Small to Big: It’Sugar
Build the candy emporiums, and they will come.
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Founded 2006
Headquarters Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Stores 96
Backers Prentice Capital, Star Avenue Capital
Jeff Rubin, 52, has always had a sweet tooth. After creating a candy business for the FAO Schwarz toy store and co-founding Dylan’s Candy Bar, he decided it was time to strike out on his own. Backed with private equity money, he opened a store called It’Sugar on the Atlantic City boardwalk in 2006. It’s not your penny-candy emporium of yore: The merchandise includes items such as Camel Balls (sour bubble gum) and Flinging Poo (chocolate-covered banana chips). Today, Rubin heads what he says is the largest specialty candy chain in the world, with 96 locations, all but 4 company-owned, and sales north of $70 million. —As told to Craig Giammona