Macon-made candy debuts at Ocmulgee Traders

For the first time in the wholesale company’s history, Macon-made Crown Candy Corp. products are being sold directly to a local, independent retailer.

Ocmulgee Traders, a grocery store at 455 Poplar St., received its first assortment of Crown Candy products this week, according to a news release.

“Ocmulgee Traders wants to support local makers just like the community has supported us,” Laura Bell, who co-owns Ocmulgee Traders with her husband Steve, said in the release. “By keeping our dollars in our community, we support businesses and jobs here in Macon-Bibb (County) instead of sending it to other communities and countries.”

Crown Candy is a wholesale candy manufacturer purchased by E.L. Brooking in 1962 and moved to Macon from Atlanta in 1971. Its candy products, which include coconut bon-bons, pecan logs, pecan divinity, chocolates and more, are often private-labeled and sold to retailers like Cracker Barrel, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Stuckey’s and Kroger. The company has about 150 employees at its manufacturing facility on Mead Road.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223.

This story was originally published November 7, 2014 at 9:19 AM with the headline "Macon-made candy debuts at Ocmulgee Traders ."