Columbus Classics: Anthony-Thomas celebrates platinum jubilee with sweet deals
Marla K. KuhlmanEditor's note: This is the first in a series of stories highlighting iconic central Ohio businesses, Columbus Classics, to be featured in ThisWeek Community News.
Columbus-based Anthony-Thomas Candy Co., 1777 Arlingate Lane, has been following its mission “to make the world a sweeter place – one chocolate at a time” for 70 years.
Joseph Zanetos, company president who represents the family’s third generation, celebrated his 75th birthday Sept. 25 and said he has no plans to retire.
“They will have to carry me out,” he said. “I love what I’m doing and anticipate continuing. I started as a young child. I never thought of doing anything else.”
He attributes the company’s longevity to the quality of the family’s sweet product.
“It has our name on it, so we’re very conscious of everything that we do and how we make it,” he said. “We use nothing but the best ingredients. We’ve also been blessed with the staff that we’ve had through the years.”
His daughter, Candi Trifelos, who’s vice president, said she also started working for the company as a young girl.
“I worked here in high school, off and on,” she said.
When she came home from college for Christmas her senior year, Trifelos said, her dad said a retirement within the company was forthcoming and if she was interested in working for the company, the job was hers after graduation.
“I did want to do it,” she said. “So the first 27 years (of 31 years), I ran the retail division. I loved it. I was on the road a lot. Marketing and merchandising is my favorite thing.”
Anthony-Thomas' presence in Greater Columbus
Trifelos said the company owns 13 retail stores in central Ohio, including one at the headquarters.
“Our candy can be purchased all over the United States, particularly our Buckeyes,” she said. “A lot of our assortments ship all over from our wholesale division.”
>> Find an Anthony-Thomas location <<
She said one treat the company still makes by hand is the chocolate-covered peanut patties.
But it’s the dark chocolate-covered cherries that are the favorite of Trifelos’ son, Nick, who joined the business as national sales manager almost three years ago.
“That’s my go-to,” he said. “I could have 12 in one sitting.”
Anthony and Thomas Zanetos, the company's cofounders, namesakes
He said the company’s cofounders and namesakes, Anthony and Thomas Zanetos, were his great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather, respectively, on his mother’s side.
That’s makes him the fifth generation working at the family business.
“The success of the company can be attributed to a strong family connection and being able to work well with all the people that are here,” he said. “I think we have, in my opinion, a very delicious product. I think we’ve always done what we felt would be best for the business.”
Nick Trifelos said he likes to say that his relatives were serial entrepreneurs. “They had a restaurant and a couple other small-business ventures,” he said.
“They always had homemade candy. They saw the homemade candy sold better than anything else. So they dropped everything and went strictly with chocolate.”
Nick Trifelos said the company’s community involvement and name recognition have helped the business stay "in the candy game."
Anthony-Thomas: 200 employees, 50,000-60,000 pounds of chocolate daily
“We have right around 200 employees,” he said.
The company averages between 50,000 and 60,000 pounds of chocolate on two shifts daily, according to Nick Trifelos.
He said the top seller is the peanut butter and chocolate Buckeye candies.
“We didn’t invent the Buckeye,” he said. “We like to say we perfected it. They’re a beautiful bite-size piece that we’ve been doing for about 20 years now.”
Behind the Buckeye in popularity is the English toffee.
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Anthony-Thomas 70th-anniversary specials in October
Monthlong specials in October commemorate the company’s 70th anniversary at all 13 stores and the website, he said.
“Each week will be a different special,” he said. “Four different specials that are roughly a week long celebrate our platinum jubilee, is what we’re calling it. One week, we will do a special on our boxed cherries.”
He said customers will pay 70% of the cost. “You’ll take 30% off certain items each week,” he said.
Nick Trifielos said he hopes to remain employed at the candy company and gain the same respect as his mother and grandfather.
“A lot of people devote their time to building a business so they can retire,” he said. “We’re of the mentality, we don’t believe in retirement. We want to be here. This is what we love. This is our passion.”
Customers, employees who are sweet on Anthony-Thomas
Kelly Rice-Funk, an Anthony-Thomas customer who recently wished Zanetos a happy birthday on the company’s Facebook page, wrote, “I love Anthony Thomas so much! Every time I am in one of the stores, I am treated so well, everyone is so helpful and kind. All of your products taste amazing and are of the highest quality. I really appreciate a company that holds such high standards for their employees and products.”
Ny Erng, who has worked for Anthony-Thomas production for 29 years, said she loves her job, her boss and chocolate.
“I like everything,” added Monica Pel, a 36-year employee. “I love to work here.”
Candi Trifelos said she loves the employees. “They’re an extension of our family,” she said.
Half-hour tours at the chocolate factory are available by registering online at anthony-thomas.com/tours.html.
“We have a third-floor glassed-in catwalk that we built specifically for tours,” Nick Trifelos said.
“You get a free sample at the end and a coupon. The tour starts in our retail store, goes upstairs, overlooks a bird's-eye view of our production lines. You learn about the history of our company, where chocolate comes from and you get to see it with your own eyes. It’s a great experience for all ages.”
@ThisWeekMarla