A reader writes: “What happened to Fannie Farmer Candies? All the retail stores in Massachusetts seem to have gone away. They were the only place I could get buttercream chocolates. Lindt and Godiva do not seem to do buttercreams, and in the case of Godiva their chocolates are very pricey. At least Fannie Farmer used to be a reasonable price and were good.” Sad to say, Fannie Farmer/Fannie May went out of business (actually, they filed Chapter 11) earlier (January) this year. ...

They were purchased from Archibald Candy (who continues to operate Laura Secord in Canada) by Alpine Confections of Alpine, Utah (along with Fannie May favorites like Mint Meltaways and Pixies, Alpine’s brands include Botticelli, Dolce D’Or, Lollipals, Hallmark Chocolatier, and Mrs. Fields’). As part of the Chapter 11 filing, Archibald closed the Chicago manufacturing plant and all 228 Fannie Farmer stores - 112 in the Chicago area alone.

On the company’s web site (http://www.fanniemay.com) is a note that they plan to be shipping Trinidads and Buttercreams soon and that Pixies and Mint Meltaways are already available through select retail outlets In addition, in a press release in early May Alpine said that they plan to reopen 30 Fannie May stores in the Illinois/Indiana area this fall.

The press release goes on to say, “Additional locations will be announced as Alpine Confections completes its retail evaluation. While some will be former Fannie May locations, others may be new stores. Fannie May expects to open about 40 stores, mostly in the greater Chicago area, by the end of 2004.

“Our decisions on which stores to open are based on a mix of business and performance criteria. Our goal is to build a Fannie May retail chain of strong, popular locations that will enable Fannie May to thrive for many years to come,” said David Taiclet, co-president of Alpine Confections, with fellow co-president, Taz Murray.

“So many people have called us, asking when the Fannie May stores will be back that we wanted to share the news with the public as soon as we can. We’re thrilled to bringing this beloved brand back to the Chicago area,” Murray said. “Until the Fannie May stores are open this fall, many Fannie May favorites will continue to be available through retailers like Jewel, Dominick’s and Walgreen’s, as well as online at http://www.FannieMay.com .”

Alpine Confections is currently producing some of the most popular Fannie May products—including Pixies and Mint Meltaways, with Trinidads coming in June—using the same recipes and the same ingredients from the same suppliers as before. Additional favorites will be added to the line in the weeks and months ahead.”

Previous Questions and Answers:

