Anthony Paul Richards

Class of 2007

A native of Southport, England, Paul was born September 6, 1943. He earned a degree in cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery from the University of London and the City of Guilds of London Institute. He also held final certificates in cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery from the City and Guilds of London Institutes, and went on to earn supplemental degrees in product development and nutrition from ZDS confectionery school in Germany.

In October 1985 he married Mary, and together they have three children – Jennifer, Simon and Melody.

Paul began working at Knechtel Laboratories, the largest confectionery consultant in the world, in 1966. He became the president and co-owner in 1987.

He was a member of the American Association of Candy Technologists and was the 2006 recipient of the Stroud Jordan Award. He served as president of the AACT Chicago chapter and co-founded the AACT Confectionery Academic Program at Triton College. He also taught the Retail Confectioners International program, as well as the National Confectioners Association course at the University of Wisconsin.

During his career he obtained numerous snack and pharmaceutical, chocolate and confectionery patents.

Considering his achievements, Paul once stated: The biggest factor to my success has been a combination of my attitude and positive thinking. He advised others in the industry to properly prepare for all presentations, anticipate customers’ responses and questions and treat others with respect.

He is remembered as an innovative and selfless person. His business partner, Robert Boutin, remarked that Paul was always the first in trying to help others in troubled times. Procter & Gamble’s Yen Hsieh praised Paul’s breakthrough technological ideas and asserted that his caring and personal style was a true testimonial to why his staff remained fully committed to him.

Paul passed away August 24, 2006, shortly after his nomination to the Candy Hall of Fame.