The 2026 Evaluation Panel included buyers from the following companies:
- Albertsons Companies
- Amazon
- Army and Air Force Exchange Service
- b.a. Sweetie Candy Co.
- Bealls Inc.
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Candy Funhouse
- Coborn’s
- Core-Mark
- Dollar General
- Harris Teeter
- Hy-Vee
- IT’SUGAR
- KeHE Distributors
- Lidl, US
- Marine Corps Exchange
- Maverik Inc.
- McLane Company
- Paradies Lagardère
- Raley’s
- Redstone Foods
- S. Abrahamson & Sons
- Sam’s Club
- Showcase Stores
- Target
- The Fresh Market
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- Whole Foods Market
- World Market
The 2027 Panel is coming soon!
Yana Hansen
Albertsons Companies
Title: National Candy Director
Product Categories: Take Home and Seasonal Candy
Hannah Raetz
Albertsons Companies
Title: National Candy Director
Product Categories: Checkstands/front end candy, beverage, snacking.
Kallie Golicher
Amazon
Title: Head of Confections
Product Categories: Chocolate and Non-Chocolate Candy, Gum, Breath Fresheners
Faye Bagoyo Shaw
Army and Air Force Exchange Service
Title: Everyday Candy Buyer
Product Categories: All candy
Peter Kempton, Jr.
b.a. Sweetie Candy Co.
Title: President
Product Categories: Confections
Sheila Anderson
Bealls Inc.
Title: Buyer – Candy & Snacks
Product Categories: Candy, Snacks, and Seasonal Gifts
Katie Brown
Bealls Inc.
Title: Buyer – Candy & Snacks
Product Categories: Candy, Snacks
Olivia Tedesco
BJ’s Wholesale Club
Title: Category Merchant, Candy
Product Categories: Candy, Seasonal Candy, Gum/Mints, Dried Fruits & Nuts
Mo Hejazi
Candy Funhouse
Title: Head Buyer/Chief Supply Chain Officer
Product Categories: Candy, Chocolate, Snacks, Gum & Mints
Deb Sammon
Coborn’s
Title: Category Growth Manager
Product Categories: Candy and General Merchandise
Stephanie Shapiro
Core-Mark
Title: Senior Director of Merchandise
Product Categories: All center of store products
Cameron Gibson
Dollar General
Title: Sr. Buyer – Candy & DSD Salty
Product Categories: Salty Snacks & Candy
Zach Range
Dollar General
Title: Buyer – Seasonal Candy & Front-end
Product Categories: Front-end Candy & Seasonal Confections
Susan Grassey
Harris Teeter
Title: CM – Candy & Seasonal General Merchandise
Product Categories: Everyday Candy, Candy Aisle and Front End
Darin Hirl
Hy-Vee
Title: Category Manager – Candy
Product Categories: Candy, Chocolate & Confections
Drew Germain
IT’SUGAR
Title: AVP – Merchandising
Product Categories: All Candy, Snack and Non-Edible Categories
Jack Tischler
KeHE Distributors
Title: Associate Category Manager
Product Categories: Candy and salty snacks (potato chips, pretzels, popcorn)
Tabitha Sewell
KeHE Distributors
Title: Director – Category Management
Product Categories: All Center Store Categories
Jana Rooney
Lidl, US
Title: Category Manager
Product Categories: Candy and Salty Snacks (potato chips, pretzels, popcorn)
Erica Olsen
Marine Corps Exchange
Title: Buyer
Product Categories: Candy, Meat Snacks, Nuts & Seeds, Cookies & Crackers, Salty Snacks, Better For You, Chilled, Frozen, Bakery, Breakfast, Ramen, RTE & MW Meals, Ice Cream, Seafood, Condiments
Rebeka Leopardas
Marine Corps Exchange
Title: Assistant Buyer
Product Categories: Candy, Meat Snacks, Nuts & Seeds, Cookies & Crackers, Salty Snacks, Better For You, Chilled, Frozen, Bakery, Breakfast, Ramen, RTE & MW Meals, Ice Cream, Seafood, Condiments
Travis Knight
Maverik Inc.
Title: Category Manager
Product Categories: Candy and Private Label
Hope LaGrone
McLane Company
Title: Sr. Manager, Strategic Supplier Program
Product Categories: Confections
Kathy Douglas
Paradies Lagardère
Title: Director of Merchandise North America
Product Categories: Gum/Mint, Candy & Chocolate, Ice Cream & Snacks
Mollie Quinn
Paradies Lagardere
Title: Convenience Food Buyer
Product Categories: Salty, Confections, Snack Bars, Nuts & Seeds
Robin Gutridge
Raley’s
Title: Director of Candy, GM and Non-edible Grocery
Product Categories: Candy
Katrina Hogge
Raley’s
Title: Associate Category Manager, Candy & General Merchandise
Product Categories: Candy
Josh Rothstein
Redstone Foods
Title: Vice President
Product Categories: Candy and Savory Snacks
Alyssa Snyr
S. Abrahamson & Sons
Title: Senior Category Manager
Product Categories: Confection, Snacks, Retail Bakery, Retail Cooler/Frozen
Natalia Dias Camara
Sam’s Club
Title: Senior Manager – Product Development
Product Categories: Candy, Snacks, Commercial Bread, Baking & Spices
Devin Turner
Sam’s Club
Title: Merchant Development – Program Chips
Product Categories: Chips & Puffed Snacks
Jeffrey Sandler
Showcase Stores
Title: Senior Buyer
Stephen Munafo
Target
Title: Director of Snacks
Product Categories: Salty Snacks, Lunchbox (bars, fruit snacks, squeezers), Cookies & Crackers
Pilar Aritztia
The Fresh Market
Title: Merchandising Director for Bulk, Coffee and Candy
Product Categories: Candy, Coffee, Snacks, Nuts, Jams, Nut Butters, Cookies, Teas and Spices
Jack Kenneally
The Fresh Market
Title: Category Manager – Bulk
Product Categories: Nuts, Seeds, Granola, Snack Mixes, Coffee, Tea, Spices, Bread
Jim Padelford
The Fresh Market
Title: Category Manager
Product Categories: Candy, Chocolate, Cookies, Jam, Nut & Seed Butters
Marcus Anderson
Walgreens
Title: Senior Category Manager
Product Categories: Confections – Everyday and Seasonal
Brian Rinker
Walgreens
Title: Director/DMM – Confections & Snacks
Product Categories: Confections & Snacks
Callie Dunnaway
Walmart
Title: Merchant Director – Convenience
Product Categories: Front-end Candy, Gum/Mint & Salty Snacks
Angela Mayo
Walmart
Title: Merchant Director – Basic Candy
Product Categories: Seasonal Candy
Bucky Willett
Walmart
Title: Merchant – Seasonal Candy
Product Categories: Basic Everyday Candy
Nicolette DeAngelis
Whole Foods Market
Title: Principal Category Merchant – Seasonal
Product Categories: All Dry Grocery Seasonal
Gabe Weldin
Whole Foods Market
Title: Category Merchant II
Product Categories: Nutrition Bars and Wholesome Bars & Snacks
Gina Kwun
World Market
Title: Senior Buyer – Candy
Product Categories: All Confectionery
Alexandra Molinaro
World Market
Title: Vice President, Merchandising – Gourmet
Product Categories: All Gourmet Categories including Confectionery & Snacks
Michelle Van Riper
World Market
Title: Candy Buyer
Product Categories: All Non-Chocolate Candy & Seasonal
