4 minute read
Anchor Toffee
A New England Confectionery Treasure Sweetens Little Rhody
Who can resist a piece of delicious almond butter toffee?
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By Brian J. Lowney
is New England treasure has been enjoyed by folks of all ages for more than 100 years, and thanks to talented candy makers, Peter and Katie Kelly, the delicious confections are now made in Little Rhody, where the couple produces a variety of to ee treats in their spacious kitchen in the Sims Market at Farm Fresh Rhode Island in Providence.
“I learned how to make candy more than 30 years ago,” Peter begins, noting that he studied and worked with the late Madeleine Kamman, a worldrenowned chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and educator. e New York State native also perfected his culinary and confectionery skills in Arizona and was a professor for 20 years at Johnson & Wales University (J&W), where he taught many di erent courses throughout his career.
Katie, a New Jersey native, who later grew up in Connecticut with her father, who inspired her love for cooking and good food, worked in several areas of the culinary industry, and later earned a degree summa cum laude in culinary arts from J&W.
e couple met at the university and were married in 2012. ey have a daughter, Michaela, now age 8.
“We had been talking about starting a candy business for many years,” Katie shares. “We learned about Hope and Main, in Warren, in the fall of 2014, and it was a ‘no brainer’ for us to get involved.” Peter adds, “We were the rst people to produce food in the building. On opening day, a er the ribbon cutting ceremony concluded, we went right into the kitchen and started making to ee.
“We didn’t have to expend a lot of capital and the process wasn’t complicated,” he continues. “We began with Almond Butter To ee and it’s still our most popular seller.”
In addition, the couple has expanded their product line to include naked (meaning no chocolate); straight butter to ee (meaning no nuts); a dairyfree coconut almond to ee; co ee to ee; and two seasonal varieties, pumpkin spice and peppermint to ees.
“Our coconut-almond to ee is very popular,” Katie says. “We replaced the butter with coconut milk.”
e couple began their confectionery journey by selling their Almond Butter To ee at the Hope and Main Farmers Market and at a few other small markets. In 2017, the couple was invited to open a
small summer shop at Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, and through a few transformations, continues to thrive and survive.
Like most entrepreneurs, the pandemic that began in 2020, a ected production and sales.
“We lost about 30 percent in revenue,” Peter discloses. “During the pandemic, we closed for two months during March and April and started back slowly to re-open the store.
“People started to come out,” Katie recalls.”We have a small part-time sta and things came together.”
During the dormancy, Peter received a scholarship to participate in the Goldman-Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, which helps entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital, and support services. e program is administered by Babson College.
“It was a super-intense program where you get the knowledge and training,” he emphasizes. “I learned to understand my business.
“It was a really tough program,” Peter recalls. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It took a lot of studying, writing, and many classes on Zoom.
“It was the perfect thing to do at just the right time,” he adds, in speaking about the pandemic. “It made this actual space in my life possible and what my wife and I wanted to do with our lives.”
Last October, Anchor To ee expanded their confectionery company with the opening of a new production facility in the Sims Market at Farm Fresh Rhode Island in Providence.
“It’s been great,” Peter shares. “Our new facility has been very successful and we’ve had the best year in the 7 years since we’ve opened.”
According to the couple, the business plan includes developing new products, including a sugar-free to ee, and paying close attention to trends in the food service industry and other vital areas.
“News about our candy is really spreading about and we are really thrilled,” Peter notes. “Our products are available in several markets, book stores, hotels, and at the airport.”
Anchor To ee is open, Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ( e Farmers Market is open Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.), 10 Sims Ave., Providence. For more information call (401) 439-1517; visit the store at Bowen’s Wharf, 5 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, tel. (401) 619-1044, or visit the website:
