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Sweet Tooth Dentist Jenny Citineni and husband Tom Thekkekandam combat cavities with sugar-free candy company
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reats without the toothache. That’s what Dr. Jenny Citineni of Triangle Kids Pediatric Dentistry was after. While running a rural children’s dental clinic in New York City, “Jenny became frustrated at how hard it is to really instill healthy eating habits,” says husband and co-founder Tom. “In particular, sugar is addictive and it’s difficult to convince patients to cut out sugary sweets.” Sugar-free options are not great alternatives. “Most sugar-free candies taste awful,” Tom says. So, the couple Tom and Jenny with daughters Ava B., 3, and Ella B., 1. set out to make their own. “Before long, Jenny and I were spending weekends testing recipes. We UNC – became a full-time candy man. worked on hundreds of batches of candy, “We came back because we knew the from gummies to chocolates. But our By The Numbers entrepreneurial ecosystem here and the best successes came with caramels.” • Launched: September 2014 resources would be an ideal incubator With some help from James Beard • Transitioning from a handmade operation to a for our company,” Tom says. Since award-winning pastry chef Michael large manufacturing facility, Tom & Jenny’s went from making 30 pounds to 5,000 pounds in one September 2014, they’ve grown from a Laiskonis – and a few friends and family batch, with the ability to scale larger if need be. team of two to seven, supporting jobs tastings later – Tom and Jenny had a • Since moving to the manufacturing facility in at logistics provider Durham Exchange winner … actually, they had two. Tom October 2016, sales have grown between 20% to Club Industries. “Being [in Durham] 45% month over month. & Jenny’s Candy Company comes in has allowed us to bootstrap our company original and chocolate soft caramels. • Tom & Jenny’s overall rating on Amazon is 4.6 stars with more than 160 reviews. far longer than we could have in most Within a year, the family, now with big cities, without giving up amenities daughters Ava B., 3, and Ella B., 1, moved • Nearly 200 blind taste tests of Tom & Jenny’s caramels versus other sugar caramels were or human capital,” Tom says. “We back to Durham. And Tom – who had conducted. “Over 60% [of tasters] preferred have been able to take advantage of completed his juris doctor/master’s the taste of our caramels compared to sugar caramels,” Tom says. so many great resources, advisors and degree in business administration at opportunities here.” Duke while Jenny was in dental school at 34
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durhammag.com
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May 2017
PHOTO BY NINA MERKLINA PHOTOGRAPHY
by Laura Zolman Kirk by Eric Waters Photography