From Start Up to Thumbs Up: Candy.com is Hitting Home Runs in Online Retailing

Since purchasing the domain name "Candy.com" for $3 million in June 2009, cousins Joe Melville, 33, and Greg Balestrieri, 26, have beat the start-up odds and are on track to do $6 million in online candy sales in 2012. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) April 11, 2012 - Weymouth, MA - Since purchasing the domain name "Candy.com" for $3 million on June 2, 2009, and launching the online candy retail site one month later, cousins Joe Melville, 33, and Greg Balestrieri, 26, have beat the start-up odds and are on track to generate $6 million in online candy sales in 2012, which is up 114% over 2011 sales.

"With the rise in popularity of candy buffets, candy favors, single-color bulk candy, and seasonal candy, as well as increased consumer appetite for retro candy, candy crafting, and baking, our online candy sales have flourished," says Greg Balestrieri, CEO, Candy.com. "For these same reasons, we also launched a sister site, MyCandyCrafts.com, which offers more than 9,400 candy-making and baking supplies. Candy is one of those unique product categories that defies economic downturn, adds color and fun to virtually any event, and creates smiles around the globe."

Candy.com co-founders Greg Balestrieri and Joe Melville, represent the third generation of the family-owned Melville Candy Company based in Weymouth, Mass.

"Joe and I come from a long line of confectioners and understand the candy business from both a manufacturing and retailing perspective," says Balestrieri. "Over the last three years, we've brought all of our family's experience to the Web and continue to improve on our customers' experience with new technologies and a steady stream of new candy products."

Candy.com now offers more than 15,000 SKUs from 400-plus manufacturers from around the world, including The Hershey Co., Mars Chocolate North America, Jelly Belly Candy Company, Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc., Nestle, Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., Lindt & Sprungli, Perfetti Van Melle, and Just Born, Inc.

In 2010 and 2011, Candy.com was also the exclusive launching pad for the comeback of three iconic candy brands brought out of retirement: Astro Pop, Black Cow, and Bonomo Turkish Taffy. And, in April 2012, Candy.com launched licensed Major League Baseball Lollipops, just in time for opening season.

All Candy.com candy can be searched by by color, type, brand, and party theme, which makes event planning easy. For gift-giving, affordable candy gift selections like Ghirardelli and Godiva candy baskets and non-edible gifts like Hershey's brand messenger bags and M&M's coin purses, are also available for quick delivery.

For more information, visit Candy.com.

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