Candy land: it's a sweet deal for this Boone business--making a mint of money by making millions of mints each day.

• Author: Martin, Edward
• Position: Feature - Hospitality Mints - Brief Article

Nearly 30 years ago, when Hospitality Mints LLC began making restaurant mints and needed a boost, Gordon Gallagher gave it a big one. He landed a contract to supply the giant Culver City, Calif.-based Sizzler Family Steak House chain. "That was the company's first huge break," says Lee Wilkie, vice president for sales and marketing. "That gave us a start in the food-service trade." It was a flying start. Now 71, Gallagher still sells candy for the company, and life is sweet on Candy Lane in Boone. Hospitality Mints produces 4 million pieces of candy daily. In a cascade of swirling color, corn syrup, flavorings and other ingredients are blended and chopped into nuggets. Do not be deceived, though. This is not Willy Wonka's wacky factory. Under the eye of Doug Hanks, vice president of manufacturing, making candy is big, hard...