ABOUT US
Kilwins began in 1947 when Don and Katy Kilwin opened a small bakery in Petoskey, Michigan, with a simple goal: to create high-quality baked goods and confections, paired with exceptional service. Over time, the business evolved, focusing on hand-crafted chocolates, fudge, and ice cream that would become the hallmark of the Kilwins brand. From the beginning, their commitment to quality and Guest experience set Kilwins apart.
Don and Katy Kilwin's desire was simple – to make the very best products that they possibly could. Today, we continue this American success story with the Kilwins tradition of producing the highest quality chocolates, Original Recipe Ice Cream and other confections, combined with people who care and strive to provide you with a premium experience.
Kilwins combines the best of our heritage of quality products with modern business practices which are shared with and supported by our family of franchisees.
Kilwins has traditionally appealed to all the senses with our chocolates and other products made here in our kitchen. To make sure customers get the best products and experience, we also make many products fresh in each store, where customers can watch.
Since 1965, we’ve been expertly molding and enrobing chocolates using proven processes, enhanced over time with advanced chocolate milling equipment that allows us to develop our own unique chocolate blends. Producing high-quality chocolate is a long, detailed journey that begins with cocoa beans and ends with expertly enrobed or molded chocolates in our stores.
Our entire team takes pride in Kilwins’ heritage and craftsmanship. We love what we do and take great care in creating the chocolates and confections you enjoy.
At Kilwins, quality is built into every step of our process. We control all stages of creating and delivering our chocolates and confections, using a thoughtful blend of heritage equipment we’ve relied on for decades alongside modern technology chosen to produce the best possible candy.
That same commitment to quality continues in our stores. Many of our confections are made fresh on site using traditional methods, including hand-paddled fudge cooked in copper kettles and cooled on marble tables, and caramel corn made the old-fashioned way for exceptional flavor and texture.
Many of our products, including favorites like Almond Toffee Crunch, are also hand-crafted in our cold room using time-honored techniques. While faster and less expensive approaches exist, we continue to hand-craft these confections because the result is simply better quality.
Today, Kilwins continues that tradition by combining hand-crafted, high-quality products with a friendly, Guest-focused experience. Supported by a community of caring franchisees, Kilwins stores offer an authentic sensory journey, from sight and smell to taste, touch, and sound, where Guests can savor treats, watch many of the treats being made, celebrate special moments, and share time with family and friends.
At the heart of the Kilwins brand are simple values: treat others as you want to be treated, do your best, and have fun. These values guide a culture of team members and store owners who are passionate about creating memorable experiences. Coupled with in-store craftsmanship and rich, Fair Trade Certified™ Chocolate made in the U.S.A., every visit to Kilwins is a celebration of quality, community, and nostalgia.
The growing brand has over 185 locations and has earned industry recognition, ranking #1 in the candy, ice cream and frozen desserts category in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500® for 10 consecutive years.
Kilwins was founded in 1947 in Petoskey, Michigan, by Don and Katy Kilwin. Originally opened as a bakery, the business began offering chocolates and confections during the slower winter months in this highly seasonal Northern Michigan town. As these hand-crafted treats grew in popularity, the Kilwins chose to sell the bakery portion of the business and focus exclusively on chocolate, confections, and candy making, laying the foundation for the Kilwins brand we know today.
Yes. Kilwins is a franchised business model. Independent owners can open and operate their own Kilwins stores under the Kilwins Chocolates Franchise, Inc. system, following the brand’s proven business model and standards. Kilwins has been franchising for decades and continues to grow with franchise locations across the United States, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to bring hand-crafted chocolates, fudge, and ice cream to their communities. Explore franchising opportunities.
Kilwins has grown to more than 185 retail locations, supported by a passionate network of franchisees who bring the Kilwins experience to their local communities.
Yes, Kilwins can be considered a chain, but more specifically, it is a franchise chain. Kilwins operates as a network of independently owned and operated franchise locations. While all stores share the same brand, products, and standards, most locations are owned by local franchisees rather than the company itself. This allows Kilwins to maintain consistency across the brand while still having strong local ownership and community involvement at each store.
Kilwins is currently owned by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles. The firm acquired Kilwins in 2023. The previous majority owners, Don and Robin McCarty, who had owned the company since 1995, retained a minority ownership interest after the sale.
Kilwins was founded in Petoskey, Michigan in 1947 and is still headquartered there today. The corporate offices and chocolate kitchen are located at 1050 Bay View Road, Petoskey, MI 49770, which serves as the principal place of business for the company.
The original Kilwins store where the company was founded was in downtown Petoskey, Michigan, and from that original shop, the business eventually expanded and moved its franchise offices, company-owned store, and chocolate kitchen to its current location at 1050 Bay View Road in Petoskey.