Biz Beat: Simplicity is recipe for sweet success

Sweet, buttery, locally made caramels are popping up in area grocery stores thanks to a 130-year-old recipe and Modesto resident Carol Anne Miller.

The 56-year-old grandmother began making the homemade caramels in her kitchen five years ago from the recipe passed to her through a family friend.

Miller started selling the candies as a fund-raiser for her wedding ministry, For Such a Time as This.

But then, as more people started tasting them, demand grew and Carol Anne's Caramels was born.

In November, she started selling them at O'Brien's Market on Dale Road. From there, it spread to all the area O'Brien's stores, Modesto's Greens Market, Turlock's Village Fresh Market, Hilmar Cheese, Stockton's Podesto's Market & Deli and San Francisco's Blue Fog Market.

She now makes the handmade caramels in a commercial kitchen, producing about 15 12-bag orders each week. The caramels are hand cut and wrapped and sold in 8-ounce bags.

Miller said the secret is her 130-year-old recipe by Avis Ingaba Hubbard, the mother of a close friend. Hubbard's name appears on each bag. The caramels use only cream, butter, cane sugar, corn syrup and vanilla.

"This is what caramels used to taste like," Miller said.

She is in talks to add more stores and distribution for the caramels. They are also available through custom order.

"I absolutely didn't imagine this could happen when I started making them," she said. "It has been amazing."

Call (209) 345-3191 or find Carol Anne's Caramels on Facebook.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

Japanese-food lovers have a new spot in Modesto.

Umi Sushi, 1300 Sylvan Ave., opened earlier this month and is offering an assortment of Japanese dishes, including noodles and teriyaki. Also, true to its name, it has a fresh sushi bar.

Owner Kyong Kim has 25 years of experience in San Jose and Vacaville. Umi Sushi is open from 11:30 am. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and until 9 p.m. Sundays. Call (209) 622-0806. …

And finally, Circus Nightclub is open at Briggsmore Avenue and Prescott Road. The dance club at 1800 Prescott Road is open Friday through Sunday nights. Its music ranges from hip-hop to Spanish and includes live performances. Call (209) 585-6380.

Have an item for Business Beat? Contact Marijke Rowland at The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; (209) 578-2284 or mrowland@modbee.com.