MC Publishing

What MC Publishing does

MC Publishing Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned trade publishing business founded in 1921 by Earl R. Allured and headquartered in Princeton, Wisconsin. The company serves the global confectionery, chocolate, and sweet goods industry through a portfolio of niche B2B publications. Its flagship product is The Manufacturing Confectioner, a monthly print and digital journal covering industry news, statistics, sales and marketing, ingredients, equipment, and services. The company is the official publication of the American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) and shares AACT's Princeton, Wisconsin address, reflecting deep institutional ties to RCI, NCA, PMCA, and other confectionery associations.

The product portfolio includes the annual Suppliers Directory and Candy Buyers' Directory (covering North American manufacturers, sellers, importers, brokers, and brand names), McCutcheon's Directories on emulsifiers and functional materials (since 1969), and a catalog of technical confectionery books. Core technology consists of a WordPress-based digital publishing platform delivering the magazine across desktop, tablet, and smartphone in Page View (flip-book) and Reader View formats, plus an online searchable supplier directory filterable by ingredients, equipment, packaging, and machinery agents. A 30+ year article archive (1995-present) is searchable on the website.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring magazine subscriptions (USA $75/yr, member $55/yr, Canada/Mexico $75/yr, international $130/yr), annual directory sales ($50-$90), and one-time book sales ($35-$290), distributed direct-to-customer through the gomc.com e-commerce storefront with global shipping. Customer segments span confectionery manufacturers (large to artisan), ingredient/equipment/packaging suppliers, confectionery buyers, brokers, and individual industry professionals. The business is operated by 1-10 employees across four generations of the Allured family, with no external investors or parent company.

Name

MC Publishing

Legal name

MC Publishing Company

Website

https://gomc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MC Publishing is a fourth-generation, family-owned trade publisher founded in 1921 that issues The Manufacturing Confectioner magazine, industry directories, and confectionery reference books for manufacturers, buyers, and suppliers in the global confectionery, chocolate, and sweet goods industry via subscriptions and direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Publishing and Industry Media

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Directory and Mailing List Publishers (513140), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cookbooks, Food & Drink Publishing (MPAJAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business, Personal Finance & Careers Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAK)

Keywords

• Trade publishing services
• Confectionery industry media
• Industry directory publications
• Specialty business journalism
• Technical reference books

Headquarters

HQ city

Princeton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Monthly Manufacturing Confectioner magazine delivered to subscribers via mail and digital access. Subscriptions available for USA, Canada/Mexico, and international addresses. The majority of subscriptions are paid subscriptions, with free copies sent on a limited promotional basis.
2. Directories: Annual publications including the Candy Buyers' Directory ($90) and Suppliers Directory ($50). The Suppliers Directory comes with subscriptions to the Manufacturing Confectioner.
3. Books: Sale of books related to chocolate and confectionery production, technology, and science. Books range from $35 to $290.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MC Publishing Company is a trade publisher serving the global confectionery, chocolate, and sweet goods industry. Its core offering is the monthly Manufacturing Confectioner magazine, delivered in print and digital formats, supplemented by annual industry directories (Suppliers Directory and Candy Buyers' Directory), McCutcheon's specialty directories, and a catalog of technical confectionery reference books. The publications provide business, marketing, technical, and processing information for industry manufacturers, buyers, suppliers, and brokers.

Product overview

MC Publishing Company operates a multi-product publishing portfolio centered on the confectionery, chocolate, and sweet goods industry. The core offering is the Manufacturing Confectioner (MC), a monthly business and technology journal available in both print and digital formats. Supporting products include the annual Suppliers Directory (print and online searchable) and Candy Buyers' Directory, which list industry suppliers and manufacturers respectively. The company also publishes McCutcheon's Directories covering emulsifiers, detergents, and functional materials, and maintains a collection of technical confectionery books. Digital access to the magazine is offered as an included subscription benefit with both flip-book Page View and Reader View options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Manufacturing Confectioner: The flagship monthly publication covering worldwide business, marketing and technology of the candy, chocolate, confectionery, cough drop, and sweet baked goods industry.
• Candy Buyers' Directory
• McCutcheon's Directories
• Allured Fund for Confectionery Education

