Winner 2021

Oliver Schindler receives European Candy Kettle Award for 2021

Oliver Schindler, owner of the German sweets and confectionery manufacturer Sweet Tec has received the 2021 edition of the European Candy Kettle Award. The award ceremony has been postponed from 2021 due to Corona pandemic.

The Award was presented by Leo Tanis president of the Club and the vice president Thomas Bischof in the classy restaurant and event location “am kai” in Hamburg. Oliver Schindler was awarded for his remarkable performance building up a sweets and confectionery production in Boizenburg/Germany in less than 20 years.

Everything started with the incorporation of the company Toffee Tec in 2002. Oliver wanted to create his own business after a long and difficult relationship with his father who expected him to continue the family business known as Ragolds. Meanwhile Oliver owns the brand Ragolds, but that’s another story.

In 2004 Sweet Tec was born. Producing hard candies and lollipops, Oliver always wanted to create more. In 2006 the company started to produce chewy candies also. A big deal with the Schwarz Group (Lidl) helped massively to grow fast in a short time period. In 2015 Oliver started to produce fruit gummy. And nowadays the company employs more than 500 coworkers in three different production facilities. Oliver takes every opportunity to strengthen the social cohesion of his stuff, running a company kinder garden, a fitness studio and several social events in the area of Boizenburg. But let us see, what Oliver has to say about the latest developments:

What have been the most outstanding and valuable moments in your career?

To be perfectly honest, there was never really that one, singular moment.

It was more like little puzzle pieces that were special to me. Like the laying of the foundation stone for our largest production facility in Boizenburg, later when the first fruit gum rolled off the production line, or my honor as Entrepreneur of the Year.

What are the biggest challenges you have to face in these difficult times?

At the moment there are so many challenges to deal with at the same time. We are finding less and less skilled workers on the market, the raw material price developments are enormous, and it is still unclear whether we will have a gas shortage. But none of this makes me nervous; we have to find solutions and perhaps become even more creative in this.

Where do you see yourself and the company in 10 years?

That's a good question, because I always have visions and a look forward. On the one hand, we want to create added value for our consumers with functional gums and other functional products. To do this, we have a patented technology in use with a partner and want to tackle the market in Europe and worldwide with our products. And if you ask me about such a long term view, there will certainly be a corporate succession at the end of the 10 years. With 3 children, there is a good chance that our family business will stay in the family.

(Photos by Romanus Fuhrmann)