May 21, 2020

Sweet Shop Candies produces PPE during global pandemic

Sweet Shop Candies, Inc., also known as Sweet Shop USA, a leading chocolate manufacturer of specialty truffles, caramels, toffee, and other chocolates, announced that it is dedicating 20,000 square feet of its 80,000 square feet of production space to making facial shields for health care workers, first responders, food manufacturers and other industries in need of PPE.

Michael Moss, CEO of Sweet Shop Candies, and his wife Angie Moss, vice-president of sales, initially wanted to help their emergency room doctor friends who were on the front lines of COVID-19. Due to an interrupted PPE supply chain, Michael saw an opportunity for Sweet Shop USA to “re-tool” a portion of the factory for the greater good.

“We wanted to provide work for our employees and brokers as chocolate sales were decreasing due to the pandemic; thus, the vision for WAYMAKER shields was born,” said Angie Moss.

As many areas of the nation are under lock-down, Michael Moss reached out to a valued plastic vendor in New York, to explore the possibility of re-purposing his acetate stock, normally used for chocolate boxes to make facial shields. Fortunately, owner Bill Rubenstein, was able to keep his Brooklyn, New York, company open as an “essential business,” partnering with Sweet Shop USA to produce this critical component.

Currently, Sweet Shop USA has hired more employees, and added a third shift to produce a shield every three seconds to keep up with demand. “As much as we look forward to making chocolate full time again, this ‘pivot’ has strengthened and unified us as a company,” said Michael.  

Sweet Shop USA continues to produce chocolate while simultaneously producing WAYMAKER facial shields.