Enstrom’s Candies turns 50 “just making a little almond toffee”

(L-R)Vernie, Chet, Mary and Emil Enstrom; Jamee and Doug Simons.

Doug Simons making toffee at Enstrom’s.

The Enstrom main storefront in downtown Grand Junction.

In 1919 Chet Enstrom got his start in the candy busi-ness when he went to work in the ice cream shop ofBarthel’s Confectionery in Colorado Springs, Col-

orado. When his shift ended, he often helped out in thecandy factory, quietly learning the candymaker’s art.

Chet perfected the art of blending the finest ingredi-ents to create batches of almond toffee as gifts for fam-ily and friends. His almond toffee was gaining areputation. At the urging of family and friends, Chetand his wife, Vernie, founded Enstrom Candies inGrand Junction, Colorado in 1960.

Emil (at right) and Chet (center)Enstrom forming and rolling thecandy cane batch.

Jamee Enstrom Simons encouraged Christmastoffee purchases.

Jamee and Doug Simons

Chet Enstrom, founder

Enstrom’s began as a mail order com-pany selling almond toffee. There werefour items in the earliest catalogs: 1 lbbox of almond toffee, 2 lb box of almondtoffee, 3 lb box of almond toffee and 5 lbbox of almond toffee.

In 1964 the governor of Coloradoappointed Chet Enstrom to a vacant senateseat, so Chet’s son and daughter-in-law,Emil and Mary, took over the business. In1970 they bought the business from Chet.Under Emil and Mary, the business grewwith a dedication to a nurtured, ethical, cus-tomer-service-oriented business.

By 1965 Enstrom’s was shippingalmond toffee worldwide; in 1979 Chet’sgranddaughter, Jamee, and her husband,Doug Simons, joined the company. Jameehad been interested in the business fromthe time she was a small girl, dipping rocks

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