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F a l l 2 0 1 8 • S T U F F 2 5 C O M P A N Y P R O F I L E S S T U F F M a d e I n C T . c o m Stuff made in Connecticut may no longer be produced in dark, dingy, 19th-century plants nestled on riverbeds, but that doesn't mean that the word manufacturing doesn't still render images of shop floors and production lines. Unless, of course, you're talking about chocolate. The candy sector may not be the state's largest industry, but it's one that's picking up speed. Just take it from some of Connecticut's finest chocolatiers. ompson Brands Kevin Scarpati, Meriden city mayor, first fell in love with the candy business after touring the facility at Thompson Brands. The company originally brought him in to help them better coordinate their community outreach efforts, but quickly decided he would be more valuable in-house. "We just clicked," said Scarpati. "We were both just really impressed by one another. At first, I was just helping them with marketing. It was a good fit. I was able to use my political knowledge to boost brand visibility within our community." Three short months later, Scarpati was promoted to manager and today he leads Thompson's brand-expansion initiatives into larger, global markets. Scarpati admits he's not your average 29-year-old. This mayor, chocolatier and marketing muscle, says you can often find him burning the midnight oil, juggling his responsibilities as mayor with his role at Thompson. That being said, he says he gets great joy out of his role with the company. "People really enjoy our products. It's also neat to see how the business has grown from Meriden's first candy store to the global brand it is today. Plus, not many people get to say they work for a chocolate company." A look inside Connecticut's sweet shops "It's amazing to work for a company, born right here in Meriden, that's grown into a globally recognized brand, operating out of a 120,000-square-foot building and employs 190 people," - Kevin Scarpati Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati (top) started working for Thompson Brands after doing some marketing work for them. (Above) Two of Thompson's chocolate products.