Allan Dudovitz

Class of 2007

On September 25, 1941, Allan, also known as Vitz, was born in St. Paul, MN. He attended Central H.S. and then went to the University of Minneapolis, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting.

Upon graduation, he began his career in 1963 as an office manager at wholesaler/rebagger Fritz, Co., eventually opening a Denver office for the company. From 1969 to 1978 Vitz left the business, but returned to open The Sweetery, a retail confectionery store, which he developed into a wholesale business featuring The Sweetery brand. Vitz sold the company to Fritz in 1994 and managed the business through 1996.

In 1997 Vitz joined the Lincoln Dels delicatessen chain to develop a wholesale distribution division for confectionery and private label foods. In 1999 he moved on to Red Wing Foods, where he was tasked with introducing a specialty confectionery program for the specialty food distributor.

Vitz then spent 2003 to 2006 with Peters Imports and currently serves as vice-president of sales for Prinsen Distributing Co., which merged with Peters in 2006.

He is a supporter of the AWMA and lists several accomplishments in the industry, including the introduction of specialty and imported confectionery merchandising in upscale grocery stores and leading confectionery packaging seminars for two years at NCWA conventions.

Vitz credits his father as being the biggest influence on his career because of his strong work ethic and commitment to taking care of his customers.

When asked about the funniest moment in his career, he recalls receiving his first truckload of Pop Rocks. It was a hot day and he opened the trailer to thousands of Pop Rocks crackling so loud it sounded like a battlefield.

Vitz has a daughter, Camye, and in his spare time he likes to collect candy tins, play golf and solve Sudoku puzzles.

Allan passed away on October 13, 2014.