This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Gary Judd was introduced to Condie's Candies 33 years ago on his lunch break.
It was December 1983, and Judd had just moved to Utah when a co-worker wanted to stop by the Salt Lake City chocolate shop to do some Christmas shopping.
That was all it took. Judd become a devotee and has been returning every year since to buy caramels, cream-filled truffles and pecan logs. "You can't have Christmas without coming to Condie's," he declared during a recent visit with his wife, Kathryn.
Started in 1924, Condie's Candies is one of the state's oldest candymaking companies, behind the Bluebird Candy Co. in Logan, which started in 1914, and Cummings Studio Chocolates, in Salt Lake City, which launched in 1919. But unlike those year-round operations, Condie's Candies is seasonal, making the business more alluring for many families. Products are available a few weeks each year from late October through Christmas and just before Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.
For Judd and other longtime customers, part of the Condie's charm is reconnecting with the owners — sisters Karen Condie Cunningham, Shelly Condie Helm and Nannette Condie — who are the fourth generation to run the family business.
"Not many companies make it to four generations," said Nannette Condie on a recent morning as the sisters and their mother, Jerry, were racing to finish a 1,500-pound order that would be sent to a technology company in California. That is a small fraction of the 12,000 pounds of peanut clusters, turtles, toffee, fudge and assorted creme-filled chocolates that will be made in the shop's tiny basement kitchen in the three months before Christmas.
While Condie's is known for chocolates, "the caramels have always been the No. 1 seller," said Condie. "And one of the things we are famous for is our pecan logs," made with a penuche center, generously dipped in caramel and then rolled in fresh pecans shipped from Georgia.
Through the years, Condie's has done minimal advertising, leaving the candies — and longtime customers — to do the convincing.
"What we've had is a loyal following of customers," said Condie. "Today, we sell to the grandchildren of some of our original customers."
Even the manufacturing plant and sales shop is in an assuming spot at 1479 S. Main in Salt Lake City, a location easy to look past unless you're searching for the Condie's sign.
Paula Brog remembers when there used to be two buildings, which sat side-by-side with a small alleyway between. "I was originally from L.A. and when my husband brought me here the first time, I thought we were going to some sort of speakeasy," she said. "If someone didn't show you where the front door was, you'd never know it was here. But once you discover it, you're hooked forever."
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Sweet beginnings • The company was started by the Condie sisters' great-grandfather, George Phillipps, a convert to the LDS Church, who moved his family from Cincinnati to Salt Lake City in the early 1920s.
Phillipps worked as an accountant for ZCMI department store and became interested in candymaking when he saw the revenue that the sweet treats produced.
He persuaded his wife, Frederica, who was from Germany, to start making caramels and other old-fashioned candies and the "Phillipps Mastercraft Candy Co." was launched in 1924.
The couple passed the candy business to four of their five daughters. Family lore describes the sisters as "strong-willed women" who would often have heated arguments one day, then dress up and go to lunch the next, said Nannette Condie.
Eventually, one sister — Gertrude — bought out her siblings' share of the business and changed the moniker to reflect her married name, Condie.
Gertrude's son, George Phillipps Condie, became the third-generation owner, running the company for 20 years before passing it on to three of his children: Karen, Shelly and Nannette. The sisters have three other siblings — Jorjann, a schoolteacher, and brothers Curt and Jeff —who aren't involved on a daily basis.
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Disaster strikes • Condie's Candies nearly met its demise in November 1994, just as the Christmas candymaking season was about to begin. An electrical fire destroyed the main building where most of the equipment and production took place. As the family stood outside and watched firefighters try to save the second building, they wondered how the business would survive, especially if the book with all the hand-written recipes was burned.
No one had thought about photocopying the recipes.
When the flames were knocked down, firefighters found the recipe book floating in blackened water on the candy-factory floor, according to a story in The Salt Lake Tribune published the day after the fire. The Condies brought the waterlogged book back to their home, and once dry, the penciled recipes were still visible.
Candy production and the retail shop moved into the building that was saved — and the rubble was removed, eliminating the alley way — and Condie's continued on.
Through the years, each sister has developed a candy specialty: Karen, like her mom, dips chocolates; Shelly rolls the penuche for the pecan logs and dipped chocolates; while Nannette cooks the caramel. All of them take orders over the phone or work the cash register in the tiny retail shop.
While tempers flare on occasion, the sisters have come to appreciate the time they spend with each other as well as their aging parents. While Jerry Condie still works, George only comes in occasionally to check up on things.
"It's nice to be close and involved in each other's lives," said Karen. "We've planned a lot of family parties in this kitchen."
92 years of Christmas candy
Salt Lake City's Condie's Candies has been in business since 1924 selling caramels, pecan logs, peanut clusters, turtles, toffee, fudge and assorted creme-filled chocolates.
Where • 1479 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-485-2261
When • Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Dec. 24. Store reopens for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.
Prices • $19.95 to $23.95 per pound
Details • condiescandies.com