the ceremony at 5:15 p.m. CT.
