David L. Taiclet and R. Taz Murray, co-presidents of Alpine Confections Inc., in Alpine, are enjoying what some may call sweet success.
What began by purchasing Maxfield's Candy in 1994 has grown to the acquisition of four other candy companies.
Alpine Confections Inc. was formed in 1999 and is the holding company for Kencraft Candy in Alpine, Maxfield's Candy in Salt Lake City and Dynamic Chocolates in Vancouver, B.C.
Taiclet and Murray started with the purchase of Maxfield's Candy in 1994. They later acquired Kencraft Candy, Fernwood Candy, De La Mare Taffy and Dynamic Chocolates. They have recently formed a joint venture to manufacture products for the European Market in Inowroclaw, Poland.
Over the past three years, net annual sales have increased by 49 percent.
The company manufactures, distributes and wholesales confectionery products, including boxed chocolates, molded chocolates, taffy, hard candies and decorative candy products.
Alpine Confections ships its candy worldwide. Approximately 5 percent of its business is done outside Canada and the United States.
Ironically, Taiclet and Murray met in an entrepreneurial management course while attending Harvard Business School. Although their dreams were to start their own businesses, graduate school debts forced them into corporate America.
They graduated in 1991 and didn't meet up again until 1994, after Murray had purchased Maxfield's Candy. Taiclet joined efforts with Murray in the purchase of Kencraft and became half owner of both companies.
Since then, they have worked together on making their candy companies well known. Maxfield's Candies' most famous brand is Mrs. Field's decadent chocolates.
The Kencraft line is sold at Starbucks, Williams Sonoma, Disney Stores, ZCMI, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, See's Candies and other smaller retailers.