For more than 135 years, five generations of Palmers have operated Palmer Candy, the oldest continuously family-run and owned confectionery company in the United States. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, Palmer Candy serves customers ranging from small candy shops to Fortune 50 companies. A new insulated curtain wall has improved humidity and temperature control of sensitive foods while enhancing storage flexibility.
While gearing up for Valentine’s Day, it is essential the company avoids the dreaded chocolate “bloom,” when an edible but unappealing whitish coating appears on chocolate due to temperature fluctuations. Chocolate products are notoriously tricky to store due to their temperature sensitivity, according to Marty Palmer, president and CEO of Palmer Candy.
After installing the new curtain wall (Randall Manufacturing, randallmfg.com) in its packaging and warehouse facility, the company has 18,700 square feet of additional cooler space for chocolate. In addition to effective temperature and humidity control, the company has improved flexibility to expand cooler areas for seasonality and future growth.
“The walls help our chocolate products avoid bloom and even melting, especially during our busiest seasons,” Palmer says.
Made of recycled materials, the walls can be taken down, stored or expanded, providing flexibility and modularity. The 5-foot-wide panels allow Palmer Candy to configure and reconfigure temperature-controlled space easily, quickly and cost-effectively.