Candy has a way of becoming a tradition. Nick Trifelos, national sales manager at Anthony-Thomas Candy Company, says they hear from customers that remember being young and receiving chocolate from their grandparents, and as the years have passed, they’ve become that grandparent, gifting chocolate to their grandkids.
“We’ve been very fortunate to be a lot of people’s tradition,” Nick says.
In 2022, Anthony-Thomas is celebrating 70 years of tradition in Central Ohio. Founded in 1952 by Anthony Zanetos and his son, Thomas, the candy company has not only achieved an impressive feat of seven decades in business, but done so as a family operation that recently welcomed the fifth generation of leadership.
“With each generation of our family that’s been in the business, everyone has had a different leadership style which has helped shape the business we are,” Nick says as the fifth generation to be a part of the company. He’s joined by his grandfather, Joe Zanetos, president, and mom, Candi Trifelos, vice president, in carrying on the family name.
Over 70 years of making candy, Anthony-Thomas’ list of confections has reached impressive lengths. Some chocolates, like the old-fashioned vanilla butter creams, are still made using the same recipe Anthony crafted even before officially starting the company.
English Toffee is another popular, old-school favorite, and the company’s second-best seller. The first spot is reserved for none other than the Buckeye, with Anthony-Thomas whipping up some 12 million of the officially-licensed confections a year.
There’s more. More butter creams, fudges, brittles and truffles. Chocolates with nuts, chocolates with caramel, chocolates with cherries. Pretzels, marshmallows and graham crackers enrobed in chocolate. And there are seasonal favorites like coconut bonbons, peppermint bark and Easter cream eggs.
Anthony Thomas’ chocolates are never far away. The confectioner has 13 area retail shops in nearly every corner of Columbus. The sweets are also available online through the company’s website and Amazon, as well as other retailers across the country.
Nick says it’s the premium, quality ingredients, and only using 100% real chocolate, that has kept customers reaching for Anthony-Thomas’ confections for 70 years.
Across its production and retail operations, Anthony-Thomas employs nearly 200 individuals, many of which have been with the company for decades as well.
“We have a lot of employees that have been with us for over 30 years, many over 20 years,” Nick says. “We had three people alone last year celebrate their 30th year with us.”
Looking to year 71 and beyond, Nick hopes there’s decades more work to come. The company is looking to expand its production facility, adding additional lines and wrapping machines, while continuing to be an integral part of the Columbus community.
For more information, visit anthony-thomas.com. Schedule a tour to see the confectioner in action this summer here.
All photos by Susan Post
Additional Reading: Learn more about origins of the Anthony-Thomas Candy Co. and how the family has navigated through each generation on The Metropreneur.