Gulf Coast Fudge Company continues tradition
When Rose Ann Heuglin decided to sell her fudge shop at the Shell Factory last year to her son and daughter-in-law, she was passing on a tradition that had its roots nearly two centuries old.
Despite that, Micaela and Joey Heuglin decided to do something a little different. No, they didn’t change the recipe they had followed since 1837. That would be sacrilege.
They did, however, change the name from Rosie’s Gourmet Fudge to the Gulf Coast Fudge Co. While it still offers some of the best fudge you’ll ever eat (and ice cream), it has also introduced other delectable treats sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Rose Ann had been making fudge at The Shell Factory for more than 35 years and made the shop her own around the turn of the millennium. But she was getting older and wanted to pass on the family tradition to her son, who had been making fudge since seemingly before he could walk.
“This was an opportunity to breathe new life into the business and take over,” Micaela said. “So far it has been a real adventure.”
The Heuglins opened their new shop last Oct. 1 and immediately rebranded it.
It is still “fudge done right,” which is to say it’s old-fashioned fudge and the old-fashioned way, which is a whole lot more difficult to make than the newer fudge made today.
“New fudge is cooled in pans and call it fudge, but it isn’t the same. We make small batches all handmade,” Micaela said. “We cook it in a copper kettle and hand pour in onto marble slabs, which draw the heat out, and hand-loaf and slice it.”
The Heuglins have more than 30 different styles of fudge, some of which are seasonal for Christmas or summer (such as key lime pie and orange creamsicle). The more traditional fudge, such as chocolate and peanut butter, is sold year round. The most popular? Chocolate Caramel Seasalt.
The rebrand also included new items, such as fudge bon-bons, where they hand roll the fudge and dip them in chocolate and decorate them.
They also have chocolate-covered marshmallows and pretzels, as well as the best-selling chocolate-covered bacon, with its sweet, savory flavor.
Like the old store, Gulf Coast Fudge Co. also sells Big Olaf’s ice cream, an Amish creamery from Sarasota which produces 26 flavors and can be had in a chocolate-covered waffle cone.
The rebranding has proven very successful. The company has started its own website and selling its products online to people all over the country.
“Seeing as we have a seasonal customer base here, we offer it for them here and can ship them up north. We shipped our bon-bons to California and came out perfectly,” Micaela said. “That was the test. If we can ship it to California, we can ship it anywhere.”
Gulf Coast Fudge Company is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to order online, go to www.gulfcoastfudge.com or call 599-2605.