You know, I don't see why candy manufacturing needs to be a dying art. Sure, the small guys can't compete head-to-head with Hershey and Mars. But craft brewers don't try to compete with Budweiser, and many of them do okay, and are even well-known names outside their home towns.

You need a cult, a fanbase, sales by mail and internet. There are a ton of foodies out there whom I'm sure could take to crafted, niche candies like oenophiles take to wines. How many small vintners are there? A ton. Not all are wildly successful, but many are.