Make it yourself
Two years ago, Gaubert Oil began making fudge at the front counter of its GoBears store in Grand Coteau, La. Sales have surpassed expectations, says David Williamson, vice president of retail.
In 2015, the Thibodaux, La.-based company signed up with Calico Fudge and bought the necessary equipment. It didn’t cost much, Williamson says, and it requires no oven because the fudge isn’t cooked. It is made, served and sold right from GoBears’ counter. It requires about 6 feet of space because customers like to see employees making the fudge.
GoBears offers about a dozen flavors, plus seasonal offers. Regular flavors and LTOs sell about equally.
“We sell it by the piece, not the pound, and most people just buy one or two pieces,” Williamson says. Staff at the store engage regularly with customers over the fudge, and they offer lots of samples.