The Manufacturing Confectioner • March 2000 23

Retail Confectioners International

Afew years of working as an auditor for ArthurAndersen & Company branded him for life,

says Ralph Nafziger. He’s now the vice president ofoperations of Hammond’s Candies (Denver,Colorado) and a member of the board of directorsat Retail Confectioners International (RCI), butthat earlier experience impressed on him the impor-tance of being detail minded and inquisitive.

Nafziger worked in management positions atother companies and could have become a smallbusiness consultant with the broad variety of pro-fessional experience he possesses. Instead heentered the tasty world of confectionery produc-tion about 10 years ago and hasn’t looked back.

Nafziger’s first foray into the confectioneryindustry was with Rocky Mountain ChocolateFactory. While there he was introduced toHammond’s candy canes.When the opportunity topurchase Hammond’sarose, he was ready tocombine his talentswith those of otherstockholders to leadHammond’s into itsnext stage.

H a m m o n d ’ sCandies producesmainly hard candiesthat are sold throughsmall retailers, catalogand chain outlets such

as Williams-Sonoma, Bed, Bath & Beyond andRocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. In addition,Hammond’s has a retail factory outlet store and aseasonal kiosk at a local mall. The company’smost popular confections are candy canes andwhirl lollipops.

Nafziger, his associates Bob List and LindaFasano, and others bought the closely held con-fectionery company in 1997. Several otheremployees are shareholders as well.

The highlight of his association withHammond’s has been last year’s successful moveto a larger, updated facility in Denver, approxi-mately five miles from the former factory. Theadditional space and new technology was neededto enable the company to reach its growth goals.

The company gives tours through its candy-making, packaging and shipping departments.

Nafziger says, “Ourfactory is not as big asMalley’s Chocolatesin Ohio but our tourdoes feature a com-plete walk-through.In addition, we leavethe top of the viewingpath open so that vis-itors can breathe inthe pungent, tantaliz-ing smells.”

The factory utilizes

Ralph NafzigerHammond’s CandiesRCI board member profile

Ralph Nafziger with some of Hammond’s whirl lollipops

Hammond’s new facility in Denver, Colorado