Linda
Linda was born and raised on a dairy farm just outside of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, where she grew up with a strong work ethic and an appreciation for hard work that would shape her life and career. Farm life instilled values of responsibility, persistence, and self-sufficiency — qualities that would later become the foundation of C&C Candies and Country Store.
In 1971, Linda married her husband, Richard, and the two settled into his family home in the countryside outside of Schuylkill Haven. Together, they started their family, welcoming their son Christopher in 1974 and daughter Amy in 1982.
Farming and growing food remained an important part of Linda’s life. Alongside Richard, whose passion was fruit farming, they operated a small fruit farm, growing apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and a variety of fruits and vegetables in their “truck patch.” Crops included tomatoes, watermelon, corn, carrots, onions, and string beans. Having grown up on a farm herself, growing and preserving food came naturally. Linda canned fruits and vegetables and made her own pasta sauce and chili sauce to help sustain the family through the winter months.
In addition to farming, Linda and Richard operated a cider press and produced fresh apple cider for a number of small market stands throughout the county until the 1990s. At peak production, they were producing up to 100 gallons of cider at a time — a labor-intensive process that reflected their commitment to quality and hard work.
Professionally, Linda worked full time as a secretary for Reneer Films and later served part time as the secretary for her church. She continued working in these roles until the opening of the current C&C Candies and Country Store retail location in 2005, when she transitioned fully into the family business.
Linda has always had a passion for chocolate, a love that ultimately sparked the beginning of C&C Candies. Today, she heads the candy department, overseeing all in-house chocolate and novelty production for both wholesale clients and the retail store. During the day, she can be found making chocolates and novelties in-house, and most evenings she is up front waiting on customers — a role she still truly enjoys.
Outside of work, Linda is deeply faith-oriented and values her church community, always looking for ways to give back when she can. She is also an avid baseball fan, especially of the Reading Phillies, where she holds season tickets.
Linda and Richard have shared a love of travel over the years, visiting destinations across the United States — including Hawaii, California, and Colorado — as well as traveling internationally to England, France, Switzerland, Canada, Iceland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany, the family’s country of origin. In recent years, they have enjoyed slowing down, taking trips to Delaware, and watching the business they helped build continue to flourish.
Amy
Amy graduated from Blue Mountain High School in 2000 and went on to attend McCann School of Business & Technology, earning a degree in marketing in 2002. She later completed her bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Alvernia University in 2004. From early on, Amy was highly career-focused, with a clear interest in building brands, growing businesses, and creating long-term success.
Having grown up working alongside her family in both the candy store and restaurant, Amy developed a deep understanding of small business operations from a young age. While Linda’s strengths and passions have always been centered around chocolates, candy production, and customer interaction, Amy naturally gravitated toward the business, marketing, and growth side of the operation.
Today, Amy runs the day-to-day operations of C&C Candies and Country Store alongside the bakery manager, with a strong focus on expanding and strengthening the bakery. She oversees business operations, ordering, office administration, billing, website and online store maintenance, and all marketing and promotional efforts. Amy is also responsible for brand development, long-term planning, and building strong relationships with other business owners and community partners.
Amy is an active member of the Retail Bakers of America (RBA) and regularly travels throughout the country attending industry events, visiting bakeries, and engaging with fellow bakery owners. She attends International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) every three years in Las Vegas — the largest bakery industry convention in the United States — where she focuses on continuing education, emerging trends, and operational best practices. Amy also serves on an IBIE bakery owner panel, providing feedback and insight to help shape future educational programming and industry events.
Additionally, Amy is a member of the RBA Round Table, a panel of ten bakery owners from across the country who meet monthly to discuss industry challenges, operational issues, and shared solutions. This collaborative group allows Amy to stay closely connected to broader industry trends while bringing fresh ideas back to her own businesses.
In addition to her role at C&C, Amy serves as the marketing manager for her brother’s business, the Friedensburg Country Restaurant. In that role, she manages all aspects of marketing and communication, including social media, specials and menu planning, special events, and website maintenance. Having grown up in the restaurant industry, this role is a natural extension of her experience and passion.
Looking ahead, Amy is leading the next chapter of growth with the expansion into Sweet Corner Bakeshop, a new bakery currently under construction in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. This new venture reflects her passion for bakery, branding, and expansion, while staying grounded in the values that have defined the family business for decades.
Outside of work, Amy shares her parents’ love of travel and enjoys working remotely whenever possible. Aruba has become a favorite destination, where she visits each January while continuing to run the business. Her travels have also taken her to Iceland, the United Kingdom, France, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Egypt, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
Amy has a deep love for animals and is often jokingly described as being unintentionally involved in animal rescue, with lost and stray animals frequently finding their way to her. She currently has four cats, all named after a life-changing trip to Egypt in 2004.
She is an avid reader and enjoys spending her downtime with a good book, a habit that pairs well with her love of travel and lifelong curiosity. Amy is also a devoted Philadelphia sports fan, especially the Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Amy is an active volunteer with the Friedensburg Fire Company, where she serves as Corresponding Secretary and helps organize and run numerous fundraisers. She heads the committee for the annual book sale and is deeply involved in supporting the fire company’s fundraising and community outreach efforts.