Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
How sweet it is! Staten Island candy maker to be inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame
George Kaye, of Supreme Chocolatier, to be honored for lifetime achievements
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Borough President James P. Molinaro today announced that he has received word that George Kaye, a lifetime Staten Island resident and businessman will be honored as a 2009 Inductee into the Candy Hall of Fame of the National Confectionary Sales Association.
Kaye, whose father founded a successful candy and ice cream shop in Port Richmond in 1911, has been in the candy business his whole life, learning at the hands of his father. The shop eventually grew to become the internationally successful “Superior Confections,” an industry leader in developing technical skills for chocolate making and a supplier of premium chocolate products. Mr. Kaye still serves as President and presides over the operations of the original company and two newly-acquired ventures, Blum’s and House of Bauer.
“I have known George Kaye since 1947, and have always admired his dedication to his craft, in addition to his commitment to the community,” Molinaro said. “Over the years, many chocolate makers have left the New York City area because of the high cost of doing business, and in 1999, George was planning to move his business to North Carolina. I reached out to George and told him that I did not want to see him or his company leave Staten Island, and I am grateful that I was able to convince him to stay. Now, his new chocolate factory in Bloomfield serves as a major job producer for our Borough,” Molinaro said.
Kaye will be honored at a black-tie gala dinner at the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza during the National Confectionary Sales Association’s Annual Meeting on October 17, 2009. The National Confectionary Sales Association was founded in 1899, and is dedicated to the positive growth of the confections industry. They created the Candy Hall of Fame in 1971 to recognize lifetime career achievements in the confectionary industry.
“I can not think of anyone better suited to this honor than George Kaye,” Molinaro said. “George’s business success has had a great positive impact on our Borough’s economy, and he plays an active part in our community, providing goods to charitable organizations and giving tours of the factory to our Borough’s children. I wish him well, and I congratulate him on receiving this distinguished honor,” Molinaro concluded.
July 30, 2009