Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Spiess.
Hi Teresa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our story began almost ten years ago when neighbors got together and learned how to make toffee.
It was so delicious, we thought it might be fun to see if we could sell it! One Sunday afternoon, we walked our neighborhood, pulling a little red wagon and sold $300 in product in just a few hours!
The business quickly grew from there. When we were brought into Dean and Deluca we realized the potential we had to shine! I tweaked the recipe and developed four additional flavors.
Our best seller and customer favorite is our Classic White Pistachio Toffee. It has whole roasted pistachios in the center with crushed pistachio on each side.
October through December is our busiest time of year. Specializing in corporate gifting, we sell from our shop in Prairie Village and we can be found in local retail shops like Hen House and Made in KC.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle is definitely keeping up with the demand of toffee during our, “Toffee Season”.
The demand comes not only from customers visiting our kitchen/shop for a sweet treat in Prairie Village, but also from holidays shows to corporate gifting. Cedar Street Toffee’s greatest treasure are the incredible women I work with each day, who help make, break and package the toffee. I couldn’t do it without them!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our toffee is so different from others toffee because we chocolate both sides of our toffee. We use whole roasted nuts in the center and crushed nuts on each side. We also have a nut free option which is a dark chocolate, sea salt, it is a customer favorite, and has been known to pair very well with ice cream!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have been surrounded by so many incredible helpers, mentors and inspirational hearts. There is something very special about Kansas City food scene. We are all on the same team and help one another. There is also a nationally known program called, “SCORE”. SCORE is a small business mentorship that has been very instrumental in guiding me.
Our Cedar Street Toffee ladies are extraordinary and very special to my every day. It is a joy to come to work and laugh with them. I know that if things get crazy we are there for one another. I plan our kitchen shifts to end at 2pm so our ladies can go home, pick up kids, get groceries, laundry and life.
Pricing:
- $15
- $25
- $45
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.CedarStreetToffee.com
- Instagram: @CedarStreetToffee
- Facebook: CedarStToffee
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-spiess-787851169
- Twitter: @cedar_toffee