1. DOES ANYONE SELL EGG NOG CREAMS BESIDES FANNIE FARMER?
   Posted by  on  12/16  at  11:45 AM
2. looking for fannie farmer raspberry creams
   Posted by  on  02/06  at  01:43 PM
3. Egg nog creams are available from many small chocolatiers, including Christopher Norman Chocolates here in New York City. Egg nog creams are currently (Feb 7, 2005) available for sale on the Fannie May web site at 50% off.
   Posted by  on  02/07  at  03:13 PM
4. As near as I can tell, Fannie Farmer is still not back in business. Fannie May offers Raspberry Creams as a part of one of their assortments.
   Posted by  on  02/07  at  03:14 PM
5. where are my fruit and nut eggs???????????
   Posted by  on  02/22  at  11:23 PM
6. Are there going to be any stores opened in or around the Ohio area. My parents bought Fanny Farmer chocolates for years. To me no one can compare to Fanny Farmer, especially when it comes to the Pecan Dixies. And before they closed the stores here in Ohio I was able to turn my husband on to them. We celebrate Sweetest Day here in Ohio, so there would be 2 days out of the year I would get 2 boxes. Please,if at all possible can you tell me how to get the Pecan Dixies? Thank You
   Posted by  on  02/27  at  04:32 PM
7. Reba:: As to where the stores are going to be opened, you'll need to check in with their web site. The same is true with their Pecan Dixies: I don't know what their production schedule is. ::Clay
   Posted by  on  03/01  at  11:39 AM
8. I am looking for the 1# Buttercream eggs Fannie Farmer used to put out around Easter. Thanks.
   Posted by  on  03/20  at  07:58 PM
9. John: A quick search reveals that there is still no Fannie Farmer web site (in fact, it is owned by a domaiin holding company and is used to display search results). From that little bit of info I can find, it does not look like there will be any Fannie Farmer buttercream eggs -- in any size -- in the next week. Fannie May (a close relative) does not make them, either. Carriage House Bakery (http://www.carriagehousebakery.com/) in Maryland does offer 1 pound buttercream eggs for under $10. It may be a little late to make it for Easter, but you can call them at 301-898-7559 to find out. :: Clay
   Posted by  on  03/21  at  08:50 AM
10. I am taking a chocolatier course online. I have to buy 10 lbs of couvertue chocolate (3 Kilo Dark, 1 Kilo Milk, 1 Kilo White). Where can I purchase chocolate (online or off) at a reasonable price? I was looking at manufacturers such as Callebaut, Valrhona, EL Rey, Guittard, Scharffenberger, etc. Thank you.
    Posted by  on  03/26  at  10:19 PM
11. temp0070 (re Post #10): One good online source I suggest is chocosphere.com. They have the brands you mention (and others) and the prices are usually pretty reasonable. They are located in Portland, OR but I have never had any problems with shipping cross country with them. :: Clay
    Posted by  on  03/26  at  10:42 PM
12. Now that See's Candies has opened a shop in Downers Grove Illinois, nothing else matters. They have much better candy then Fanny May and the prices are better too.
    Posted by  on  04/13  at  04:15 PM
13. I am looking for a replacement for Fanny Farmer iced mints as a gift for someone. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks very much.
    Posted by  on  05/02  at  09:50 AM
14. If anyone is crazy about good buttercreams, I would suggest visiting Rheb's Candies in Baltimore. Their website is http://www.rhebcandy.com. Try the jimmy truffles for a real treat. Very reasonably priced, very fresh and hand packed by little old Baltimore ladies. joan in maryland
    Posted by  on  05/24  at  08:03 AM
15. For many years I had many, many boxes of Fanny Farmer candy. We had a candy factory in our city and I truly miss this chocolate. There is no other candy in this place that has the chocolate or the carmels that Fanny Farmer had. I am going to try and have it posted to me from the Fanny Mae store. I am elderly and I know good candy. It would be nice if we could get a store here again, I really miss it
    Posted by  on  06/10  at  10:19 PM
16. I'm missing the individual candy bars that Fanny Farmer sold. Expecially the carmel with marshmallow bar. Is Syracuse New York going to get another store or am I able to still get these particular anywhere?
    Posted by  on  06/22  at  05:01 PM
17. Fannie farmer and fannie may were our familys favorite chocolate and a surefire gift for all occations. Can anyone find coconut clusters? Will they ever open any in michigan? Email me with any info! thanks! shawn
    Posted by  on  11/15  at  12:17 PM
18. I also miss Fanny Farmer - it was and still is my all time favorite chocolate. I loved the french mint candy bars and nothing has come close. It was a tradition to have their candy on all the holidays and we all miss the store!
    Posted by  on  12/15  at  03:47 PM
19. Fanny Farmer had the best Maple Walnut chocolates. They weren't just the Maple cream, they had nuts in them. Haven't found anything like it.
    Posted by  on  12/20  at  02:02 PM
