WELLINGTON, FL – Essential Candy, a manufacturer of healthy candy infused with essential oils and other plant botanicals, is pleased to announce the opening of its new manufacturing facility located in Wellington, Florida. This new location will allow the company to manufacture candies in-house as it expands its domestic and international footprint.
The company was founded in 2018 by wife and husband, 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 needs of where the body needs support. All products are organic, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, soy-free, low-calorie and low-carb.
The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) 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. In addition, the new location is now operational after being inspected and approved by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
“We are so thrilled to be welcomed by the wonderful community of Wellington. In the coming year we look forward to expanding our 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,” said Tracy Ernst, Founder and Co-Owner.
“We are truly grateful for the 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 offering by ramping up production at our new manufacturing facility. We look forward to the coming year as we launch new products, increase national distribution and retailers, and move into international marketplaces,” said Dean Ernst, Co-Owner.
“Essential Candy started as a small start-up 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 Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB).
About the Business Development Board: The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County is the official public/private economic development organization for Palm Beach County and Enterprise Florida. Founded in 1982 as a not-for-profit corporation, our primary purpose is to attract and retain new industry, business investment, high quality jobs and workforce development through corporate relocations, expansions and international trade. During the past five years, the BDB has assisted companies that have created more than 12,822 direct jobs with average salaries greater than $69,062, resulting in more than $777 million in capital investment to Palm Beach County and an economic impact that exceeds $6.87 billion. The BDB’s highest level investor partners include Carrier, Florida Power & Light, LRP Media Group, Moss Construction, Stiles Nicholson Foundation, Suffolk Construction, Tortoise Properties, and Wexford Capital. Additional information can be found at the BDB’s website, www.bdb.org.