FREEPORT – Just in time for the company’s annual Columbus Day Open House and 100th anniversary celebration, Erin Collins of Freeport has taken ownership of Haven’s Candies.

The company made the announcement on Sept. 15 that Collins had purchased Haven’s from Andy Charles, becoming president and chief executive officer. The public is invited to meet Collins and help celebrate the start of Haven’s 100th year in business on Monday, Oct. 13 at its Westbrook location, 87 County Road. Visitors will be able to visit the Haven’s candy factory and make their own candy.

Collins, 36, is an Ellsworth native whose family has a history in small business ownership. She has lived in Freeport since 2003. Her oldest child, Matthew, is in kindergarten at Morse Street School.

She graduated from Bentley University and spent the last 15 years in the financial services industry. Collins was most recently vice president of client service at HeadInvest, a small registered investment advisory in Portland.

“I am extremely excited at the opportunity to be the next steward of Haven’s Candies, an iconic Maine company on the cusp of celebrating its 100th anniversary,” she said.

Charles became the sixth owner of Haven’s in 2001. The company has retail locations at 448 Forest Ave. in Portland and at 400 Expedition Drive in Scarborough, next to Cabela’s. Last week, Haven’s Candies was chosen as a winner of a Governor’s Award for Business Excellence, one of eight companies to receive the award this year.

Collins answered questions regarding her new business venture and her career recently for the Tri-Town Weekly.

Q: What led to your interest in Haven’s?

A: After over a year of searching for just the right fit, I was introduced to Andy Charles and the dream of owning a small business became an instant reality. Andy graciously gave me multiple tours of the factory and his passion for the business was contagious. I come from many generations of small Maine business owners and know first hand what it means to live and breathe what you love on a day-to-day basis. It is an incredible honor to be chosen by Andy to lead this iconic Maine company, which is at the cusp of celebrating its 100th anniversary. I look forward to meet all of the customers and getting to know all of my employees who have made Haven’s a great Maine success story.

Q: As the company looks to celebrate its 100th anniversary, how has it adapted in an era when huge companies make cheaper products?

A: Since its inception, Haven’s has stuck to its traditional roots. The company has never sacrificed quality or customer service in the face of competition from the big players. And during my tenure we never will. We feel very strongly that customers will appreciate and value the handcrafted treats Haven’s produces every day, and support a local business over the national players.

Q: What makes a homemade chocolate such as Haven’s a better product?

A: We use the finest ingredients and still make products by hand using many of the same techniques that our founder Herbert Haven used back in 1915. And what makes Haven’s truly unique is the skilled and dedicated crew of candymakers at our chocolate factory. Many of the crew have been here for close to 20 years, and they are a big part of the magic that is Haven’s.

Q: Are you a chocolate lover? What’s your favorite?

A: Yes, I am most definitely a chocolate lover, anything dark chocolate is my favorite especially peanut butter cups. And I’m now able to say with a straight face that my job requires me to eat chocolate every day.

Q: Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter are great for candy makers, of course. What special seasonal products does Haven’s make?

A: We have so many seasonal treats I couldn’t possibly list them all. Some of the most popular favorites are gift boxes of chocolates, chocolate covered strawberries, hand-rolled candy canes, chocolate Easter bunnies, peach blossoms and many more. Next year we plan on introducing some unique products as part of our 100-year anniversary celebration, so stay tuned.

Q: How many people does Haven’s employ? Do you see any opportunities to add to the number of stores?

A: Haven’s currently employs 28 employees including production, retail and administrative staff. As the company grows we will look to add more satellite locations. We have not made any concrete plans as of yet but more to come on that front. I am also committed to growing our corporate gifts sales nationally.

Q: Is your list of friends growing?

A: Yes, this exciting transition has increased our visibility and we are looking forward to expanding our market share beyond New England through increased nationwide corporate gift and online sales. We look forward to enhancing our website (www.havenscandies.com) to continue to make it more user friendly and attractive to our ever growing customer basis. And, yes, several people from the distant past have surfaced this week to offer congratulations. I guess being the owner of a chocolate company has some affiliation appeal.

Erin Collins