Bahamian candies
A family tradition
Lollypops, coconut cakes, peanut bars, fudge and the popcorn crisps are all selling well, but the pride of a local candy-maker’s treats is a locally renowned nugget called “Mortimer Mints.”
Most Bahamians know these candies; the Mortimer family has been making them for more than 80 years.
Founders of this candy company are the late Ulric Mortimer and his wife Winifred, who moved their equipment into a shop on East St in 1950.
While the company still uses the original copper pots and marble slabs that Ulric and Winifred used, most of the original machinery–now on display outside the shop–has long since been replaced by modern equipment.
Inside, visitors can enjoy a series of images and clippings from the early days. The factory was originally launched as The Best Ever Candy Company Ltd in Inagua.
Over the years, Mortimer Candies has earned the patronage of celebrities, including the late Duke and Duchess of Windsor when the Duke served as Royal Governor during the Second World War.
Proud family tradition
Even today, Mortimer Candies remains the only place in the country where visitors can purchase fresh candy made daily–the factory produces about 1,000 bags of sweets a day.
The store has remained with the Mortimer family, passed down from Ulric to his sons Amos, Lester, Ulric Jr, Bernard and Weston. Today, Ulric’s great-grandson, Cayle, is the general manager. In this role, he is not only involved in administration but scrubs up to roll out the sweets as well.
Keeping the business in the family is important to the Mortimers, who are proud of the company’s history and the determination of its founder, who travelled to the US to learn the art of sweets-making.
Ulric’s son Philip, who joined the business later, explains: “My father wanted to do something better for this family. He saw an opportunity to make candies, and he went and trained for two years to learn how to do it.”
Mortimer Candies also prides itself on developing its own recipes to create signature sweets such as the Mortimer Mints. The recipe is a closely guarded family secret.
As locals and visitors browse the brightly coloured selection in the store, busy workers heat the confectionery mixture until it is bubbling, roll it out into elongated strips and cut it into a well-known nugget shape. When the candies are cool, they are hand-wrapped.
While its focus remains on keeping the business a local operation with traditional values, Mortimer Candies is hoping to grow and target new markets. The family is planning an expansion and is looking to move into a more modern factory to increase production and reach out to a new generation of sweets lovers.
--
Feature_BahamianCandies_DGJan11
Bahamian candies
A family tradition
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-Mail: Click here
Internet: https://
Disclaimer:
Information in editorial and listings is subject to change at any time.