Andrew Young

Class of 2025

Andy Young earned his reputation the old-fashioned way: through hard work, an empathetic demeanor, a passion for problem solving, and the ability to build effective, high-performing teams.

Born November 21, 1964, in Brookline, MA, some of Andy’s fondest memories are of Saturday mornings spent with his father, Jerry, a 1987 Candy Hall of Fame inductee. He recalls being tasked with carefully selecting Bortz Chocolate Easter Bunnies for his dad to present to HWY customers.

While his father traveled for work, Andy’s mom, Abbe, provided a steady presence at home, teaching him and his sisters, Betsy and Marji, the importance of education, hard work, and always doing their best.

After graduating from high school in 1982, a college exchange program in Venezuela left an impression, sparking his lifelong connection to the Spanish language and Latin culture.

Andy went on to earn a degree in International Relations from Brown University and completed postgraduate studies in Economics at Instituto Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires in 1987. He received his MBA from Boston University in 1994.

While still in college, Andy was tasked with selling Stimoral gum from the trunk of his car to convenience stores. Three lessons he learned that summer shaped his career: you have just 30 seconds to make a sales connection, put the customer’s needs first, and selling to a single store owner deserves just as much preparation as selling to a major chain.

However, after college Andy’s early jobs were as an export control agent for the U.S. Department of Commerce, followed by a role within the import/export arm of Gillette Corp.

It wasn’t until 1990 that Andy’s dad and sister Betsy lured him back to the family business. Today he is Co-President alongside Betsy.

This year, Andy and Betsy represent the third generation of their family to join the Candy Hall of Fame, alongside their dad and their grandfather Harold Young, who founded what is now HWY Partners in 1963 and earned Candy Hall of Fame honors in 1974.

In addition to his work at HWY, Andy co-founded Premier Specialty in 2014, a national brokerage focused on the alternative trade and specialty markets.

His industry leadership extends to the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, where he currently serves as Associate Board Member and Chairman of the Trade Show Committee. He’s a past board member of the Massachusetts Vending Association, past Chairman of Consolidated Sales Network, and past President of Premier Broker Partners.

Andy has earned multiple broker sales awards during his career and was honored with the NCA’s Lou Spector Award in 2014.

Beyond his professional achievements, Andy is most proud of his family. He married Lita, who now serves as CFO at HWY Partners, in 1993. Together, they raised two daughters, Carina and Nicola.

With a personal philosophy mirroring HWY’s corporate mandate — Honesty, Well-Being, and Yes, We Can — Andy hopes to be remembered as a dependable partner, a leader who cares about his colleagues’ well-being, and a person who lives his values.