It is always sad to see a long standing business close its doors. The candy retail industry is facing major challenges right now due to economic issues. A famous family run candy manufacturer that started way back in 1885 is officially closing down its retail chain and saying goodbye after 141 years.
Lammes Candies Is Saying Goodbye
This iconic candy store chain based in Austin Texas is closing all of its locations because of changing market conditions and long term sustainability issues. The owners posted a notice at their Round Rock store announcing the closure and it is honestly a big bummer for anyone who grew up eating their sweets.
High Cocoa Prices Ruined the Fun
Cocoa prices hit a massive high recently and a strategist at J.P. Morgan noted that there is a big decline in cocoa bean availability. This makes it really hard for companies to keep up with industrial demand and the high costs are just too much for normal supermarkets and retailers to handle.
Inflation and Rising Labor Costs
The whole candy retail industry is suffering right now because inflation and rising interest rates have made the cost of doing business skyrocket everywhere. Consumers are tightening their belts and cutting back on spending for nonessential items like fancy chocolates so the sales are just not there anymore.
Down From Seven Busy Locations
About six years ago Lammes Candies was doing great and operated seven different locations around the Texas Hill Country for their loyal customers. Now they are winding down operations and closing their last remaining store on Airport Boulevard in Austin which also includes their main manufacturing facility.
A Legacy Started in 1885
The family run business has been around since 1885 and the owners mentioned that Lammes Candies has been a family legacy spanning many generations. It is crazy to think about a business surviving that long and they are deeply grateful to their employees and the local community for all the support.
The Famous Texas Chewy Pecan Pralines
They are best known for their Texas Chewy Pecan Pralines which first debuted in the candy shop way back in 1892 and became a total hit. This was their top selling product and they actually produced around 2,000 pounds of these candies every single day which is just a ridiculous amount of sugar.
From Ice Cream to Just Candy
They originally sold ice cream and a frozen fruit dessert called gem until sugar rationing during World War II forced them to phase those out. They brought the ice cream back after the war but its popularity faded so they totally discontinued it in 1965 to just focus on making their classic candies.
You Can Still Buy Online
Even though the physical store locations are closing you can still hop online and buy their products for an indefinite period of time. They are going to keep selling their famous Longhorns and Cashew Critters on the internet as long as they still have inventory left to ship out to people.
The Whole Candy Market Is Tough
Financial issues have led lots of candy companies to wonder if they can even remain in business and Lammes is not the only one feeling the heat. A popular 12 year old Dallas staple called Kate Weiser Chocolate also decided to close down its retail outlets recently due to the exact same economic pressures.
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