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Key people at Sugarfina.
Sugarfina was founded in 2012 by Josh Resnick (CoFounder & CEO).
Sugarfina develops and distributes a curated selection of luxury gourmet candies, presenting them as sophisticated treats for adults. The company specializes in premium confections sourced globally, including unique gummies, chocolates, and confections, all meticulously packaged for an elevated gifting experience. It offers a range of products from individual candy cubes to customizable Bento Box sets, emphasizing elegant presentation and distinct flavor profiles.
The company was co-founded in 2012 by Rosie O'Neill and Josh Resnick. Their entrepreneurial insight emerged from a casual date, where they observed a gap in the market for a high-end candy boutique tailored to adults, similar to upscale wine or spirit shops. O'Neill, with a background in brand development at Mattel, and Resnick, from the video game industry, leveraged their diverse experiences to build the luxury confectionery brand.
Sugarfina serves a clientele seeking premium sweets for personal indulgence, celebratory occasions, and corporate gifting. Its products appeal to consumers looking for unique, beautifully packaged gifts that stand apart from traditional confectionery offerings. The company's vision is to redefine the candy experience, transforming simple sweets into luxurious, fashion-forward treats that evoke sophisticated joy and a sense of discovery.
Sugarfina was founded in 2012 by Josh Resnick (CoFounder & CEO).
Key people at Sugarfina.
Sugarfina is a luxury candy company founded in 2012 by Rosie O'Neill and Josh Resnick, specializing in artisanal, gourmet candies sourced from around the world and packaged for adult connoisseurs as a sophisticated treat.[1][2][6] It serves upscale consumers seeking premium, alcohol-infused, and exotic sweets through e-commerce, over 22 retail boutiques, wholesale in 900+ stores, and partnerships with brands like Casamigos and Tito’s, solving the gap in high-end candy experiences beyond children's options.[1][3][4] The company has shown strong growth momentum, scaling from $60,000 in founders' savings to $40 million in 2017 sales, employing over 500 people, securing $40 million in venture capital, and making strategic acquisitions like BOXFOX in October 2024 and Candy Club in early 2025 to expand into luxury gifting and nostalgic gourmet sweets.[1][4]
Sugarfina emerged from a conversation on a third date between Rosie O'Neill, former Director of Marketing for Barbie at Mattel (where she led a global unit selling 50 million dolls annually), and Josh Resnick, after they watched *Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory* and lamented the lack of adult-oriented candy stores.[2][6][7] Both quit their jobs, pooling $30,000 each in savings to start in May 2012; they launched e-commerce in July/August 2012 and opened their first Beverly Hills boutique in November 2013.[1][2][3][6] Early traction came from sourcing candies from two dozen countries, earning accolades like "Best New Candy Shop" from Yahoo and Food & Wine, features on Oprah's "O List" and *The Today Show*, and Rosie being named one of Fast Company's "100 Most Creative People in Business" in 2013; they raised $40 million in VC to fuel global sourcing and expansion.[1][2]
Sugarfina rides the wave of premiumization in consumer packaged goods, blending food, lifestyle, and luxury at the intersection of e-commerce and experiential retail, capitalizing on the global candy market's projected growth to over $345 billion by 2032.[4] Its timing aligns with post-pandemic demand for indulgent, gifting-focused treats and DTC innovations, amplified by acquisitions that leverage tech-enabled platforms like BOXFOX for personalized luxury experiences.[4] By creating a new "artisanal candy for adults" category, it influences the CPG ecosystem, inspiring hybrid models that fuse physical boutiques with digital wholesale and partnerships, much like lifestyle brands in fashion and beverages.[1][4]
Sugarfina is poised for accelerated expansion through its acquisitions, targeting deeper penetration in gifting, wholesale, and nostalgic segments amid a booming confectionery market.[4] Trends like premium DTC, alcohol-infused innovations, and experiential retail will shape its path, potentially driving multimillion-dollar growth via international scaling and more brand tie-ins.[1][4] Its influence may evolve from niche disruptor to category leader, humanizing luxury candy while attracting further investment—echoing the sweet spot its founders found by turning a date-night idea into a global contender.[1][6][7]
