Buy Idaho member, Idaho Candy Company is entering the exploding China market. A family owned firm housed in its original location since 1901 in the 8th Street Marketplace, in Boise, Idaho, Idaho Candy Company created it's biggest hit 1918 when they started making the Idaho Spud Bar.
According to David Wager, the company chairman they now make over three million bars a year, about 30,000 bars a day. With a light cocoa flavored marshmallow center and a dark chocolate coating sprinkled with coconut, the Idaho Spud Bar has been one of the best-selling candy bars in the Northwest for generations.
"People know when they're from Idaho they send Idaho Spud Bars to their friends. People look for it every year at Christmas," said Wager in a recent interview.
But the Idaho Spud Bar isn't the only old fashioned goody making a name for the company. Owyhee Butter Toffee, the Cherry Cocktail, and the Old Faithful Bar are all a piece of mostly handmade nostalgia.
And now with the help of a small business development program affiliated with Boise State University, more people worldwide are starting to taste them.
"They said, 'Dave you've got to get smarter. You've got to move this old company into the future,' " said Wager.
With help from local student consultants, looking for hands on business experience, that just what Wager has done.
"One of the things we've done is we had an exchange student from Taiwan at Boise State and she has actually helped me enter the China market with our butter toffee," said Wager.
The candy, still made in a copper cauldron and coated with nuts by hand, was such an immediate hit three shipments later demand is still going strong.
Since then, teams of students have been working to determine the feasibility of exporting the candy to Europe and expanding sales within the U.S.
Not only that, after generations spent using classic recipes, there's even talk of a new treat.
"I helped them determine a need they have in the market and develop a new product line," said Andrew Duncan, a student consultant.
The candy company and the students who work with it won't release any yummy details yet. But say there is even talk about manufacturing a private label line.
