The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) recently announced the expansion of Essential Candy, a manufacturer of healthy candy infused with essential oils and other plant botanicals.
The company opened a new 2,900-square-foot facility at 3220 Fairlane Farms Road, Unit 6, in Wellington to manufacture candies in-house as it expands its domestic and international footprint. It will house new manufacturing equipment and employ 12 people over the next year.
The company was founded in 2018 by local residents Tracy and Dean Ernst, after wanting to help a friend battling cancer. Tracy developed a solution to ease nausea and the various side effects of chemotherapy treatments, creating a hard candy using essential oils that has no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners. The product line now offers a long list of functional blends that focus on different areas where the body needs support.
All products are organic, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, soy-free, low-calorie and low-carb. In addition, the company has been inspected and approved by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, with product lines that are third party tested.
The Business Development Board assisted with resources for the expansion and connections to CareerSource Palm Beach County for workforce training programs. This new facility will meet the growing consumer demand for healthy hard candies, as well as position Essential Candy for expansions into new countries.
“We are so thrilled to be welcomed by the wonderful community of Wellington,” Tracy Ernst said. “In the coming year, we hope to make available more healthy candy blends and other confections that support the body. It fills my heart to be able to help so many people through our mission of giving back to those battling cancer.”
Dean said that they are grateful for all the help and support provided by the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.
“Through their various programs, we have been able to grow our offerings by ramping up production at our new manufacturing facility,” he said. “We look forward to the coming year as we launch new products, increase national distribution and retailers, and move into international marketplaces.”
The Business Development Board is the official public/private economic development organization for Palm Beach County and Enterprise Florida.
“Essential Candy started as a small startup just two and a half years ago to help a friend battling cancer. It has now purchased new manufacturing equipment and is starting its domestic and international expansion into Australia and Canada. In a world where health is now a top priority, Essential Candy offers different blends that will continue to contribute to the health of both people and the local economy,” said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the BDB.
To learn more about Essential Candy, visit www.essentialcandy.com.
