The wait is nearly over. Sanders Chocolates fans who have missed its beloved caramel and fudge toppings are in for a real treat.
On Wednesday, the Clinton Township-based company announced that manufacturing of the iconic caramel and fudge toppings has resumed.
The famous and much-loved toppings have been scarce and hard to come by since last fall because of a production pause. Shipments to grocery stores and retail outlets also ceased during that time. But now Second Nature Brands, the parent company of Sanders chocolates, is about to put the cherry on top and make fans happy.
First to be produced are its milk chocolate and caramel toppings — its two best-selling flavors,according to a news release.
When the company paused production, it cited “manufacturing challenges and extremely high demand for Sanders confections made at its Clinton Township plant.” Although production was paused, the toppings were sold at the company’s retail stores in Clinton Township and Rochester.
For more than 100 years, the Detroit-born brands of toppings and other confections have been iconic for many Michiganders. Sanders' toppings are popular for drizzling over ice cream sundaes.
Sanders said the formula for the toppings is proprietary, but noted it still uses real cream and sugar to make the toppings.
“We truly appreciate the love that customers in Michigan and beyond have for our products that spans the generations and has been a part of family traditions for nearly 150 years,” said Jennifer Bauer, Chief Marketing Officer for Second Nature Brands in a news release. “That is why we committed to resuming manufacturing of our toppings as soon as we could. It is because of the support born in our hometown that Sanders is the fastest-growing chocolate brand in the country.”
The timeline for product availability is by mid-August at its retail stores in Clinton Township and Rochester. You can expect to be able to order online at sanderscandy.com by the end of August.
Sanders became a division of fellow Michigan brand Kar's Nuts, a nut and trail mix company, in 2018. Second Nature Brands, a Madison Heights company that includes Sanders and Kar's, launched an innovation center for product research and development at its Sanders facility and factory on Hall Road in Clinton Township in June 2021. More than a year ago, the company was acquired by a London-based private equity investor.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to:sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.Subscribe to the Free Press.
