This week’s Virginia Business Spotlight is Red Rocker Candy. Established in the basement of Jack and Sue Charney's house in 2002, Red Rocker Candy is based in the small town of Troy, just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. What started as a desire to make candy as gifts turned into the fulfillment of a life-long dream. Sue’s vision was to create a company based on the old-fashioned values of family, quality products and a personal relationship with the customers.

Red Rocker Candy’s most famous product is “Rocking Chair Mix®”, a salty sweet treat. Pretzels, cereals and salted almonds are tumbled in a delicious white confection until individually coated. This product has put Red Rocker Candy on the map and is found in many gourmet shops around Virginia as well as many states on the east coast. Even though the company has grown, Red Rocker Candy still makes each batch of candy by hand using only the finest ingredients available on the market.

Red Rocker Candy has been featured on The Rachael Ray Show, written about Paula Deen, spotlighted in Virginia Living Magazine and is a designated Virginia Attraction from VDOT with a sign on I-64 at Zion Crossroads. Candy lovers can follow the signs at exit 136 to the Factory and Store and can watch candy being produced from the gallery windows while sampling all the products made.

Red Rocker Candy employs 7 people year round and increases to 12 during busy seasons.