NCSA names John Brooks Jr 2024 Kettle Awards recipient

The Kettle Awards are an annual recognition for a deserving individual working within the US confectionery manufacturing industry. During his acceptance speech Brooks said: "I'm joined here tonight with a very nice contingent of the A&B crew, and I want to take this moment to explain why you're here.”

“Now, you might think that you're here because you're supporting me and you're supporting the company, and yes, that's true, but there's something else – we talk about teamwork and being interconnected and being interdependent; we talk about no one gets their job done unless we all get our job done, and you think I could be effective in what I do without all of you by my side? No way. So, you're here because you're just as much a recipient of this award as I am, so thank you for being here."

Brooks serves as President of Adams & Brooks, Inc, leading the executive and operational activities and reporting to company chairman and 2010 Kettle Awards recipient John Brooks, Sr.

With more than 30 years working in various roles at Adams & Brooks, his career journey began at the company gaining experience through part-time jobs during high school and college until he joined Adams & Brooks full time in 1997 after earning his Bachelor of Arts in English from Vanderbilt University and his MBA from the University of Southern California.

“We are thrilled to present John Brooks, Jr. with this Kettle Awards recognition,” said Joseph Melville, NCSA Chairman and Owner of Melville Candy Co. “With more than three decades of commitment to the confectionery industry, John has made great strides for Adams & Brooks. We are also proud to celebrate the achievements of Greg Power and Mark A. Tarner who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the confectionery industry.”

The Kettle Awards were established in 1946 by industry publisher Don Gussow. Each year, the nominees are selected by the Kettle Awards Committee for their dedication to the confectionery industry, superior achievement in sales and marketing, education and personnel training, energy and environmental contributions, quality advancement, production and plant improvement, and research and product development.

• The NCSA assumed guardianship of the Kettle Awards in February 2024.​