For Joe Melville, candy isn’t just business—it’s a family legacy rooted in passion and quality. As the leader of Melville Candy, Joe carries forward traditions dating back to the 1940s when his great-uncle opened fudge shops in Boston. Revived by Joe’s parents in 1978 using original molds discovered in their Quincy, Massachusetts attic, Melville Candy transformed from a home operation into a nationally recognized confectionery brand.
Joe literally grew up surrounded by sweets, spending his childhood in a home doubling as a candy factory. His early experiences ignited a lifelong passion for candy making. By college graduation, Joe fully embraced his role, innovating beyond traditional hard candies and expanding Melville Candy’s presence nationwide.
More than treats, Melville Candy reflects Joe’s commitment to honoring family heritage, supporting employees, and ensuring ingredient quality. It’s about meaningful partnerships and purposeful actions.
A young Joe Melville in the kitchen making candy!
The Honey Spoon: Innovation Meets Nostalgia
Among Melville Candy’s most iconic creations is the Honey Spoon—born from nostalgia, innovation, and a love for tea. Inspired by his tea-loving mother and grandmother, Joe envisioned enhancing the tea experience while preserving Melville Candy’s artisanal legacy. While sketching in a college class, he developed the Honey Spoon concept—a pure honey-infused hard candy spoon that dissolves perfectly into hot beverages. This simple yet innovative idea quickly became a brand staple.
Sweet Partnership with Save the Bee
Melville Candy’s commitment to premium ingredients naturally deepened Joe’s appreciation for honey—and highlighted the critical role bees play in global food security. Learning about threats like pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change spurred Joe to action, aligning Melville Candy with bee conservation through a partnership with Save the Bee.
Featuring the Save the Bee seal on Honey Spoon packaging, Melville Candy actively supports pollinator health and consumer awareness. As Joe says, “We use a substantial amount of honey in our products. Bees are essential to everything we do. Supporting pollinator health isn’t just good business—it’s the right thing to do.”
Purpose-Driven Business, Lasting Impact
For Joe, running Melville Candy means more than crafting delicious candies; it’s about creating meaningful change. From responsibly sourcing honey to promoting pollinator conservation, Joe ensures Melville Candy is a brand future generations can proudly inherit.
“My family built this business from the ground up,” Joe explains. “The choices we make today—sustainability, quality sourcing, and community engagement—impact the future.”
Through the Save the Bee collaboration, Melville Candy is helping protect bees critical to our food supply. Each Melville Honey Spoon enjoyed in a warm cup of tea symbolizes a small, delicious step toward a sustainable, sweeter future.
