The Story of LuMu

LuMu Candies, LLC was created by two people who have a deep love for each other and a passion for helping others. Joanne, President of LuMu, has worked many years in research with an Organic Chemistry background for a prominent chemical company in Delaware. She became a Certified Volunteer for Delaware Hospice and donated her free time helping families cope with loved ones dealing with terminal illness. She also found time to develop candies in her kitchen that soon became ‘gifts’ to family and friends. She realized that her chemistry background gave her the technical knowledge of how foods interact. She enrolled in bakery and confectionery courses in the US and Europe and soon became proficient and creative with chocolate. Her experience is evident in LuMu’s candies. LuMu’s English Toffee has been recognized for its outstanding flavor by judges in local chocolate competitions. Far more rewarding are the many emailed testimonials, “requests for more candy”, and donations to Hospice and charity fundraisers. LuMu’s candy line now has a variety of Barks and Crunches with new products on the way.

As for me, I have spent most of my past years developing programs that have offered job opportunities for inner city youth through alternative education paths in manufacturing. I remained employed as a consultant for manufacturing companies in Baltimore, while working with these programs. I’m the business, manufacturing and process specialist part of LuMu. So, together we are a team.

Here’s how it began: During a chance visit to Delaware I met Joanne and we exchanged phone numbers. This was the start of a long distance relationship. I lived in Columbia, Maryland and Joanne in Wilmington, Delaware, 80 miles apart. Our long distance phone bills were becoming quite large. We bridged our talks by daily emails to stay in touch. Our emails always ended with “Love You, Miss You”. We formed our own acronym to close our emails from “Love You, Miss You” to LuMu. We looked for property between our two cities, and found a small quaint town called Port Deposit (exactly half-way from both of us) where we now reside and were married in September, 2004. The rest, as they say is history.

We launched LuMu Candies, LLC in 2004 with a goal to build a highly successful business while keeping the creativity constant and still enable us to be financially stable to continue to contribute and share with others in need.

As we move forward we hope to bring the smiles that only a gourmet candy can give to all those who try our candies. Each product is handmade and taste-tested with pride. We thank you for considering LuMu and sincerely hope it brings a smile to your face.

Norman L. Gaither

Vice President – LuMu Candies, LLC