Meet Kimberly Bannick, founder of Toute Douceur Candy—a confectionary dreamer with bold flavors, big values, and a fierce entrepreneurial spirit.
Kimberly didn’t grow up planning to make candy—but once she stepped into the world of handcrafted confections, she never looked back. Inspired by her family’s 110-year-old candy factory, she forged her own path with Toute Douceur, a one-woman business known for its playful, vibrant treats and commitment to sustainability.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. After leaving an emotionally abusive relationship and starting over with her young daughter, Kimberly rebuilt her life—and her business—with passion, grit, and a whole lot of sugar. Today, she’s using her craft not just to create joy, but to speak up, show up, and prove that small businesses and the people behind them matter.
In this Small Business Feature, Kimberly shares how she found her way, the values that guide her, and why the small business community must keep showing up, especially now.
LBC: Tell us a little about your business! What inspired you to start it, and how did your entrepreneurial journey begin?
Kimberly: I wish I could say that I always wanted to make candy–but it really didn’t start until my early twenties when I was trying to find direction for my life. My family runs a candy factory in Minnesota that has now been running for over 110 years. It made me want to try it for myself and I fell in love. I realized then that there was nothing else I wanted to do with my life.
LBC: What’s been your proudest moment so far—and what’s been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a small business owner?
Kimberly: I think that proudest moment for me was seeing the growth that I have done over the last three years. I went through a lot to get to where I could even run my business as a full time job and to see that I was able to achieve so much, with very little help made me feel like I could take on the world.
On the other side of that, I think the biggest challenge was basically having to start over at the end of 2016. I had been in an emotionally abusive marriage and we had a daughter together. I left that behind and really was starting from zero. I only had a part time job, I had moved back in with my parents to keep away from my ex husband, and my daughter was only six months old. I had to make the decision of what my life would look like from that point on and instead of giving up on my confectionairy dreams I realized that it was still the path that I wanted for my life. It really lit a fire under me.
LBC: What values guide your business, and what issues matter most to you as an entrepreneur?
Kimberly: My core values are deeply rooted in authenticity, creativity, and that true craftsmanship of working with my hands to make something truly magical. Every confection I create is a reflection of my passion for vibrant flavors and quality ingredients, a celebration of tradition reimagined with my own bold, playful twist. Sustainability isn’t just a value—it’s essential, guiding how I source ingredients and package my creations.
LBC: How do your progressive values show up in how you run your business—whether it’s in who you hire, how you source, or how you engage with your community?
Kimberly: Running Toute Douceur as a solo entrepreneur allows me to carefully align every decision with my values, from sourcing natural and local ingredients to my packaging that reflects my playful brand while being mindful of sustainability. I actively engage with the community through collaborations and causes, like my Sunflower & Chamomile Snap Bar, inspired by Ukrainian resilience.
LBC: Why is it important for small businesses and consumers to stand up for what they believe in—especially right now?
Kimberly: Seeing how things have gone for my business over the last three years, how hard I have worked and how much I have achieved–only to see the struggles that we have all faced as small business owners in just the first few months of 2025–I think it is so important that we aren’t quiet. Every individual has an impact and every small business is a person who has fought hard for a dream and that shouldn’t just be taken away from them. It’s important that people understand the true power that they hold.
Every small business is a person who has fought hard for a dream.
LBC: Just for fun: What’s your go-to comfort show, podcast, or playlist while working? Or: Who’s your dream celebrity customer? 👀
Kimberly: Um… I can’t pick just one. I am all over the place. I just finished rewatching The Crown (for the fifth or sixth time), but I also listen to way too many true crime podcasts to list. I did however just start listing to ‘The Cult I Left Behind’–which is actually a lot more than you would think from the title.
I think my dream celebrity customer would be… either Daymond John, or Alton Brown
LBC: Fill in the blank: Being a small business owner is ___ but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Kimberly: Being a small business owner is ‘an emotional rollercoaster’ but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Craving something sweet—with a side of values? 🍬✨ Support Kimberly’s mission and taste the magic she’s crafting by hand. Every purchase from Toute Douceur Candy helps fuel a small business built on passion, sustainability, and heart.
👉 Shop now and satisfy your sweet tooth and your conscience: TouteDouceurCandy.com.
