Erin Rencher recently made her chocolate dreams come true.
Rencher has been making homemade chocolates for more than 20 years. It all began when, as a 12-year-old, she saw an ad in the paper for a free chocolate-making demonstration—and she hasn’t looked back.
Last week, Rencher opened her own business—Erin’s Candy—in Bergland. “I’m so pleased. It’s just amazing, everyone’s been so supportive,” she enthused.
When she first moved to the area seven years ago, Rencher sold her chocolates at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market here in Fort Frances.
“I sold everything I could make,” she remarked.
The mother of four had been thinking of starting her own chocolate business for some time, but decided to wait until her youngest child—now five—started going to school full-time.
“The baby’s in school during the day now,” Rencher said. “I can be a mom and have my own business.”
While Erin’s Candy store is located in Bergland, district chocolate-lovers also can pick up her confectionery creations at the Roseberry Runway on Highway 11 in Barwick.
“We will have some on hand [there] but because they’re fresh, there won’t be a whole lot,” Rencher noted.
Instead, people are encouraged to place their order through the Roseberry Runway—and pick the chocolates up there when they are ready.
The chocolates contain no preservatives and so are always made fresh. They are available in half-pound, one-pound, and two-pound boxes.
Rencher has spent the last six years devising her own recipes. She makes nougat and soft-centered chocolates, nut clusters, coconut creams, and edible long-stemmed chocolate roses.
Her personal favourites include the coconut creams and almond clusters.
“All of the ingredients are from local merchants,” Rencher noted, stressing the importance she places on supporting the local community.
Rencher has given chocolate demonstrations to seniors and at the toy library in Rainy River, and the response was overwhelming.
“Everybody was enjoying it so much,” she said, adding that next time, she may have to limit the number of people who can attend to ensure everyone can participate.
Rencher also is planning a chocolate-dipping demonstration in Barwick in January. The date and time will be announced later.
Until then, local chocolate-lovers can get their fix at the Roseberry Runway today (Sept. 24) from 7-8 p.m., when Rencher will be giving away free chocolate samples and coffee.
To order a box of Erin’s Candy, call the Roseberry Runway at 487-1222.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
