Homemade sweets in Iola
By Holly Neumann
Jodi Schmoldt, of Iola, has always loved homemade caramel.
She has turned that love into a business of her own.
“As a child, my mom would take us kids to The Caramel Crisp shop in Fond du Lac,” said Schmoldt. “The aroma hit us as soon as we entered and it was amazing.”
Years later, she decided to make some of her own to give to a friend for her birthday.
“It was not an easy undertaking and the process is very sensitive to many factors,” she said. “After seven batches I finally got it right. My husband said, ‘These are really good. You should sell them.’”
She remembers thinking no one would buy them.
“Boy, was I wrong,” Schmoldt said.
From there, Sunny Caramels was born.
Dubbed “The Caramel Lady,” for about 10 years, Schmoldt finds herself busy during the holidays.
“Because of the labor intense nature of caramel making, most people would rather buy them then make them,” she said.
Her recipe has been perfected over time, and her customers have come to expect the soft, non-sticky goodness she makes.
“The best compliment I ever get is, ‘They are just like Grandma used to make,’” she said.
Currently, she makes plain, or original, sea salt, pecan and salted cashew varieties.
“My personal favorite is the pecan, as it reminds me of my mom’s favorite candy, the pecan turtle,” Schmoldt said. “The main seller is the plain.”
The people she meets, the stories they tell and the way her business has enriched her and her family’s lives, is what she likes most about what she does.
“The flexibility in my schedule is a must as a mother,” she said. “Having had my children later in life, having as much time as I can with them is imperative. I hate to miss a thing.”
Equally as important to Schmoldt was being able to teach her children how to work hard to put out a quality product.
“I had worked for Sargento Cheese Company for many years, where I learned the importance of good manufacturing procedures,” she said. “I also learned that the quality of product is much more important than the quantity. We would strive to not be the biggest supplier on the shelf, but the one with the best products and excellent customer service.”
She adopted that strategy.
“I do not have to be the biggest, just put out the best product I am able to,” Schmoldt said. “I give excellent customer service, to keep them coming back for more. My customers are always happy to see me, not a bad way to show up at work; loved and appreciated.”
She also credits her community.
“I do not believe I would have been as successful if not for the wonderful community of Iola,” she said. “My husband and I moved here 15 years ago to start a family. We could not believe how kind and friendly the neighbors were. We call it living in Mayberry. In this day and age, it’s refreshing to surround ourselves with so many good people, and more importantly to raise our children with these small town values and kindness.”
Those wishing to contact Schmoldt may reach her at [email protected] or at 715-445-5994.