Smarties candy turns 70 with all-female leadership

This month marks a big milestone for a local company.

Smarties candy is celebrating 70 years.

The founder, Edward Dee, also turns 95 Wednesday. He started the business by hand-delivering the candies throughout New Jersey. 

Now, the family business is run by his granddaughters: Sarah Dee, Liz Dee, and Jessica Dee Sawyer.

The factory in Union, NJ pumps out over a billion Smarties a year. They're currently producing treats for Easter.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend $2.6 billion on candy during the Halloween season.