20. I used to manage a Fanny Farmer Candy Store and it was a sad day when Fanny Mae purchased them! We lost so many loyal customers when FM decided to totally change the company. I miss the chocolates so much!!Especially those maple nuts, and the old fashions and the fudge!!
    Posted by  on  12/20  at  09:31 PM
21. where can I get French nougats? They were my favorite candy.
    Posted by gay  on  12/27  at  11:26 PM
22. where can i find french nougats? they were my favorites
    Posted by gay  on  12/27  at  11:27 PM
23. So many of you are looking for various favorite types of candies. My sister and I have returned to our family's confectionary business and are making excellent candy--by hand. We make butter creams, nougat, caramel, turtles, toffee, fudge...and much much more...and we hand-dip our candies in excellent Guittard chocolate. If there is a particular piece you miss, please send us a description and we'll do our best to make you happy. Thanks, Devon Co-owner Flesor's Candy Kitchen http://www.flesorscandy.com 217.253.3753
    Posted by Devon Flesor Nau  on  12/30  at  07:00 AM
24. Does chocolate have caffeine in it? :: Amy, Yes it does, but in small amounts. A one ounce serving typically has less caffeine in it than a 6 ounce cup of decaf coffee. :: Clay
    Posted by  on  01/19  at  08:14 PM
25. Can anyone tell me where I might purchase Chocolate covered orange cremes. I need these for someone'going through a rough time and I would love to send her some of these chocolates. Of course, it was Fanny Farmer who made these and they are no longer in business.
    Posted by  on  01/23  at  09:07 PM
26. Does anyone sell the sugar-free (diabetic) hard candies that Fannie Farmer sold?
    Posted by  on  02/01  at  07:23 PM
27. i have been looking for Fanny Farmer Parlays...does anyone know where I can find them?
    Posted by  on  02/11  at  01:30 PM
28. HOW DO YOU MAKE WHITE CHOCOLATE? :: Viviann, White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, milk, sugar and vanilla: it does not have any cocoa powder which is why it's not brown. If you are asking if you can make it at home the answer is that it's probably easier than making regular chocolate. I'd use evaporated milk rather than powdered milk and add the sugar to that to dissolve it (or you could use sweetened condensed). The ratio is roughly one-third cocoa butter, one-third milk/cream, and one-third sugar with a little bit of vanilla (that final 1%). HTH :: Clay
    Posted by  on  02/13  at  11:27 PM
29. I wasn't sure if it was Fanny Farmer who made French Creams? My mom used to buy all of our Easter candy at Fanny's.It was considered to be the best around.I also cannot find buttercream eggs anywhere like they had.I have very fond memories of Easter & how my mother always made sure we had Fanny Farmer.It's a shame!
    Posted by  on  02/24  at  08:11 PM
30. I am sad to hear that Fanny Farmers has gone out of business. The only chocolate I will eat are their buttercreams. I always bought several eggs at Easter formy boys. Hope there will be some place to buy them in the near future.
    Posted by  on  04/02  at  01:16 PM
31. Is there anywhere to buy a FannyFarmer buttercream Easter egg anywhere in this country?
    Posted by  on  04/04  at  05:20 PM
32. Is there anywhere you can get the mayhem I think they were called??? They were a dark and light chocolate and had a F on the top. I used to get them for presents and that was the only kind a few people liked. Thank You Joanne
    Posted by  on  06/14  at  05:46 PM
33. Is the store on Frankford Ave. in northeast Phila. Pa. still there?
    Posted by  on  07/23  at  05:46 PM
34. Hi, could anybody help me? Is it possible to find some place in Manhattan, New York City that sells Fannie May's chocolates especially Mint Meltaways, I'm from Ireland and will be making a trip to New York soon and I'd really love to get some as a present for my mother who has loved them ever since living in Chicago years ago, please help!?!
    Posted by  on  11/19  at  11:51 AM
35. My husband loved Fannie Farmer chocolates - especially the milk chocolate coconut crunch (squares) and milk chocolate cashews. When Fannie Farmer changed over to Fannie May - we were still able to get these chocolates online, but since they were sold to Alpine - these favorites of his have never come back. While searching for Fannie May info online, I saw that 1-800-Flowers.com was planning on acquiring Fannie May back in May/2006 - did this go through? Also, if anyone knows of any Fannie May retail stores in Chicago or otherwise that have a larger variety of Fannie May products & would be willing to ship to NY, please let me know. Just trying to make my husband's Christmas a little bit better!
    Posted by  on  12/04  at  08:58 PM
36. I used to work for Fanny Farmer's at the Port Authority in New York City 55 years ago. That's a long time! I loved their chocolate mashmallows. They were my favorite and my children loved them. Wonder if there is a chocolate mashmallow nowadays that tastes as good and fresh as theirs used to taste and where? Thanks. Rose
    Posted by  on  02/08  at  08:27 PM