Candy Bouquet Founder Steps Down

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. —The founder and CEO of Arkansas-based Candy Bouquet, Inc., Margaret McEntire, has stepped down, effective immediately. The company's chief operating officer, Jim Benham, will step into the role of president to guide the company.

In a letter today to various business acquaintances and some franchise owners, she wrote of the reasons for her retirement.

This week, my husband of almost 30  wonderful years, will turn 76 years old.  He is retiring and I have decided to retire with him. I am officially announcing my retirement as of today. 

 I would like to use this opportunity to say how much I have enjoyed this business over the last twenty one years. It has been a joy to have been a part of this family and to have worked with so many wonderful people in our Candy Bouquet Franchise organization. Jim Benham will be our new President.  For those of you who have had the opportunity to meet Jim already know what a positive leader and dedicated person he is.

I leave knowing our franchisees are in capable hands and I am confident that this company will continue to prosper along with it's franchise family. We have a wonderful staff and Advisory Council  and I would like to thank them all along with the Franchisees worldwide for giving me this opportunity. 

I will still be actively working with our new franchisees and traveling to see franchisees worldwide.

Ms. McEntire founded Candy Bouquet in 1989. The company built a network of 900 home-based and storefront franchises specializing in creating and delivering chocolate and candy floral-like creations. In the past few years, a growing group of franchisees had advocated a change in leadership to help them better grapple with what they saw as an increasingly troubled and shrinking system in which franchise owners struggled to make a profit. 

Ms. McEntire also sits on the board of directors of the International Franchise Association.