I want to make (or have someone make) and sell a certain flavor of candy. How can I do this?
May 10, 2012 2:44 PM   Subscribe

I want to make (or have someone make) and sell a certain flavor of candy. How can I do this?

Basically, I want to make hard candies that are similar to Jolly Ranchers in size and consistency that I can sell at my local Farmer's Market. I would rather have someone else make them since I know that making them myself will require all kinds of equipment and health certifications. Although, of course, I'm willing to try. I want to be able to do just one or two "custom flavors." What is the best way of doing this? Organic, no artificial sweeteners, etc. is a bonus.
posted by uncannyslacks to Food & Drink (9 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
You could try a recipe like this. Just sugar, corn syrup, water, food coloring, and extracts. You could leave out of the food colorings and just label the bag with the flavor to make it more natural.
posted by jabes at 2:50 PM on May 10, 2012


In most states, you need to have this made at a commercial kitchen that's been inspected. There are also food science consultants who specialize in turning home recipes into commercial recipes.
posted by Ideefixe at 2:51 PM on May 10, 2012


You will probably want to use candy flavoring oils (or edible essential oils, since you are trying to go natural) rather than extracts. I suspect that that unique hard/chewy Jolly Rancher texture will be hard to achieve without the use of corn syrup.
posted by mskyle at 3:01 PM on May 10, 2012


Can you explain what your motivation is for this? It's a product you'd want to use yourself, you want to supplement your existing product line, you think candy is a good way to make money or it's an untapped market at farmer's markets?

While you theoretically do need certifications, I've exhibited at mixed-product markets (art for us, food alongside by others) and haven't seen anyone have issues with certification. People were more likely to get dinged on sales tax problems. If this is an early stage "will this work" thing I think you'd be way better served coming up with a working recipe so you can walk before you run.

There actually a lot of co-branding in the candy world and you can certainly find people who will make your product, though your batch size will probably be an issue with most places. The people doing Welch's candies aren't going to do a 50lb batch.
posted by phearlez at 4:48 PM on May 10, 2012


If you want to make something organic you will not be able to use corn syrup unless you can find an organic version of it. it can be very difficult to find organic corn syrup due to the high amount GMO corn. Also, if you want it to be organic, you must use a natural flavor or extract that does not use propylene glycol as a carrier.

Where are you located?
posted by catseatcheese at 5:20 PM on May 10, 2012


Response by poster: Product to use myself, candy is a good way to make some extra money, and it's an untapped market around here. I'm located in FL. I really want this to be legal-eagle, so I'm afraid to make it on my own without the health department signing off. For that, I think that Ideefixe is correct—I'd need a commercial kitchen.
posted by uncannyslacks at 6:41 PM on May 10, 2012


You can web search for "contract candy manufacturers". I just did and the minimum run listed at one place is 3,000 pounds. Another, the "Warrell" company, says to call them, and if you need smaller runs they may be able to recommend a smaller outfit.
posted by caclwmr4 at 7:05 PM on May 10, 2012


If you're really set on doing this yourself: No biggie (I say this as a pastry cook, but still, hard candy is easy).

0. Learn to make hard candy at home, so you get the basic idea. Heat up sugar (without crystallizing it) to the proper temp, pour out on greased sheet pan, break up, powdered sugar it. If you want to get fancy you can use molds, but they get expensive real quick and take time. It's not brain surgery, but it's not falling off a log either.

1. Obtain Florida food handler's license. Ten bucks or so.

2. Rent commercial kitchen space. Usually can be rented by the hour.

3. Make candy.

4. Profit?

OR

Find a student from a local culinary school and pay them nearly nothing to do it for you in your rented space. I consulted for a local business after I finished cooking school and they got way more work/expertise out of me than they paid for. Making hard candy is pretty much Patisserie 101 stuff. You can either call cooking schools or advertise on Craigslist, either way I doubt you'll have much trouble.
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:57 PM on May 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


Also, this question is reminding me of the AskMes that say, "I have this great idea for an app (website, service) but I don't know how to make apps (websites, services)." What is this flavor that you're thinking of? If it's something that would have wide enough appeal to make it worthwhile, how is it not being produced anywhere already? Is there a reason for that, that someone already in the candy business has previously figured out?

The flavor probably doesn't need to be kept as secret-secret as you think -- ideas are very cheap, it's the work to make them happen that's dear.
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:07 PM on May 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


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