Posted on October 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM by Kevin Stahr
Bee Coco Candle has become the second Geneva business to be recognized as one of Illinois' top manufacturers.
The Illinois Office of Tourism named Bee Coco Candle as an official "Illinois Made" recipient for 2025 for creating non-toxic, soy-free candles that are safe for people and pets. Mayor Kevin Burns and other local dignitaries congratulated owners Eric and Noreen Francis for their achievement during a visit to the business Oct. 27. Photos are available on the City's Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Bee Coco Candle earned the recognition after being nominated this winter for the State's sixth annual contest celebrating the manufacturing sector, Makers Madness: The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.
The Illinois Made program was created by the Office of Tourism in 2016 to celebrate the diversity of small businesses across the state and support them by encouraging travel to all regions of Illinois. With this new 2025 class, there are currently 277 Makers in the Illinois Made program.
What started as "wild idea" retirement plan quickly evolved into the couple running their own successful business located at 308 W. State St. in downtown Geneva. Living with an autoimmune condition and sharing their home with a dog and two cats, Noreen knew the challenges of finding clean-burning, fragrance-safe candles. You can see how the company hand-pours candles and how the scents are created on the Bee Coco Candle website.
Congratulations Eric and Noreen on your fantastic accomplishment!
StringWorks in Geneva was recognized with an Illinois Made award earlier in the month, and you can read more about them on our Shop Dine Enjoy Geneva blog.