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A Sweet Story: Wolfgang Confectioners Hits 100 Years of Investing in York
A Sweet Story: Wolfgang Confectioners Hits 100 Years of Investing in York
BY KATIE MAHONEY | VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
- SAM MILLER PRESIDENT OF WOLFGANG
Wolfgang has a lot history in York, founded in 1921 by Delphi Eli and Mima Mae Wolfgang as the D. E. Wolfgang Candy Company, in North York, which still exists today. “You can’t go 30 miles any direction without running into someone who bought, ate, or sold Wolfgang candy in their lifetime,” Miller adds.
Since then, the company has experienced it’s share of hardships, and is now poised for a future of growth. “It’s not a secret Wolfgang declared bankruptcy in 2012,” Miller states. “We had to re-build from there, hence the start-up mentality, and fortunately, we found a trusted partner.” Back in 2012, Wolfgang had 85% customer concentration with their key partner. “They’d come to us and we’d white board an idea,” shares Miller. “We could approach things differently than other manufacturers.” Now, Wolfgang runs 65% with their key partner, but also welcomes smaller lines to support emerging brands.
On July 22, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf visited Wolfgang Confectioners in Loganville to announce the company's expansion funding and new jobs.
Photo Credit: Commonwealth Media Services
Five years after opening their Loganville facility, Wolfgang now supports seven production lines that produce household name brands at a staggering pace. The facility is expected to produce 20 million pounds of candy in 2021 that you can find anywhere in the country.
But for Wolfgang and Miller, it’s not just about turning the company towards a brighter financial future, it’s about the people and community. “When we say ‘make candy and bless lives,’ we mean every life” he states. And they walk the walk - of their 400+ employees, including leadership positions and c-suite executives, 50% are women, and 40% people of color. They’ve established Women of Wolfgang as a collaborative cohort, and are part of the national Women in Manufacturing.
Photo Credit: Commonwealth Media Services
Recently, Wolfgang invested $3.5 million in operational expansion at their 137,000 square-foot facility in Loganville creating an additional 95 new full-time jobs. Support for this project also came from the Department of Community and Economic Development with a $95,000 Pennsylvania First grant and a $50,000 workforce development grant to help the company train workers. Like most industries, they continue to seek more employees.
Photo Credit: Commonwealth Media Services
Photo Credit: Commonwealth Media Services
- SAM MILLER, PRESIDENT OF WOLFGANG CONFECTIONERS
“We have no interest in leaving York,” shares Miller. “I’m a West York boy, and York is in our blood. We’re in the heart of the snack food capital of the world, and we have good relationships here. York is a mixture movement, but also a breath of fresh air.”
That movement is visible at Wolfgang, with expanded operations running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As the industry continues to evolve, offering more health-conscious options such as low sugar and paleo friendly, another expansion for Wolfgang is likely.
