ORANGE, Connecticut, October 24, 2024 – Just when you thought that Orange couldn’t get any more awesome, and then PEZ appears. Yes, that PEZ. The PEZ of candy cartridge and cartoon character fame. Please allow me to elaborate.
It was a Sunday morning and I’m reading the papers and perusing social media. In the middle of finishing one of my multiple mugs of coffee, a posting perked me up from my perch. The post read,” ”Vote for the Coolest Thing In Connecticut.”
Digging a bit deeper, I learned that the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) in partnership with the State of Connecticut Office of Manufacturing and CONNSTEP scoured our great State to unearth the “Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut.”
With over 115,000 votes cast, sixteen companies competed head-to-head to win the distinction of being the Coolest of Cool.
PEZ Candy, Inc. made it to the second round of eight with its iconic —and yes, very cool —PEZ candy. Our Orange confectionary company was pitted against none other than the competition’s winner, General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Virginia Class Submarine.
Considering that there are over 4,700 manufacturers in Connecticut, making it to the top eight is pretty sweet.
Okay, a submarine emerged as the victor, but no other candy would dare compete with the crunchy mouthful of grape goodness and outrageous raspberry refresh that pops out of a PEZ dispenser.
Although my childhood aspirations of being one of the “Cool Kids,” didn’t exactly materialize, little did I realize that as the executive director of the Chamber I would have the opportunity to hang out with the coolest of cool candy companies. Equipped with this knowledge, I paid a visit to our valued and longtime Orange Chamber member.
Greeted by Shawn Peterson, PEZ Direct to Consumer Business Manager, a guided tour of the PEZ Visitor Center followed. Shawn, who made the journey to Connecticut from Kansas City, Missouri almost twenty years ago is a collector and expert on everything PEZ. He subsequently became a PEZ employee in 2010. In 2011, the Visitor Center opened. Many of the items exhibited throughout the 4,000 sq. ft. center belong to Peterson and are enjoyed by children of all ages. Today, the Center attracts over 75,000 visitors annually.
As part of the Center’s community engagement, the company has special needs students from various schools throughout the area assist with the disassembly of candy from returned PEZ dispensers. The keepsakes are eventually reintroduced for sale with fresh candies.
No lie, my very first PEZ dispenser I still own to this day is no other than “Bozo the Clown.” It sits on my office desk with distinction, along with “Buzz Lightyear,” from the movie, “Toy Story,” circa 1995.
According to the company’s website, billions of PEZ candies are consumed annually in the United States alone and is available in more than 90 countries. Located at 35 Prindle Hill Road, Orange, the PEZ Visitor Center is open daily to the public from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Welcome new members!
And, you know what else is cool? Orange Chamber membership! I’m pleased to report that the Chamber has increased its membership by over 15% since July 1st.
New members joining in October include Optimum, Charter Senior Living, Family Eyecare of Orange, Yale University West Campus, Connecticut Orthopaedics, WSI World – Bain Group, Consumer Legal Services, Maplewood Senior Living, and Gabriele’s Ristorante Italiano.
Author: Barry Lee Cohen
Executive Director, Orange Chamber of Commerce