Founded in 1947 by Don and Katy Kilwin, and based in Petoskey, Michigan, where Mike and I are now staying, Kilwins is an American company specializing in the production and sale of fudge, chocolates and ice cream.

The original owners sold out long ago, but today, and still utilizing the decade-old recipes, the company has 120 franchise stores nationwide in 23 states. About half of these locations are in popular tourist destinations near resorts and beaches specifically Florida and Michigan.

At the HQ building in Petoskey, Mike and I participated in a free tour of the chocolate making facility which was great fun. Led by our intrepid tour-host Dave, it was the last tour of the day and we were the only participants which was even better for our never-ending stream of questions.

A three-foot Father Christmas is made with 23 lbs of Kilwins own heritage dark and white chocolate. Its costs is in excess of $450.00.

 

Making Tuttles: Tuttles are “blobs” of caramel, shaped in the form of a turtle, and covered with chocolate and sometimes nuts. The word “turtle” has been trade-marked by Nestle hence Kilwins’ word that sounds like turtle!

Mike and our tour-host Dave pictured behind the chocolate-tasting tap where we enjoyed samples of both milk and dark chocolate. Kilwins buys its cocoa nibs from South Africa and sweetens it as American chocolate is sweeter than that enjoyed in Europe. Mike and Dave had a seriously good tour together as both are Vietnam vets … it was tough at times to keep them focused on the tour!