Salt Lake Candy Manufacturer Moves to Phillipsburg

Former recipients of the Montana SBA Small Business of the Year award have announced a major expansion of their business, one that brings a new business to the state.

Posted by: The Big Sky Business Journal

Shirley Beck and Dale Siegford, owners of Sapphire Gallery & Sweet Palace in Phillipsburg, have purchased a 61-year-old candy manufacturing company in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are moving it to Phillipsburg.

Former recipients of the Montana SBA Small Business of the Year award have announced a major expansion of their business, one that brings a new business to the state.

Shirley Beck and Dale Siegford, owners of Sapphire Gallery & Sweet Palace in Phillipsburg, have purchased a 61-year-old candy manufacturing company in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are moving it to Phillipsburg.

Beck considers acquiring the business something of a coup for the candy industry, as well as her business. The owners of Janet Russell Candies, Russ and Janet Redenbaugh, were reluctant to sell the business to just anyone. They wanted to make sure that the new owner would continue to serve all their customers, explained Beck. The proprietary recipe for its soft salt-water taffy has been a mainstay product for many retail candy stores throughout the northwestern states. The Redenbaughs wanted assurances that whoever acquired that recipe would continue business as a wholesale manufacturer and distributor. Beck and Siegford made that commitment to Redenbaugh, who at 84-years-of-age has continued to operate the business, out of concern for the continued well being of his many customers.

"We feel we have been knighted," said Beck.

Janet Russell Candies has four retail outlets, itself, in Salt Lake City. They will continue to operate under the same name.

Beck’s daughter, Heidi, will manage the manufacturing business. She has been working the past six months with the Redenbaughs, learning the business which will be moved sometime this month to Phillipsburg, where Beck and Siegford have purchased a building in which to house it.

The plant will be so arranged that customers may see the cooking kitchen and watch the candy making process.

Beck and Siegford believe the business will augment, well, their candy retail business, the Sweet Palace, as well as, their jewelry business, the Sapphire Gallery, both of which have made Phillipsburg a tourist destination point, since their start up six years ago. Beck and Siegford were recognized for their achievements in creating businesses that helped to resurrect the declining economy of Phillipsburg, in being named as Small Business of the Year in 2001. The two businesses employ 21 people.

Last year, Janet Russell Candies manufactured and sold three and a half tons of salt water taffy and three tons of caramels. The business is expected to employ five people at full operation.

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