Baker's Candies: How an engineer crafted Nebraska’s favorite chocolate

Would you believe us if we told you Nebraska’s favorite chocolate was created by an engineer who found himself without a job?

Kevin Baker, founder of Baker’s Candies, worked for the U.S. Department of Defense during the end of the Vietnam War through the Cold War. He mass-produced missiles, but when the Cold War ended, those missiles were never fired, and his job was no longer needed.

In 1987, Kevin told his family they were going to start a chocolate factory in Greenwood, Nebraska. His son, Todd, who is now the CEO of Baker’s Candies, was just six years old at the time. Forty years later, the business is shipping its product to all 50 states and dozens of countries. By the end of 2024, the business is on track to manufacture about 50 million chocolate meltaways.

Learn more about the Baker’s Candies story on the Building Nebraska podcast.

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About Building Nebraska: We are a podcast for dreamers AND do-ers. We'll ignite your passion for entrepreneurship and showcase those who turn ideas into reality. Powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

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Visit the Baker’s Candies Website: https://bakerscandies.com/

Learn more about the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program: https://engler.unl.edu/

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