Since 1949, Daffin’s Candies has made locally produced milk and semi-sweet chocolate confections from its Sharon-area candy operation. The business traces its roots to George Daffin’s 1903 family store in Woodsfield, Ohio, and became known for its solid chocolate Peter Rabbit, introduced in 1962. Its Sharon flagship also houses the Chocolate Kingdom, a miniature chocolate world that reflects the family’s long-running blend of candy making and community attraction.
Gardners Candies IncSince 1897, Gardners Candies has been making chocolate confections in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, growing from Pike Gardner’s horse-drawn candy wagon into a producer known for its Original Peanut Butter Meltaway®. The company’s history also reaches into everyday American tradition: its early decorative candy boxes helped inspire the heart-shaped box associated with Valentine’s Day. Now part of the Sarris Family Company, Gardners operates stores across Central Pennsylvania and supports hundreds of organizations through its fundraising program.311352TYRONE, PA
Esther Price CandiesFrom a home kitchen in the 1920s to a Dayton-area candy business marking its centennial, Esther Price Candies makes handmade chocolates and confections. Esther Rose Rohman began with fudge, then built a following for chocolate-dipped fillings and bite-size treats; later owners preserved her use of quality ingredients and handmade production practices. Today, the company’s candies remain part of local celebrations and are sold through its retail locations and select grocery stores.DAYTON, OH
Anthony-Thomas ChocolatesSince 1952, Columbus-based Anthony-Thomas Chocolates has made buckeyes and assorted milk and dark chocolates, building a local candy tradition around its signature confections. The family-owned business draws on five generations of experience and produces its chocolates in a 175,000-square-foot factory, where eleven lines make 30,000 pounds per shift. Anthony-Thomas also offers personalized candy bars and event boxes for weddings, parties, and businesses.COLUMBUS, OH
Michael Mootz CandiesSince 1975, Michael Mootz Candies has made small-batch chocolates and other confections in northeastern Pennsylvania, carrying on recipes developed by “Gammy” Mootz in her early-1900s Pottsville store. Today Jason and Meagan Mootz run the Hanover Township business, with Jason representing the family’s fourth generation of candy makers. The Creamery, opened in 2015, puts the company’s own chocolate pieces to work as ice-cream toppings.HANOVER TOWNSHIP, PA