New Yorkers will soon be able to feast on chalkboards, Dupla and foam chanterelles.
The candy store is full of sweets familiar to Finns. Cloetta
Cloetta’s loose candy brand CandyKing, known from Finnish grocery stores, is expanding across the Atlantic and opening its first permanent store in New York on Finland’s Independence Day.
The brick-and-mortar boutique located in the West Village has sweets that look quite familiar to Finns. On the shelves you can find, among other things, mini-sized Tupla bars, Center Original chocolate buttons, Lakrifun chalk bars, peach wine gums and iconic foam chanterelles.
– It’s wonderful to see how Americans feel about the Swedish and Finnish loose candy tradition, says the person responsible for the Pick & Mix CandyKing business globally Laura Rytkölä.
Laku divides opinion
The candy selection of the New York shop is faithful to CandyKing’s principle that there must be a lot of choice. However, not all candies popular in the Nordic countries have been exported to New York.
– We have not brought the wildest salmiakki flavors to the store at this stage, because we are trying to tailor the selection to the tastes of the locals, Rytkölä says.
– However, the selection includes, for example, Halva licorice, strawberry cakes and sweet licorice pieces. The reactions vary a bit, as we have tried these with store employees. For some, the flavors suit a little less and for some better, he formulates with a laugh.
The interior design of the store was originally done by the Finnish company AT‑Design. On the wall of the store, for example, there is a spectacular painting of the Brooklyn Bridge, which attracts passers-by to stop. Cloetta
A hit with foam chanterelles?
The preparation for the opening of Kivijalkabutiiki has aroused the interest of passers-by, and many Norwegians, Swedes and Finns who have walked in front of it have already noticed the shop.
– People have been trying to get in all the time. We’ve given tastings, and people have been excited.
Cloetta has been testing CandyKing in the US with a local partner since April.
– We have gathered information and experiences about what Americans like, and we are now starting to have a pretty good idea of it.
Rytkölä believes that Americans will at least fall in love with Zoo Monkey Foam candies, which have become viral favorites in Sweden since their launch. The candies in question will arrive in Finland at the beginning of next year.
– I think that other classic marshmallows, such as marshmallow chanterelles, will also become a big favorite.