For more than 100 years, the secrets to Gardners Candies’ sweet treats have been kept under wraps, literally.
Now, officials at the award-winning candy factory in Tyrone are unlocking those secrets and offering free tours to the public.
Yesterday, Sam Phillips, president of Gardners Candies, announced yesterday the company will be providing guided, weekly tours of the plant that makes the famous peanut butter meltaways and 100 other varieties.
“We’re really excited about these new tours,” said Phillips. “We want people to come in and have fun. They can bring their cameras and take all the pictures they want, they can talk with the employees who are on the job and making candy, and best of all, they can sample some of our delicious products.”
According to Phillips, each year, hundreds of individuals and groups have inquired about tours of the facility. But until now, only select groups, such as local scout packs and friends and family, have been given the tours.
But because of safety regulations, tours were never publicly offered. Phillips said those problems have now been worked out and the tours will begin after Labor Day.
Initially, the tours will be conducted each Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 10:30 a.m. Phillips said each tour will take about 30 minutes to complete.
Yesterday, Phillips offered a walk-through of the factory to members of the local media. From the kitchen where the candied corn is popped and coated to the assembly line of workers stuffing gift boxes, Phillips continuously pointed to pipes, levers and buttons while explaining how things work
“We’ll offer these tours to 25 people or one person,” said Phillips. “We just want whoever is taking the tour to have fun.”
He said the tour would be tailored to the individuals.
“It will be different for a group of twelfth graders than it would be for a group of third graders,” said Phillips. “But each tour will be hands-on and interactive. It will be fun.”
Those wishing to tour the facility are asked to contact Gardners Candies at least a week in advance, due to the anticipated demand, at 1-800-242-2639 and ask for tour coordinator Alicia Grabill.
Those scheduling tours will receive, by mail, a packet full of information, including directions to the factory, a parking permit that provides free parking in downtown Tyrone, a coupon worth a 20 percent discount at the store in downtown Tyrone, a walking map of Tyrone, fundraising information and more valuable coupons and gift certificates for downtown businesses.
Phillips said his hopes are through this information package, he can begin bringing more people into the Tyrone area to spend those “tourist dollars.”
Tyrone Mayor Patricia Stoner, who attended yesterday’s tour with Chamber of Commerce acting director Rose Black, whose family has ties to Gardners Candies, agreed with Phillips.
“This is a wonderful example of how local business can work together for everyone’s benefit,” said Stoner. “I commend Gardners for their initiative, foresight and community spirit.”
Phillips believes this announcement can be a real boom to the local economy, especially with Interstate 99 scheduled to be finished within the next two years.
“This is a real tour of a real working candy factory,” said Phillips, “and there are not that many left in Pennsylvania. We’re hoping with these tours, we will be providing yet another great tourist location in the central part of the state.”
He also said the tours would be a great incentive for other businesses to locate in Northern Blair County.
The company president told reporters yesterday that tours are currently only being advertised in the immediate area to see how well the program works. He said if the interest is there, more advertising through state and federal facilities would be planned.
Although the tours will only be held twice a week to start, Phillips said, depending on interest, the factory would be willing to open the doors on other days of the week.
“We’d love to be able to do this everyday of the week,” he said. “But we have to crawl before we walk.”
