Tinker's Toffee tickles Taste Buds Worldwide
By Lynn Wolstenhome

Loudoun Times-Mirror June 4, 2003

It all began with a sister's call asking for help with corporate Christmas gifts. Wendy Martin offered to make some toffee -- 800 pounds of it -- for the tenants of a business park.

Soon after, Martin found herself getting calls to make more, and the timing couldn't have been better.
She had recently divorced her husband and was beginning to get together college funding for her three children. Starting her toffee business, Tinker's Toffee, allowed her to achieve this goal.

In 1997, Martin turned Tinker's Toffee into a full-time business. To date, she has made about five tons of toffee. Her clients are from all over the globe - Afghanistan, Scotland, Africa, Thailand, Italy and Germany, to name a few - and come to her by word of mouth.

"It's all word of mouth and doing shows," said Martin of her product, which has won numerous awards such as Loudoun County Product of the Year in 1998, and Landsdowne's Chocolate Galore Best Taste and Best Presentation in February 2003.

The toffee sells itself without the help of advertising, Martin explained. She recalled a phone call from a member of the Dartmouth College Drama Department.

"I am so sick to my stomach because I ate the whole bag [of toffee]," explained the caller, "but I need more."
Tinker's Toffee offers a variety of flavors - milk chocolate, peanut butter and a new combination - layered dark and white chocolate.

"The easiest part about this business is cooking, " said Martin. "I like to cook, and I get to stay at home."
The hardest part is the marketing, Martin admits, "I am not really a businesswoman. I make toffee."
Martin always thought that she would not like toffee.

"I received a box as a gift, and I just threw it in the freezer," said Martin. "One day I had a chocolate fix, and I tried a piece. After that I was listening to a cooking show on the radio, and they were giving out a recipe for toffee. I pulled over to the side of the road and wrote it down."

The process of making the delicious treat takes about three hours per 24 pounds. First, Martin takes a cookie sheet and lines it with a layer of nuts. Next, she adds chocolate, which is covered in a mixture of butter and sugar that had been heated to 300 degrees. More chocolate and nuts are added, and the toffee cools for three more hours.

Martin's toffee can be found at two local stores, Jackies's Treats and Treasures, in Ashburn, and Philomont General Store. Her toffee can be purchased through Martin at www.tinkerstoffee.com.