COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Production is in full-swing ahead of Easter for Anthony Thomas Chocolates, a central Ohio staple for more than seven decades.
The company is a multi-generational, family-owned business that has grown to become one of the biggest candy companies in the Midwest. Their Arlingate Lane factory is bustling in preparation for Sunday, with workers cranking out sweet treats faster than the Easter bunny on a sugar rush.
“It is one of our busiest times of the year,” said Nick Trifelos, the company’s national sales manager and fifth-generation family member. “We work for months to be able to make sure that we can have enough candy to support the demand… We actually work with 60,000 pounds of liquid chocolate a day, so we produce a lot of candy here.”
However, Anthony Thomas doesn’t just make chocolate.
“So, when they feed it into the machine, they’ll feed it in like this, and then it’ll cut it into little squares,” describes Shawn Jones, describing the thick bars of caramel butter he’s cutting for their assorted chocolates. He said he’s worked in kitchens his whole life, but has been the last 30 years at Anthony Thomas.
“It’s a family-owned business, so it feels like family,” Jones said. “I mean, I grew up with most of them throughout the company. So, it’s like a second home.”
Jones’ favorite thing to make, is many people’s favorite.
“Buckeyes are pretty fun to make. It keeps you busy,” Jones said.
“It’s our number one piece,” said Nick’s mother, Candi Trifelos, the company’s vice president and fourth-generation family member. “We probably make well over 20 million buckeyes a year.”
They may not seem in-season, but Candi said buckeyes are their top seller year-round.
“We filled heart boxes with them at Valentines, we’re filling Easter egg shapes with buckeyes for Easter this week,” Candi said.
No matter the size, no Easter basket is complete without their signature chocolate bunnies. In fact, Anthony Thomas will sell about 30,000 chocolate bunnies throughout the Easter season, including dozens of their 35 lb. rabbits. From creme-filled eggs, to jelly beans, and everything in between, Anthony Thomas’ neighborhood shops have something for everyone’s sweet tooth.
“Right now, people really love the one-ounce eggs,” Nick said. “They really like mixing and matching the one-ounce eggs from flavors like marshmallow and raspberry to just plain peanut butter.”
With time running out, Nick said if you want this Easter to be a treat, you better hop to it.
“There’s a lot of specialty novelty items that are limited time only and sell out,” he said.
Anthony Thomas has thirteen neighborhood shops in central Ohio, all of which are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday the week before Easter. Find a location near you here.