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Ruth Hunt Candies Celebrates Sweet Success
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Ruth Tharpe Hunt was onto something in 1921 when she began selling her homemade candies. But even she would be amazed these days at the size and scope of the company she started.
Ruth Hunt Candies now produces a wide variety of confections year-round‚ and since 1993 has been the official candy maker for the Kentucky Derby. This means that while most candy makers are slowing down for the spring and summer months‚ the Hunt facility is going full tilt‚ says Tobby Moore‚ manager.
“The Derby happens before it’s unbearably hot‚ so at least we get that business before it’s too bad‚” Moore says. “But we do slow down in the summer when everybody’s switching to ice cream and sodas.”
The company moved seven years ago from its longtime location to a new‚ 15‚000-square-foot plant to keep up with demand‚ and it’s constantly upgrading its equipment‚ Moore says. In addition to retail sales in Kentucky‚ the company ships throughout the United States‚ including filling orders for some high-profile customers. One Christmas‚ Lady Bird Johnson ordered 60 pounds of chocolate-covered creams for Christmas gifts.
And then there are the Derby fans‚ who aren’t shy about their love of chocolate.
“We make an annual Derby version of a chocolate bar for them‚ and tons and tons of bourbon balls‚” he says. “It really has created a new holiday season for us.”
Story by Joe Morris
