The history behind Winans Chocolates + Coffees goes back five generations, when Max and Dick Winans operated a multigenerational bakery business and sold candy in the original Winans Carriage House. Today’s Winans that many of us know and love, dates back to 1961.
The family-owned business has a chocolate factory and coffee roastery in Piqua, and handcrafts fresh chocolates, roasts coffee, and franchises coffee shops that offer a unique confectionery experience for guests who visit.
Wilson Reiser took the reigns as CEO in 2020 to help the company navigate the pandemic and resulting issues such as the labor shortage and supply chain issues. “He has worked to increase chocolate and coffee production capacity, build a marketing department, update employee benefits, implement an entrepreneurial operating system, and provide more robust support to the small but growing number of Winans franchise owners,” the company says. “Wilson’s parents purchased the company from Wilson’s grandfather back in 1993, when there was only one store, so he grew up in and around the business.”
The drink menu at Winans changes seasonally, but it always includes hot drinks, iced and frozen drinks, espresso-based beverages, and teas. It also offers holiday favorites including the iced Nutcracker Latte, the hot Sugar Cookie Latte, and the Frosty Mint Oreo Frapp.
It’s more than just the chocolate that’s popular at Winans, it’s also the chocolates and candies that will have your mouth watering. The company says that the candies are made in Piqua, at the Winans Chocolate Factory.
“There, we mix fresh, whole ingredients like heavy cream, butter, and sugar,” it says. “Then we add peanut butter, nuts, or purees like maple, orange, raspberry, and coconut to create the center of our chocolate confections. The centers are coated with Winans’ finest chocolate. Then each chocolate is marked and packed by hand. We still use many of the recipes and Max and Dick founded the company with.”
The company recently opened a new coffee roastery in Piqua, adding more production space to help the brand continue its growth. It’s also made recent sustainability and culture commitments to ensure the business it supporting its people and communities. Lastly, it recently announced a new store that will open in Lima in summer 2023. “We are excited for some other location announcements coming soon,” it adds.
There are currently 19 Winans locations throughout Ohio, including locations in southwest, central, and mid-west parts of the state. You can find the one nearest you using the store locator on the website.
To learn more about Winans, visit https://www.winanscandies.com/ or follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
