Christopher V. Chase

Class of 2011

A 32-year veteran of the confectionery industry, Christopher V. Chase attributes his professional success to the people he surrounds himself with, the quality companies he represents, and his ability to remain flexible and adapt to changes. He is the third generation of his family to be inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame, with his grandfather, Roy Chase Sr., and his father, Franklin, preceding him.

Chris was born on March 28, 1956, in Portland, OR, to Franklin and Freida, and has two sisters; Jennifer and Laura.

After attending Marple Newtown High School, in Newtown Square, PA, he went on to study at Bryant University, graduating in 1978 with a B.S. in marketing. Upon graduation he began working as a retail salesman for Stewart Assoc. and was promoted to account manager before leaving the company in 1979.

That same year he started working with his father at Chase-Goldenberg Assoc. brokerage.

In 1986, he became president of the company, a position he retained until selling the business in 2010 to Integrity Foods/ESM Mid Atlantic. Currently he is Integrity’s senior vice-president and runs its Mid-Atlantic candy division.

Chris has been an NCSA member for more than 30 years, serving on its board from 2008 to 2010. He was also the Philadelphia Confectionery Sales Club president from 1982 to 1984, and was named a Candy Ambassador by the National Candy Wholesaler’s Association in 1983.

During his career he has served on broker advisory boards for many companies, including Ford Gum & Machine Co., Inc., Koko’s Confectionery & Novelty and Old Wisconsin Sausage Co., Inc. Chris has earned Broker of the Year awards from numerous principals including Atkinson Candy Co., Just Born, Inc. and Spangler Candy Co., and in 2010, Just Born presented him with its Lifetime Achievement award.

He says his fondest memories in the industry are the 25 years he spent working alongside his mother and father, and the 20 years he worked with his wife, Jeanmarie, whom he married in Broomall, PA, in 1983. They raised four children: Matt, Jackie, Cory and Kelly, but Kelly tragically passed away in 2010.

In memory of Kelly, Chris and his wife started the KVC Memorial Trust, and the couple organizes and runs an annual golf tournament to raise money for charity.

Away from the industry Chris enjoys golf and racquetball, and is an avid baseball fan.