David Rosenberg

In addition, David Rosenberg, President of Candy Express, delighted chocolate lovers with courtesy boxes of fine Belgian truffles and passed around samples from Candy Expresses' Red and Gold Box Collections with a generous hand.

The Rosenbergs brothers, Joel, David, and Michael, owned and managed a chain of clothing stores in suburban Washington, D.C. for 20 years before changing paths in 1988 to candy retailing.
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Says David Rosenberg, Candy Express CEO.
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"The abundance of candy is really key to the irresistible aspect of Candy Express," says David Rosenberg.
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Sour Patch Kids are the hottest selling product for the stores right now, says David Rosenberg.He estimates 20 percent of their business is generated from low-calorie, sugar-free candy sales, which are especially strong in January when people try to lose those extra holiday pounds, he says.

Though he won't be specific, Rosenberg says Candy Express profit margins are "one of the highest in the candy business," adding that their profits top the 20 to 40 percent margins grocery stores and drug stores, their primary competitors, command.

"We've had lines all day long, right up until we close at 11 p.m.," reports David Rosenberg, CEO of Candy Express, a Columbia, Md., company that is running the operation.

Rosenberg was approached more than a year ago about opening outlets at Macy's sites after some of the department store's execs saw a Candy Express operation in Canada that was offering chocolates, Seattle's Best Coffees and pastries.

"They wanted a place where people could go for lunch, and they asked if we could also serve soups, salads and sandwiches," Rosenberg says.

"We said, 'Absolutely.'"

Based on the initial success here, Rosenberg says he's negotiating to open two to three more Coco Mokas at other Macy's stores by spring and to do a "rollout" after that.

"Macy's has 90 stores and I'd expect, if it's successful, they'd put it in at least 25 percent of their stores," he says.

About the Writer---------------------------

The Bee's Bob Shallit can be reached at (916) 321-1049 or bshallit@sacbee.com .

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