About Us

Charlie Frank, Zingerman's Candy Manufactory

Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory is a member of the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. Although we’ve been making candy at Zingerman’s for several years, the Candy Manufactory became a reality in September of 2009. Whoopee! That’s right, this is a candy business, and candy is fun!

How did we get started? Why candy bars? I arrived at Zingerman’s Bakehouse in 2001 and had the hope that one day I’d start a Zingerman’s business of my own. A year into my position as the manager of the pastry department I came up with a vision—candy bars, delicious candy bars! I’ve always loved candy. As a child I spent 50 cents a week on candy (change from my piano lessons) when I walked home from my teacher’s house. I still have vivid memories of carefully choosing the penny candies making sure I had just the right combination to enjoy until my next lesson.

After studying at the Culinary Institute of America and working as a pastry chef in many kitchens, I also recognized that I love working with sugar—the basis of candy. Following the Zingerman’s tradition of forming businesses based on personal passions, I started the work to create Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory. Seven years later (yes, I’m a careful and patient man), my vision has finally become a reality. Yahoo!

Right now we’re making five candy bars; Zzang!®, Ca$hew Cow™, Wowza™, Peanut Butter Crush™, and What the Fudge?®. Our bars are available in Zingerman’s stores and all over the country. Be a part of the continuing story of the Zzang! bars and Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory. Contact us with the flavors and names you’d like to enjoy. Enough reading, let’s eat some candy!

Charlie Frank
Charlie Frank
Founder and Head Candy Maker



Press

Candy Craze, October/Nov 2014
Zingerman's Candy Manufactory managing Partner and Candy Man Charlie Frank was featured on the Food Network special "Candy Craze" hosted by Jeff Mauro ("The Sandwich King"). Charlie and Jeff cooked up a batch of our category-redefining and award winning peanut brittle and also our incredibly delicious and popular Halloween candy, Milk Chocolatey Karamel Krunch.

O’s (O, the Oprah Magazine) Circle of Friends, September 2014
Zingerman’s Candy makes the O List! Slide #9, with the amazing Zingerman’s Peanut Brittle.

Specialty Food Association, July 2014
Our peanut brittle was named a sofi™ Awards Finalist in the Confection Category. sofi Award Finalists represent the best of the best in specialty food and beverages. “sofi” stands for specialty outstanding food innovation.

Gourmet Retailer, April 2014
Plum Market’s airport store will open at McNamara Terminal at Metro. Among their offerings will be tasty comestibles from Zingerman’s Coffee Company, Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Zingerman’s Creamery, and Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory.

Concentrate, March 2014
Oscar nominees get taste of Zingerman’s Zzang! candy bars Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory got their Original Zzang bar into the swag bags ‘o’ gifts given to a bunch of high-level Oscars guests.

MLive, February 2014
Wild Swan hosts their annual “Chocolate Crash” fundraiser, featuring Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, Mindo Chocolate makers, and Babs’ Underground Lounge, among others. As the tagline says, “Charity Never Tasted So Good.”

The Wife blog, January 2014
THE WIFE Guide: Valentine’s Day Treats Zingerman’s Candy gets a shout out. From the comments: “FRESH taste of Zingerman’s candy always gets raves. The bars, the brittle… all so yummy I can’t pick a favorite. ”

Michigan Daily, December 2013
Nate Wood: Finding the hidden holiday treats of Ann Arbor The awesome peanut brittle from Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory gets a shout out in the student broadside.

Today Show, March 2012

Kid in the Candy Store, May 2011

"They [Zzang! bars] remind me of the 1930s bars that were hand-made, slab style with candy love. Although I never tasted a bar from that era, this is what I believe they would be."

—Beth Kimmerle, author of The History of Candy

Order Candy OnlineFor pickup at Zingerman's Coffee Co.

Order our handmade confections for pickup in-store or curbside!