Products and services

• The Manufacturing Confectioner Magazine Monthly print and digital journal providing worldwide business, marketing, and technology coverage of the candy, chocolate, confectionery, cough drop, and sweet baked goods industry. Includes news, industry statistics, sales and marketing coverage, ingredients, equipment, and services. Available in print by mail and digitally on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
• Suppliers Directory Annual print directory listing companies that supply ingredients, equipment, and packaging to the confectionery industry. Included with Manufacturing Confectioner subscriptions and available as a standalone purchase.
• Candy Buyers' Directory Annual reference source listing manufacturers, sellers, and importers of candy, chocolate, confectionery, chewing gum, cough drops, cookies, snacks, and sweet baked goods in North America, including brand names, products, and listings of candy brokers and specialty brokers.
• McCutcheon's Directories Two-volume directory covering Emulsifiers and Detergents (since 1947) and Functional Materials (since 1973), each with North American and international editions covering over 20,000 products related to surface active agents and functional materials worldwide.
• Confectionery Reference Books Collection of technical and reference books on chocolate and confectionery production, technology, and science. Titles cover topics such as chocolatier arts, chocolate science and technology, confectionery science, and chocolate engineering. Priced from $35 to $290.
• Online Supplier Directory Searchable online database version of the Suppliers Directory, enabling users to find companies by ingredients, equipment, packaging, or machinery agents they supply.

Quantifiable outcome

• Published continuously since 1921, currently in 106th volume
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Manufacturing Confectioner is the official publication of the American Association of Candy Technologists National Chapter. AACT is located at the same address as MC Publishing (711 W. Water Street, PO Box 266, Princeton, WI 54968) with the same phone number (+1 920-295-6959). AACT hosts the AACT National Technical Seminar, which is listed on the GOMC website. MC Publishing supports AACT through the Allured Fund for Confectionery Education, which provides grants to attend AACT events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Questex: Questex is a B2B media company that operates trade publications, events, and digital media across multiple industries including food and hospitality. It shares MC Publishing's business model of monetizing niche industry audiences through subscriptions, advertising, and live events.
• MultiMedia Food Group: MultiMedia Food Group publishes trade magazines covering food and beverage manufacturing (including candy and confectionery segments). It is a direct competitor in food industry B2B publishing with similar magazine subscription products and advertiser relationships with ingredient and equipment suppliers.
• Endeavor Business Media: Endeavor Business Media is a B2B trade media company operating magazines, websites, and events across dozens of niche industries. Its portfolio model of acquiring and operating specialized trade titles is directly comparable to MC Publishing's single-vertical focus on confectionery.
• BNP Media: BNP Media is a B2B trade publishing company that operates numerous trade magazines across industries, including Candy Industry magazine serving the confectionery sector. It is a direct competitor in the B2B trade publishing business model with similar subscription and directory revenue streams.
• Industry Dive: Industry Dive is a B2B digital publishing company operating industry-specific publications serving professionals in sectors including food and beverage. Its model of monetizing niche vertical audiences through digital publications and newsletters is comparable to MC Publishing's magazine subscription model, though delivered through digital channels.
• WTWH Media: WTWH Media is a B2B media company that publishes trade magazines, websites, and newsletters across engineering, food, and life sciences verticals. Its portfolio approach to niche trade publishing is comparable to MC Publishing's single-vertical focus and reliance on subscription and advertising revenue.
• Bell Publishing: Bell Publishing produces Confectionery Production magazine, which serves the same candy and chocolate manufacturing audience as MC Publishing's Manufacturing Confectioner. It is the closest direct competitor in confectionery-specific trade publishing.

Broad incumbents

• Informa: Informa is a large international B2B media, events, and publishing company with extensive food industry coverage (e.g., food ingredient exhibitions and trade publications). As a much larger incumbent, it serves similar audiences through broader portfolios but does not specialize in the confectionery niche like MC Publishing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manufacturingconfectioner

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MC Publishing