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Three generations ago, Chet Enstrom perfected the art of blending the finest natural ingredients to create batches of almond toffee as gifts for family and friends. By 1960, his almond toffee was gaining a reputation. At the urging of family and friends, Chet and his wife, Vernie, founded Enstrom Candies. This year, the Grand Junction, Colo.-based company is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Through the years, the growing business was passed down from
generation to generation. The family still follows the same original recipe for
hand-crafted almond toffee that Chet perfected years ago. It also has created a
selection of fine chocolates; like the toffee, they are blended with only the
freshest ingredients to create luxurious and unique confections that are shipped
around the world.
Today, Chet’s granddaughter, Jamee, and her husband, Doug Simons,
oversee the operation out of Grand Junction, while Chet’s grandson Rick and his
wife, Linda, managed the Denver stores. This third generation continues to take
pride in creating exceptional confections and still operates with the
philosophy begun by Chet more than 60 years ago -- that they’re just making a
little Almond Toffee for a few of their friends.
Under their leadership, two plant expansions have been constructed
and innovations have taken place in the form of technological advancements to
both mail-order and manufacturing. The family’s quest for innovation eventually
led to the development of cutting-edge machinery to allow for
continuous-production of Enstrom’s premiere product, World-Famous Almond
Toffee.
“Enstrom’s success is due, in large part, to our unyielding
commitment to quality” Simons says. “You can sell anyone once, but premium
quality products will keep them coming back time and time again.”
Separately,
Enstrom Candies, Inc. has appointed Doug Tuttle as its new director of manufacturing.
Tuttle brings 22 years of experience in the food and beverage industry,
including 16 years of plant management and consulting for the confectionery
industry in Colorado, Utah
and California.
Also, Simons was just recently nominated for the 2011 Kettle Award
sponsored by Candy Industry.