Mirror photo by Walt Frank / Gardners Candies President Sam Phillips (left) is planning to retire; Controller Joe DeStadio is taking over his position.

TYRONE — Sam Phillips said the time is right.

Phillips, 68, will retire as president of Gardners Candies on Sept. 13 after more than 27 years at the business.

“I saw what my father (Edward) did. He retired in his late 60s and enjoyed retirement for about 30 years. I would like to emulate that if I could,” Phillips said. “I have enjoyed working at Gardners tremendously. I talked to the owner years ago, he asked for a years notice. They wanted a transition and it went very smoothly. I didn’t want to wait until the owner told me it was time to go. I didn’t want to be a burden to Gardners.”

Joe DeStadio, who has been chief financial officer since 1991, will succeed Phillips as president.

“They are certainly big shoes to fill. At least three of us are assuming his responsibilities. He has been in the candy business since he was a teenager. It will be a challenge but I am looking forward to it,” DeStadio said.

Phillips came to Gardners in 1992 as CEO and was named president when the business was sold to Sarris Candies of Canonsburg in 1997.

The candy business was in the blood of the Rutherford, N.J., native. His paternal grandfather, Sam Phillips, was a candy and ice cream maker and his father, Edward Phillips, and uncle, Nick Phillips, started their own business — Critchley Candy Co. — in the 1950s.

He remembers working at the candy company during summers while he was in high school.

After high school, Phillips headed off to Rutgers University to major in political science. He also played on the lacrosse team.

After graduating in 1972, he decided to work in radio.

“By the time I got to college, I wanted nothing to do with the family business. I wanted to go out on my own and break away from the family. I spent three years as news director at a radio station in Binghamton, N.Y. Once the glow wore off, I realized I was not going to be the next Walter Cronkite. My dad and uncle asked me to come back. I missed the family business,” Phillips said.

He returned to the family business in 1976 and served as company president. When his uncle died in 1990, Phillips decided he would like to move from the area.

In April 1992, Tony Black, Gardners’ president, died suddenly at the age of 42. David Black, Tony’s father, who had retired in 1985, came back to run the company. Phillips said everyone in the chocolate business knows each other, so after a referral from a chocolate salesman, David Black called Phillips and asked if he would come to Tyrone to run the business. Phillips hesitated at first, but found he loved the area and came aboard.

“I was impressed by the friendliness of everyone, that I was received warmly by the community and fellow workers. They made me feel welcome,” Phillips said.

Phillips said there have been changes in the candy making business over the years.

‘The addition of the big box stores that are buying direct and selling cheaply put pressure on the local retailers. The advent of the internet has enabled people to get what they want, when they want it. We can see that with our website and internet sales of our own,” Phillips said. “There has been a lack of people shopping in the local stores. People go to the big boxes for all of their needs rather than shop downtown. These things put pressure on the local businesses.”

But Gardners has succeeded by producing a high quality product.

“We focus on the quality of the candy, and service. We offer specialty items and gift wrapping. Candy is a gift. I emphasize that the people who come into our store are buying candy for someone else so it has to be high quality, look good, be packaged well and handled well. That is where we beat the competition,” Phillips said.

He admits he will miss coming to work every day.

“I will miss the people, the plant and the customers, dealing with vendors. I will miss the candy business. I’ve been in it all my life,” Phillips said. “I hope that they (employees) enjoyed coming to work every day and took pride in their work. I am very proud of Gardners Candies, its affect on the community and the people of Tyrone, and I hope that continues.”

Phillips played a key role in the business community, said Rose Black, Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.

“Sam became an active member of the chamber serving on the board almost immediately upon his role at Gardners, later serving as chamber president, and to this date, an active committee person on the chamber golf committee. He was instrumental in pursuing a RiverWalk Project that was never completed due to state funding,” Black said. “Sam has always been very community-minded and very supportive of the community nonprofit and youth organizations.”

Phillips has no set pans for his retirement. He will spend time with his wife, Laurene, who retired as an editor in the publications department at Penn State, travel, play golf and for the 48th year, serve as a PIAA lacrosse official.

He will have more time to spend with his children — Christopher, president and general manager of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox; Kevin, a film director in Los Angeles; and Caroline, who is in charge of premium seating for the Chicago Cubs.

Phillips remains optimistic about the future of Gardners.

“I am very optimistic and pleased I am leaving at a very good time in the company’s history. They will be successful if they stick to providing the highest quality products and service. Peanut butter meltaways are high quality; the quality of them will not go away,” Phillips said.

He also has some advice for DeStadio.

“Don’t forget the lifeblood of the company is the employees. Treat them with respect and make sure work is enjoyable and make sure you remember the good quality products and service that is Gardners,” Phillips said.

DeStadio said the challenge is to grow the business and maintain the existing customer base.

“I think the future is very bright. As long as human beings are on the Earth, they will enjoy chocolate, so we are in pretty good shape,” DeStadio said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.