Sweet news
Bluff City Toffee opens a retail shop
For more than 25 years, Stephanie Upshaw has made her irresistible toffee from a special family recipe, giving it as Christmas gifts to her friends. When her daughter went to college in 2016, she decided to turn this hobby into a business called Bluff City Toffee. And we are glad she did. h Made with Mississippi pecans, her made-from-scratch treat is a Southern twist on English toffee. Her version is a true Memphis original that quickly became a favorite locally made product.
Upshaw launched her business with her tried-and-true milk chocolate pecan toffee and over the years, she added new flavors and products. Her biggest addition happens this month – a new retail shop.
Bluff City Toffee has a new permanent home at 5160 Sanderlin, Suite 5.
The 1,000-square-foot space serves as retail shop and fulfillment site for all Bluff City Toffee's retail, online and custom packaging. In 2021, it will also become the production facility.
“I am still making the toffee at our commercial kitchen in West Memphis,” said Upshaw, explaining that construction on her own commercial kitchen will begin in January.
In addition to the original milk chocolate flavor, Bluff City Toffee makes two additional flavors: dark chocolate pecan with sea salt and white chocolate with macadamia nuts. Each toffee is hand-crafted in small batches.
A toffee-coated popcorn and toffee crumbles (small bits for baking or being used as a garnish) have been added to the offerings.
Each item comes beautifully packaged in Bluff City Toffee's signature striped boxes. No gift wrapping required to give it as a gift.
Stores across Memphis carry toffees including Buster's, Pickering Boxwood, Palladio Home & Garden, Doc's Wine, Spirits & More, Millstone Nursery, Cordelia's Market, Bazaar Olive Oil, SuperLo Foods, Curb Market, Novel, Sweet Lala's Bakery, Bingham and Broad, Lucchesi's and High Point Grocery.
Bluff City Toffee also has an online store that can ship nationwide. Custom packaging for corporate gifts, weddings and special events is available.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said Upshaw about this next step for her growing company. “Memphis has been so great supporting a locallymade business like mine.”
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining Reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.