Sweet!

In a delightfully sweet announcement, Enstrom's Candies revealed their plans to save Stephany's name in chocolate.

Anyone who ever frequented a Colorado mall remembers Stephany's Chocolates, an Arvada-based company specializing in truffles, mints, and other chocolaty delights. They usually offered free samples, winning the heart of each and every sweet-toothed passerby. Unfortunately, earlier this year, profits took a downturn, leaving owner Hal Strottman unable to pay his employees. Then things really took a turn for the worse. On April 4 of this year, Strottman was found in his home, dead of an apparent self-inflicted shotgun wound.

This left Strottman's widow and the company high and dry:

Stephany's held a life-insurance policy that covered Strottman. It would have bought out his 50 percent share of the private company, with the proceeds going to his widow, Cindi.

But that didn't happen.

"There was a two-year suicide clause written," according to the police report. "Meaning if death occurred because of suicide, then the policy would be void." (via the Denver Post.)

Much to our dismay, a few weeks later, Stephany's pulled down their mall-front gates for the last time, and filed for bankruptcy. It was a dark day in the world of chocolate.

Who could offer better hope than the world's finest toffee makers?

Enstrom's Toffee truly is the finest... it isn't just their slogan. It melts on the tongue with buttery richness, in a way that can't be duplicated. Maybe it's the altitude, or maybe it's the air in the Grand Valley, or maybe it's just the loving care they use, making each batch by hand. (A half million pounds of toffee a year--all by hand--that's true devotion.) Whatever the secret might be, it's sinfully wonderful.

I make toffee every year at Christmastime, and I've spent years trying to perfect the recipe. It turns out well... but I could never hope to match the smoothness of Enstrom's. (Order a box, and see what I mean.) So, the news this week tickled my taste buds, and filled me with sweet hope:

Enstrom Candies, fresh off its purchase of bankrupt Stephany's Chocolates, plans to restart the Arvada-based company's candy-production facilities and revitalize the company brand.

Enstrom President Doug Simons announced the move Monday.

"The name Stephany's Chocolates, along with their other product trade names, The Denver Mint and Colorado Almond Toffee, are highly respected brands that enjoy a quality reputation," Simons said in a statement. "We want to continue to build on their legacy." (via the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.)

They're starting slow, reopening the factory here in Arvada, and planning to sell wholesale at first. The stores might reopen, someday, but for now, it is enough for me to know that they'll be back in production. In some ways, it sounds as if an Enstrom's and Stephany's union was meant to be:

"We (Enstrom) are a toffee company that dabbles in chocolates, and they're a chocolate company that dabbles in toffee," Simons said. "It's a perfect fit."

Mmmmm.. a match made in chocolaty heaven.

Image notes: Toffee image via Enstrom's website; Stephanie's image via a Google thumbnail, as the site no longer exists.