Suzi’s Sweet Shoppe in Middletown has been chosen as an honoree in the 2018 New Jersey Family Business of the Year Award Competition.
Suzi’s Sweet Shoppe is located in Village Mall, 1100 State Route 35, Middletown.
Sponsored by The Rothman Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the business was nominated in the retail division, under 10 million in annual sales category, according to a press release.
Suzi’s Sweet Shoppe opened in 1998 and is currently celebrating 20 years in business. Since opening the store, the shoppe has thrived under the leadership of the husband and wife team, Suzi and Stan Hordych.
The store now offers over 100 different products.
“Stan and I are thrilled, along with other family and team members, about this tremendous and prestigious honor,” Hordych said. “Suzi’s Sweet Shoppe was built on the love of family combined with the love of chocolate. I am blessed to be able to do what I love the most everyday, opening the store and making chocolate.”
The number of family members involved in the business totals 13, spanning three generations. This is a key criterion for the New Jersey Family Business of the Year Award. The youngest involved family member is grandson, Evan, 16, according to a press release.
The family members who work at Suzi’s Sweet Shoppe help with dipping chocolate, creating window displays, packing and shipping candy, stocking the shelves, greeting customers and providing one-on-one assistance.
Each year, the Rothman Institute coordinates an annual awards program as part of the Family Business Forum (FBF), a program that began in 1992 to support family businesses.
The FBF is designed to provide support to family businesses through a unique opportunity to learn from leading experts about proven strategies for successfully owning and operating a family business.
The awards ceremony for all business honorees will be held on Oct. 24 at Crystal Plaza in Livingston. The winner of the 2018 New Jersey Family Business of the Year Award will be announced at the event.
More information is available at www.fdu.edu/rothman or by calling 973-443-8842.