Christie Ruestman & Cindy Meyer, owners of Cunningham Candies, took a trip they have wanted to do ever since they purchased Cunningham's Candies in 1993. So this year, after they closed for the season, Christie & Cindy took their employees on the train to Chicago for a fun day where they visitied Blommer Chocolate Co., their chocolate supplier, and Ricci & Co., their nut supplier. After the tours, they enjoyed dinner in Chicago and then headed back home on the train. It was great to see and learn about the companies they have worked with for over 17 years!
At Blommer's, which was founded in 1939 and today is the largest cocoa bean processer in North America, they were given a very detailed, 2 1/2 hr. factory tour where they got to see how the chocolate used by Cunningham's Candies is actually manufactured starting with raw cocoa beans and ending in huge chocolate bars for their use.
At Ricci's they toured all 3 floors of the 4th generation factory, which is still in it's original building since its inception in 1919, to see how the highest-quality of nuts arrive from all around the world & U.S., are roasted, and then finally packaged for distribution.
Below is a picture from their trip to Blommer Chocolate Company, Chicago IL on April 7, 2010.
Cunningham Candies' employees: (sitting L to R) Cindy Meyer, Debbie DeMay, Lisa Junker, Barb Hahn. (back row L to R) David Dunham, Amy Faulk, Ann McMullen, Julie Schmitt, Christie Ruestman, Teri White, Julie Meyer.