In this episode we speak to Stephanie Stuckey, a former state representative in the Georgia assembly and now CEO of Stuckey’s, a pecan log roll and candy manufacturer that was started by her grandfather in 1937 and sold to a conglomerate in the 1970’s. Stephanie re-acquired the company in 2019, turned the business around and is now determined to put Stuckey’s back at the forefront of roadside Americana. We also talk about:

• The history behind the Stuckey’s brand and why it was 6 figures in debt when she bought the company
• How she runs a successful comeback brand despite having no background in manufacturing, business or candy making
• The pivotal change to the business she made that has helped her turn the company around to 7 figure profits in a year
• Her biggest failure at Stuckey’s that taught her to handle quality issues effectively and how to minimise time and resources spent in dealing with a problem to enhance customer satisfaction
• The important advice she has for women in food and manufacturing that helps you see being female in this industry as your superpower
• Practical advice for when you’re struggling to stay focussed on the big picture goals and how to implement a culture of continuous improvement