JUNE SPOTLIGHT AWARD … Austin Bailey – First Shift Production Supervisor Bit-O-Honey, Wendy Staniski – Plant Superintendent First Shift, Bill Martin – Spangler Candy President, Russ Davies – Bryan Development Foundation President.
The Bryan Development Foundation (BDF) has announced that Spangler Candy Company is the recipient of the June 2023 “Spotlight Award”, recognizing local investment in buildings, landscaping, and other improvements in Bryan.
Spangler’s award honors the company for purchasing, renovating, and opening the former New Era Ohio property, and for bringing full production of Bit-O-Honey candies to that location. The new production space created 40 new jobs for the community.
“Bryan is proud to be the home of Bit-O-Honey and thankful for Spangler’s continued investment in our people and community” says BDF’s President, Russ Davies.
Spangler purchased the 20-acre property just west of its main factory in the fall of 2018 and has since created more than 300,000 square feet of production and warehouse space, with room for future growth.
In 2020, Spangler purchased Bit-O-Honey, a classic taffy candy made with honey, milk, and almond bits, and was able to bring the equipment directly from St. Paul, Minnesota, to the new Spangler West Campus space in December of 2022.
“Spangler West Campus has come a long way since the ARO Corporation manufactured industrial equipment,” said Kirk Vashaw, Spangler Chairman and CEO.
“It’s exciting to see the space transformed to a food grade candy manufacturing operation, ultra-clean and full of employees making products that make people happy.”