Eric H. Ostrow

Class of 2010

Eric H. Ostrow, a 30-year veteran of Ce De Candy, Inc., says having great products to sell and a superior team behind his efforts are major factors in his success.

He joined the company in 1980 and in 1986 he was promoted to vice-president of sales and marketing, the position he currently holds.

Born November 16, 1944, to Lester and Muriel in Newark, NJ, Eric attended Livingston High School in his home state before going on to the University of North Carolina, where he earned a B.A. in political science and history.

Having studied pre-law in college, Eric had plans to attend law school, but decided to try his luck on the tennis circuit first, playing briefly in secondary tiers of the U.S. National Lawn Tennis Association.

Prior to joining Ce De, Eric was a sales representative and regional sales manager for industrial packaging company Diagraph Industries, based out of Connecticut. After nine years he was promoted to a regional sales manager position in New Jersey, where coincidently, one of his many clients was Ce De Candy.

Eric advises others to live by his credo — always be proactive, tell the truth, produce the best product you can, and try to have the foresight to plan for obstacles as well as opportunities.

Throughout his career, Eric says he has been fortunate to have learned from some of the best in the industry, including Candy Hall of Famers Dick Antonucci, Stanley Fischer, Fred Barnett and Charlie Reagan, as well as Tom Gulick, Fred Mueller, Steve Brown, Tom Devlin, Gary Garson and Don LaMere.

Eric served on the board of the National Confectionery Sales Association from 2004 to 2009. He has also been active with the American Wholesale Marketers Association, NACS and the National Confectioners Association.

He held a seat on the NCA Trade Relations Committee from 1995 to 1997, and sat on its Executive Board from 2000 to 2003. In 2008, he was honored with the association’s Doc Reed Silver Candy Dish Award for his work with the confectionery broker community.

Away from the office, Eric has served his community as a volunteer, coaching Township Little League, T-ball and Minors from 1991 to 1998. He volunteered for the high school touchdown club from 2007 to 2009 and played various sports with VA hospital patients from 1985 to 2000.

He has two children, Brett Joseph and Alexandra Lee. Eric is proud that Brett has joined him in the industry, working as a broker in Indiana with Shankman & Associates, Inc.