Flaherty’s Candy blends Irish heritage into winning recipes 

What began as a “side gig” in Joy Flaherty’s kitchen has transformed into a full-fledged business that has outgrown her home and become a big part of her life.  Some 20 years after Ms. Flaherty – along with her husband Dennis Flaherty – made their own client holiday gifts using his Irish family’s favorites, the […]

What began as a “side gig” in Joy Flaherty’s kitchen has transformed into a full-fledged business that has outgrown her home and become a big part of her life.  Some 20 years after Ms. Flaherty – along with her husband Dennis Flaherty – made their own client holiday gifts using his Irish family’s favorites, the couple have turned their passion into Flaherty’s Irish Candy Co. 

In fact, the once online candy business, which actually grew during COVID-19, now boasts its own storefront at 3535 Utica Ridge Road, Bettendorf. Complete with a tasting room, the store sells the Flaherty couple’s Irish toffees and candies, other sweets and old-fashioned drink mixes. For Ms. Flaherty, her job is spreading joy through her toffee, which she points out is a “tender toffee.” “You shouldn’t have to worry about cracking a tooth on our candies. Our toffee is made with much more butter than sugar like others produce,” she said, insisting “It’s all about the butter.”  During her 30-year career in the office supply business, Ms. Flaherty regularly made holiday gifts for her clients. Her sweet treats came naturally for Ms. Flaherty, who has a home economics background and the benefit of her husband’s old family recipes.  “Everything came together and we were filling a need,” she told the QCBJ.  Armed with Mr. Flaherty’s family recipes, the couple set out to replicate the family’s rich, buttery, “melt in your mouth” toffees. Their success – which impressed their own family and friends –  eventually led them to launch Flaherty’s Irish Candy Co. and take their creations to market.  In the early days, she said they sold the candy through weekend “benefit shows,” which allowed them to maintain their full-time jobs. About 10 to 15 times a year they would make enough inventory to sell at those shows, at which, they gave back 15% of the proceeds to the not for profit or business the event was benefiting. “Paying it forward is woven into our personal as well as our business life,” the company’s website says. They have supported several area charities and hospitals including Junior League holiday groups and more.   “My company then gave me a buyout and my husband said ‘Now you have the time to really make this a real business – let’s do it,’” she recalled.   But about that same time, COVID-19 hit. While clients still were drawn – and spoiled – by Flaherty’s buttery toffee, they also were asking for a place to taste test it. Due to those customers’ requests the couple opened its first bricks-and-mortar store in Bettendorf and developed a tasting room where people could pop in, taste and purchase.  Like any business, she said it has had its “challenges.” For instance, the company really only needs seasonal help when the orders are flowing in (from September to April), but she’s found workers at various vendor shows where they’ve sold their products.  “People taste the toffee, get excited and ask if they can be on our team when they retire,” said Ms. Flaherty, who participated earlier this month in a small business expo at the XPO at the Bend in East Moline.  Also like other businesses, they have faced supply line issues. “We couldn’t buy hard candies in a timely manner so we’ve started making our own,” she said. “And it turns out we’re making them better.”  The latest challenge is to increase sales through more business-to-business gifting. “We’re looking for more businesses to partner with, who want to give gifts to their clients or employees,” Ms. Flaherty said.  The company will work with local companies to provide handmade gifts – all with the best of ingredients and from a woman-owned business.   Her husband, whose Irish heritage comes out in their products and names, also is involved in all parts of the business including marketing and promotions. Early on, he invested in logo shopping bags even when it was just a hobby, she said. “I couldn’t believe that he spent all this money on imprinted shopping bags!”  But she took them along to the Chicago One of a Kind show and soon potential customers were seeking her out wondering where the bags came from, she said. “They actually brought us business … and it’s our best marketing piece.” Over the years, the couple has even traveled to Ireland to study recipes and explore their Irish heritage, which according to their website, has led to an expansion beyond toffees and Tom and Jerry batter mixes. They now also offer a Sweet and Salty candy selection, an Irish Creme Collection and some of their candies boast names such as Lov’n Dublin, Back from Belfast, On the Way to Galway Bay and Top O’ The Evenin’ Toffee.  While they sell their candies and other recipes year round, she said the store is well stocked for Christmas for personal and business gift giving. The tasting room is open daily 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 23. Orders also can be placed online at flahertyscandy.com.  “Don’t get me wrong: It’s a lot of work and a labor of love,” she said. “But when I attend shows and see customers’ faces when they taste the butter I know our toffee makes a difference.”