Terence “Terry” Richardson

Class of 2009

Terence “Terry” Richardson entered the confectionery industry in 1954 at Clarnico’s, a U.K.-based chocolate manufacturer. He was born on July 5, 1933, and raised in Worthing, Sussex, England. He received a scholarship to Worthing High School, then served with the Royal Air Force as a leading aircraftsman. He attended London Borough Polytechnic and the South West Essex Technical College, where he earned degrees in confectionery and chocolate technology and business management. His career at Clarnico’s progressed, with Terry becoming head of product development in 1960. In 1961 he took the same position at Holland’s Toffees in the U.K. The following year he moved to Canada to become plant supervisor for Walter Lowney’s, a chocolate and confectionery company, taking on the same role in 1966 at Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. He became associate consultant for Knechtel Laboratories in 1967, and from 1970 to 1972 he served as director of research, development and quality control for Larin, a Mexican chocolate company. Terry founded Richardson Researches, Inc. in 1972, a company that conducts chocolate, confectionery, and candy making classes. He also teaches courses on confectionery technology for the University of California, Davis. He is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists and the American Association of Confectionery Technologists, and has also worked with the Western Candy Conference, the NCA and the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Confectioners Association. He has been named a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology in the U.K. He has been married to Rose-Marie since 1985. He has three daughters, Karen, Kim and Deborah. Having a passion for his work is just one of the elements that led to his success. Persistence in the face of adversity and striving to reach for his goals helped him succeed, he says. Terry also notes the importance of being straightforward and honest in business, as well as being extremely loyal to one’s company.